Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, January 5, 1994 TAG: 9401050059
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
No, he did not return as city manager, although he still is asking probing questions, just as he did when he had the top job.
Ewert, city manager for 7 1/2 years before resigning in 1985, attended his first meeting as a member of the Redevelopment and Housing Authority's board of commissioners.
Ewert said he was glad to see old friends.
City Council members recently appointed Ewert to the board, saying they believed his experience and familiarity with the city's housing problems would be helpful.
"Bern knows a lot about housing, and we think he can help us," Councilman James Harvey said.
Ewert was treated almost like a celebrity by authority officials.
"It is a real coup for the authority to get an international consultant," said Willis "Wick" Anderson, chairman of the board.
Ewert is now a research professor at George Mason University. He has also done some municipal consulting in foreign countries since leaving his post as project director of Explore Park.
The former city manager said he looked forward to working with the authority board.
Ewert, appointed two weeks ago, had a temporary name card on the meeting table.
The authority staff briefed the board on its programs and projects. Some programs, such as emergency home repair, began when Ewert was city manager.
Under the emergency program, the authority provides grants to low-income homeowners to repair roofs, plumbing or heating systems so they can stay in their homes and avoid becoming homeless.
"That is a wonderful program," Ewert said. "It helps people make critical repairs."
He asked whether neighborhood leaders had been made aware of the program and the funds that are available. The Neighborhood Partnership Program, a self-help partnership between the city and neighborhoods, was established when Ewert was city manager.
Dan Campbell, who heads the authority's rehabilitation programs, said the neighborhood leaders had been notified.
The authority had $140,000 to distribute through the program; $107,000 has been committed.
If the program was highly publicized, Campbell said, "we would receive hundreds or maybe thousands of calls."
David Baldwin, director of housing, outlined the authority's programs aimed at reducing teen-age pregnancies, drug abuse and other problems in public housing complexes.
"How would you know if you are successful?" Ewert asked.
Baldwin said that was a good question, adding that the authority could develop a tracking system to evaluate effectiveness.
The seven-member board decided to schedule a long-range planning session soon to focus on goals and programs for the next year. Ewert agreed that at least one day should be set aside for the meeting.
"I would think we would have a lot to talk about," he said.
by CNB