By the terms of Chapter 234 of the 1971 Acts of Assembly, the City/County Relationships Commission was created to consider and report on natters involving city-county relationships, including studies on annexation, the incorporation of certain counties, the independent city system and other matters in connection therewith. The Commission was continued by Chapter 539 of the 1974 Acts of Assembly.

Pursuant to the terms of the study directive, thirteen members were appointed to the Commission. The members appointed by the Governor to serve on the Commission were Wiley F. Mitchell, Jr., Alexandria; Millard B. Rice, Phenix; Wendell P. Russell, Petersburg; and Ronald R. Workman, Lynchburg. Dr. Wendell P. Russell resigned during the course of the deliberations of the Commission. Mr. Edward L. Felton, Suffolk, was appointed to. serve on the Commission and fill the vacancy. The Speaker of the· House of Delegates appointed Delegates Willis M. Anderson, Roanoke; Robert B. Ball, Sr., Richmond; c. Russell Burnette, Rustburg; L. Cleaves Manning, Portsmouth; Thomas J. Michie, Charlottesville; and G. R. C. Stuart, Abingdon. Messrs. Anderson, Burnette and Stuart did not return to the House of Delegates during the course of the study but continued to participate in the deliberations of the Commission. The President of the Senate appointed Senators Peter K. Babalas, Norfolk; William A. Truban, Woodstock; and George M. warren, Bristol. Senator Babalas resigned during the course of the study and Senator Russell I. Townsend, Chesapeake was appointed to fill the vacancy.

Mr. G. R. C. Stuart was elected to serve as Chairman of the Commission, and Senator George M. Warren, Jr., served as Vice-Chairman of the Commission.

From the outset, members of the Commission were aware that the complexity of the matters designated by the Act of Assembly creating the Commission and the impact of the Commission's study were of such magnitude and importance that a full-time staff should be employed to assist the Commission in its study. This full-time staffing was provided by Dr. Clifton McCleskey, Director, Institute of Government of the University of Virginia; Michaux H. Wilkinson, Research Assistant, Institute of Government; and G. Gregory Raab, Research Assistant, Institute of Government.

G. William White, Jr., C. M. Conner, Jr. and Cheryl c. Booker of the Division of Legislative Services were assigned to provide additional assistance to the Commission in carrying out its directives.