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

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 . fiye-man board
to formulate it.
Charter advocates said the draft
IN general differs from the charter
defeated in 1914 in that it provides
more compact and streamlined
form Of county government. 1t pro-
vides for fewer departments and q
governing council Of seven instead
OF nine members.
The final draft will be presented
to the Board of County Commits
sioners about May S. It will not be
submitted to the voters until No
venlber, 1913.
High Lights Of Charter.
Highlights of the proposed char
ter are:
The seven council members will
be elected every years, although
the first council win serve for only
2 years. Five members will be
elected from the five commission
ers'i 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 1880 In any one year. An
annual salary of $500 was provided
under the 1914 charter.
When vacancies occur during q
councils term of Office, they will be
filled by q majority vote of the
council.
The council will meet in legis-
lative capacity for the month of
May. During this time 1T will be
empowered to assume. within its
jurisdiction, all law-making powers
exercised by the General Assembly
1t 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 men,
ber if he holds another salaried
Office in the county or State govern
ment.
A, referendum may be held on
bond issues II 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
u 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 7
per cent of the assessable value of
the county at the time of issue. In
Guiding bonds issued by the Wash
ingtm 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 S years after issuance, and
will be due no later than 80 years
after issuance. No such time limit
now is in effect.
The executive branch of the Gov
ernlnent will be composed of the
council in executive session, the
county manager, the heads of the
departments of the county govern
ment, the County Personnel Board,
and the Office of the County Attor-
ney and such other agencies as
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 year. AS
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 powers
similar to those provided in the
1914 charter. A local ordinance will
become law as of July l unless
vetoed by at least four members of
the council in executive session.
In no case will a council men,
ber have any individual powers.
The council is to function only as
q group.
Three departments only are pro-
vided for in the charter-a Depart
ment of Finance, Department of
Public Works, and the Office of
County Attorney. 1t is left to the
discretion of the council as to what
further departments may be estab-
9 Hshed.
The Department of Finance will
assess property for taxation pur-
poses, collect taxes, take custody
OF public funds, disburse funds. &C
count for funds, prepare monthly
financial statements and prepare
annual financial reports, and take
=. care of all insurance and bonding
matters.
. The Department of Public Works
Is charged with the construction
= and maintenance of roads, con-
ysstruction, repair and maintenance
ssof schools, removal of refuse and
the management of the County
a Home.
- County Attorneys Duty.
z The county attorney. to be ap-
pointed on a full-time oasis. will
be the legal adviser to the council
land prepare and conduct all legal
matters pertaining to the county.
d. The council will organize and
place under the supervision of the
county manager functions involv-
ling education, safety dncluding fire
and police protection, health and
welfare.
: A County Personnel Board, to be
composed of three members. will
be. established, for the purpose of
setting up wage scales and quail
.fications for employment and pro-
motion.
Members will be paid at the rate
of $50 a day for each day of service,
not to exceed $500 a year.
: A corrupt practices section in the
provisions which create the board
prohibit, on wide scale, any county