Evening star., 1960-05-12
Fairfax Board
Shuns Haste
On Urban Plan

/. On Urban Plan
A majority of the Fairfax
County Supervisors have ex-
pressed qualms about rushing
toward adoption of the urban
county form of government.
The supervisors, after an
hour and half of speeches and
discussion yesterday decided to
hold a public hearing on the
urban county plan as well as
Arlington's form of government
and possible city status at 10
am. June IS.
Strong support for the urban
plan came from only two su-
pervisors, A. Claiborne Leigh
and James Keith. The other
five board members took vary
ing views.
Among the spectators were
Joseph c. Wheeler, County
Civic Federation president, and
Herbert Harris, nominated as
the organizations next presi-
dent.
The federation's executive
committee plans to ask the
groups membership May 10 to
press for a vote by the people in
the November election on the
urban plan.
Mrs. wilkins Opposed
Board Chairman Anne Will
kins fatty opposes tying a vote
on the urban county plan to a
presidential election.
She said she is not opposed
to the urban plan but that it
would not prevent annexation.
which has been threatened by
Alexandria and Falls Church.
She said Arlington's system
is mot the best form of gov
ernment for Fairfax County"
but that it would prevent an
neXation.
She quoted DR.. Chester w.
Balm of the Bureau of Public
Administration of he'University
of Virginia as believing the Ar
lington form could be adopted
legally by Fairfax County.
The Arlington plan requires
a population of 500 persons per
square mile. Fairfax is ex-
pected to qualify when the
results of the 1860 census are
announced.
Caution Urged
Supervisor William M. Moss
warned against changing the
county government through
Whim because a new form
is available to U.s."
Mr.. Moss backed Mrs. Will
kinS' contention that it would
be wrong to hold a vote on the
urban plan in presidential
year.
Supervisor Robert c. Gotten,
jr., said that if the urban plan
question were on the bottom of
a presidential ballot, the voters
would lose interest by the time
they reached it.
Mr.. Moss reported that Dele
gate John Webb had written a
letter saying there are serious
doubts" about the desirability
of district commissions.
The commissions are a pro-
vision of the urban plan aimed
at giving each area more of a
voice in its own affairs.
Supervisor, George C.. Land
rith. who was a member of the
committee that h die d the
last redistricting of the county,
warned that it is mot a simple
matter" to form new districts,
as the county would be re-
quired to do within go days if |
it adopted the urban plan in
November.
Mr.. Keith said urban gov.
ernment would help the county
in fighting annexation suits in
the courts.
Larson Leaving Early
AS the county discussed the
urban plan, Don r. Larson,
who wrote it and later served
as a county government con-
Sultant, announced he is leav-
ing his job two weeks ahead of |
schedule.
Mr.. Larson goes to work |
Monday as assistant director of |
the newly formed Municipal |
Manpower Commission at 1912
K street NV.
The commission is a founda-
tion-supported group to study |
ways of attracting and retain
ing competent key personnel in
all kinds of urban local gov
ernmentS.