Evening star., 1945-03-13
Merit System
Bills Offered
For Montgomery
Assembly Also Asked
To Creute Office of
Public Utility Agent

8
Public Utility Agent
Bills providing for a merit system
for certain employees of Montgomery
County, creating the ONCE Of a
public utility agent and establishing
q purchasing bureau for the county,
with the appointment Of q pur-
chasing agent, were introduced, in
the Maryland Legislature yesterday
by the Montgomery County delega-
tion.
The act providing for establish
ment Of a merit system includes
appointment by the county commits
sioners Of civil service commits
sioner, who would hold office for
a term of four years and until his
successor shall qualify" The term
of the first commissioner is to begin
August l, 1945, and any vacancy
is to be filled by the commissioners
for the unexpired term. The COM
missioner's salary is to be deter
mined by the county commissioners.
Any employe of any department,
commission, board, office or ir,sti-
tuition Of Montgomery County which
comes within the jurisdiction of the
Board Of County Commissioners
would be a member of the classified
service.
Many Employees Omitted.
Employees not included would be
the county supervisor, the county
controller and accountant, the
counsel and assistant counsel to the
county commissioners, the county
purchasing agent, the county civil
service commissioner, the chief of
police (but not other members of
the county police Department., the
county engineer and assistant
county engineers, the county road
the clerk and assistant
clerk to the county commissioners,
the clerk in the County Building
In Bethesda and the clerk in the
County Building in Silver Spring.
The bill also contains provision
for emergency appointments for a
period not exceeding so days.
Ninety-day appointments may be
made on requisition on the COM
Employees who were in county
service December /, 1941, are to
become members of the classified
service on passing qualifying ex-
Returning veterans are
also entitled to be restored to their
former positions on passing quail
flying examination, and those who
have served II months or more will
be given preference credits of 10.
per cent In the examinations. Vet
Grams with overseas duty are to be
given 20 per cent credit through
January 10, 1852. Credit preferences
will be given to members of the
county police force through Janu-
airy 10, 1856.
Utility Agent Provided.
Another bill introduced yesterday
provides for employment of public
utility agent to advise and represent
the Board of County Commissioners
and county residents on all matters
pertaining to public utilities and
public transportation services before
the Public Service Commission of
Maryland, the public utilities au-
thorities Of the District, or the Fed
eral Government, and before public
and private utilities agencies"
In addition, the public utilities
agent is to advise and represent the
county commissioners on matters
pertaining to rates and to investi-
gate services and rates.
In citing qualifications for the Of
fee the bill states the agent should
be lawyer with reasonable public
ability and corporate experience, as
well as reasonable experience in
governmental administration. He is
to serve on a part-time basis and
hold Office at the pleasure of and
receive such salary as the Board Of
Commissioners may provide"
Will Aid All Residents.
The public utility agent is to
maintain regularly advertised hours
in either the Bethesda or Silver
Spring county buildings and aid all
county residents in their efforts to
obtain improved public services.
The bill creating a purchasing
bureau states that the head is to be
a county purchasing agent to be ap-
pointed by the county commission
ers for term of four years. The
salary Of the agent and his assist
ants is to be determined by the
commissioners, but the agent is to
furnish a fidelity bond of $25, 900.
Every county agency except the
Liquor Control Board, that spends
tax-raised funds for the purchase
Of supplies, would purchase all ma
terials and supplies through or with
the approval Of the purchasing
agent.
Educational and technical sup
plies Of the county Board of Edu-
cation, the act states, may be pur-
chased as the county Board Of Edu-
cation may determine.
ALI of the acts, If passed, are to|
take effect June l.