Evening star., 1949-02-14
bi||sAim toStriip
Parks Group Of
.CountyAuthority

Legislators Will SEEK
To Transfer Powers to
Montgomery Council
Bills designed to strip the
Maryland-National Capital Park
and Planning Commission of leg
islative and administrative au-
thority in Montgomery County
will be introduced tonight in the
General Assembly at Annapolis.
Six measures will be introduced
by the Montgomery House delega-
ton, transferring to the County
Council the commissions author
ity over zoning, adoption of mas
ter plans and building inspection.
Delegate John r. Reeves, Re-
publican, of Bethesda, said they
are intended to implement Mont
gomery County's home rule" pro-
gram under the charter govern
ment.
If these bills become law" Mr..
Reeves said, Montgomery Coun-
ty will take its place with other
counties in the State subject to
the provisions of Article 66-B OF
the Maryland Code. which pro-
vides a uniform method for the
establishment of zoning and plan
ming agencies within the counties
having the powers. duties and
authority specified under the gen.
eral State law"
Passage Doubtful.
The new legislative proposals
which are backed by the County
Council, constitute a major phase
of the Montgomery program in
Annapolis this year. They were
advocated in the Republican
Party program of 1946 and are
similar to unsuccessful bills in.
troduced last session. before the
new charter was approved.
The measures would have the
effect of divorcing Montgomery
from Prince Georges County lr
most functions of the Park ano
Planning Commission.
Chances of the programs pas
sage this session are doubtful. 1t
is sponsored by members of the
minority Republican Party and
aimed at an agency dominated by
influential Democrats, such as E
Brooke Lee of Silver Spring.
In a speech prepared for de-
livery at a luncheon today of the
Women's Republican Club of Sill
yer Spring, Delegate Reeves ex-
planned that the six measures
would carry out recommendations
of the Brookings Institution re-
port which led to adoption of the
Montgomery Charter.
Regional Unit Not Needed.
He quoted the report as saying
the effect Of the transfer Of the
Park and Planning Commission
functions to the Council would be
With all planning and zoning
exercised by the County Council
for the entire county Cor such
parts of the county as the Council
desires to zone or exercise author
ity over with regard to new
streets. roads. subdivisions. etc.
there is no need for the contin-
uance of the Maryland Washing
ton regional district and the s.
cent tax collected from it.
THE proceeds of the tax leviec
in the regional district pay the
salaries of the members of the
Maryland National Capital Park
and Planning Commission anc
other administrative expenses. The
transfer of the planning and zon.
ing functions to the county woulo
result in some direct savings be-
cause Of the consolidation of func.
tions, and the costs of county
planning and zoning would be met
from the county treasury.
THE commission itself would
continue to operate largely as ar
agency through which the govern
ing bodies of the two counties
would contact the National Cap
ital Park and Planning Commits
sion. AS such. its duties would not
consume much time and the com.
missioners could serve without
pay. Such minor expenditures al
might occur could be met from
small appropriations from each
of the counties"
The delegate said that under
the bills the planning commission
would be divested of Its contro.
over the administrative function.
of local government, except the
administration of parks"
-