Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1943-01-07
Public Meetings
Scheduled By
Charter Board
Chairman Lee Announces
Dates For Silver Spring,
Bethesda, Sandy Spring,
Gaithersburg

0oAbAtCA oOOA =
The Montgomery County Char
ter Board made the following
announcement on January s,
through Frederic P. Lee, chair
man:
The Board has arranged for
four public hearings to be held
by it in the near future. The
first of these hearings will be
held at the Jesup Blair Com
munity House, Silver Spring,
Friday evening, January Is. Fol-
lowing that will be a hearing on
Monday, January 10 at the Be
thesda Chevy Chase Community
and Recreational Center. After
the two meetings in the eastern
and western suburban areas,
there will be held two up-county
meetings, one in the Sandy Spring
Community House, Sandy Spring,
on Monday, January %, and the
other at the Fire Department
Building in Gaithersburg on Fri
day, January 20. All the meet
ings will commence at 8 P. M.
Public meetings are being held
by the Board as a part of its
program for citizen participation
in the process of framing a pro-
posed charter for Montgomery
County. Written statements Of
suggestions have already been re-
ceived from about fifty organiza-
tons and few individuals. Others
who plan to submit such written
statements are urged to do so at
their earliest opportunity.
The public hearings will afford
organizations and citizens an
opportunity to present orally
their views as to provisions to be
Incorporated in a charter for the
county. The Charter Board has
previously invited attention to
such items for discussion as the
membership of the County Coun-
Gil, election Of the members on a
non-partisan ballot, their nomina-
ton by petition or by political
parties, the county manager form
Of government, an Independent
county comptroller, and a civil
service merit system.
Other hearings will be held if
the necessity therefor arises.
Officials Of the Montgomery
County Civic Federation state
that it's representatives expect to
appear at the Silver Spring hear
ing. Representatives Of the League
of Women Voters and certain
other women's organizations will,
it is understood, be among those
to appear at the hearing in the
Bethesda Chevy Chase area. 1t
is suggested that other organi-
cations and individuals desiring
to appear at the hearings COM
municate with Frederic P. Lee,
Of the Charter Board,
in order that they may be convent
emily scheduled and arrangements
for the meetings facilitated.
All those desiring to appear
and make oral statements as to
the contents Of a charter should
feel free to do so. While only
such persons will be heard, any
Interested citizen is cordially in
vited to attend the hearings.
The Charter Board again eau
lions citizens that they should
bear in mind that a charter is
a broad document like a constitu-
lion and does not deal with details
that can be properly left to legis-
alton or regulations of the Coun-
" Council which, under the home
rule amendment to the Maryland
Constitution, will be set up in the
charter.
In addition to holding the pub
ic hearings the Board plans to
ievote this month and also Feb
ruary to the preparation Of a
tentative draft Of a charter. The
final draft must be completed by
he end Of April and the months
If March and April will be given
,ver to revision Of the tentative
iraft. In connection with such
revisory process, an opportunity
Tor further public hearings on the
tentative draft will be afforded.