Evening star., 1953-05-23
Bills 10 Curb
Fire Forces in
CountYAssaiIed
Plon Giving Council
Powers Over Tuxes
And Budget Opposed

Powers Over Toxes
And Budget Opposed
Bills to tighten .county>control
over Montgomery County iire
departments are hurting morale
of volunteer f1remen and may
force the county to take over
The departments clock, stock and
oarrel." the county council was
told last night.
The warning came from. Her
man dig, ex-president of the
County Fire Board, during hear
ings on three bills, all aimed
at county fire departments.
More than so tiremen, inem-
bers of area fire boards and
civic group Spokesmen turned
out for the hearing that was
marked by its orderliness.
Firemen found little fault with
a bill setting a deadline on fl
ing Of fire department audits.
Another bill. to reorganize the
KenSington Fire Board and to
provide for stricter fiscal controls
and public hearings on budgets
of the department, drew strong
support from the crowd. The
bill was supported by n civic
groups, the Kensington fire de-
partment and 1900 signers Of
a petition circulated in the fire
area.
Tax Rate Bill Opposed.
But a bill to give the county
council powers to set the tax
rate for all fire areas and to hold
public hearings on individual
area budgets did not fare so well.
Not a supporting voice was
heard.
Councilman Harold Hammond,
after listening to the opposition
to the bill he had introduced.
said he believes the bill, if it
passes at all. will be drastically
He said such amend
ments might provide for man.
datory budget hearings by each
fire board with the council
holding hearings only in cases
where strong objections have
been raised in any specific area.
Mr.. Dig, in attacking the
told the council that.
IF you continue introducing
bills against volunteer flremen,
you'll break their morale
you'll have to end up taking
over the volunteer departments
lock. stock and barrel" he said.
Per-Capita Cost Cited.
Attorney James r. Miller, rep
resenting the Cabin John de-
partment said that fire protec-
ton now is costing 33 cents per
capita. while police protection is
estimated at about $3.50 per
capita. He added that. in areas.
where both fire and police de-
partments are paid, their budg-
cts run about the same. @
j. Newton Brewer. jr., of the
Kensington department, urged
passage of the Kensington bill
and the killing of the county,
wide bill. He said residents
want to control tax rates in
their own areas.
Mr.. Brewer said that, If the
right to control budgets and
taxes was centered in the coun-
Gil, the only thing left for the
volunteers would be the dubious
honor OF going out and fighting
fires"
Page Hopkins, president Of the
Silver Spring Fire Board, said
that, If the county home rule
spirit was to be carried out, the
fire tax rates "for purely local
services should be left with the
people who pay the taxes"
The County Volunteer Fire.
mems Association. the County
fire board, and the public safety
committee of the County Civic
Federation all urged that action
on the bill be deferred for an
other year.
Purpose Questioned.
Arthur c. Elgin, of the Chevy
Chase Fire Board, said he sees
no purpose in the bill and no
reason to throw additional bur-
dens on the county council.
Asked by Councilman Louis A.
Gravelle if he felt the area fire
board could do the budget and
tax rate establishment better
than the council, Mr.. Elgin re-
piled, Yes"
j. Alvin Waits, who helped
draw the Kensington model fire
board" bill. said he feels the
council bill is taking something
away from u.s." He spoke as
president Of the Wheaton Cit
izenS' Association.
Plummer Shearin, head of the
County Charter group, and a
supporter Of the Kensington bill.
said the local fire board should
have the responsibility for de-
terminiug the level of fire serv-
ice to be provided.
DR.. 8. H. Ingberg. of the county
civic federation, although lend
ing little support to the bill, said
ne felt there is need in the county
for more Standardization of
equipment and control of pur-
chaSeS.