Two items on the Asheville City Council agenda yesterday did not go over well with the public. One was a report about heightened security at city hall. Some citizens resent the prospect of going through a metal detector and being closely supervised by at least four police officers should they attempt to speak to city council.

As further evidence that council had assumed some form of imperial aura, Councilman Brownie Newman proposed appointing a 7-9 member commission to advise council on how to change municipal elections. Using tax dollars to fund campaigns, instituting Instant Runoff Voting, determining how to fill upcoming anticipated council vacancies, and switching to district elections, were some proposed considerations. It was even suggested that council revisit the possibility of making elections partisan in spite of the overturning of a recent attempt to do so with an 80%-20% defeat in a referendum forced by the collection of over 5000 petition signatures. Fortunately, four members of council voted against what they believed the public would perceive to be another power grab by incumbents.