THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 10, 1996 TAG: 9607100343
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MAC DANIEL, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: 57 lines
City Council secretary W. Joe Newman was unanimously reappointed on Tuesday, but not before the council held a secret meeting to consider eliminating his position.
City Attorney Ronald L. Hallman ruled that the secret meeting was permitted under Virginia law, contending that the council was discussing an appointment to a public body.
The largely honorary secretary position was created in 1994 by the then-Republican controlled council. It has been held by a Republican council member.
When it was first proposed, the job was described as one to help resolve citizen complaints and provide reports to council members.
It was suggested by then-Vice Mayor Arthur L. Dwyer, who nominated former Councilman Robert T. Nance Jr., a fellow Republican. The council's two Democrats voted against Nance's subsequent appointment.
At the time, Democratic Mayor William E. Ward objected to the position, saying it was an attempt to ``disempower'' his position.
This year, the council is split evenly along party lines plus independent Councilman Alan P. Krasnoff.
Both parties have promised to cast aside partisan wrangling.
After Tuesday's executive session, Ward said the matter was discussed behind closed doors because ``we felt it was necessary'' and because it was in ``an atmosphere where we could freely discuss the position.''
A decision on whether Newman would be re-appointed council secretary was postponed last week at the council's reorganization meeting. Krasnoff asked for a week to discuss the issue, adding that it was a procedural delay.
When council members emerged from the executive session Tuesday, Newman was the only nominee for the position. The vote was 9-0.
In other action, the council voted 5-4 to give a tax break to disabled veterans.
It was initially proposed that Chesapeake be the first city in the region to not tax disabled veterans on their personal property.
Chesapeake staff told the council that Norfolk charges disabled veterans $3 per $100 of assessed value for personal property; Virginia Beach charges $1.50 per $100; Newport News charges the least in the region - $1 per $100.
Chesapeake is thought to have about 108 veterans who are ``100 percent'' disabled. By allowing them to pay no taxes on their vehicles, the city estimated it would lose about $30,000 in revenue.
However, after some concern about what constituted ``100 percent disabled'' and fearing they could open themselves to thousands of no-tax claims, the council voted for an alternate motion that reduced the tax for disabled vets to $1.50 on each $100 of assessed value, down from $4.
``I think,'' said Ward, ``this kind of puts us in the middle here.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
After an executive session Tuesday to consider eliminating the
position, Chesapeake City Council unanimously reappointed Councilman
W. Joe Newman to the largely honorary position of council secretary.
KEYWORDS: APPOINTMENT by CNB