Evening star., 1954-05-12
New Bills Raise
County Council
Total 10 4
-Nesbitt Proposal
Transfers Zoning
Powers to Bourd


Thirteen bills. including one
to transfer zoning matters from
the country council to the board
Of appeals, were introduced yes
terday as the Montgomery
County Council held the third
meeting Of its May legislative
session.
+ The new bills brought to 81
the number introduced since May
!. Two resolutions calling for
charter amendments also have
been put forth.
Bill No. 20, introduced by
George F. Nesbitt would transfer
the authority to hear and decide
applications for amendments to
the coming code to the council
appointed appeals board.
Two other measures, bills 9
and Is, introduced yesterday
were termed controversial by the
council and set for public hear
ing at 8 pm. May 20 in the new
county Office building.
New Fire Tax Area.
Bill No. 8 would establish a
Laytonsville fire tax area con-
SiSting Of all of election district
/ except the portion north of
Annapolis Rock road.
The district is being carved
out of the Damascus, Gathers
burg Washington Grove and
Sandy Spring fire tax areas
Damascus f1remen have agreed
to give up part Of their territory
but not as much as the new
created Laytonsville department
wants.
Bill No. 16, sponsored by Mr..
NeSbitt and Lathrop E. Smith,
would revise the police relief and
retirement fund, raising pay
ments into the fund and low
ering benefits.
The bill would raise the police
contributions to the fund from
2.5 per cent to S per cent by
July l, 1856. It also would re-
establish the 55-year age limit
for retirement with Is years
service. 1t would apply only to
those joining the force after
July /. Retirement would be
allowed only for those lin good
standing"
Widow Benefits Restricted.
The proposal also would allow
widow and orphan benefits only
to families of policemen who die
as result of disease or accident
incurred in line of duty. Dis
ability retirements would be al
lowed only on the same basis.
Bill No. IL would tighten regu-
lations on registration of guests
at hotels, rooming houses, tour
iSt homes and tourist cabin parks.
The measure, sought by county
police, would require regiStra-
ton books including names, ad-
dresses, room numbers and auto
tag numbers of guests.
Other bills introduced yester-
day included:
10. To enable the council to
adopt an ordinance regulating
slaughter houses, canneries, fac
tories and manufacturing plants.
II. To prohibit any county en-
ploye or council-appointed Of
f1cer from appearing before the
council or other county board
except in his official capacity or
to represent himself.
Extends Payments.
13. To increase from 10 to Is
years the time in which front
foot benefits assessments can be
paid off by residents and to raise
from $2.5 million to $3.5 million
the limit on outstanding certif1-
Gates Of Indebtedness.
IA. To increase from 10 to 30
days the time in which appeals
from Department of Inspections
and Licenses rulings under the
building code can be taken to
the Board Of Appeals.
Is. To increase the area of the
Montgomery Hills parking lot
district.
II. To bar any maintenance of
public roads without a permit.
18. To permit the closing of
any road resulting in damage to
property on payment of COM
pensation for the damage.
10. To extend the limits of the
Wheaton Parking lot district.
81, To provide for appeals to
the Circuit Court from decisions
of the Appeals Tax Court in cases
relating to exemptions from
parking lot district tax.
Bills 10 through 21 excepting
16, were set for public hearing