Evening star., 1947-02-25
Planners Study
Tighter Check
On Buildings
Montgomery Official
Attacks Present Code
Charging Politics

Shor9Ing Politics
The Maryland National Capital
Park Planning Commission will con-
slider recommendations Ito tighten
up" building inspections, Vice Chair
man E. Brooke Lee said today.
Speaking before the Allied Civic
Group of Silver Spring last night,
Wesley de Sauter, Montgomery
County commissioner, advocated
adoption Of building code similar
to that of the District. He added
that getting a building permit Is
ludicrous and the. inspection is just
as ludicrous."
County Supervisor I. G. McNayr
also charged that politics influences
the planners in considering building
permit applications.
Replying to their charges, Mr.. Lee
said:
"The building code now in force in
suburban Montgomery County was
based on the District of Columbia
code. The Park and Planning Com
mission has received no request for
the consideration or approval of q
new building code.
Studying Prince Georges Code.
1--WE are, however, considering the
provisions of new code that is be-
ing prepared for suburban Prince
Georges County by construction en-
gineers connected with the Univer.
sity of Maryland"
We will consider Commissioner
Sauter's recommendation to tighten
up the building inspection. The
building inspection department Is
the only activity that has been added
to those Of thePark and Planning
Commission ip the last IL years.
Hands will Remain Tied.
Mr.. McNayr and Commissioners
Sauter, and Oliver w. Youngblood,
told the civic group their hands
will remain tied on many matters
of administration policy unless they
are given more authority through
legislation now pending at Tn
napolis.
114t4AouSII q llALllDC1 VI CIldllBC6
are already planned, Mr.. McNayr
warned that I'VE cannot upset the
traditions of a primarily rural coun-
ty overnight"
Following criticism from two res
idents that the county had opened
State roads before county routes
after last weeks snow, Mr.. McNayr
acknowledged this to be true but
said the county should be COM
|mended rather than condemned for
it's efforts.
Snow removal will cost between
s25, 900 and $4,000 for extra labor,
overtime and hired trucks, he said.
State Roads Commission equipment
is obsolete and was unable to cope
with conditions, he said.
milk Route" Reopened.
Route %, out of Rockville to
IDarnestown, Dickerson and Pooles-
ville-described as the milk route"
was opened yesterday, he said.
Replying to query of C. A. Green
leaf on taxicab regulations, Mr..
Sauter said he was preparing a set
of regulations which would be pre-
sented to the commissioners in
about two weeks.
Questioned on the personnel poll
icy of the county, Mr.. McNayr de-
claired the present merit system was
most inefficient" He said he ad-
vocates doing away with the civil
service system and declared the en-
ployment could be very well handled
from his Office
Politics" he added, "has not
entered into the abolition of jobs in
the county"
Urges Fiscal Policy Change.
Speaking on the financial situa-
tion in Montgomery, the supervisor
said the fiscal policy followed in the
county for the past eight years
should be discontinued.
Mr.. McNayr also said he was in
favor of creating the Office of county
finance director who would head q
central accounting division.
In discussion of ways of f1nanc-
ing the services demanded by the
taxpayers and wiping out the county
debt. o. L. Way of the Capitol View
Citizens Association suggested the
commissioners sell county bonds to
local residents in the same denomi-
nations that United States Govern
ment bonds are now sold.
Proposes Plea to Lane.
Mr.. McNayr told the group that
the Dispensary Building in which
they were meeting is now titled in
the Liquor Boards name instead of
the caunty's. 1--WE are attempting
to get it back" he announced.
Mr.. Suter urged the members Of
the Allied Civic Group to wire Gov
Lane supporting bills giving more
powers to the commissioners.