THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 1, 1996 TAG: 9607300115
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALEX MARSHALL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 73 lines
Hands over hearts and facing the flag, the City Council has followed the lead of most other councils in the area and has opted to begin its formal meetings with the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance.
This was one of several changes in its meeting style and procedures the council took recently after an all-day retreat at the Airport Hilton on Military Highway. The council spent the day brainstorming on how to best do the city's business.
Until now, the council has started each meeting with a short prayer.
Most council members expressed no great enthusiasm for adding the pledge, although Councilman Mason C. Andrews was the only member to oppose the idea openly. Andrews said saying the pledge at every meeting was inappropriate and unnecessary.
But Mayor Paul D. Fraim said civic leader John Rogers had urged the council to adopt the change and that such a request was difficult to refuse. Councilman G. Conoly Phillips said it was appropriate for the council to show its respect for both God and country at every meeting.
The other changes were intended to make meetings more efficient and productive.
The council will begin meeting with city boards and commissions on the third Tuesday of each month in an attempt to have more relaxed discussions with the appointed bodies that carry out a substantial amount of the city's work.
Formal voting on ordinances and policies will be restricted to the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, unless the council makes an exception. Planning items will be scheduled at night meetings on the fourth Tuesday of the month so that those affected will be able to attend the meetings more easily.
The council discussed its policy toward those who want to speak before the council on non-agenda items, which has been a regular part of all meetings except policy meetings. The council eventually decided to continue allowing such speakers at the meeting on the third Tuesday, even though this would be a policy meeting.
The council did opt to begin requiring speakers on non-agenda items to register before the start of the formal meeting and to give a topic. The staff recommended requiring speakers to register several days in advance, but the council did not want to make speaking before the council so difficult.
The council also will consider reducing the number of required meetings a year from 46 to 40, which would require a charter change by the General Assembly. Another change considered, which also would require a charter change, is switching to electronic voting. Under this system, the council's votes would appear on a lit scoreboard in the council chamber. Now, the clerk records the council's voice votes.
The changes to meeting procedures were only the most visible product of the all-day retreat, most of which was spent examining how the council does business and how it could better set priorities for the city.
City Manager James B. Oliver told the council he wanted members to concentrate more on setting policy. Conflicts with city departments, or with appointed bodies like the School Board or the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority, could be avoided if more specific policy direction were given, Oliver said.
Councilwoman Daun S. Hester is the new member on council. Having taken office July 1, this was Hester's first retreat.
The council discussed several items relating to the now four-year-old ward system.
Fraim suggested that the city examine the city's budget to see how much money each ward receives in city services, and thus settle the issue that at times divides council - whether some wards receive more city spending than others.
Also discussed was when council members should be informed by city staff of events occurring in their wards, before the entire council. Councilman Herbert M. Collins suggested the council agree that downtown, Old Dominion and Norfolk State, the ports, Military Circle and other prominent institutions were ``citywide assets'' that concerned the entire council.
KEYWORDS: NORFOLK CITY COUNCIL U.S. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE by CNB