Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-03-19
Planning Unit
Reorganization
Accord Sought
Delegations Off
Nearby Counties
Meet Monday
By Charles [. Hoffman
By Charles [. Hoffman
ster Staff Correspondent

ANNAPOLIS. Mar. i9.-The
Montgomery and Prince Georges
delegations are slated to get to-
gether Monday to iron out pro-
posals for reorganization OF the
Maryland National Capital Park
and Planning Commission.
Montgomery delegates. still
smarting under bitter attacks
made on their legislative pro-
gram and admittedly trying to
placate those who seek to abolish
the commission, met last night
to seek agreement on proposed
changes.
Chances are-barring q COM
plete turnabout-the delegation
will retain the bi-county regional
character of the commission
while turning over strong control
Of the commissions members
from Montgomery to the County
Council.
I'VE ran on q platform Of re-
tanning the bi-county structure
while putting as much control
as possible in the County Coun-
Gill;" Delegation Chairman Blair
Lee III said.
Retort to GUIDE
Mr.. Lees statement was o
retort to a proposal from Dele
gate Gilbert Guide. the only Re-
publican on the delegation who,
in formal letter to the chair
man, said he wanted a separate
planning commission exclusively
for Montgomery County.
The delegation last night
agreed on several changes, in
GLIDING one that would exclude
not only Rockville but also
Gaithersburg and Washington
Grove from jurisdiction of the
proposed expanded area of the
commission.
Other towns that sought the
exclusion so they could handle
their own planning and coming
will get this authority under the
agreement.
Another major change would
direct the council to set the ad-
ministrative tax rate in April
instead of during the legislative
month Of May. as originally pro-
posed.
Emergency States Probable
This proposal probably will be
made emergency legislation SO
that the planning commission
will have to submit its present
proposed budget calling for a
Scent tax rate to the County
Council next month before its
fiscal year begins May l.
Other changes would permit
the council to amend subdivision
regulations on its own volition
and to direct the Montgomery
members to act as planning
arm for the Council without
direction from the full bi-county
commission. ss'' ~
The delegation is holding of
q decision as to whether 1t will
report favorably its own bill
abolishing the Upper County
Planning Commission. That job
may be left UP to the County
Council.
Pay Bills Passed
In other Montgomery Prince
Georges developments:
l. The House passed three
Prince Georges County pay raise
bills and sent them to the Sem
ate. They empower the county
commissioners to increase the
annual salary of the Supervisor
of Assessments from $5,400 to
Sc, 500 and his assistant from $4.-
100 to $500. Another would
raise the annual pay of the two
deputies in the Register Of Wills
Office to $4,000.
2. Delegate William B. Wheel
er, Democrat. of Montgomery, in
PRODUCED a bill allowing bowling
alleys to operate on Sundays
after l pm. in the 23d precinct
Of the 18th election district. Such
operations are now allowed on
Sundays in the fifth precinct of
that district and the first and
fourth precincts of the seventh
election district.
3. The Prince Georges delega-
ton introduced two more fire de-
partment bills. One would au-
thorize College Park to levy tax
Of So a year on each improved
parcel Of land up to 10 years In
the third, fourth, fifth and sixth
districts to finance new
Branchville road, subject to q
referendum on May 2. The Sec
ond would provide that the fire
tax collected in the second pre-
cinct of the 14th election district