Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1945-02-22
Verbal Tilt Results
From Planners Proposals


Col. Lees Statement
Dean James j. Hayden has is.
sued an unduly derogatory state.
ment concerning both the recon-
mendations Of the Advisory Post.
War Planning Committee and the
general result of government II
Montgomery County.
"The recommendations of the
Planning Committee to the State
Senator and six members of the
House of Delegates, constitute ar
excellent and general program OF
detailed recommendations for the
improved administration of the
County government and collective
ly represent a long step forward
"a law to create separate
department OF purchasing, to be
administered by County Purchas-
ing officer, to be appointed to :,
four-year term of office by the
County Commissioners. The Pur-
chasing Agent is to serve under
the immediate direction and super
vision of the proposed County
Supervisor.
"A law to create the office of
County Supervisor, with primary
responsibility for the daily and
routine operation of all of the
functions Of the County govern
ment that came within the scope
of the recently proposed charter.
This authority includes jurisdiction
to appoint and discharge or sus-
pend county employees within the
provisions of the County Civil
Service regulations.
ut is in daily and routine hap
penings that the greatest in
efficiency or dollar loss to the tax
payers can occur. The purchase of
$1,O00,000 worth of County sup
plies a year represents another
considerable opportunity for ineffic-
iency and waste.
"Full responsibility for the eff
Gent administration of these act
ivities is to be placed in the
County Supervisor who may be
paid salary up to $4,000 year
and who is required to be person
of considerable training, exper-
fence, education and ability.
The County Supervisor is not
intended to be a County Manager
or substitute for the County
Commissioners and none of the
supporters of this proposal have
stated or intimated SUCH an intent.
'sAlso recommended is consid-
cradle increase in the ordinance
powers of the county commissions
ers and Recommendation that all
future County bond issues be kept
within 80 of the taxable basis of
the county.
at represents a refusal on the
part of the me mbers of Planning
| Committee to concur in Dean Hay
dens recommendations that the
county commissioners be deprived
of all executive and administra-
tive powers and functions; that
the two-party system be barred in
County elections, and that the
direct primary system be abolish
ed. The only other definite recon-
mendation of Dean Hayden's group
that was not supported was de-
mand that the County Civil Ser
vice include temporary employees.
"Not more than 20ao of the
general Committee are active DEM
ocrats or direct associates of the
Democratic County administration.
4 5000 of the Committee are active
Republicans, top leaders of the
Charter movement or top leaders
of the County Civic Federation or
allied Civic group. Another 10%'
were leaders in the movement
against the Charter. 40fo of the
membership are County residents
who are businessmen, farmers, pro-
fessional men, bankers, leaders in
women's clubs or civic groups not
positively identified either with the
Charter or the anti-Charter move
ment.
"All meetings of the general
planning Committee require four
days written notice to each men,
Der and copy of the text of
each proposal to be considered.
Meetings of standing committees
and subcommittee We're general
and extensive and nine formally
called meetings of the main Advis-
DRY Planning Committee have beer.
held. 1t is concerning the result
of the recommendations of these
committees that Dean Hayden and
the top leadership of the Charter
and Civic Federation movement
are now complaining"