Evening star., 1954-05-09
- STAIl RLlInIl.
lVI0llIgeHeN I
Session 10 Get
Batch Of Bills
Measures Call
For Big Changes
In County Setup

In County Setup
The Montgomery County Coun-
cil's May legislative session, only
week old now, is showing signs
Of being one of the heaviest in
recent years.
Eight bills and two resolutions
already have been introduced
and are set for public hearing
at 8 pm. Thursday.
Chances are that when the
session ends May 81 some "a
measures will have been intro
duced.
Some Of these proposed pieces
Of legislation call for big changes
in the county operational setup.
Probably one of the most i'm
portant measures being con-
sidered for introduction would
transfer from the county council
to the Board of Appeals control
over changes in land zoning. It
is aimed at cutting the councils
work load.
Council Criticized.
The council In the past has
been criticized for delegating too
much Of its authority to ap-
pointive boards and commissions
over which the voters have no
control.
But the contemplated change
in the zoning situation. county
observers say, is the first time the
council has attempted to dele
gate its own legislative authority
to appointive bodies although
there is substantial precedent
at the State and national level.
Every zoning change is in fact
an amendment to the present
coming code.
The council often refers to it
self as a policy-making body.
Some critics have pointed out
that as long as there is no
master plan for the county, zon-
ing decisions are of a policy
making character.
One bill which some observers
felt was certain to come up this
session now appears dead. That
would establish tax on resi-
dents of the upper Montgomery
Planning Commission district to
support the commission.
Failure to pass such a meas
ure means that suburban resi-
their own planning commission
their ow nplanning commission
by a special tax and at the same
time paying about IS per cent of
the cost OF the rural commits
sion's operations.
Werner Plan An Issue.
Another measure that will
draw interest of residents would
bar a county employ or council
appointed official from appear
ing before the council or county
boards except in his own behalf.
One Interpretation would be
that this would stop representa-
tiyes OF the Police Association or
other groups such as teachers
from appearing in support of
pay increase requests.
Mrs. Stella B. Werner has in
dicated she would like to see this
rule extended to cover all State
and county elected officials. She
has been critical in the past of
the number Of lawyers who hold
public Office appearing before
the council on zoning matters.
She also has mentioned the fat
fees paid them by their clients.
Chances are, however, that
Mrs. Werner's proposal will not
reach the introduction stage all
though it likely is to be politi-
cal issue in this falls election
campaign.
Another proposal would widen
the number of causes for which
a building could be condemned
for occupancy.
The Public Works Department
has proposed a bill that would
bar a resident from filling a
"chuckhole" in the road without
getting a permit from the
, county.
The department has inter-
preted the present law to bar
any road maintenance work
| without a permit but feels it
should be spelled out more
clearly.
Police Pension Plan.
The county Personnel Board,
long at odds with the police de-
partment, has proposed a bill
that would increase policemen's
contributions to the relief and
retirement fund law while
sharply cutting present benefits.
The Boards recommendations
have been supported for intro
duction by Councilmen George
F. Nesbitt and Lathrop E. Smith
although Public Safety Director
Arthur E. Miller has indicated
he looks with disfavor on some
of the proposals.
The board wants to increase
the police contribution from 2.5
per cent to S per cent over a two
year period. The board also
would establish Is years service
at a minimum of age IS for vol
untary retirement. There is no
minimum age at present.
The board also would allow
widow and orphan benefits to the
family Of officers who die only
in line Of duty. Another change
would provide that disability re-
tirement not in line of duty
would be allowed only for those
officers who have more than 10
years service.
widows and orphans benefits
widows and orphans benefits
be increased and that police who
resign or are dismissed he re-