Evening star., 1951-07-25
LOT Veto
Hearing Shifted
To August 7
3 Council Members
Assuil Criticism
By Mrs. Werner

sharp crltlclSm OF MRS. stella
Werner by three other Mont
gomery County Council members
enlivened yesterdays Council
meeting in Rockville.
At the same time, the Council
announced the date for a public
hearing on a request to veto the
controversial Bethesda parking
lot bill has been changed from 9
pm. tomorrow in Rockville to 8
pm. August 2 in the Bethesda
County Building.
Mrs. Kathryn Lawlor started the
brief verbal furry by objecting
strongly to Mrs. Werner's use Of
the phrase SNEAK legislation" in
telling reporters last week how
she felt about the way in which
the Council passed the bill last
May
At that time, Mrs. Werner re-
called she had voted against the
measure because Bethesda busi-
nessmen had not received an op-
portunity to appear to voice their
views on last-minute amend
mentS.
Hammond, Monarch Critical.
Mrs. Lawlor was joined by
Councilman Harold F. Hammond
and Council President j. Louis
Monarch, both of whom pointed
out Mrs. Werner had made no at
tempt to postpone action on the
bill when it came up for final ac-
ton.
"You are giving the impression
we pulled a fast one when We
passed the BILL" Mr.. Hammond
asserted Nothing was further
from my mind when I voted for
it,"
Mrs. Werner insisted, however,
there hai been no time to sched-
ule a public hearing on the bill
because it came up on the next to
the last ;iay of the Councils one
month legislative session.
She ard Mr.. Monarch also diff
fered sharply on whether the
amendments had changed the sub
stance OF the bill. She added she
knew nothing of the amendments
until they were handed to her
that day
The amendments provide prin-
cipally that, to qualify for ex-
emption from the special parking
lot tax, a Bethesda merchant
must provide parking facilities
adjacent to or directly opposite
his store.
/ Issue in Veto Plea.
1t is this provision on which
those seeking a veto base their
criticism. The request for veto
was made last week by James r.
j Miller, Rockville attorney, who
said he represents group OF Be-
thesda property owners.
In other business, the Council
! suggested that the county Medi-
cal Society seek change in the
zoning ordinance, which prohibits
doctors from maintaining offices
in a Residential A zone, unless
they also live there.
Enforcement of this provision
in the cases of about a dozen
suburban physicians was held up
last May at the Councils request.
after the doctors contended they
would suffer a hardship if they
|; were forced to move their offices.
The Council reminded the phySi-
clans yesterday the matter was
not intended to remain unsettled
indefinitely and that the Medical
Society should take steps to have
the law changed.
The county heads instructed the
Public Works Department to draft
a list of at least six critical loca-
tionS where sidewalks are needed.
Mr.. Hammond said the council
should order sidewalks in such
areas without waiting for pressure
groups to come in and ask for
them. He said the financing would
be worked out when the council
takes action.
To Ask Paving Bids.
Public Works Director Mason
Butcher reported he plans to ad-
vertise for bids soon on paving two
public parking lots in the Bethesda
business district. One of the lots
is at Montgomery and Waverly
avenues. The other is on Walsh
street east of Wisconsin avenue.
Approval was given an ordi-
nance, effective Immediately, reg
ulating junk dealers and the oper-
alton of junk yards. 1t requires
all junk dealers to be licensed and
fences at least six feet in height
around all junk yards. Violators
are subject to a maximum fine of
500 or up to six months in Jail.
Approximately IS Wheaton res
idents appeared to protest the
councils action last week approv-
ing site at Georgia and Hender-
son avenues as the location of a
ISubstation of the Kensington Vol
Iunteer Fire Department.
The residents contended the
property is in the middle of a
residential section and is not ac-
cessible from other parts of the
Wheaton area.
Site Approval Rescinded.
The council rescinded its ap-
Iproval of the site and instructed
the citizens to get together with
Kensington firemen and select a
person or organization to choose
another location.
A hearing was set for 8 pm.
August % in the Rockville Court
house on proposal to build side
walks on both sides of Georgia
avenue from near Viers Mill road
to a point about 1850 feet north
of Layhill road. The cost was esti-
mated at $83.012.50.
A total of $4,000 was appro-
priated for the care of medically
INDECENT patients at three county
hospitals. Of this amount. 500. 600