Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 4, 1993 TAG: 9309040127
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
If the city would just give up its charter and become a town within the county, the squabbles would end.
But it's not so easy.
In fact, it's impossible under current state law, according to Del. Richard Cranwell, D-Roanoke County.
And if the city should seek legislation that would permit it to relinquish its charter, Cranwell would be in a good position to block the move.
As the senior ranking member of the House Committee on Cities, Counties and Towns, Cranwell could derail such a proposal.
And he hinted strongly Friday he would do just that.
Because county voters made it clear three years ago they oppose merger, Cranwell said he would be reluctant to support any move to change the status of the city and county.
"In view of the outcome of the referendum, it's not something that I would be inclined to do," Cranwell said.
In recent weeks, Roanoke Mayor David Bowers has raised the possibility of the city's giving up its charter if consolidation is impossible and the city can't regain the right to annex.
Bowers could not be reached for comment Friday, but he said recently that financial pressures on the city might force it to consider giving up its charter if all else fails.
The state permits cities with fewer than 50,000 people to give up their charters and become towns in the counties where they are located.
But there is no such provision for larger cities.
Fuzzy Minnix, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, said county officials don't take seriously the threats of the city to give up its charter.
"I don't think the city is going to do that," Minnix said.
It might make sense if the city became a town, annexed part of the county and then became a city again, he said.
But that would be a complicated legal and political process with many pitfalls, Minnix said. And he doubts the city would take such a gamble.
Minnix said the supervisors agree with Cranwell. "The city would have to get the General Assembly's approval before it could do anything," he said.
Cranwell, who has vowed to fight any attempt by the city to regain the right to annex, said the city can't seek special legislation to give up its charter and become part of the county.
Instead, it would have to seek general law that would be applicable to all cities in similar circumstances.
The state Constitution prohibits the General Assembly from approving special legislation for such cases.
by CNB