Evening star., 1954-09-10
Survey Backs
Willard in Feud.
With Beverley
Would Recognize
City Manager in
Administrative Role

Administrative Role
Alexandria City Manager Ira
F. Willard. who has been under
attack by Mayor Marshall j.
Beverley over everything from
snow removal to taxes. yesterday
got a prestige boosting assist in
his two-year feud with the
Mayor from the authors of a
report on the city's administra-
tive branch.
The report, an overall admin
iStrative survey ending a series
of departmental studies by the
Government Consulting Service
of the University of Pennsylvania.
declared that "it is essential that
the city manager be recognized
and respected as the apex of the
administrative pyramid.
1.-THE Mayor is the presiding
officer of the Council and the
ceremonial head of the city,"
said the university experts. The
Mayors role is to lead the .egiS-
lative branch of the government
on vital policy questions, but not
to serve as the administrative
head of the city"
Hands-Off Policy.
In a special section on the
managers relationship with the
Council, the experts, declared
that Council members should
adopt strict hands-off policy
in day-to-day administrative
matters" The policy of dele
eating all administrative mat
ters to the manager. the report
added, frees the Council from
much time consuming debate. !"
The mayor issued bristling
attack on Mr.. Willard in July.
charging that Alexandria needed
a new city manager more than
it needed the Government survey.
Mr.. Beverley has been foe OF
the survey ever since Mr.. Willard
proposed it. saying it would be
too expensive. The entire sur
vey, including final study OF
the city's financial setup, is ex-
pected to cost $4,000.
Later, the Council censured
Mr.. Beverley at special meeting
called to scold him for long list
of contradictory statements and
actions harmful to the'city." Mr..
Beverley walked out of the meet
ing and left the city for vaca-
ton. &
Beverley's Comment.
Mr.. Willard had no comments
yesterday on the manager-Coun-
Gil portion of the report. Mr..
Beverley, however, said: 1--WE
only been in Mr.. Wizards Office
three times since Christmas. I
never interfere and never have.
All I interfere with is with state
ments to the press and to the
public, which he doesn't like.
The administrative survey gave
city administrators pat on the
back for sense of dedication"
which the experts said is largely
responsible for the functioning
of the city government.
1T is difficult, if not impos-
sible, to trace, relationships and
lines of responsibility in the
whole welter of departments,
Offices. boards and commissions
that exist today in Alexandria"
the report declared.
The survey found that board
memberships include both policy
making officials and administra.
tive officers .
This last situation, particu.
larly, contributes toward con-
fused authority and fragmented
administrative responsibility" 1t
said.
Recommendations Made.
To remedy the flaws it found
in the city government, the sur
vey made the following major
recommendations:
/. Reconstitute the planning
division as a separate depart
ment with a larger operating
budget than the "woefully in
adequate" $3.50 appropriated for
4 1884.
2. Establish a new department.
y of building and zoning regula-
y ton, including electrical and
,@ plumbing inspection. smoke cons
ii troll. zoning enforcement and in
b spection activities of the con-
struction department.
8. Place the city assessor un-
der the director of finance.
- 4. Centralize collection OF al
fees in the office of the city col
II lector
S. Transfer from the .Recrea
ton Department to the Schoo
Board the upkeep of schoo
Fairgrounds. Also, transfer from
n the Recreation Department u
the Department of Public Work
5 responsibility for maintainin'
10 lawns and paintings on traf1'
J. circles and highway dividinI
= strips. u
6. Create an Office OF genera
administration charged witt
rs work programming, production
re analysis, records systems ant
= office space. The survey sait
city hall Office space fails u
# meet even minimum qualitative
n or quantitatiye standards" y
"A Z. Prepare an administratiy
code summarizing legal provi
J. sions of the city charter. Stat
10 code and city ordinances relat
r ing to administration.