Evening star., 1954-05-30
Council 0kays
Bond Authority
For$5,355,OOO
Montgomery Passes
Record of 28 Bills
And z Resolutions
THE SUNDAY STAR
Washington, D. G.
SUNDAY, MAY 30, 1854

including one authorizing the
issuance Of $685., 900 in bonds,
in the windup of the councils
annual May legislative session.
The actions brought to 28
bills and two resolutions the
measures passed during the last
IL days.
Only three measures-all Of
them controversial-failed pas
sage. The three were introduced
by George F. Nesbitt or Lathrop
E. Smith.
Action on Abandoned Wells.
Among bills passed yesterday
was one to require that aban-
doned wells and excavations
throughout the county be covered
or fenced in to make them in
accessible to children. The bill
also would require that artificial
) ponds on private property in
the suburban area be fenced in.
3 Another measure would bar
farmers and homeowners from
repairing or maintaining the
road in front of their homes
without a permit from the
county.
The council also passed a bill
creating a new Laytonsville fire
tax area comprising most of the
First Election District.
Councilman Grover Walker
succeeded in his fight to retain
for the Gaithersburg- Washing
ton Grove Fire Department part
of the original area asked by the
Laytonsville group.
Amendments Rejected.
Mr.. Smith yesterday asked that
amendments to the bill be recon-
sidered to give the new depart
ment more of the area it origi-
nally sought which now belongs
to the Gaithersburg, S a n d y
Spring and Damascus depart
mentS. His request fell on deaf
ears. He left the room before the
vote was called on the amended
bill.
A bill extending the area OF
the Silver Spring parking lot
district was passed. but only
after amendments sharply cur
tailed the expansion.
The bond authorization bill,
in no way commits the council to
issue bonds. It does. however,
give the council leeway to con-
slider all capital budget requests
of the school board and to have
the authority to issue for bonds
for them.
A bill that would have re-
vamped the police relief and re-
tirement fund, hiking police con-
tributions while cutting benefits.
was tabled yesterday on motion
of Louis A. Gravelle.
Police Got Copy of Bill Late.
Mr.. Gravelle and Mr.. Smith
had Joined in a proposed amend
ment to the original bill, but
Mr.. Gravelle moved to kill the
measure when he learned that
police had not received copy of
the amendment until Friday
night.
The amended measure, which
did not go as far as the per-
Sonnel boards recommendations,
was sharply attacked by the lat
ter group. Police had fought the
personnel boards recommended
tions.
The two resolutions passed by
the council will be subject to a
referendum next November. The
other bills will become law Aug
ust Is. although they can be We
toed by the council prior to that
deadline. ....
The resolutions would remove
the $4,000 salary limitation now
placed on the county managers
post and $1,000 year maximum
for county councilmen.
, The resolution on the council
salary also would hike from $40
to $50 a meeting as compensa-
ton for members.
The compensation is supposed
to provide expenses. and, in no
sense, councilmen say, is it to be
considered as salary.
During four months of the
year while the council is holding
zoning hearings. weekly expenses
apparently are felt to be at least
$50 week. Councilman Grover
Walker yesterday indicated he
thought the meeting rate was
being set too high.
Bills Passed by Council.
Bills passed during the session
also included:
No. Ito permit publication of the
annuai ann sdrtsS tax sale notice in more than
No. TO add a member to the Cabin
John Fire Board
No; 3ETo provide for appeals to the
cult Court on Board of Appeals matters.
No ito provide two cour' reporters
No. 5-To transfer from the council
to the Board Of Appeals hearings on IL
censtng of child care ONES
No. 6-To remove the limitstio on
the salaries of Board of Appeals mem
No. ITO discontinue publication Of
the annual supplement to the County
No. s-To require that building per-
conformity with the Upper. County sub
division regulations &
No. 10-TO permit enactment of q
slaughter house and factory resulatory
No. is-To stiffen requirements for
Euest registers at motels and tourist
No. 1910 hike from S2.5 million
to S3.5 million the maximum outstand-
ing certificates of Indebtedness for
street improvements.
No. 14ETo increase from 10 to 80
ing code can be taken from the De-
pertinent of Inspections and Licenses
to the Board of Appeals.
No. 15-To extend the Montgomery
No 1S-To permit closing of any
road on payment Of damages to property
No; 19-To extend the Wheaton
No. 21@To permit appeals on matters
of law from the Appeals Tax Court to
Circuit Court on rulings on parking lot
district tax exemptions.
No. 22-To increase the causes for
which the Fire Marshall and Health
Department can condemn buildings
No. 23-To drop the requirement. for
public hearings on acquisition of land
bv gift Dy the c0untyif