Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, July 27, 1993 TAG: 9307280484
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
"It's not too soon for [the city and county] to try to work together, but I don't think it is time for another consolidation vote," he said Monday.
Fitzpatrick said the problems of slow economic growth and financial pressures on central cities need to be solved at the state level.
"It's a state problem, not just a Roanoke Valley problem," he said.
Recently, Mayor David Bowers raised the consolidation issue again and predicted that county voters would approve merger if a vote were held now.
Three years ago, county voters rejected consolidation by 70 percent to 30 percent. City voters approved it by nearly the same margin.
If consolidation isn't possible, Bowers has suggested the city consider giving up its charter and become a town, a first step in merging the city and county.
He also wants to know how the city might regain the right to annex.
At Bowers' request, City Council voted Monday to ask City Attorney Wilburn Dibling for legal opinions on the charter and annexation issues.
Bowers was absent from the meeting because he has not returned from a trip to Russia, but he sent a letter to council asking it to formally request opinions from Dibling.
There was no debate on Bowers' request, but Fitzpatrick said that doesn't mean council members endorse all of Bowers' comments and proposals on the consolidation issue.
"We just agreed that we would like to get the city attorney's views on the issues," Fitzpatrick said. "We have not discussed them and there is no consensus on council at this point."
Bowers did not consult with council members before raising the issue, Fitzpatrick said. The timing of Bowers' remarks could hamper cooperation between the city and county and the development of a regional economic growth plan, he said.
A change in state law apparently would be required for Roanoke to become a town.
State law provides a mechanism for cities with fewer than 50,000 to give up their charters and revert to town status. But there is no provision for larger cities to do that, according to Ted McCormack, assistant director of the state Commission on Local Government.
Roanoke is barred from expanding its boundaries because Roanoke County is immune from annexation under a 14-year-old state law that exempts major suburban counties from annexation.
If consolidation is not approved, Bowers has said the city needs the right to annex so it can grow and expand its tax base.
County officials are angry that Bowers proposed consolidation and lifting the annexation ban without talking with them.
\ ROANOKE CITY COUNCIL\ IN OTHER ACTION\ \ Solving housing problems: Was urged to take a regional approach in the Roanoke Valley, including the conversion of the Roanoke Redevelopment and Housing Authority into a regional agency. Debbie Kendall, speaking for the Roanoke Regional Housing Network, outlined the major recommendations of a recent housing report on affordable housing in the valley by the Enterprise Foundation.\ \ Getting ready for hockey: Voted to buy $35,000 worth of safety glasses and other equipment for Roanoke Civic Center spectators attending games of the new hockey team. City Manager Bob Herbert said the equipment needs to be ordered now so it will be available for games beginning in October.\ \ Makes TAP pact: Approved an agreement with Total Action Against Poverty to administer an emergency home repair program for low- and moderate-income people. It also decided to provide funds to help pay for programs for homeless people by TAP, the Roanoke Valley Trouble Center and the Roanoke Area Ministries.
\ Will make a study of it: Adopted a policy that will require some form of environmental study of all property acquired by the city. The policy is designed to protect the city from buying property with environmental problems that could become a liability for the city.
by CNB