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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 6, 1991                   TAG: 9103060434
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: KIM SUNDERLAND NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

NEW JOB REJECTED BY CHRISTIANSBURG

Tuesday night, Christiansburg Town Council said no.

"I recommend not participating," said Town Manager John Lemley.

If there's extra money in the town budget, "it should be used for our recreation department," he said.

In justifying the new position, the county recreation department said it is operating with six full-timers who run about 540 programs. A recreation supervisor would enable the department to offer 100 to 125 additional programs and generate $7,000 to $8,000 in added revenue.

The position was approved during a recent budget review session. The requested full-time salary was $19,004 with benefits.

The supervisors agreed, but couldn't fund it "due to constraints that we are all facing at this particular time," County Administrator Betty Thomas wrote in a letter to Lemley.

"By participating in some other program, we'd be neglecting our own programs," said Councilman Truman K. Daniel. "And our programs are also used by some county residents."

The denial was unanimous.

In other business, council received a letter and petition submitted by Lynne M. Butz of Blacksburg, who protested admission charges for infants at the New River Valley Movies 8 theatres.

"I believe this policy violates the spirit of our community and the manner in which area businesses have conducted their establishments for years," Butz wrote. "It is not only unethical but unfair and places a financial burden upon the parents of this community."

Children age 11 and under are charged $3.50, which is the same price for senior citizens. Those 12 and older are charged $5.50.

"In effect, this is done to discourage people from bringing infants to the theatre," said Hans Simpson, a Movies 8 assistant manager reached after the council meeting. "Infants tend to be raucous and they don't sit well.

"People think we're being mean and belligerent, but we're just looking out for the general [audience]," said Simpson. "Usually we can explain that to people and they understand."

But Butz - who distributed petitions at libraries and child care centers - thinks other businesses might start the same practice and urged council to condemn it.

"What will follow next?" she wrote. "Surtaxes by restaurants and admission to bowling alleys and other public places?"

Lemley said he received petitions with 31 signatures, but explained to Butz that council has no authority over the matter.

"This is the same thing as problems with cable TV companies," said Mayor Harold Linkous. "We have no control over that and we have none over this."