Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1962-09-13
The Door Closes Again

The Montgomery County Citizens Planning Associa-
tion extraordinarily alert and hardWorkng watchdog
group of citizens concerned with planning and coming
tons of county officials complained strongly this week
about scheduled closed work session. of the Maryland
National Capital Park and Planning Commission on the
subject of the White Oak Plan and revision of the Ken
sington- Wheaton Plan. And justifiably So
Closed meetings of public bodies are an abomnation
And they are on the increase.
In the spring of 1860 the group pointed out in its
complaint to MNCPPC Chairman Herbert W. Wells, the
planners held open work sessions while considering the
Rock Creek Plan and the subdivision regulations They
well attended and extremely informative and helpful
in making clear to the public the planning considerations
which underay the adopted plans the group pointed out
Last spring. however when the Montgomery Planning
Board held its work session the North Bethesda Pan
interested citizens excluded And the plan finally
adopted substantially different from the proposed
by the planning staff and the which the public hear
ing was held.
Fearful that history may repeat ITSELF the Citizens
Planning Association has formally asked that the
called work session of the planners the important White
Oak Plan and the KensngtonW Plan be open to the
public
The planners should consider the request carefully
and we believe strongly accede to it.
We do not believe Montgomery County citizens want
the kind of officials that hash out the issues in private and
emerge from behind their closed doors, give few pat
explanations then follow through formally with cut and
dried action that decided upon in private.
There is in Maryland Open Meeting Law requiring
that all public bodies must take their actions in public
session But this is easy-and frequently
by the simple device of closing the DOORS deciding nor
may what the action will be, then taking the formal
and action-in public for the record.
AS the Citizens Planning Association points out such
action that taken by the planners in adoption of the
drastcay revised North Bethesda Plan certainly violates
the spirit and intent of the Open Meetings Law. And the
planners policy of holding regular closed meetings and
acquisition matters is probably subterfuge many
tiers of public interest and undoubtedly dis
cussed at these sessions.
1T is understandable that in some situations where
local feeling runs high, where powerful interests
conflict with each other with the public interest it is
painful to arrive at decisions publicly and step by step
the citizens group points out I'm such cases. it adds it is
very much easier to present to the public and
accept single completed decision in which subsidiary
decisions and the position of individual members them
are concealed in one monoic and anonymous lump Pain
fu as may be- however the public making of decisions on
public business basic to maintaining the high quality of
local government Secret decisions give rise to distrst
which in turn undemines confidence in public bodies We
urge you to conduct the public's business in public"
To which we would like to add "fervent and hearty
"Amen!"