Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 8, 1994 TAG: 9410100052
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CATHRYN McCUE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The machine had been spewing out page upon page of recommendations from Gov. George Allen's strike force, hundreds of ideas from his hand-picked panel on how to improve state government.
"We've been running it all day long," said Keyser, the acting librarian. "We're arguing about whether it's two inches or two and a half."
It's thick, yes, and dense. Like a Tolstoy novel. Like a government document. Like a plan that would do nothing less than overhaul every aspect of Virginia's bureaucracy.
The 466 recommendations range from arcane minutiae - studying the use of urethane snowplow blades - to vague, sweeping reforms - cutting out layers of bureaucracy to provide better service to citizens.
``Whoever was printing it off was reading it and said, `This is awfully dull,''' Keyser said with a laugh.
While the writing may lack inspiration, the impact of many of the recommendations would be anything but dull.
The suggestion, for instance, to eliminate $2million a year in state funding for the Museum of Natural History in Martinsville has people in that city riled. The City Council postponed its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday so members can attend a public hearing that night on the strike force recommendations, at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of Virginia Western Community College.
Other recommendations include:
"Definitive study and action with reference to the disruptive student must be instituted now ... ''
"Require agencies to reduce spending for supplies, printing, publications, travel, conferences, telephone calls, mail and postage and copying."
Privatizing road maintenance in one county as a pilot project.
Phasing out money for all nonstate museums, including hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Virginia Museum of Transportation, the Science Museum of Western Virginia and the Art Museum of Western Virginia.
Extending college classes to 51/2 days and promoting year-round classes that would graduate students in three years.
Requiring renewal of license tags by mail - or a $5 surcharge for those who insist on coming into a Department of Motor Vehicles office.
Subjecting any regulatory restrictions that would protect endangered species habitat to a cost/benefit analysis.
Reducing the list of regulated air toxins from 450 pollutants to 189, as currently regulated by the federal government.
And that's just eight recommendations. The list goes on.
By 5 p.m. Friday, as promised, the strike force staff had put the full list - with explanations not before released to the public during the six-month process - on Internet, a network of computer networks. That's what Keyser tapped into Friday after getting a call from Assistant City Manager Jim Ritchie, who wanted a copy.
On paper, the list comes out to 412 pages. Copies will be mailed Monday to agencies, legislators, media and others requesting them, said Bruce Meadows, strike force spokesman. The charge is $13.
It's a lot to ponder before the public hearing Tuesday, the first of four around the state. Others are scheduled for Thursday and Oct. 18 and 20.
Critics of the strike force, particularly environmentalists, have accused the 60-member panel of operating behind closed doors without allowing the public sufficient time or information to participate.
"Now we're being accused of giving out too much information," Meadows said Friday.
He said 16 commission members have signed up to attend the public hearing Tuesday.
After the public hearings, the committees will revise their recommendations, the commission will approve or reject them and will send them on to the governor by Nov. 15.
Allen may enact some recommendations by executive order, or present others to the General Assembly if they need legislative approval.
by CNB