Vice mayor Hrbek outspoken against formal gatherings

By Ben Orcutt -- Daily Staff Writer

FRONT ROYAL — After a roughly 18-month layoff, the Town Council plans to resume liaison committee meetings with the Warren County Board of Supervisors.

The council reached a consensus during a Monday work session at the Town Hall. The panel is slated to adopt a mission statement and policy regarding resumption of the liaison committee meetings this Monday.

Vice Mayor Bret W. Hrbek told his colleagues during the work session that he is not in favor of resumption of the liaison committee meetings. Hrbek said his preference would be for Mayor Eugene R. Tewalt and supervisors Chairman Archie A. Fox to meet informally to discuss town and county issues.

Hrbek reiterated his position on Tuesday.

"If we're going to have a formal meeting, it needs to be a formal meeting," Hrbek said. "However, it slows down the cooperation between the two bodies if you do it formal."

Hrbek told his colleagues on the council on Monday that he feels that formal liaison committee meetings lend themselves to possible grandstanding by committee members. Hrbek said more could be accomplished in a relaxed setting without the media present. He noted on Tuesday that the council and the supervisors still have to sign off on suggestions from liaison committee meetings.

Councilman Chris W. Holloway agreed with Hrbek during Monday's work session, but the pair proved to be in the minority. Councilman Carson C. Lauder Jr. said he would like to see formal and informal liaison meetings, but that he could support a formal meeting.

"I think it's important to keep the lines of communication open," Councilman Thomas E. Conkey said.

Conkey agreed with Hrbek that the informal meetings may be more effective, but he said that without some structure, the meetings may not take place. Councilman N. Shae Parker said he also could support the formal liaison committee meetings.

Tewalt said he had spoken with Fox about resuming the meetings, and Tewalt said he wanted to bring the idea before council.

"I'd rather have a liaison meeting and make it official," the mayor said.

He told the panel that Councilman Thomas H. Sayre, who is on vacation and missed Monday's meeting, also was in favor of resuming the liaison committee meetings.

"If it is to be formal, I want it to be formalized," Hrbek said during Monday's meeting.

Hrbek said he would like to have the topics of discussion approved by the council prior to the committee meetings. That is one of the items the council is expected to address on Monday, in addition to the purpose of the committee, a meeting schedule, meeting procedures and committee membership.

A working mission and policy statement says that the committee is to be made up of the mayor and town manager, as well as the Board of Supervisors chairman and the county administrator.

Happy Creek Supervisor Tony F. Carter said Tuesday that he welcomes resumption of the liaison committee meetings. Carter is the only current member of either the supervisors or the Town Council to have served on both bodies.

"I think I never really was not in favor of having the committee meetings," Carter said. "I think it's a good way to share information and a good way to communicate between the two bodies. The liaison committee, in my opinion, has always been meant to be an information-sharing function. There were never supposed to be any decisions made."

* Contact Ben Orcutt at borcutt@nvdaily.com