9 To Be Interviewed by County Council For Soon-to-Be Open Position on Montgomery County Planning Board

* Release ID: 09-074
* Release Date: 5/20/2009
* Contact: Justina Ferber 240-777-7938
* From: Council Office

9 To Be Interviewed by County Council For Soon-to-Be Open
Position on Montgomery County Planning Board

Interviews to Be Conducted on Tuesday, June 16

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 20, 2009—The Montgomery County Council will interview nine applicants on Tuesday, June 16, as it seeks to fill an upcoming vacancy on the Montgomery County Planning Board. The term of John Robinson (Democrat) will expire on June 14. Mr. Robinson has served two terms and is not eligible for reappointment.

A total of 18 applications were received by the April 22 deadline. The Council will meet individually with those selected for interviews starting at 2 p.m. on June 16.

Those who have been invited to interview are: Alan S. Bowser (Democrat) of Silver Spring; Carol Van Dam Falk (Democrat) of Potomac; Ilaya Rome Hopkins (Democrat) of Bethesda; Patricia H. Lee (Democrat) of Olney; Chris Paladino (Democrat) of Silver Spring; Donna Mandel Perlmutter (Democrat) of Potomac; Roberto R. Piñero (Democrat) of Silver Spring; Cynthia Rubenstein (Democrat) of Silver Spring; and Marye Wells-Harley (Democrat) of Silver Spring.

No more than three members of the Planning Board may be from the same political party, and all members must be residents and registered voters of Montgomery County when appointed. Members serve four-year terms and are limited to two full terms. The position can be filled by a Democrat; a Republican; a voter who declines to affiliate with a party; or by a member of another party officially recognized by the Montgomery County Board of Elections.

In addition to Mr. Robinson, the current board members are Chairman Royce Hanson, a Democrat; Joseph Alfandre, a Democrat; Jean B. Cryor, a Republican; and Amy Presley, a Republican. Annual compensation for board members currently is $30,000.

The Planning Board serves as the Council’s principal adviser on land use planning and community planning. Planning Board members also serve as commissioners of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

The Planning Board’s responsibilities with regard to planning include preparation and amendment of the County General Plan; preparation and amendment of Master Plans and functional plans; formulation of subdivision regulations; preparation of, or recommendations, on text amendments to the County Zoning Ordinance; implementation of the subdivision process by reviewing and approving all preliminary plans, site plans and other plans for development; advice on the planning implication of capital facilities and programs of the County government, Montgomery College, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission and Montgomery County Public Schools; commenting, under its Mandatory Referral authority, on plans for public facilities of local, state and federal agencies; and approval of the work program and the annual operating budget for the Planning Department and the commission’s bi-county offices.

The Planning Board sits as the Park Commission and approves the annual Parks Department operating budget and Capital Improvements Program (CIP) budget; land acquisition contracts and major development contracts for parks; development plans for individual park facilities; policies for park operations; and park user fees.

The Montgomery County Planning Board meets all day every Thursday and often meets on one other evening a week. The entire Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission meets the third Wednesday of every month. On average, a Planning Board member can expect to spend at least two full days a week in scheduled and informal meetings. Additionally, substantial time is required for preparatory work and other activities related to Planning Board responsibilities.