Laserfiche WebLink
<br />\ .) <br />~) , , ~j <br /> <br />MONDAY <br /> <br />JUNE 28, 1982 <br /> <br />A special meeting of the Council of the City of Martinsville, Virginia, duly called by <br /> <br />action taken by the Council at its regular meeting held June 22, 1982, was held jointly <br /> <br />with the Henry County Board of Supervisors at the Henry County Administration Building, <br /> <br />Monday, June 28, 1982, beginning at 1:00 P.M., for the purpose of receiving jointly <br /> <br />with the Board of Supervisors a summary report (with appendices) and recommendations <br /> <br />from the Martinsville-Henry County Merger Study Committee and for the purpose of taking <br /> <br />such action thereon as each of the two governing bodies deemed appropriate. With the <br /> <br />exception of Councilman West (who was away from the City), all members of Council were <br /> <br />present, viz., Barry A. Greene, Mayor; William C. Cole, Jr., Vice-Mayor; L. D. Oakes; <br /> <br />and Henry C. Reed. Presiding at this meeting was Mr. James W. Wagoner, Jr., Chairman <br /> <br />of the Board of Supervisors. <br /> <br />The following is a copy of the summary report and eecommendations presented by Mr. <br /> <br />William F. Franck, Chairman, and Mr. George B. Adams, Jr., Vice-Chairman, of the Merger <br /> <br />Study Committee: <br /> <br />PREFACE <br /> <br />We would like to thank both governing bodies for their support in this Commiittee's <br />efforts. The Committee found that the individuals interviewed during this study <br />are interested in, well qualified, and concerned about providing high quality <br />governmental services to the citizens of this area. A summary of this Committee's <br />charge was to analyze functional and political aspects of the two governments and <br />determine the feasibility of total or partial merger. If merger is not feasible, <br />the reasons are to be detailed. If merger is feasible, then define the legal steps <br />and a time schedule. <br /> <br />After initial organization in May, 1981, Committee members visited three <br />previously-merged Tidewater cities (Suffolk, Chesapeake, and Virginia Beach) to <br />ascertain the reasons, procedures, economics, taxation, representation and <br />problems of their respective mergers. Area representatives and persons active <br />during their merger periods were interviewed. Current physical, financial and <br />political operations were also discussed. Taxation increases have been less than <br />those of surrounding communities. Persons employed prior to merger were retained <br />in merged job assignments that were agreed upon during early consolidation. All <br />three cities' representatives stated positively and enthusiastically that merger <br />was beneficial to their respective areas. <br /> <br />The Study Committee then formed four subcommittees, each with two members from the <br />City and County, to examine in detail the advantages and disadvantages of merger <br />in four major areas: General Government, Public Safety, Schools and Recreation, <br />and Utilities and Roads. Function officials and personnel were interviewed, <br />