Evening star., 1949-05-01
CountyCounci|
Dons Legislative
Role Tomorrow
Low-Mokine Powers
Under Montgomery
Charter Take Effect
By John V. Homer

SSHH
The Montgomery County Coun-
ell will become a legislative body
tomorrow. with authority to enact
and repeal local laws heretofore
handled only by the Maryland
General Assembly.
Law-making powers delegated
TO the council by the new Mont
gomery charter will be assumed
when President Frederic P. Lee
calls for order at pm, in the
Rockville courthouse.
Under the charter system, the
councils legislative session each
year is limited to the month of
May, During the remaining II
months the body lacks authority
to enact laws, although it may
pass county ordinances.
Similar to Legislature.
The council will function much
like a unicameral legislature ex-
cept that it will have no standing
committees. Bills will be intro
duced, printed, read. discussed in
debate, voted upon and. if passed,
enrolled. There is no veto sys-
tenn.
No bill can be passed for at
least 10 days after its introduc-
ton. Some require 15-day waiting
periods.
These requirements mean that
legislation cannot be enacted this
year before May IL. BY the same
token. all bills to be considered
in the l949 session will have to
be introduced by May 81.
The first order of business to-
will be the adoption of
rules of procedure for legislative
sessions. This plan will be sub
by Mr.. Lee and is expected
to be ratified Immediately. Mem
bers have gone over all details of
the rules and are reported in
agreement on their form.
Meetings to Be Held Tuesday.
The rules, which will continue
in effect in future years unless
will provide for regular
meetings of the coun-
Gil every Tuesday during May. In
addition, meetings will be held the
first two week days of the month
and the last two week days of the
regardless of holidays.
This year. at least seven regular
will be held. These will
be tomorrow. Tuesday and May
10, II. "a, 80 and 81. Others will
be called, if necessary.
All sessions will begin at 2 pm.
unless otherwise specified. They
will continue at night if the need
arises.
Public hearings on controversial
matters or bills of general inter-
est will be scheduled at intervals.
These are expected to be held at
night.
Tax Rate Will Not Be Set.
Although county finances will
have important bearing on council
decisions during the legislative
the new tax rate will not
be set during the term. The levy
will be fixed when the council
the 1949-50 budget in
session in June.
Council members concede that
they will be unable to transact
as much business this May as
they would like. Burdened with
work since taking Office January
10 and lacking the services of a.
county attorney much of the time,
the council has prepared only a.
part of the legislation it wants to
consider.
Among bills which will receive
early attention are measures au-I
thorizing fire district taxes up to
10 cents per 500 for the Sandy
Spring and Burtonsville areas.
These were originally intended for
in the General As
sembly but were withheld for &C
ton by the council.
Redistricting Plans Expected.
There also may be proposals for
rediStricting of the suburban parts |
Of Montgomery, in order to include
communities receiving suburban
services though outside the boun-
darieS as now defined.
The council also wants a local
aw to render unnecessary the full
of certain proposed
1t would permit the
of abstracts of long
The advertising would
state where the public could OBJ
tain copies of the full text of the
measures.
This change is advocated be-
cause of the high cost involved
n advertising. The council has
n mind, specifically, the proposed
lire code. the draft of which runs
more than rs typewriter pages.
It is estimated that If existing
aw is followed on publishing the
fire code. the county would have
20 spend $4,000.
A variety of subjects win be
during May, including
b $500, 900 bond issue for q Sill
YER Spring hospital. building and
soning codes. and the amendment
Or repeal OF existing local laws
to be in conflict with
of the charter.
Montgomery Blair Bono.
Win Prizes
The Montgomery Blair High
School Band and Majorette Corps
Won two prizes during the VIM
chester Apple blossom festivities
aSt week