Evening star., 1953-06-25
Citizen Council
Disposed 10
Drop Boards
Opposes Setup
At Ledst for
Public Health


The Citizens Advisory Coun-
Ill has gone along PARKWAY, at
east. with the District Govern
nent reorganizers' concept Of
opposing policymaking boards to
mead individual agencies.
The Commissioners advisory
group late yesterday announced
hat it opposes formation Of q
public health board to supersede
the single-director system now
prevailing.
The council just about wound
up its screening of the individual
reorganization programs today.
Robert v. Fleming said
the members made recommended
tions, which he would not di-
vulge, to the District Commits
sioners on the Welfare Depart
ment, the 10 professional and
occupational boards, the Metro
politan Police Department, the
Corporation Counsel's Office. the
Office of Civil Defense and the
dog pound.
The only remaining program
to be considered is that covering
the Coroner's Office. The coun-
Gil will hold special meeting
Monday to go into this depart
ment.
Dunn to Take Office.
Chairman Fleming, who re-
signs June 80, announced that
Richard P. Dunn, president Of
Julius Garfinckel g. Co., will be
sworn in as a new member Of
the council next Wednesday at
1870 am. in the Office of Com
Samuel Spencer.
Immediately after this cere-
mony. the advisory body will
hold its annual meeting, at which
q new chairman will be elected.
A subcommittee of the advisers
met yesterday afternoon in closed
session to hear the views OF well
fare officials, interested citizens
and District management Office
staff members. This subgroup
Is expected to make its recon-
mendations to the Commission
ers either today or tomorrow.
after sailing through a gale OF
for and against the
board principle.
Favors Advisory Council.
The Council weathered the
storm kicked up by the medical
profession in favor of a health
board by saying it favors an ad-
viSory council to the existing
Health Department single-direc-
tor Setup.
"There is greater unity Of pur-
pose" the advisers declared OF
the board concept, when respon-
is not diffused. and there
is vested in the one representa-
tive of the CommiSsioners-the
director of public health-the
to carry out the poll
cieS of the Commissioners"
Preferably. the advisers went
on, is the Advisory Health Coun-
Gil which permits and promotes
interest and representation with
out stripping the Commissioners
of their executive authority"
Spell Out Duties.
To be on the precautionary
side, the Council also spelled out
the duties of such an advisory
body. These would include "co-
the thinking, plan
ming and activities Of community
groups" promoting a "compre-
henSive health program" for the
city and interpreting the Health
Department activities for the
public.
Slight disagreements were
between Council and
reorganizers, with the formers
recommendation that separate.
rather than consolidated, divi-
sions of health education and
vital statistics be established.
Also recommended was estab-
lishment of a separate alcoholic
rehabilitation clinic division.
The reorganizers propose such a
unit to be incorporated into q
mental health division.
New Plan on Professions.
In another reorganization de-
velopment, General Administra-
tion Director Schuyler Lowe dis
closed a revised program for the
professional and occupational
boards. These are the groups
that pass upon and regulate
members Of such professions
and trades as the dentists, nurses.
BARRIERS and undertakers.
Mr.. Lowe said the revision Is
necessary to clarity the aims Of
his reorganizers.
These include keeping existing
authority with each of the 10
boards and transferring to a
centralized Office only admins
trative functions. A major ac-
complishment. the reorganizers
said, is to keep the Commission
ers in closer touch with the indi-