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

DATE: THURSDAY, March 14, 1991                   TAG: 9103140220
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER MUNICIPAL WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

ROANOKE HAS NOT MOVED TO GIVE UP CHARTER

Don't expect a vote soon on the idea of Roanoke surrendering its charter and being absorbed by Roanoke County.

On the day after a city-county consolidation plan was rejected last November, council members said they would look into the possibility of the city giving up its charter as a way to unite the localities.

Four months later, there is little talk of such a move, although Vice Mayor Howard Musser said Wednesday the issue is not dead.

A study of the benefits and drawbacks of the city surrendering its charter has been delayed because of budget problems and other issues, he said. It probably won't be undertaken until summer at the earliest.

"City administrators have been too busy with the budget and other things and there hasn't been time for it," Musser said. Because of the financial squeeze and other issues, he said, the charter study is not an urgent matter.

Shortly after the consolidation referendum, Musser said some city residents might have a "psychological" problem giving up their charter. "It would have to go to a vote, in my opinion," he said.

There seems to be a consensus that the city would need General Assembly approval to give up its 107-year-old charter. Some legislators think that could be difficult.

Four months after merger was rejected, city and county officials still have not met to determine whether they can put aside the hard feelings of the campaign and work together on regional projects.

But Musser said he plans to meet soon with Steve McGraw, chairman of the county Board of Supervisors, to see if they think it would be worthwhile for council and the supervisors to hold joint sessions to discuss regional issues.

The supervisors have requested quarterly joint meetings with the city and other governing bodies in the Roanoke Valley to consider regional issues, resuming a practice that was tried sporadically during the early 1980s.

Before scheduling the first meeting, the governing bodies have asked Musser and McGraw to hold a preliminary session to determine whether the localities can work together on regional issues.

by CNB