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

DATE: THURSDAY, February 3, 1994                   TAG: 9402030429
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: E-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: NANCY BELL STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

VINTON'S TOWN MANAGER'S PLAN HAS FOCUS ON SERVICE

Goodman, who has been town manager less than a year, gave Council an action plan that he says he hopes will make the town focus more on services to customers.

"I think governments throughout the nation are [following the lead of business] in a continuing drive to improve services," Goodman told council members Tuesday.

Goodman's plan includes making changes in many of the town's services. The Vinton Police Department, for example, will restructure its recruitment and selection process, survey citizen about police services, create a speakers' bureau and establish or renew at least three neighborhood watch programs.

Goodman already has implemented a tracking system for the utility and public works departments. The two-week old system, which uses a $280 piece of computer software and two terminals, has tracked 145 service requests, giving town staff access to the status of these requests.

"Hopefully, this will improve customer service by decreasing response time and also contribute to quality responses," Goodman said. "From a management standpoint, everybody involved in that service is a customer."

Goodman's plan also includes upgrading the finance department's computer and maybe, using consultants to take the town into the next century.

Council is reviewing Goodman's plan and may make recommendations at its next meeting.

In other action:

Council passed a resolution supporting continued funding of the Virginia Department of Health's wastewater engineering functions. The proposed state budget for 1994-96 eliminates free inspections of sewer lines and water treatment systems.

Assistant Town Manager Bob Benninger said he fears that without state inspections the Farmers' Home Administration, the Department of Housing and Community Development and other agencies will not approve sewer-related projects without independent third-party reviews.

"The localities may end up picking up the tabs for independent engineering reviews," Goodman said.

Goodman reported that the town continues to have a shortage of salt for treating roadways in inclement weather.

"I'm told Norfolk had 50 million tons of salt and now they have none."

Vinton has between 10 and 15 tons of salt, enough to treat the town's 3.2 square miles for one night, or possibly two if the salt is mixed with sand and gravel, Goodman said, adding he expects a delivery by next week.

Vinton had 50 tons of salt at the beginning of the winter.

Council adopted a resolution removing boats from personal property tax proration.

Town Attorney Buck Heartwell, who recommended the measure, said that it would bring Vinton into compliance with Roanoke County's method of taxing boats on a yearly basis.

Council welcomed David Holiday as administrative assistant/planner, a job vacated last fall by Philip Vannoorbeeck. Holiday most recently worked for the Explore Project and holds degrees in communications and planning.