MONTGOMERY COUNTY ARCHIVES

Guide to the Records of

ROSE CRENCA

1969-1990

Record Group 2: County Council

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

Rose Crenca, a longtime resident of Silver Spring, has had an impressive history of public service in Montgomery County. After receiving a B.A. in Biology from American University in 1947, Ms. Crenca taught high school Science and English. In 1951, she was awarded an M.A. in Education from George Washington University and continued teaching until 1957. For the next twelve years, much of Ms. Crenca's time was occupied raising her two children.

Beginning in the late 1960's, Rose Crenca became active in numerous Montgomery County civic organizations. These organizations included the Sligo-Branview Citizens Association, League of Women Voters, Taxpayers League, Maryland Environmental Coalition, TESS Citizens Advisory Council, Citizens Planning Association, and the Allied Civic Federation. Ms. Crenca held influential offices in many of these organizations, including chair of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) Transportation Planning Board as well as COG vice-president. It was her position as President of the Allied Civic Federation which led to her election to the Montgomery County Council in 1978. She was re-elected to the Council in 1982 and 1986 but was defeated in 1990.

As a member of the Montgomery County Council, Rose Crenca played an important role in shaping the course of County government in the 1980's. She served on a number of council committees including Planning, Housing & Economic Development, the Finance Committee, and the Health & Human Services Committee. In addition, Ms. Crenca sponsored and co-sponsored far-reaching county legislation which included fire sprinkler requirements in new homes, smoking regulations, restrictions on discrimination in public accommodations, housing, zoning, employment, and property tax credits.

Rose Crenca served as President of the Montgomery County Council from 1986 to 1987 and again as President pro tempore from 1989 to 1990. During her term as Council President, the County Council was involved in a controversial plan to develop downtown Silver Spring. Supporters of the plan, who included Council President Crenca, argued that development would revitalize the city and bring money into the County. Opponents thought the plan would create tremendous traffic congestion and lead to a deterioration of the general quality of life around Silver Spring.

PROCESSING PROCEDURES

General processing procedures consisted of discarding duplicates, unnecessary binders, and routine transmittals. Oversized documents and photographs were removed from the original location in their assigned series and placed in separate containers. Separation sheets were inserted in the original location within the folder to indicate the new location of any records placed elsewhere.

Preservation copying of newspaper clippings was performed whenever feasible. Records in folders were arranged, unless otherwise indicated, in forward chronological order, with undated records appearing at the end of the folder.

PROVENANCE

Not applicable.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The 5.0 cubic feet of Rose Crenca papers cover the years 1969 to 1990, with the bulk encompassing the years in which she served on the Montgomery County Council, 1978 to 1990. The records primarily consist of correspondence, memoranda, reports, articles, and clippings. Topics include county development concerns, public works projects, education, budgetary matters, and zoning and housing issues. The collection has been arranged into three series:

Series I: Correspondence Files

Series II: Silver Spring Re-Development Files

Series III: Subject Files.

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Series I: General Correspondence Files, 1978-1990 (3.0 cu. ft.)

This series contains correspondence and memoranda. Most of the correspondence consists of incoming constituent comments and complaints regarding a variety of Council matters including transportation, public facilities, budget cuts, local development, and human relations.

Folders are arranged chronologically.

Series II: Silver Spring Re-Development Files, 1975-1990 (1 cu. ft.)

These files contain incoming correspondence, memoranda, official statements, and public policy papers regarding the re-development of downtown Silver Spring. In addition, the series also contains architectural plans, maps, and various project proposals for commercial building in Silver Spring.

Folders are arranged chronologically.

Series III: Subject Files, 1969-1990 (1 cu. ft.)

The subject files cover a vast array of Council topics including accessory apartments, re-use of closed schools, anti-discrimination legislation, fire sprinkler legislation, and minority and environmental issues. There are also miscellaneous files which contain an assortment of correspondence, memoranda, Council reports, articles and clippings. Especially well-documented are the liquor board scandal of 1980 to 1981, EPA's rejection of the County's bid to build a large sewage treatment plant at Dickerson, and the zoning loophole bill sponsored by Councilwoman Crenca. This series also contains a file of biographical material relating to her career.

Folders are arranged alphabetically by subject.

Box 1

Series I: General Correspondence Files

January - March, 1979

April - August, 1979

September - December, 1979

January - September, 1980-1981

January - March, 1982

April - June , 1982

July - December, 1982

January - April, 1983

May - August, 1983

September - December, 1983

January - February, 1984

March - April, 1984

May - June, 1984

July - August, 1984

September - October, 1984

November - December, 1984

January, 1985

February - March, 1985

April - May, 1985

Box 2

June - July, 1985

August - October, 1985

November, 1985

December, 1985

January - February, 1986

March - April, 1986

May - June, 1986

July, 1986

August, 1986

September - October, 1986

November - December, 1986

January - February, 1987

March - April, 1987

May, 1987

June, 1987

July - August, 1987

September - October, 1987

November - December, 1987

Box 3

January, 1988

February, 1988

March, 1988

April - May, 1988

June, 1988

July, 1988

August, 1988

September - October, 1988

November - December, 1988

January - February, 1989

March - April, 1989

May, 1989

June, 1989

July, 1989

August, 1989

September - October, 1989

November - December, 1989

January - February, 1990

March - April, 1990

May - June, 1990

July - August, 1990

Box 4

September - November, 1990

Series II: Silver Spring Re-Development

Project Proposals, 1975-1988

Historic Preservation, 1985-1988

Annual Growth Policy and APF Ordinance, 1987

Bill 24-87: Transportation System Management, 1987

Incoming Correspondence, 1987

Montgomery County Opinion Surveys, 1987

Testimonies Before the County Council, 1987

Incoming Correspondence, 1987-1990

Official Memos, 1988

Road Abandonments, 1988

Crenca's Public Position Statements, 1988-1989

City Place Project Plan, 1988-1990

Official Statements, 1988-1990

Box 5

Series III: Subject Files

[General], 1978-1981

[General], 1982-1984

[General], 1984-1986

[General], 1985-1986

[General], 1987-1990

Accessory Apartments, 1982-1986

Ad Hoc Committee on Legislative Oversight, 1979-1983

Bill 65-83: Anti-Discrimination in Public Accommodation. & Housing, 1983-1984

Biographical Materials on Rose Crenca, 1989-1990

Controversy over Hewitt's Appointment to Planning Commission, 1987

Conversion of Blair Mansion, 1989-1990

County Arborist, 1988-1990

Dangers of Mercury Vapor Lamps and Radon, 1985-1989

Environmental Assessments of Hiker-Biker Trail, 1984-1987

Ethics Investigations, 1984-1985

Fire Sprinklers for Back-to-Back Townhouses, 1985-1986

Fire Sprinklers in Residential Construction, 1988-1989

Home Occupation Text Amendment, 1985-1990

Investigation of Fire at Harry Leet's Farmhouse , 1986

Liquor Board Scandal, 1980-1981

Minority/Black Issues, 1969-1982

Office Phone Log, 1983-1984

Parker Avenue Substation/Wheaton Substation, 1979-1982

Phase-Out of Multi-Family Housing, Takoma Park, 1988

Proposed Hiker-Biker Trail - Rock Creek Park, 1984-1988

Re-Use of Closed Schools, 1980-1987

Smoking in the Workplace, 1987-1990

Transfer Development Rights, 1980 & 1987

Water Supply, 1976-1980

Zoning Loophole Bill, 1988-1989