
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 31, 1990                   TAG: 9003310554
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

MERGER PROPOSALS DISCUSSED

Roanoke's consolidation negotiators have asked for clarification on some changes in the merger plan that have been proposed by three Roanoke County supervisors.

Vice Mayor Beverly Fitzpatrick Jr. said Friday that the city's negotiators have met with Dick Robers, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, to discuss the proposed changes.

Fitzpatrick wouldn't disclose details, but said, "It was a good beginning."

Earlier this week, Councilman Howard Musser, another city negotiator, said the city was puzzled by the supervisors' choice of Robers to represent the county in talks about the consolidation plan.

Supervisors Bob Johnson and Harry Nickens have been the county's negotiators. They have opposed efforts by Robers and Supervisors Steve McGraw and Lee Eddy to seek changes in the plan that was approved earlier by City Council and the Board of Supervisors.

The same three members voted to authorize Robers to meet with the city's negotiators to discuss the proposed changes.

Robers said it didn't make sense for county negotiators - Johnson and Nickens - to discuss changes with the city, since they opposed the changes.

The changes the three supervisors are suggesting are:

That the school board of the consolidated Roanoke Metropolitan Government have an equal number of representatives from the former city and former county, with a court-appointed tie-breaker.

Under the current plan, the school board would have nine members - five from the city and four from the county. Because of that, some county residents fear the school board would be dominated by the city.

That residents of Mason Cove, Bennett Springs and the Catawba Valley be given the chance to become part of Salem if the consolidation plan is approved. Now, only residents who live west of Virginia 311, between Fort Lewis Mountain and Poor Mountain, would get that chance and only if a financial settlement with Salem is approved.

That residents of subdivisions along Virginia 24 and Hardy Road in East Roanoke County get a chance to vote on whether to become part of the town of Vinton if the consolidation plan is approved. Now the plan allows Vinton to expand its boundary to include those subdivisions without a vote.

That current city-county boundary lines not be used for the "urban" and "suburban" service districts in the consolidated government.

by CNB