Planning Board Applicants Wanted

The Montgomery County Council is re-advertising for applicants to fill a vacant position on the Montgomery County Planning Board.

Casey Anderson (Democrat), who has served on the Planning Board since June of 2011, was recently designated by the Council to replace Françoise Carrier as chair. Since the Council designated a sitting board member, the current vacancy on the board remains. The term currently occupied by Ms. Carrier and soon to be vacant will expire on June 14, 2018.

During the recruitment for board chair, the Council received 19 applications. The Council has decided to readvertise for the board member vacancy, but all previous applicants who were not appointed as chair will be considered for this vacancy if they remain interested in serving.

Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3.

No more than three members of the Planning Board may be from the same political party, and each member must be a resident and registered voter 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 a member of another party officially recognized by the Montgomery County Board of Elections.

In addition to Mr. Anderson (D), current board members are Norman Dreyfuss (R), Amy Presley (R) and Marye Wells-Harley (D). Annual compensation for board members is currently $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 Code; implementation of the subdivision process by reviewing and approving all preliminary plans, site plans and other plans for development; advice on the planning implications 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); land acquisition contracts and major development contracts for parks; development plans for individual park facilities; policies for park operations; and park user fees.

The Planning Board meets all day every Thursday and often meets 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.

Letters of application expressing interest, including a resume listing professional and civic experience, should be addressed to: Council President Craig Rice, County Council Office, Stella B. Werner Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20850. Applications can also be submitted via email to county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov

Applications must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 3. It is the Council’s policy not to consider applications received after the deadline. After the Sept. 3 closing date, Councilmembers will review the letters of application and select applicants for interviews to be held soon thereafter.

Letters of application and resumes are made public as part of the appointment process, and are available for public review. The interviews are conducted in public and may be televised. A resume of professional and civic experience should be included with each letter of application. A financial disclosure statement of assets, debts, income and family property interests will be required to be filed by each applicant. Only the ultimate appointee will be required to make the financial disclosure statement available to the public.

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