Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 18, 1991 TAG: 9104180153
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER/ NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: DUBLIN LENGTH: Medium
The issue probably will be referred to a committee that would consider the costs, benefits, liabilities and general feasibility of the town giving up its charter.
The discussion comes on the heels of a proposal to do away with the town Police Department, discussed in a closed session at council's meeting last month.
The proposal on the police department apparently came from Vice Mayor Billy Pierce, who had accompanied Mayor Benny Keister and Town Administrator Gary Elander before the council meeting to discuss the idea with Pulaski County Sheriff Ralph Dobbins.
Keister issued a statement a day after the closed session saying that a council member had suggested seeing whether the move was feasible. He said no police officer currently working for the town would lose his job.
At the same council meeting on March 21, before members went into closed session, Stanley suggested that council consider dropping Dublin's charter and becoming part of Pulaski County.
Eight years ago, Stanley supported a referendum on consolidating all three local governments - the towns of Pulaski and Dublin and the county of Pulaski. The referendum lost in all 12 county precincts and was rejected in Dublin by a vote of 520 to 185.
Councilman Colbern Linkous, who is against the idea of giving up the town charter, has said he does not think many Dublin residents have changed their minds since 1983 about joining the county.
He said he thought Dublin residents should be surveyed or a public hearing held to get their feelings on doing away with the charter before a lot of money is spent on a study.
"Why do that until you first know how the people feel about this thing?" Linkous asked.
Several other council members said they were surprised when the suggestion to abolish the town Police Department was brought up in the March 21 executive session. They said they had heard no discussion about it previously.
It was decided in that session that council members should let the Finance Committee know how they felt about the idea, so the committee could make the proper budget recommendations for 1991-92. The committee is composed of Stanley, Pierce and Councilman Sam Gregory.
The matter could be decided simply by the budget Council adopts for next year, and the issue might never go before the public for comment.
Linkous has said he would vote against abolishing the Police Department. Other council members have not committed themselves on that matter or on the charter question.
The town turned law enforcement dispatching duties over to the Sheriff's Office in mid-1988. All calls to the Dublin Police Department are now routed through the county office.
Dublin has been a town since 1906.
by CNB