Evening star., 1946-04-08
Group Proposes
CountyContro|
Of Planners
Montgomery Charter
Board Seeks to Guurd
Tax, Debt Functions

Transfer of the regulatory, admin
istrative and operational functions
of the Maryland-National Capital
Park and Planning Commission to
the county government was urged
today by the Board of Directors of
the Montgomery County Charter
Committee.
Specifically, the taX-levying and
debt-lncurring functions of the COM
mission, insofar as Montgomery
County is concerned should be
transferred to the elected Board of
County Commissioners with appro-
pirate safeguards for outstanding
bonded Indebtedness and subject to
commitments that may be made by
the commission under the Capper-
Cramton Act, the charter propo-
nentS said.
The tax functions referred to are
the 7-cent bond redemption tax, the
o-cent recreatiOnal facilities tax and
the scent administrative tax.
Appointive Power Urged.
montgomery County members of
the commission should, under the
nome rule principle, be appointed
by the elective Board OF County
Commissioners or, if charter is
approved, by the County Council. the
directors stated. Commission mem
bers should not be appointed by the
Governor as at present, they said.
Many functions which normally
belong to the peoples elected rep
reSentatives have been conferred on
the Governor-appointed Park and
Planning Commission" the state
merit decland. In 1945 the Mary
land Legislature transferred to the
commission new functions which the
Charter Committee believes should
be retained by the board So. This
action was taken because of the ap-
parent fet>' on the part of the coun-
ty political machine that the adop-
ton OF a charter providing for the
election of 4 County Council on a
nonpartlSan$ ticket would end the
machines long-continued domina-
ton of county affairs. The machine
seemed to think it shreWd to place
certain county functions in the shell
tered Park and Planning Commits
sion beyond reach of the voters"
The directors named the follow
ing functions which should be trans
terred to elected officials responsible
to the voters: Maintenance of
parks, park roads. structures and
equipment; appointment of park DO
lice, enforcement of the zOninc
ordinances and building regulations.
prescribing the duties of the build
ing inspector and the carrying out
Of public recreational program.
Should Retain Planning Power.
The directors believe the COM
mission should retain the function
OF working an overall master plan
for the county and the right to
acquire park lands. 1t also should
continue its coordination of ef-
forts with the National Capital Park
and Planning Commission, they
added
IN accordance with the practice
OF many communities all over the
country they said. the Mont
gomery County members of such a
planning commission should be
county residents whose interests and
qualifications peculiarly fit them for
such a post and who serve volun-
tarlly and without pay as do private
citizen members of the correspond
ing National Capital Park and
Planning Commission.
This entire issue is one charter
proponents intend to place before
the voters when they offer commit
tee-indorsed candidates for County
Commissioners and the House of
Delegates in the June Democratic
primary. 1t also will be among
questions put to all candidates for
office.