Evening star., 1956-12-04

4AlC MOlibSOlkACLy d1lQ GAlAlCC
Georges delegations to the Mary
land General Assembly will meet
Thursday with the Washington
Suburban Sanitary Commission
to consider a 17-point legisla-
tive program.
The program calling for broad
changes in the commissions f.
nancing procedures was pre-
pared by T. Howard Duckett,
suburban banker and special
attorney to the commission on
legislative matters.
The legislative program re-
portedly has the full indorse-
ment of the commission al
though there has been no public
discussion as yet of the pro-
posals.
One of the major proposals
calls for the abolition Of the
front-foot benefit assessment
system as it now stands as a
means of financing sewer and
water line extensions in the 302-
sQuare-mile sanitary district.
Warns of Rising Debt
Mr.. Duckett in a letter to dele
cation members yesterday said
the commissions principal con-
Germ was in the mounting debt
Of governmental bodies in the
two counties, the increase in the
cost of bonds and the expense OF
administration.
He pointed out that the total
debt Of the two counties and the
bi-county commissions was about
$3.50 million with nearly 500 mil
lion of this attributed to the
sanitary commission.
The commission proposes re-
curing a one-quarter payment
in cash for extensions built in
1858, one-half payment fol
those built in 1869, hree-fourthS
In 1860 and full cash payment
in 1861. After 1860 developers
would be permitted to install
their own lines under Sanitary
Commission direction.
The proposal also calls for re-
ducing the front foot benefit levy
to a system requiring the f1nanc.
ing to be limited to 10 years al
are street Improvements in Mont,
gomery County.
Could Pay Lump Sum
Another proposal would permit
property owners now payini
front foot benefit assessments Il
pay them of in lump sum equa
to the annual charge multiplied
by the years remaining on whicl
they are to be paid. Most nov
are paid on a 40-year basis.
rhe legislative program alst
calls for transferring from tn,
commission to the two count,
governing bodies the responsible
ity for storm drainage construc
tion and the collection of garbag
which the commission now nan
dies in Montgomery County. Tn
counties would be required l.
assume the storm drainage bond
ed Indebtedness of the commits
sion. The proposal would retail
In the commission. however. tn
authority over the location o
storm drainage facilities.
Neither Of these two transfer
is likely to be effected by th
Legislature unless the countie
say they are ready to assum
these services.
Redraft JurisdictiOnal Laws
The program calls for a re
drafting OF laws defining tn
commissions Jurisdiction. A
present piecemsal extension owe
the years has made it virtual
impossible TO determine thes
boundaries without a map.
The commission proposes n
extension OF its jurisdiction AIN
more specifically says it woul
rather see the undeveloped Ian
within the sanitary district util
tied. This latter proposal paral
lels recommendations in the gen
eral plan Of the Maryland
National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission which urge
development for heavy resideu
tial use Of areas closest 10 III
District Of Columbia.
Issue on RelOcations
One measure that is certain
stir up a controversy would n
quire the county government
pay for the cost Of moving con-
mission lines as streets and high
ways are relocated. The CON
mission for many years has bee
ct Iosgerheads with the count,