THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, November 21, 1995 TAG: 9511210267
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAC DANIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 52 lines
At a staff picnic for city employees last Thursday, Suffolk Councilman Thomas G. Underwood unexpectedly announced that all city employees would get to stay home the day after Thanksgiving.
The employees were all scheduled to work on Nov. 24 and hadn't expected Friday off. Suffolk city officials didn't expect it either.
The day-after holiday was never approved by the City Council. Nor were the mayor, the city manager and several members of council contacted about Underwood's intentions.
But after saying he had found a majority on the seven-member council who supported the holiday, Underwood made the announcement.
City law requires a formal vote by the council to approve a work holiday. Straw polls don't count.
On Monday, Underwood and Councilman J. Samuel Carter called a special council meeting for Wednesday to approve the hastily announced holiday.
Underwood did not return phone calls Monday.
Councilman Richard R. Harris, an opponent of any additional holidays, said he was not contacted about the additional day off until Monday when the special meeting was announced.
As of Monday afternoon, Harris still had not spoken with Underwood, Harris said.
There was some talk among council members after last week's council meeting that Nov. 24 be made a holiday, Harris said, but no action was taken.
Mayor S. Chris Jones, who is leaving town Wednesday, was not contacted until after Underwood's announcement.
``I was totally surprised and caught off guard by it,'' Jones said. ``That's not the way the city should do business.''
Councilman Carter said he supports the holiday but was not aware of Underwood's public announcement.
Councilwoman Marian ``Bea'' Rogers, who attended the staff picnic and heard Underwood's announcement, called the city attorney afterward.
``I'm upset,'' Rogers said, ``because of the way it was done.''
Rogers said she will be unable to attend Wednesday's special council meeting.
``I've got to make a blood platelet donation,'' she said, ``because I think that's more important than what is going to be discussed.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Thomas G. Underwood
by CNB