Evening star., 1963-02-10
Montgomery
May Rejoin
Metro Council
Secessionists Still
Concerned With
locul Autonomy
81 WILLIAM DUKI
Star staff Writer

been called a serious threat to
area-wide cooperation. was
Montgomery's best method Of
halting dilution Of local au-
tonomy. said Council President
John A. Floyd.
The five Republicans on the
seven-member council, includ-
ing Mr.. Floyd. voted Tuesday
to withdraw their support Of
the metro council. At that
time, they said the county
wasn't getting its moneys
worth out Of its $23.4O0 men,
bership contribution. and that
the metro agency was duplicat-
ing the functions of local
agencies.
The move against the metro
council in the county, however,
was fed by political undercur-
rents Of dissatisfaction with the
conduct Of wide transpor-
tation studies and with the
Kennedy Administrators key
appointees to Washington area
agencies. The appointments
were supported, however, by
some Democratic members Of
the 1854 County Council.
Considered Warning
Mr.. Floyd said the county's
action was "shock treatment
designed to warn metro Off
cials that local jurisdictions do
not want to lose powers in any
metro arrangement. He said he
personally would vote to re-
turn If there were sufficient
guarantees against domination
from one section Of the metro
politan area"
One such guarantee, he said
would be appointment of a
three-man commission to gov
ern the National Capital Trans
portation Agency instead Of
single administrator.
The present administrator
himself a MONTGOMERY COUNTY
resident. Is c. Darwin Stolen.
bach, who was defeated In Tn,
county Democratic primary IL
1858 for a council position
Charles A. Horsky Of Silver
Spring, who also was defeated
in the Montgomery Council
race that year. was named last
year as the special assistant
to the President for Washing
ton area affairs.
The metro council, however
is the only area-wide agency In
which local elected officials
have a vote. and is one of the
agencies which can veto the
transit plans Of Mr.. Stolen
bach's agency.
Cooperation Made Policy
Donald E. Gingery, who as a
member Of the Maryland-Na-
tional Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission voted to urge
the county's withdrawal. said
that veto power Is not enough,
whats the use Of planning
for several years and then re-
sorting TO a veto" he said.
when we prepared the 1853
mass transit plan. for example,
we consulted local elected and
planning officials every step of
the way. That kind Of coopera-
ton has not been evident in
forming the present transit
plans"
Mrs. Anne wilkins, a mem
ber Of the Fairfax County CVa.)
Board Of Commissioners and
vice chairman of the metro
agency's executive committee,
fails to see the logic of the
county's" secession which she
called a serious threat" to the
metro councils existence.
ScOrn Super Government
THE (metro) council is de-
signed TO avoid metro or super
government. as well as Federal
Intervention by enabling the
local governments themselves TO
deal with area-wide problems.
while losing none Of their ira
ditional autonomy" she said.
Mr.. Floyd, however, men,
toned a report OF the metro
councils Internal Operations
Committee. which suggested
that the functions of the Re-
zional Planning Council should
oe brought under the control OF
The Council OF Governments.
One Of the intangibles that
led to the county's action,
however, was advice 10 the Re-
publican controlled Council
from Democrats who had sue
cessfully opposed Mr.. Horsky
and Mr.. Stolzenbach In the
county.
One OF these former offic-
ials, who refused the use Of his
name. explained II this way:
How can we have conf
dence In the way area planning
Is going. when two OF the men
who we're rejected by the vot-
ers Of Montgomery County
mfr. Horsky and Mr.. Stolzen-
back are now In positions OF
power due 10 support from the
Democratic state Central
Committee OF the District
where the populace don't have
a chance 10 vote on their rep
rcsentatiyes."
Mrs. wilkins said. however.
that Mr.. HorSky has attended
very few Council OF Govern
menS meetings IN an advisory
capacity
They're not pushing US
around at ALL" she said. "They
aaeun vary interaatad IN find.