ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, June 25, 1996 TAG: 9606250098
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: S.D. HARRINGTON STAFF WRITER
NOTE: Below
SALEM'S LONGTIME LEADER presided over his last City Council meeting Monday night, but he will stay involved in two city projects.
As Salem's mayor, Jim Taliaferro banged his last gavel Monday night, piloted his last City Council meeting, then likely drank his last post-meeting beer with other councilmen and city administrators.
Even though the 22-year mayor sat behind the dais in Salem City Hall for the last time, don't expect his presence in the city's decision-making to disappear immediately.
He'll still be involved in two of the city's biggest projects.
After City Council approved funding for a visitors center, Taliaferro appointed himself to the advisory committee that will study possible locations.
And after a consultant said a golf course at Mowles Spring Park could be a successful venture for Salem, council appointed Taliaferro to the committee that will select the architect for the golf course.
"He'll be serving in a couple of important capacities as a citizen member," City Manager Randy Smith said. It's appropriate for Taliaferro's work with those projects to continue because he was actively involved with them as mayor, Smith said.
Taliaferro said his presence on the committees will be no different from any other resident's. But those who have worked with him say his expertise as a contractor has been invaluable to the city.
It was that expertise that helped Taliaferro earn a reputation as one of the toughest negotiators the city has ever had.
When contractors submitted bids on city projects, they knew the mayor would be scrutinizing every number, Smith said.
"They know he knows what it costs to put buildings up," he said.
Under Taliaferro, the city constructed more than $100 million in buildings, stadiums and other public facilities.
To the end, Taliaferro continued to wheel and deal.
Monday night, he and council closed a deal that had been talked about for two years - a land swap between the city and Roanoke College for the YMCA building and about 52 acres of the college's Elizabeth Campus.
"I'm going to miss his expertise..," Smith said. "I won't feel bashful about calling him on the phone" and asking an opinion, Smith said.
"I plan to consult with the mayor on some issues," 16-year Council veteran Brown said. "I'd be crazy not to."
Monday was like any other meeting day for Taliaferro.
Juggling the time between his contracting job and his responsibilities as mayor, he took an early morning review of that night's council agenda. Then he drove around to look at some sites council would have to take action on.
After lunch, he stopped by City Hall to review the agenda with Smith. For the most part, everything was in order, although he found some documents that hadn't been copied for all councilmen. He called a secretary to make sure the job was done before the meeting.
"I'm doing exactly what I did when I first started," he said. The only difference is, "I realized I wouldn't have to do this again after today."
LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: STEPHANIE KLEIN-DAVIS/Staff. Jim Taliaferro, retiringby CNBSalem mayor, looks up from studying his City Council meeting agenda
Monday, which was his last day on the job. Although Taliaferro is
resigning the post, his impact on the city's decision-making process
will continue. He'll simply be giving his input
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