Evening star., 1953-08-15
Beverley Blasts
Willard Again
On Jail Repairs
Alexandra Mayor
And Manager
Continue Row

Continue Row
The Mayor Of Alexandria yes
terday took another verbal swing
at the City Manager in the city
Jail controversy.
Mayor Marshall j. Beverley,
after reading four-page report
by City Manager Ira r. willard
on the Jail situation, replied:
with reference to Mr.. Will
lard's report. it appears that he
is trying to pass the buck to
the council when he is respon-
sible and should have seen that
the necessary work was done and
If an appropriation was needed,
to come to the council"
The Mayors written reply yes
terday followed by a week his
initial charge that Mr.. Willard
should have made improvements
on the city jail as recommended
by the jail commissioners last
spring.
List of Work.
Mr.. Wizards report is a de-
tailed list Of actions regarding
jail improvements dating back
to last September. The report
outlines relevant proceedings of
the City Council In respect to
recommendations made by the
Jail commissioners.
Last March, Mr.. Willard wrote,
he asked for estimates Of the cost
Of rehabilitating the, Jail. On
the basis of studies, an appro-
priation Of $500 was included
in the proposed budget for nec-
eSSary improvements, Mr.. Will
lard reported.
After the appropriation re-
quest was approved, the report
continues, MIR. Willard, on July
%, asked jail and building off,
cials to establish "a definite list
Of the most urgent improvements
which could be accomplished. .. -
Shortly thereafter, Mr.. Willard
received a letter from Corpora
ton Court Judge william p
Woolls expressing concern over
jail defects, some Of which, the
judge wrote, require immediate
attention"
Judge Woolls reminded city
heads that q court order can be
issued forcing jail Improvements
Press Coyerage Cited.
At the conclusion Of his report
Mr.. Willard wrote that recent
press coverage of the situation
"has conveyed to the citizens i'm
pressions Of q nature personal tc
my service as City Manager
which have caused me much con-
cern."
The report was submitted. Mr.
willard declared, in hopeful an
ticipation Of an expression on
this situation" by City Council
members.
Mr.. Willard's expectations
were swiftly fulfilled by the
mayors response yesterday. Be-
sides accusing Mr.. Willard OF
trying to pass the buck" he
stated:
1.-THE council has employed the
city manager to see that the
necessary and proper work is
done but he seems to be more
concerned with trying to infiu-
ence the minds Of the public
than to do the things he is en-
ployed to do"
Mayor Beverley wrote that re-
Gently he demanded action" on
q sewer project and that Mr.. Will
lard acted "after a fire was built
under him.
Mr.. Willard, however, was not
without supporters on the City
Council.
Councilman Daniel Fairfax
O'Flaherty said, 1T is absurd to
expect the city manager to be
able to rectify a situation which
the City Council has apparently
neglected for a number of years" ."
Councilman Frank E. Mann
also spoke up for Mr.. Willard.
The manager, he said, should
not be blamed for the negligence
of the present council and past
councils.
Mayor Beverley yesterday took
time off from the Jail problem
to release the text of a letter he
wrote Thursday to the Civil
Aeronautics Administration. In
the letter, he pointed to a con-
siderable increase in the nuis-
ance created by low-fiying air.
planes.
The Mayor. who has long
conducted a spirited campaign
against low-flying craft, cited
recent complaints Of citizens who
told him the situation has be-
come much worse recently.
A CAA spokesman said the
letter will be referred to a special
CAA committee on noise abate-
ment and that the matter will be
investigated.