ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 8, 1996 TAG: 9602080036
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: TODD JACKSON STAFF WRITER
Henry County Administrator Bob Lawler was fired by the Board of Supervisors on Wednesday.
After a four-hour executive session that started at 8:30 a.m., the supervisors returned to open session and approved a motion terminating Lawler's services because of "philosophical differences" with the board.
The vote was unanimous.
Lawler's firing had nothing to do with misconduct, said Jack Dalton, the board's chairman.
Dalton declined to discuss specific problems the board had with Lawler, who met with the board near the end of Wednesday's closed-door session.
"End of statement," Dalton said.
Lawler could not be reached for comment.
Deputy County Administrator Veronica Venable said Lawler had his own prepared statement ready when the board announced its decision.
In his statement, Lawler said: "Since a county administrator serves at the pleasure of the board of supervisors, today will be my last day as Henry County administrator."
The statement praised the county's administrative staff and listed several accomplishments during Lawler's administration.
Those accomplishments include development of a countywide economic development program, the initiation of a strategic planning process for the Board of Supervisors, improved governmental relations with the city of Martinsville, and a five-year agreement the county has with Martinsville to use the city's landfill.
Lawler, 45, took over as Henry County's administrator in August 1992. Before that, he had served for five years as administrator in Halifax County.
Lawler's salary was not available Wednesday.
He will be paid monthly severance payments through May, according to the board's motion.
The supervisors continued their Wednesday meeting - called to discuss projected revenues - until Monday night.
An executive session item to discuss personnel issues was listed on Wednesday's meeting agenda, Dalton said.
Last November, voters ousted all three incumbents who ran for re-election to the six-member board.
An extra board member also is elected in Henry County. The seventh member participates only to break ties.
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