1981-02-17 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Public hearing re: Recommendations by the Citizens Committee to Study Council Changes 395 Council of passing the responsibility for the problems on to the Federal !evel-~.,when it should be solved on the local level. He also accused the City staff and Council of being unable to relate to the residents in this area of town. Mayor Buck stated that the City staff had tried hard to solve these problems and that now it appeared the best course would be to use the mediation service of the HUD representative. Council held a public hearing on the recommendations of the Citizens Committee to Study Council Changes (CCSCC) to enlarge the Council to seven members and go to a mixed ward/at-large system of Council elections. M_rs. Virginia Carrington of 213 9th St., NW, chairperson of the political action committee of the NAACP agreed with the committee's recommendations. Mr. Lionel Key of 2315 Price Avenue agreed with Mr. King's minority report which recommended that the Council structure and method of elections not be changed. He said that because~of the current negotiations withtAlbemarle County about possible annexation or consolidation, this is not a good time to be considering a ward system of elections. Ms. Gail Comras of 1623 Meridian Street thanked Council for being willing to study the issue and recommended a binding referendum on the question. Mr. William Johnson of 217 Old Lynchburg Road and president of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Justice Committee favored the change because he thinks it would make local government more responsive to citizens. He suggested that blacks, the poor and the needy would be better represented under a ward system. He said that the three Democratic Council members elected last spring were supported by blacks in the community and should now give their support to this change that would benefit blacks. Ms. Ruth Brown of 706 Ridge Street spoke in favor of the recommendations. Mr. Sherman White of 607 Beechwood Drive favored the recommendations and felt that the changes would ensure better representation and more voner participation in elections. Mr. John Hundley of 1609 Delmar Drive spoke against the proposed changes but ~favored a referendum on the subject. He felt that wards would lead to parochialism in elections. Mr. Darden Towe of 607 Davis Avenue spoke against the proposed changes but also favored a referendum on the question. He said the present and past Councils have been hard-working and receptive to the needs of the community. He also suggested that the annexation question be solved before these changes be considered. Mr. John Houchens, president of the Belmont Neighborhood Association, also called for a referendum. After closing the public hearing, Mayor Buck said Council