Evening star., 1943-01-12
County Council,
.Non-Partisan
Ballot Backed
Montgomery Citizens
Also to Ask Merit
System in Charter

ALSO 10 ASK MeTlt
System in Charter
Election Of five to nine-member
county council on q non-partisan
ballot and establishment of o merit
system for county employees will be
recommended by the Montgomery
County (Md) Civic Federation for
inclusion in q proposed county
charter at public hearing to be
held by the County Charter Board
at 8 pm. Friday at the Jesup Blair
Community House in Silver Spring.
The federation, which approved
the two measures at q meeting last
night in the Bethesda Elementary
School, also indorsed a report by
Washington I. Cleveland calling for
county administrator who, with
the various department heads, would
exercise the administrative func-
tons OF the county under charter
form of government.
Declaring that the proposed
county council should be primarily
a legislative group, the federation
said members of the council should
be nominated by petition rather
than by political parties and should
be elected by voters of the county
at large with district residence quail
if1cations for some or all OF the
members. They would not receive
any salary.
Would Provide Referendum.
In addition, the federation urged
Incorporation in a charter Of the
right Of referendum by county voters
"as check on the absolute powers
Of the council"
After one member Of the civic
group had suggested that council
members should be elected by dis
tricts, Walter M. McClenon pointed
out that such a provision would be
of doubtful constitutionality' and
might jeopardize approval Of the
entire charter.
At present, each Of the county
commissioners must reside in q
separate district. Mr.. McClenon
added that boundaries of the dis
tricts should be revised every 10
years so as to insure relative equality
among the districts In population
or in the number of registered
voters.
As for the number of signatures
required to nominate candidate for
the council, 1t was suggested that
the requirement be similar to the
present law under which 200 sigma
lures are needed.
Merit Of Commission Of Three.
The proposed merit system for
county employees would be admin
istered by three-man Civil Service
Commission elected by non-partisan
ballot. Members of the commission
would serve without pay and would
be reimbursed only for the actual
expenses incurred in connection with
their duties.
They would be nominated by petit
ton and elected for staggered terms
Of six years each. Under such a
system, it was explained, there would
always be two members of the COM
mission who were already familiar
with their duties.
In urging creation Of a merit sys-
tenn, the federation asserted that
the "old method of political ap-
pointment Of county workers has
become obsolete and expensive"
While admitting that six years "is
long term for any one to serve
without salary" the federation said
such provision would mean that
only the highest type of individual
would be willing to serve.
Mr.. Cleveland's report, which was
submitted on behalf of Theodore G..
Parkman, chairman of the Com.
mittee on Roads, Streets and Bridges.
said that all detailed administrative
work would be vested by the County
Council In the county administrator
and the various department heads.
Includes Administrator.
Funds for the salary of a county
administrator would be available
through savings resulting from
establishment of non-paid county
Council in lieu Of the present Board
OF County Commissioners and the
substitution of the county adminis-
traitor for the clerk to the board, Mr..
Cleveland asserted.
The administrator, together with
the various department heads. would
be appointed by the County Council
from list Of eligibles standing
highest in competitive examinations.
They would hold Office at the pleas
ure OF the Council, rather than for
fixed terms. and would be eligible for
reappointment when a new Council
is elected.
Among duties Of a county admin.
lstrator would be ID to act az
county budget officer responsible for
formulating the budget and to super-
wise its administration after it's
adoption by the Council: co to be
executive secretary of the County
Council; CD to have general super
vision over all county purchasing.
"a to direct "in broad and general
way all county civil law units. and
20 TO draft an annual report to the
Council and residents of the county
regarding the county government
ana to serve as a central source of
information regarding the county
government.