Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 18, 1993 TAG: 9306180209
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Short
Council unanimously endorsed the idea at its meeting this week. Mayor Tom Starnes said individual council members will take turns hearing citizens' concerns and complaints in council chambers.
"We're not sure what the response will be, but we're going to give it a try," he said. "If anybody's got a concern, they can come in and share it with a member of council."
He said council would try to schedule subsequent sessions for the first Monday in each month.
Councilman David Worrell, who's been holding regular "neighborhood meetings" around the city since rejoining City Council last year, said he has no problem with the new plan.
"Anything that gives the public more access to council is good," he said, adding that his neighborhood meetings will continue.
He said some people "don't really feel comfortable coming to council chambers," and he believes the casual, come-as-you-are atmosphere of his own gatherings is more inviting.
Worrell's next session will be July 1 at the 17th Street Park Shelter from 5 to 7 p.m. He said he hopes it doesn't turn into a contest between himself and other council members to see who can draw the bigger crowd. He said his own neighborhood meetings have drawn 15 to 20 people.
***CORRECTION***
Published correction ran on June 19, 1993. Because of an editing error, the wrong date was given in Friday's New River Current for the beginning of a series of monthly citizens' input meetings sponsored by Radford City Council. The meetings will begin July 19.
Memo: ***CORRECTION***