The Roanoke Times | File June

Mayor David Bowers, shown here at a meeting earlier this month, asked council members to reinstate his secretary.

Roanoke Mayor David Bowers made an unsuccessful, last-minute push Monday to retain his secretary.

Joyce Johnson, who has served since 1997 as the secretary to Bowers, Ralph Smith, Nelson Harris and now Bowers again, was informed in early April that her mayor's office job was one of 24 positions slated for elimination as part of the city's budget cuts.

After complaints and efforts behind closed doors to lobby for Johnson's job, Bowers made a motion during Monday's council meeting to preserve her job on a part-time basis. That motion was voted down 4-2, with Councilwoman Anita Price joining Bowers as the only two "yes" votes.

Before his motion, Bowers noted that Assistant City Clerk Sheila Hartman is scheduled to retire after nearly 30 years working for the city and suggested that her departure could allow Johnson to remain.

He said Johnson would shift to a four-day workweek and a corresponding cut in pay but keep her benefits. The secretary's job now pays $40,644 a year.

Bowers argued that Johnson fulfills a vital function by interacting with members of the public who call the mayor's office.

"People sometimes don't call other departments of the city; they call the mayor," Bowers said.

However, other council members were reluctant to override City Clerk Stephanie Moon, who made the decision to cut Johnson's job. Councilman Court Rosen called it "micromanagement" and suggested that if they were to retain Johnson, every other department head should be given the opportunity to lobby the council for positions they had cut.

Council gets briefed on proposed power line

The Roanoke City Council was briefed Monday on a proposed Appalachian Power Co. transmission line that would cut through six miles of the city's east side, as well as a portion of Vinton.

The transmission line is currently being considered by the Virginia State Corporation Commission, and Appalachian officials expect a decision by August. If approved, the line would connect the Huntington Court substation just west of the Ole Monterey Golf Course with the Roanoke substation near the former American Viscose plant on Riverland Road Southeast.

Project manager Archie Pugh said that 89 percent of the line would run through industrial areas. However, it twice crosses the Roanoke River, and it crosses the Roanoke River Greenway and runs near the Tinker Creek Greenway.

Greenway coordinator Liz Belcher told council members that Appalachian has worked with the Roanoke Valley Greenway Commission to try to minimize the line's impact.

Pugh said that if the SCC approves the transmission line's path, right-of-way acquisition would begin next year, with construction scheduled for 2011 and 2012.

Council raises rate for STAR service

The Roanoke City Council voted Monday to raise the monthly rate on a Valley Metro service for disabled individuals who are unable to ride a regular bus.

The council voted 4-2 to raise the monthly rate for STAR (Specialized Transit Arranged Rides) service from $84 to $96 a month, effective July 6. Mayor David Bowers and Councilwoman Gwen Mason voted against the rate increase, while Vice Mayor Sherman Lea and Councilmen Rupert Cutler, Court Rosen and David Trinkle voted for it.

A one-way trip on the STAR service costs $3, while the monthly pass allows for unlimited trips. Potential users of the service must apply to qualify, and they must make reservations for each trip at least a day in advance.