Evening star., 1952-06-24
Arlington Study
0fGoVernment
Changes Begins
Commission of 36
Requested to Report
By September IS

by SePtemDer -
A 36-member commission has
begun a study of seven proposals
for changing Arlington'S govern
ment that may be presented to
the voters for approval in Novem-
ber. e..
A report on this phase of the
groups work has been requested
by the County Board by Septem-
ber IS.
Then, the commission will turn
to study of changes to be con-
sidered If Arlington remains a
county.
Later. a proposal for a city
charter will be developed. to be
considered in the event county
voters decide in the future that
Arlington should be a municipal
ity.
Final Report Next Year.
The County Board appointed
the comission to include State and
local government officials, repre-
sentatives of countrywide organ
izations and individual citizens.
The board requested q final re-
port by July l. 1858.
At next Saturdays meeting, the
board is scheduled to consider
what action must be taken if there
is to be a vote on the proposed
changes in the manager plan.
The General Assembly early
this year authorized referendums
before the end of 1852 on the
seven questions.
Questions Listed.
They are:
Shall the manager be appointed
for an indefinite term. subject to
removal at any time by the
County Board? At present, he is
appointed on a yearly basis.
Shall the heads of the county
departments be appointed by the
county manager? The board
makes these appointments now.
Shall the position of Attorney to
the County Board be created? The
Commonwealth's Attorney per-
forms this function under existing
law.
If the position of County Board
Attorney is created, shall he be
elected by the people or appointed
by the County Board?
Real Estate Assessment.
Shall the county establish a de-
partment of real estate assess
ment? A suit filed by John Locke
Green. former county treasurer,
forced abandonment of similar
department set up last year.
Shall the members Of the
county board be elected biennially
for four-year terms? At present.
at least one board member is
elected each year. The current
term is four years.
Shall the membership on the
county board be increased from
five to seven?
Establishment of the commits
sion was proposed by Robert w.
Cox, county board chairman. He
said the study was needed to pro-
vide more information, to assure
cooperation by officials and cit
liens in considering changes, and
to provide an objective analysis
without regard to partisan politics,
Chairman of the study COM
mission, which has already begun
its work, is Harold A. Stone, 1851
South Twenty sixth road.
Officials on Commission.
These public officials are mem.
bers: Commemorative Attorney
William j. Hassan, County Treas.
urer Colin C.. Macpherson. Com.
missioner of Revenue George D
Fischer. Sheriff Carl L. Taylor
Clerk of the Court H. Bruce Green
Other officials are: State Sen
ator Charles r. Fenwick, Dele
gates j. Maynard Magruder ant
George Damn, Mr.. Cox, Schoo
Board Chairman Erwin r. ORA
helm, Laszlo Ecker-Racz, chair
man Of the boards Advisory Com
mittee on Fiscal Affairs. ant
Gustav A. Moe. chairman of tn
boards Advisory Committee OF
County Organization and Pro
cedureS.
Members from county organiza
tions are: Leonard o. Hilder
Democratic Executive Committee
I. Lee Potter, Republican Execu
tive Committee; Mrs. Herse.
Riley, League of Women Voters
Mrs. @. Ethel Clair. Organize,
Women Voters; Mrs. Ruth O'Del
Cox, Arlington Civic Federation.
Others From Organizations.
Also: Joel T. Broyhi1l, Arlington
Chamber Of Commerce; Mrs
Phoebe H. Knipling. Count.
Council of Parent Teacher Asso