Evening star., 1952-03-12
Social Security
Voted Employees
OF Alexandra
City Council Covers
All 631 Back to
First of Yeur

h1iSt VI bSO1
All eligible Alexandria munic-
ipal employees are being placed
under social security, retroactive
to last January !.
The City Council indorsed So
cial security coverage for the
city's 631 employees last night and
ordered preparation Of an ordi-
nance making the program retro
active to the beginning of the
year. as permitted by action Of
the recent General Assembly ses-
sion.
Police and firemen are in
cluded. Alexandria has never be-
fore had a retirement program in
any Of its departments, and en-
ployes who became too old to work
had to rely on special pensions
awarded by the City Council.
Agrees to Pay Sum.
The Council agreed to pay the
$4,000 necessary to make the
coverage retroactive. This was
recommended by the Social Sc
curity Committee, headed by
Councilman Albert A. Smoot. The
city payment. without any con-
tribution from the employees.
takes care Of the program up to
March Is and, thereafter, the city
and employees will make equal
The council adopted q 'resolu-
ton indorsing the idea of a
Greater Washington Regional
Council to promote ter-jurisdic-
tional cooperation in the Metro
polltan Area. The resolution, Of
fered by Councilman James M.
Duncan, does not commit the
Alexandria government to support
any specific plan for setting upI
the regional council.
On motion of Councilman LEROY
Bendheim. creation of an Alexan-
aria Traffic and Parking Com
was authorized. The seven
member commission will perform
all the duties now performed by
tne Traffic Board and will have
additional powers to plan off,
street parking facilities and survey
overall traffic problems.
Traffic Fund Approved.
An appropriation of $500 was
approved for a comprehensive
parking and traffic survey. The
which is expected to re-
quire four months. will begin next
A report was received from q.
special Parking Committee, ap-
pointed to investigate off-streefI
parking requirements Of the new
coming ordinance. The commit
tee. composed Of businessmen and
city officials. suggested reducing
off-street parking requirements
about so per cent and the Council
preparation of q coming
ordinance amendment to that
effect. The committee said 1t did
not believe the. congested down
town area was capable Of pro-
viding the amount Of off-street
parking now required.
A delegation from the Seminary
Hill Citizens Association protested
tentative plans recently announced
for the redevelopment of 80 acres,
on which most of the present
housing Is considered substandard.
Not Yet Committed.
Mr.. Smoot, chairman of the
Councils Housing Committee. said
the Council has not committed
itself to carry out any redevelop-
ment program. He said the pro-
gram is still in the planning stage,
and that the preliminary plans
announced two weeks ago were
not final.
David D. Squires, head of the
Seminary Hill delegation, said
residents In the area were dis
turbed because some property
owners within the 30 acres would
have to give up their homes, and
because Of the prospect of null
tiple housing. The preliminary
housing report suggested about $50
homes for Negro occupancy, to
replace the present scattered
single-family dwellings. Both
colored4 and white residents are
represented in the Seminary Hill
Association.
On motion Of Councilman Bend
helm. it was voted to have the
Council Housing Committee meet
with the Seminary Hill residents
and keep them advised about
progress Of the housing survey.