Transcription
Members of Dumfries' Town Council generally agreed Tuesday night that a town manager and paid councilmen are needed.
James Bishop referred to the public hearing in the budget and said, "I think it's clear that we've got to have a paid Council - with brains!"
Bishop said it was "damn hard" to find competent men, adding that Dumfries is growing too fast and getting too big for an unpaid council to handle issues.
Mayor Alton Mountjoy agreed and added that consideration should be given to hiring a town manager.
"I've talked for hiring a town manager for the last three or four years," councilman Cecil Garrison said. Nothing was resolved how a town manager would handle work; the possibility of paid councilmen was also left in limbo.
Councilwoman Mrs. Marjorie Davis had a different priority, however: "We need to clean the creek out or we won't have any town or streets to worry about."
"What street?" Garrison asked.
"The creek!" Mrs. Davis said.
After considerable discussion about widening Graham Park Road (Va. 1107) to provide four lanes and sidewalks from U.S. 1 to the fire house, the Council decided to meet for an evening with Resident Engineer David L. Camper in the near future to discuss the matter. Camper had written the Council about the subject. Garrison voiced flat opposition to the town's sharing in any way in the costs of the widening and sidewalks.
On a separate item, the Council decided to buy two walkie talkies and a charger for them at a cost of $914 for each set and $41 for the charger. The motion was made by Onley (Butch) Brawner, seconded by Mrs. Davis, and unanimously passed. Sgt. H.E. Scites had told the council about the advantages of policemen having walkie talkies, so officers can be in constant contact, even when they are out of their patrol cars. Bishop urged that the town establish a program for building sidewalks. Mountjoy said the town would be "getting some more."
Concerning town personnel, Brawner urged that the Council have a meeting. One of the items to be discussed in specifically what Scites' duties are since he has been relieved of his general police duties and is now to oversee the force. Further, the Council is to decide which policemen are to attend the police academy when training will be available in April.
Tapes Stolen
A total of 10 tapes, a tape case, and a purse were taken Saturday from a car belonging to Barbara Scott McGowan of 8090 Portwood, Manassas. The car was parked in front of the Dart Drug Store in the Manaport Shopping Center, according to Officer E.M. Barrett of the County Police. Ernest Edward Spittle, 19, of 8316 Rollings Rd., Manassas, was apprehended by the security guard of a Manassas store and charged with concealing three pairs of men's trousers and a radio speaker. He was turn over to the County Police Monday.Transcriber
Abbigail Alm