Evening star., 1954-04-21
29 Suggested
Laws Studied
In Montgomery
Council Prepares
For Legislative
Session in z Weeks

| "AVAA VAAO NAAAAO04 4CS101AL4tC
session OF the Montgomery
County Council set for less than
two weeks from now, 30 sugges-
tions for new laws are being
studied by members of the gov
erning body.
A compilation of the proposals
for the month-long legislative
meeting in May was presented to
the council yesterday by County
Attorney David Macdonald.
| Councilman Lathrop Smith
emphasized that each item pro-
posed has to be studied by the
council and that the program
has no status at the present
time. Council members first will
have to determine whether the
suggestions have sufficient merit
to be offered in the form of bills.
Some of the suggestions orig
mated with individual council
members. with Mr.. Macdonald,
with department heads or with
citizens.
Salary Proposals.
The Charter Committee pro-
posed to eliminate the limita-
ton on the salary of the county
manager. who now receives $12.-
500 a year and to abolish the
81 300 annual salary limit for
each member of the council while
retaining the $40 per diem for
councilman. The managers SAL
ary would be fixed by the coun-
Gil IN executive session, under
the committees proposal.
Mr.. Macdonald recommended
strengthening the authority of
the Department of Inspection
and Licenses to withhold build
ing permits in the upper county
planning district when the ap-
plicant proposes to erect struc-
lures on land which does not
conform to subdivision regula-
tions in that area.
He said he had advised the
department not to issue permits
under such circumstances but
recommended to the council
that the hand of the depart
ment be strengthened by a
specific provision to this effect"
Financing of Planning Unit.
Another suggestion in the
form of a question was whether
the Upper Montgomery County
Planning Commission should be
supported by taxes levied only
in the area over which it has
jurisdiction or whether it should
continue to be financed out of
countrywide revenues.
| At present the council may
close a road only after determin-
ing no damage will be sustained
by any property owner who does
not consent to the abandonment.
This prevents the council from
closing a road whenever a
property owner will be damaged
by the closing and he refuses to
consent" the report by Mr.. Mac
donald says. A suggestion was
to amend the law to provide
compensation fixed by apprais-
ers appointed by the council.
A suggestion by Police Chief
Charles M. Orme is that the law
governing hotels and tourist
cabins be strengthened with re-
spect to registration of guests.
maintaining records and automo-
bile licenses.
Mr.. Macdonald's Office raised
the question of whether appeals
under the child-care ordinance
should continue to be heard by
the council or, by the County
Board of Appeals, when permits
are revoked for foster homes.
For Longer Assessment Payment.
Councilman Stella Werner
raised a question on February l6
as to whether more time should
be- allowed for property owners
to pay front-footage assessments
for road construction projects.
The Laytonsville Fire Depart
ment indicated a week ago it
would seek authority to create a
fire district in that area.
Last month the grand jury re-
ported that it is easy to obtain
pistols, knives and other danger
Gus weapons. Mr.. Macdonald's
report recommended legislation
that would require records of
sales of weapons be maintained.
A request will be made by
Tom Oyster for extension of
the Wheaton parking lot district.
Mr.. Macdonald said there is
a question of whether the coun-
Gil must hold a hearing when
ever land is acquired by gift.
The law now requires hearings
when acquisition is made "by
lease or purchase. He sug-
gests tnat clarif1cation may be
in order.
Broader Condemnation Power.
Arthur E. Miller, director of
public safety, and r. w. Koch,
chief of the sanitation division,
suggested broader powers for or
dering unsafe and insanitary
buildings to be vacated.
Councilman George Nesbitt
suggested that county employees
be prohibited from appearing
before the council at any hear
ing, except to personally repre-
sent themselves.
The Rollingwood School PTA,
trustees and the principal have
suggested action to eliminate the
hazard Of a large pond in the
area. It was suggested that pri-
vate ponds might be declared a
nuisance and be drained unless