THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 18, 1994 TAG: 9408160130
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS
SOURCE: MIKE KNEPLER
LENGTH: Medium: 73 lines
Help Mayor Paul Fraim bust out of City Hall.
Fraim, mayor for only 1 1/2 months, already thinks he's spending too much time behind his desk.
``One of the things that I am really taken back by is that I'm required to spend so much time in the mayor's office,'' he fussed.
But that's not how Fraim wants to style his tenure. His thoughts:
``I would really like to use the mantle of the mayor's job to reach out. I'd like to be more visible. I'd like to take the mayor's job to the streets, in a sense.
``I'd like to spend more time listening, communicating with people in the neighborhoods, on the street level, as opposed to just meeting with people in my office.
``You need to get into everything from civic leagues, church groups, civic associations. You need to be available for all kinds of celebrations. The mayor really needs to be visible, to move around in the city as much as possible and not stay in the mayor's office.
``I think you get a little isolated in this job. I felt that almost immediately. The city staff would just schedule you with meetings all day long if you let them.
``That first Tuesday, my first City Council meeting, I got here at 7:30 a.m. and didn't come out of the office until very late in the day. That continued on for several weeks. I just realized that I really had to start taking my schedule in hand.
``You can lose sight of the fact that you really need to be out talking with citizens, finding out what they think is important.''
So, how can you help Fraim?
``I want to make it known to the heads of civic leagues and civic associations that the mayor is very willing to play any role in their groups that they think is constructive,'' he said. ``I'm willing to meet with any groups of people to talk about the city.''
Go for it.
Fraim foibles. Don't be surprised if Mayor Fraim gets to your community event a little late. But he'll more than make up for it.
For example, Fraim came 70 minutes late to dedicate a billboard promoting the Virginia Zoo.
No sooner had Margaret Falkiner, president of the Virginia Zoological Society, said it will take more than 15 years to complete the zoo's proposed expansion, when Fraim declared:
``Faster than that!. . . Yes, that is my hope.''
By the way, hizzoner was seen speeding the wrong way on a one-way feeder road to get to the ceremony. That's a sure sign the zoo's plans are headed in the right direction.
Partnership power. Every year, by mid-December, the City Council formulates its package of legislative goals for the General Assembly.
But how about giving the rest of Norfolk a little say? For example, the council could hold a forum on what voters think.
Mayor Fraim said it's an idea worth considering, maybe even when the council goes on its internal policy retreat, Aug. 22-23.
``I'd like to do more Town Hall meetings in the future,'' he said. ``I'd like to have more ways to reach out to the people.''
Even in preparing the city's legislative package? ``Yeah, I think that would be important,'' he said.
A broad-based partnership might even help Norfolk achieve its legislative goals more readily. MEMO: Comment or suggestion for Mike Knepler: please call 446-2275 or write
The Compass, P.O. Box 449, Norfolk, Va. 23501. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Mayor Fraim
by CNB