Evening star., 1947-04-01
Board Releases
Draft Of Charter
In Montgomery
:, 7-Mon Council,
County Manager
Among Provisions
By A. A.eHoehlino

The Charter Board of Montgom.
cry County today released to the
public .. preliminary draft Of pro-
posed charter for a councilman.
ager form of, government for the
county.
Filling 20 typewriter pages, the
proposed charter has been in the
process of preparation since last
November, When the voters of the
county authorized five-man boart
to formulate it.
Charter advocates said the draf,
IN general differs from the charter
defeated in 1914 in that it provide.
a more compact and streamlinec
form Of county government. 1t pro.
vides for fewer departments and 9
governing council of seven insteac
OF niue members.
Thermal draft will be presented
to the Board of County Commits
sioners about May S. 1t will not be
submitted to the voters until No
vember, 1948.
High Lights of Charter.
-Highlights of the proposed char
ter are.
The seven council members will
be elected every years, although
the first council will serve for only
2 years. Five members will be
elected from the five commission
ers' districts as established at pres
ent, and two will serve as council
men at large.
Salary of the members will be $40
for each meeting, not to exceed a
total of 81 300 in any one year. An
annual salary of $500 was provided
under the 1914 charter.
When vacancies occur during a
councils term of Office, they will be
filled by majority vote of the
council.
The council will meet in legis-
lative capacity for the month of
May. During this time it will be
empowered to. assume, within its
jurisdiction, all law-making powers
exercised by the General Assembly
it can repeal Montgomery County
legislation enacted by the Assembly
as well as amend local ordinances
The present board of commission
ers has no powers to alter Assembly
laws
Double Offices Barred.
No person may be council mem
ber if he holds another salarieo
office in the county or State govern
ment.
A referendum may be held on
bond issues if S per cent of the
county's registered voters so de-
sire. This provision was not in the
1914 charter.
A referendum may be called on
any pending legislation if requested
by 10 per cent of the voters. This
right also is guaranteed in Article
l6 of the Maryland Constitution.
Bond issues will be limited to I
per cent of the aSsessable value OF
the county at the time of issue. In
Guiding bonds issued by the Wash
ington Suburban Sanitary Commits
sion, the total bonded debt of Mont
gomery County at present stands
at approximately Is per cent of the
assesSable value.
All bonds must be- callable by the
council 5 years after issuance, ane
will be due no later than 80 year.
after issuance. No such time hmi
now is in effect.
The executive branch of the Gov.
ernment will be composed of thu
council in executive session, tn,
county manager, the heads of tht
departments of the county govern.
ment, the County Personnel Board
and the Office of the County Attor.
ney and such other agencies a.
the council may designate.
$4,000 Limit on Salary.
The county manager will be ap.
pointed by the council at a salary
not to exceed $4,000 a year. A.
executive head of the county gov.
ernment, the manager will submit
the annual budget to the council
among other administrative duties
The council will have veto power.
similar to those provided in the
1914 charter. A local ordinance viii
become law as of July unles.
vetoed by at least four members Of
the council in executive session.
In no case will a council mem.
ber have any individual powers
The council is to function only az
group.
Three departments only are pro.
vided for in the charter-a Depart.
ment of Finance, a Department Of
Public Works, and the Office oi
County Attorney. 1t is left to the
discretion of the council as to wha1
further departments may be estab.
lished.
The Department of Finance viii
assess property for taxation pur.
poses, collect taxes, take custody
Of public funds, disburse funds, &C.
count for funds, prepare month";,
financial statements and prepare
annual financial reports, and TAKE
care of all insurance and bundint
matters.
The Department of Public Work
Is charged with the conStructio,
and maintenance of roads, con
struction, repair and maintenance,
of schools, removal of refuse ant
the management of the Count,
Home.
County Attorneys Duty.
!. The county attorney, to be ap
pointed on a full-time basis, viii
be the legal adviser to the council
and prepare and conduct all lega
matters pertaining to the county.
- The council will organize ant
place under the supervision of th'
county manager functions involv'
ing education, safety (including f1rt
and police protectiom, health ane
welfare.
: A County Personnel Board. to bt
composed of three members. viii
be established, for the purpose oi
setting up wage scales and quail
hcations for employment and pro-
motion.
Members will be paid at the rate
of $40 a day for each day of service.
not to exceed 5000 a year.
oor,,,y,f y,ro rfieoc cocfirY, in, the