Evening star., 1949-01-25
McNayr Denies
Plan Involves
Moving Of Files
Real Estate Records
Will Be Kept in
Suburban Areas

Silver Spring residents, protesting
q plan before the Montgomery
County Council for reorganizing
service building functions in Silver
Spring and Bethesda, were informed
today that the plan does not con-
template removal of real estate rec
ords to Rockville, but rather an i'm
provement of the existing files.
Delegations appearing before the
council were assured by Acting
County Manager Irving G.. McNayr
that his proposal calls for the dupli-
cation of land records when they are
made at the courthouse and that
copies would be sent Immediately to
the suburban area building.
Mr.. McNayr said that under his
plan "personalized" service by tele-
phone would be discontinued in
Silver Spring and Bethesda, but that
the duplicate files could be consulted
by interested citizens and would be
more up-to-date than those now
maintained.
Protests against various phases of
the reorganization were made by
Einar B. Christensen, president, and
Blair Lee III. past president, on
behalf of the Silver Spring Board of
Trade; Robert B. Hagner, represent
ing real estate brokers, and j. Mob
Boaz, president of the Montgomery
County Real Estate Board But an
unexpected Endorsement of the pro-
posal in its entirety came from the
Bethesda Chamber of Commerce, for
which Mrs. J. Reed Bradley, secre-
tary, was spokesman.
Warning Is Given.
The Board of Trade speakers
warned that acceptance of the re-
organization recommendations would
"lend great emphasis" to a move
ment for Incorporating Silver
Spring and Bethesda as cities, out
side the Jurisdiction of the county
government.
Board resolutions adopted yes
terday and formally laid before the
council urged an expansion of serv-
ice building activities rather than
curtailment Mr.. McNayr has pro-
posed, among other things, that 10
jobs at the two buildings be abol-
ished.
Dealing primarily with needs of
citizens in the Silver Spring section,
the board called for appointment of
a deputy county manager in the
Eastern suburban area. 1t asked
the real estate and assessment rec
ords be kept in the local service
building and objected to Mr.. Nc
Nayrs proposal to move the county
engineers office from leased
building in Silver Spring to the
service building in Bethesda.
Comment is Pointed.
In a pointed comment on sub
urban incorporation, the Board of
Trade said:
Obviously, the county eventually
must face up to this problem of
overlapping and divided jurtsdic-
tions. Until that time it would
seem wise for the council to avoid
actions that would result in the
establishment of new incorporated
areas. The Board of Trade, COM
mittee believes that reduction of
the staff at the County Building to
a mere receptionist would lend great
impetus to the already active move
ment in the direction of incorpora-
ton of both Silver Spring and
Bethesda.
I'm order to forestall a crisis in
this matter before the county gov
ernment is prepared to cope with
it and in order to preserve some
measure of municipal service within
easy reach of local citizens, the
committee believes that the wisest
policy would be for the council to
authorize the county manager to
appoint a deputy county manager
with Offices at the Silver Spring
County Building.
Civic Group Hears Plea.
"This Official would, in effect, be
the local agent of the county man
ager. He would, however, be in a
position to deal daily with the
IOuClIlc necQS VI LIlC COHiuloiAIy anu
also to make a personalized and
close-at-hand study of the towns
needs, which he could convey to the
manager and the council whenever
necessary"
The Board of Trade position was
presented last night for considera-
tion of the Allied Civic Group of
Silver Spring.
Mr.. Lee explained the business
organizations reasons for fighting
the McNayr proposal, but Ralph
D. Boyd, former president of
the civic group, declared the new
council manager government should
be given a chance to operate.
The civic group decided to take