Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1962-09-27
POOlesville
Stirred by
Annexation

the tiny up-county town of
Poolesville will be put to one
of its severest tests next
weekend.
A high percentage of the
towns estimated 100 voters is
expected to turn out Oct. 6 for a
referendum that is likely to
create enduring hard feelings
on the part of one segment of
the divided populace.
Voters will decide on whether
Mayor Billy Bliss and the Town
Council should get their knuck-
les raped for annexing over
5000 acres of land south of
Poolesville.
BY a simply majority vote,
the townspeople will either veto
or sustain the controversial an
nexation, approved by the mayor
and council Sept. IL after a
lengthy public hearing at which
a struggle between the forces
of the old and the new became
evident.
The annexation is sought
by developer Bernard SeigeI,
realtOr Charles JamisOn and
others who seek to develop
a model planned community
south of the present town
limits.
Mayor Bliss and other annexa.
ton advocates argue it will i'm
mediately double the towns
land base for taxes and contri-
butte much toward Poolesville's
growth and prosperity.
A major feature of Seigels
bid is an offer to allow the town
long blighted by water pollu-
ton problems-to tie into two
deep wells already standing on
the property to be annexed.
Local opposition to the ac-
QUESTION, particularly among
older town residents, has been
strong. Opponents argue it
would put Poolesville in the posi-
ton of "a small tail on the
back of a big dog" that it
would draw major development
away from the present town,
and that the city's costs of main
tenance and service to the new
community would be out of pro-
portion to revenue it would
take in from additional property
taxes.
They also cite informal op-
position to the planned commun-
ity from the Maryland.N National
Capital Park and Planning Com.
mission. Spokesman for Seigel,
however, maintain the plan has
never been formally rejected or
formally considered by the Com
mission.
The Planning Commissions
proposed general plan for the
county, issued last weekend,
does not envision any major
development in the Poolesville
area for the next SO years.
81 don't think the Planning
Commission has given any
thought to the health problem
or other problems in Pooles-
VILE" said Mayor Bliss this
week. 'The only answer is for
us to get enough growth to sup
port ourselves"
Meantime, opponents of the
annexation this week were raj
lying the majority of votes they
will need to turn down the an
nexation next Saturday.
Unofficial spokesman for the
opposition, Mana Hall, exhorted
town residents in special bull
letin to reject the proposal,
which, she said, will leave Pool
esville "a ghost town."
"If you wish to remain a
free citizen in this town which
your ancestors have founded
and fought for and which
you have helped to build and
preserve" Mrs. Hall wrote,
''then vote AGAINST the an
nexation of thousands of acres
of land owned by two men
who are promoters and who
must in turn sell your birth
right to strangers who can
and will destroy the tranquil
ity and charm of our town."
In their formal message to
Poolesville residents, those who
favor the annexation declare
their planned community would
provide all of the economic and
social amenities required in
this modern age without sacIi.
ficing the heritage and tradi-
tons of Poolesville."
They urge the townspeOpIe
TO "grasp a golden opportunity
to emerge as a leading center
of commerce, industry and
social activity in this region"
City Approves
Annexation