ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY

The first Montgomery County Council took office on January 18, 1949, after passage of a Charter which replaced the county commissioner form of government. This first Council was composed of seven members, one from each of the five Council Districts and the other two from the County at large. The County Council served as both the chief executive authority and as the legislative branch. It was required to sit in executive session at least once in each calendar month, and met in both open and closed executive sessions at least once every week.

Under the provisions of the Charter, the executive powers granted to the Council included the adoption of expense and capital budgets; the appointment of a County Manager to serve at the Council's discretion; the election of officers from its own membership including a president and a secretary; the establishment by resolution of general policies, orders, and instructions for administering the functions of the executive branch; and the power to hold hearings on legislation.

During the legislative session held in May of each year, the Council was authorized to enact or amend public local laws for the County upon matters covered by the Express Powers Act, except those of the incorporated towns and villages of the County, and to repeal or amend certain local laws for the County previously enacted by the General Assembly.

However, the County Council-County Manager system was seen to be inadequate for the rapidly growing population of the County who were demanding more services and accountability from the local government, and a revised charter was prepared and approved in 1968. This charter provided for the election of a County Executive in 1970 who would be responsible for administering all Montgomery County government departments. Day-to-day operations would be supervised by a Chief Administrative Officer appointed by the County Executive. The Council would continue to make laws, set tax rates, approve budgets, and deal with planning, zoning and land subdivision problems.

Today, the County Council consists of nine members, five elected by district and four County-wide. The Council continues to enact all local laws, oversee zoning and planning, appropriate funding for the budgets of County agencies, set property tax rates, and also meets as the County Board of Health and as the District Council for the Montgomery County portion within the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning District. The Council holds regular weekly sessions and conducts public hearings and work sessions throughout the year.

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

These records were transferred from Rockville Library in 1997.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

These records comprise 0.5 cubic feet and consist only of the final resolutions approved and adopted by the County Council. Some of the files also contain a handwritten index.

The records are arranged in three series:

Series I: Resolutions

Series II: Zoning and Subdivision Regulation Amendments

Series III: Appointments.

SERIES DESCRIPTIONS

Series I: Resolutions, 1978-1982 (2 folders)

This series contains copies of the resolutions approved by the County Council from 1978 to 1982. The folders are arranged in chronological order, while each file is in its original order. The 1978 resolutions are indexed, while the resolutions adopted from 1979 to 1982 are in reverse chronological order.

Series II: Zoning and Subdivision Regulation Amendments, 1986-1992 (0.33 cu.ft.)

These amendments were voted upon by the County Council sitting as the District Council for that portion of the Maryland-Washington Regional District within Montgomery County. The Council received recommendations from the Montgomery County Planning Board, held public hearings, and referred the matter as necessary to the Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee for review and recommendations. This series contains only approved amendments, which are in their original order, with a handwritten index in front of each folder.

The files are arranged in chronological order.

Series III: Appointments, 1979-1986 (0.17 cu.ft.)

This series consists of Council resolutions appointing members to various boards and commissions. They are arranged in order by resolution number.

Box 1

Series I: Resolutions

Laws of 1979 Chapters 1-30, 1978

1979-1982

Series II: Zoning and Subdivision Regulation Amendments

January-October 1986

December 1986-December 1988

January 1989-September 1990

October 1990-February 1992

Box 2

Series III: Appointments

1979-1982

1983-1984

1985-1986, n.d.