Montgomery County sentinel., 1958-09-25
Politics. Blast Hits
Damascus Water Co.

tiiS oCNNli AbSpODllNdll IlODClQlS
made public a COP blast against
the Democratic Council and Jer
ry T. Williams, Democratic coun
Gilman, alleging that Williams
CREASED the wheels" of the
"crony" Council in order to OBJ
tain a cheap lease to county lanc
for the construction of Damas
Gus water tower.
Williams owns stock i'm the
company as do members of
his family.
The Sentinel herewith reprints
in full the texts of both Mac
donald's charges and Williams
rebuttal:
Macdonald -"On May Is, 1856
the Democrat 'Crony' Council
gave a lease of valuable County
land in Damascus to a water
company at the rate of 81 pei
year for a period of 25 years
This Company is a privately
owned company organized for
profit. Councilman Jerry vii
liams and/or members of his fam
lily are part owners of this Com
pany. Jerry Williams son-in-law
is President, and Mr.. Williams
brother is an officer or stock
holder, or both.
when this corporation was or,
ganized two or three years ago
ii was necessary for it to acquire
a franchise from the County ir
order to lay its mains and pipes
in the bed of County roads. II
was Jerry Williams who creased
the wheels for the franchise.
which was, of course, granted.
Then the Water Company
needed a site for its water tower
1t turned to the 'Crony' Coun
Gil and the Council leased land
belonging to the County to the
Company at a rent of 81 per year
for 25 years.
Under the terms of its fran
chise, the company is required tc
submit its plans for the installa
ton of mains and pipes in Coun
ty roads to the County for its
approval. After this requirement
was made a part Of the franchise
granted by the Council in oper
session, it was waived for the
reason that it would be 'expen
sive' to the Company. This wa:
done by letter sent to the Com
pany by the County Attorney or
March 13, 1857. This waiver wa:
granted behind closed doors
which under State law makes i
void. Nevertheless, the require
ment was waived"
Williams rebuttal-"The Re
publican Council Candidates have
accused me of using influence
with the present Montgomery
County Council, in order to pro
mote a Water Company in Da
mascus, Maryland. The facts are
as follows:
81. There was a dire need fol
a water supply in the fast grow
ing Damascus area, and tht
Washington Suburban Sanitary
Commission was unable to NEE
the need at this time. The Ele
mentary School as well as many
private homes were without wa
ter, and the supply at the Higf
School was insufficient.
"2. A group of citizens held ;
community meeting in 1856, anC
it was unanimously agreed to or
ganize a Water Company. Eight,
public spirited citizens purchased
stock in the company which wa
named Damascus Utilities Com
pany.'
"3. The County leased to tht
Company a space on the back o
an abandoned School Property o
approximately 60 by 20 feet il
order to erect a water storage
supply. In turn the Compan,
built 2,200 feet of S-inch water
mains along County property
with four fire hydrants for tn,
protection of School Children anC
Public Property without cost tC
the County. Also the Company
furnished water to the Depart
ment of Public Works Mainte
nance Depot without cost of wa
ter or hook.up charges.
Il. The Company obtained (
franchise from the Republican
controlled State Roads Commits
sion to lay $4,000 feet of main:
on State Roads and only 1900 fee
of mains from the Department o.
Public Works along County
Roads.
"5. Since the State Road Com
mission did not require profile!
before construction, the County
Attorney ruled that the Compan,
could furnish main locations t
the County after the project wa
completed.
IS. l am one of eighty stock
a.