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

DATE: FRIDAY, May 18, 1990                   TAG: 9005180538
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

MERGER CHANGES DUE JUNE 1

All changes in the plan for consolidating Roanoke and Roanoke County need to be completed by June 1 so the document can be sent to the U.S. Justice Department for approval, City Councilman Howard Musser says.

Musser said Thursday that city and county officials need to get the Justice Department's approval as soon as possible so they can be assured the referendum will be held in November.

City and county officials have met several times in recent weeks to consider changes that have been requested by three county supervisors dealing with expansion of the area that would have the chance to become part of Salem if consolidation is approved.

The Justice Department will have 60 days to review the districts for the election of members of the governing body for the consolidated government. It will determine whether the plan protects blacks' voting rights.

Because Virginia is under the jurisdiction of the federal Voting Rights Act, the merger plan must ensure that blacks have an opportunity for representation on the governing body that is at least equal to or greater than their percentage of the population.

If the Justice Department requests more information during its review, there is no deadline for it to act. "We are going to provide them everything they could possibly need and more," Musser said.

by CNB