Evening star., 1952-10-15
Council 10 Back
Bill 10 Assume
Duties
Delegation Agrees to
Seek Repeal Of
Lindsey Law

A bill to split the Maryland
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission and put the
Montgomery County section under
the thumb of the County Council
will be reintroduced in the 1853
session of the Maryland General
Assembly.
The decision to reintroduce the
bill was reached several days ago.
when five County Council mem
bers met with the county's legis-
lative delegation in the home Of
j. Douglas Bradshaw, member Of
the House of Delegates, Mr.. Brad
shaw said.
The bill was first introduced by
the Republican delegation in 1851
but failed of passage.
The delegation also agreed to
introduce a bill to repeal the
Lindsey law so candidates for the
County Council might run on a
nonpartisan basis.
Mr.. Bradshaw said last night
both bills had been planks in the
county Republican Party's plat
form and the delegation feels
obliged to seek their passage.
Divide by Counties.
Under the proposed planning
commission bill. the present
commission would be split into
two commiSsions-one for Prince
Georges and one for Montgomery.
Members of the Montgomery COM
mission then would be appointed
by the County Council and come
under its jurisdiction.
The present commission oper-
ates only in the Metropolitan
Areas of both counties. It's mem
bers are named by the Governor,
and the commission is independent
Of control by the County Council.
The new Montgomery commits
sion then would be merged with
the Upper Montgomery County
Planning Commission, so there
would be one countrywide PLAN
ming agency under the Council.
Three members of the commits
sion would serve on a bi-county
authority for the purpose of
administering Capper Cramtom
funds the agency gets from the
Federal Government for the park
development program along Rock
Creek, Northwest Branch and
Sligo Creek.
Other Measures in Prospect.
It is understood the County
Council and the county delega-
ton also are considering intro
ducing or supporting about q
dozen other measures.
The Council is considering re-
opening its unsuccessful fight Of
the 1852 session to amend the
new State tax assessment law
which provieds that all reassess-
ments go on the books every three
years.
The council, last session, said
the law would cost the county
some 100000 to $500,000 a year.
The county supports the three
year assessment cycle but wants
reassessments on one-third the
county property to 60 on the books
each year.
Another proposed measure would
permit the county to charge
abutting property owners for con-
struction of county roads in in
|corporated areas provided the
consent of the incorporated area
is first obtained.
May Transfer Recreation.
The council also may ask for
legislation to compel the transfer
Of recreation facilities from the
park and planning commission to
the county. The measure would
be sought only if the bill to split
the planning commission appeared
doomed.
Other measures that may be
sought would create another Cir
cult Court judge for the county.
transfer to the county from the
Suburban Sanitary Commission
the function of garbage and refuse
collections, allow the taking of
property for road construction on
commencement of a condemnation
suit and the payment of the ap-
praised value in court.