Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1943-04-27
Changes Sought
In Draft Charter
'ForMontgonnery
Civic Federution's
Main Plea Affects
County Manager
BY MRS. J. REED BRADLEY.

While commencing the Montgom-
cry County Charter Board on a
notable accomplishment in the
skillful formulation of a proposed
charter of government for the coun-
ty," the County Civic Federation,
at a special meeting held in the
Bethesda Elementary School last
night, recommended "a specific
changes as a means of Qualification
and possible improvement. Most of
these changes were embodied in a
report of the Special Committee on
Charter, made by Allen Gardner,
chairman, but several were intro
duced on the floor of the fedora
ton after having been voted down
in committee.
The principal change suggested
involved the manner in which the
county manager shall be removed
from Office. The preliminary draft
of the charter provides that the
county council shall remove the
county manager "at will" but the
Civic Federation, on motion of John
F. Willmott, suggested that the
council shall appoint the manager
for an indefinite term and may re-
move him by vote of the ma
jority of its members. At least 80
days before such removal shall be-
come effective, the council shall, by
a majority vote of its members, adopt
preliminary resolution stating the
reasons for his removal. The man.
aged may reply in writing and may
request a public hearing, which
shall be held not earlier than 20
days nor later than 30 days after
the filing of such request. After
such public hearing, if one be re-
quested, and after full consideration,
the council, by majority vote of its
members, may adopt final resolu-
ton of removal"
Salary Change Urged.
To grant more discretion to the
County Council in case a competent
manager can be obtained for less
than $4,000, the federation recon-
mended that the salary floor be re-
moved but that the maximum salary
of $4,000 be maintained.
A motion by c. S. Duvall. jr., that
the Charter Board be asked to give
further consideration to the pre-
vision of county controller was
voted down after lengthy discus
sion. H. S. Yohe said he felt that
since the federation long had ad-
vocated a controller for the county
it should keep faith with the people
by demanding the inclusion of a
controller in the charter. L. B. Sims
opposed the suggestion on the
ground that the department of
finance, to be set up under the
charter, would do the work ordi-
narily done by a controller. j.,
The Charter Boards plan for a
department of safety, combining the
fire and police services, met with
opposition on the floor of the fed
Grafton. although the committee had
voted down suggestion for change.
At the recommendation of Henry
H. Smelling, section 4 of article Z
was amended to provide for two sep
arate departments. under separate
heads, one for fire and one for
police. Mr.. Smelling said that the
combination of the two departments
under one head with assistant di-
rectors for each department was a
weak device designed to get votes
for the charter. An amendment
offered by Dwight Collins incor-
porating a provision for a county
fire commission was lost by a vote
Of II to is after heated discussion.
Article Is Amended.
To make clear that only the legis-
lative powers transferred from the
General Assembly need be exer-
cised in April, article 4, section l,
was amended to read For the exer-
else of such transferred powers"
To transfer the power of electing
president of the council to execu-
tive powers so that the council may
elect its president before the April
legislative session, article 4, sec
ton 2 was amended by striking out
paragraph 4 in its entirety. A cor
responding change was recommend
ed for article 6, section l.
Since the county health depart
ment is now controlled by State
law, article 7, section 5 was amend
ed to read "the deputy State health
officer for the county shall be the
county health officer unless other
wise provided by law"
With only of the IL articles COW
cred by 80 o'clock, the federation
voted its approval of the commit
tees report on the remaining five
articles, since the committees &C
ton had been taken after 10 hours
of study and there was not sufficient
time for discussion by the fedora
ton as whole.
A complete draft of the revised
charter must be in the hands Of
the printer by Thursday, Mr.. Gard
ner announced. He urged that in
dividuals or groups with sugges-
lions for improvement get them to
the Charter Board Immediately.