Evening star., 1952-01-29
Falls Church Council
|Rescinds Action 10
Limit Bond Voters

The Falls Church City Council
has rescinded its recommends
ton that the municipal charter
be amended to permit only prop
erty owners to vote on bond issues.
The council reversed its stand
last night, with only Mrs. Mar
garet King dissenting, after a
petition had been presented ask
ling a referendum. The petition.
signed by 1876 citizens, requested
that the referendum be taken on
whether a bond issue could be
approved by a majority Of quail
fed voters, eliminating a current
provision giving property owners
Ia veto power.
Mayor Charles E. Kellogg, who
had opposed changing that pro-
vision Of the charter. said the
petition was a result of the coun-
cil's acting contrary to the wishes
of many citizens. He said he
hopes the councils resembling OF
Its recommendation will induce
some signers to withdraw their
names so the petition will no long
er contain the required 10 per
cent Of all qualified voters.
Assembly Not Bound.
If the required number Of sig
natures is still on the petition
when the council meets again
February II, the Mayor said. the
referendum will have to be held.
The General Assembly would not
be bound to follow the wishes OF
the voters as expressed in the
referendum, City Attorney Lytton
H. Gibson said.
Councilman w. Raymond Tay-
lor proposed the council action
last night. He said that State
Senator John Donovan had in
formed him there is no chance
the Senate would approve the
change recommended by the
council.
In other business, the council
voted to rezone to general COM
|mercial a mile-long strip 200 feet
deep on both sides Of West Broad
street from Lee highway to West
street. The new classification,
opposed by the Planning Commis-
sion, will permit business and
apartment development.
Two Oppose Action.
Mrs. King and Councilman
James E. Durant opposed the ac-
ton, Mr.. Durant saying he was
in favor of rezoning part OF the
area.
In another divided vote, sal
airy increase of $500 for City
Manager w. Rhodes Woodbury.
was approved. Councilman AL
vim Tasker and Mayor Kellogg
voted against the increase. after
declaring they believe the city
could not afford to pay its man
ager a salary of $500.
Mayor Kellogg remarked after
the balloting, however, that he
was not at all displeased with the
vote.
A report by a council commit
tee that investigated the police
department found need for gen.
eral Tightening Of discipline but
observed that the department is
reasonably efficient and fairly
well organized. No council action
was taken on the report.
City Manager Acts.
The city manager has taken
Inappropriate disciplinary action"
lin certain instances Of infractions
of regulations, the report said.
THE members Of the committee,
Mayor Kellogg and Councilmen
Samuel E. McCrary and Francis
A. Wagner, did not amplify the
statement.
The committee recommended
that a procedure be set up so that
all complaints against the de-
|partment and its personnel would
be referred to the city manager
THE report also urged that part
time of-duty Of policemen be pro-
Inhibited, except with the approval
lof the chief Of police or the city
manager.
! The council, which met last
might at Odd Fellows Hall, agreed
THAT future meetings win be held
lat City Hall.
|Blost at Alexandria
II An explosion in an Alexandria