ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1995, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, December 28, 1995 TAG: 9512280040
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: RICHMOND
SOURCE: Associated Press
Gov. George Allen is giving thought to dissolving some state boards that either have not met, or have met infrequently, over the past several years - an idea that at least one board member applauds.
``Obviously, if a board never meets, or rarely meets, it serves no useful purpose,'' said Thomas Van Auken, a Republican activist appointed last year by Allen to the Laboratory Services Advisory Board.
The retired Philip Morris chemist wrote Allen that boards such as his make the government's structure more complex and burdensome. The laboratory board has not met in the two years Van Auken has been on it, and it had not met for several years before that.
``All it does is provide a meaningless title as a reward to a political supporter,'' Van Auken concluded.
Allen asked Secretary of the Commonwealth Betsy Beamer three months ago to review boards and commissions and find out which have not met in awhile.
Beamer said she plans to ask the various constituent groups affected by those boards what they think about continuing them.
She estimates there are fewer than 10 boards that never meet. Beamer said the World Trade Council, formed in the administration of Gov. Gerald Baliles, has not met at least since 1990.
She said the boards or commissions are not costing taxpayers money; they would cost only if they met. The board members are not paid to serve, but are reimbursed for travel expenses.
The theory is that the boards encourage citizen participation. Allen will have made between 4,000 and 4,500 appointments by the time he leaves office.
Beamer hopes to report to Allen shortly. It has not been decided whether the governor will recommend abolition of any boards.
The Laboratory Services Board was created in the early 1970s to review the activities of the Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services and settle disputes between state agencies and the division. Apparently, no such disputes have arisen, Van Auken said.
In the meantime, he has a framed certificate of his appointment at his house.
``That's for being appointed to nothing,'' he said. ``I'd just as soon save the $10 to print it.''
LENGTH: Short : 49 linesby CNB