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

DATE: SATURDAY, May 6, 1995                   TAG: 9505080076
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DAN CASEY
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

HARVEY QUITS AS CHAIRMAN OF HOTEL PANEL

Saying his job is finished now that the hotel doors are open, James Harvey, chairman of the Hotel Roanoke Conference Center Commission, has resigned his post.

The announcement came in a May 1 letter to City Council, which now has the task of filling the empty slot on the six-member commission, which is equally divided between city and Virginia Tech officials.

"I said that I would stick it out through the hotel being open ... I've done what I was asked to do," the former city councilman said Friday.

Harvey owns homes here and in Florida. He also owns a number of Roanoke rental properties, which he intends to sell. He hasn't decided if he'll stay here or move after those are sold.

The last time a seat on the commission was open was in 1993, after former Finance Director Joel Schlanger resigned.

The resignation created a minor power struggle between Mayor David Bowers, who wanted the seat, and other members of council, who believed it should go to someone with experience in finance and accounting. Ultimately, Finance Director Jim Grisso won the nod.

Neither Harvey nor Councilman Mac McCadden said they expect great controversy in filling the seat this time around, because the hotel and conference center are already open.

"It's important, in that we need to figure out a plan to attract people," said McCadden, who added that he would like the appointment. "But it's not glamorous anymore."

by CNB