Montgomery Council to Interview 4 for 2 Openings on County Planning Board on Tue., May 24

ROCKVILLE, Md., May 23, 2011—The Montgomery County Council on Tuesday, May 24, will interview four applicants for two future vacancies on the Montgomery County Planning Board. The terms of Joseph Alfandre and Norman Dreyfuss, both of whom were appointed to complete partial terms, expire on June 14.

Mr. Alfandre (Democrat) and Mr. Dreyfuss (Republican) are both eligible for reappointment to a first full term on the board. They were among 14 people to submit applications for the two positions. Mr. Alfandre has since withdrawn his application, citing obligations relating to a new job.

The interviews will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Fifth Floor Conference Room of the Council Office at 100 Maryland Ave. in Rockville. The interviews are open to the public.

The interview schedule is set as follows: Matt Zaborsky (Republican) 9:30 a.m.; Mr. Dreyfuss 9:50 a.m.; Alan Bowser (Democrat) 10:10 a.m.; and Casey Anderson (Democrat) 10:30 a.m.

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.

In addition to Mr. Alfandre and Mr. Dreyfuss, the current board members are Chairman Francoise Carrier (D); Amy Presley (R) and Mary Wells-Harley (D). Annual compensation for board members is currently $30,000. Members serve four-year terms and are limited to two full terms. Because of the requirement that no more than three members be from the same political party, the Council cannot appoint two Democrats.

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 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.