Every winter Montgomery
County League members meet to begin planning the League’s program for the
following fiscal year. Local resource
committees are asked to submit their ideas about issues they would like to follow
and topics they would like to study.
Members may also suggest topics of interest for committees to monitor or
study. The Program Coordinator prepares
a report of the planning meeting(s) to present to the Board. The Board determines what program studies to
recommend to the general membership at the Annual Meeting held in the
spring. At the Annual Meeting, members
vote on the studies that they would like the League to conduct in the following
year.
Studies result in fact
sheets that are presented at Units.
These fact sheets may be for education only or they may contain
questions about the topic in order to find out if League members have consensus
on the answers to those questions.
Answers to the questions are analyzed using a specific process (outlined
in the Board Members Handbook) to determine if consensus has been reached. New positions are approved by the Board and
reaffirmed by the membership at Annual Meeting.
League positions are the basis for League advocacy on issues. Without a position on an issue, reached
through consensus, the League may not testify, write letters, or formally
participate in lobbying for or against the issue.
Once a study has been completed and positions have been adopted through the concurrence process they become what is called the League “Program”. Local program must be re-affirmed every year. Resource committees present an outlook for work as part of the adoption of current local program at Annual Meeting. This outlook for work often describes how the League plans to use its positions in the coming year. Resource committees may continue to study issues of interest to them even if formal studies on the topic were not adopted at Annual Meeting and they do not plan to produce a fact sheet.
PROGRAM STUDIES ADOPTED AT ANNUAL MEETING 2008
Readoption of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Study
Study
of Gangs and Gang Activities in
Study
of Campaign Finance Practices in
LWVMC POSITIONS FOR ACTION
Budget Process
Charter
and
Child Care
Children’s Services
Corrections
Education
Elderly
Election Process (new, to be approved at the 2009 Annual Meeting)
Fire and Rescue Services
Health Care (update*, to be approved at the 2009 Annual Meeting)
Housing and Public Accommodations (update*, to be approved at the 2009 Annual Meeting)
Land Use Planning
Local Revenue
Police Services
Transportation (update*, to be approved at the 2009 Annual Meeting)
* updates to the position are underlined.
BUDGET PROCESS
We
support continued improvement of
1. The
county government looking into techniques and procedures for improving the
budget process and making the budget document more understandable. (1977)
2. The
county government involving citizens early in the budget process to help
establish priorities. (1977)
3. The
County government providing information on program cost measured against
results. (1977)
4. Liaison
between the Board of Education,
5. No
major changes in the Board of Education/County Council/Executive fiscal
relationships: (1970)
a) adequate provision for involvement of citizens in the Board
of Education budget-making process continuing
b) the County Council not being able to increase the dollar figure
beyond what the Board of Education has requested
c) the
County Council not making line item allocations to the Board of Education
budget.
(Fiscal Relationships, 1979)
CHARTER AND
We
support the continuation of the charter form of government for
Support for:
Separation of Powers
1. Separation of powers in the county government with an elected executive heading the executive branch and the County Council forming the legislative branch.
(1963, reaffirmed 1965, revised 1967)
2. Powers
and responsibilities of the County Council and the
a) the Executive should prepare and administer the budget, represent the county before other bodies; exercise the veto (with provision for overriding), and appoint an administrative head to supervise the departments and department heads to be confirmed by the Council and to serve at the pleasure of the Executive (1967)
b) the Council should pass laws and ordinances, adopt the budget, levy taxes, confirm appointments of administrative heads and department heads (1967), and stipulate by law how boards and commissions should be chosen unless provided by charter or state law. (1967)
County Council
3. A Council composed of nine Council members. (2006)
4. A County Council composed of a combination of members elected at-large and members elected from councilmanic districts. (No consensus on the division of at-large and district members.) (2006)
5. A local commission to continue to draw the councilmanic districts. (2006)
6. Equitable redistricting of councilmanic districts for Council members so that each district will be compact, contiguous, and of approximately equal population. (1965)(edit 2006)
Charter Review
7. A process for mandatory periodic review of the charter but no permanent or standing commission for that purpose. (1974)
Non-merit Positions
8. Establishment by charter amendment of a limited number of non-merit positions for aides to elected officials in addition to those specifically enumerated. (1974)
Opposed to:
9. An automatic increase of the size of the Council in response to population increase. (2006)
CHILD
CARE
In order to ensure a range of high quality
child care and early education programs accessible to all children of low and
moderate-income families, we support:
Child
Care Programs
Support for:
1. Regulating child care facilities and programs
continuing to be the responsibility of state government. (1990)
2. Publicly funded incentives for child care providers, such as financial aid, tax
and other retention incentives, training and technical assistance. (2005)
3. Adequate county subsidies for families, such
as the Working Parents Assistance (WPA) program, and if necessary, supplements
to the state Purchase of Care (POC) allowing parents to continue working and
afford quality child care. (2005)
4. Child care quality enhancement and
accreditation services, including early childhood mental health consultation.
(2005)
5. A range of quality child care/early education
programs, including home visiting, and emphasizing all day programs,
transportation and parent involvement such as: Head Start, Community based
pre-K models, MCPS pre-K and
Opposition to:
6. The county government setting minimum
salaries for private child care center staff or registered family care
providers. (1990)
Family
Leave
Support for:
7. The county government encouraging employers
to have a family leave policy (e.g., by providing information about model
programs, such as the government=s own policy). (1990)
CHILDREN’S SERVICES
We support a comprehensive range of child-centered services to ensure all children a chance to grow toward stable productive adulthood. (1995) Support for:
1.
Meeting the needs of children being a high priority of the
2. Effective support services for children, including:
a) collaboration across departmental and agency lines to provide seamless services for children
b) community-based points of entry where families at risk can apply for multiple services
c) consumer-oriented service centers sited in easily accessible neighborhood locations (such as schools) with hours convenient to families
d) a compatible computer system, with appropriate safeguards for confidentiality, connecting county agencies to allow more open collaboration and provide comprehensive resource listing
e) a non-categorized contingency fund, with rational limits and clear accountability, available to line workers dealing with crisis situations
f) early intervention to prevent later crisis
g) result-oriented, long-term evaluations of programs and services based on measured outcomes.
CORRECTIONS
We
support a rehabilitative correctional system in
Support for:
Guiding Principles
1. Rehabilitation as the primary role of the
(1970-1971, reviewed and reaffirmed 1983)
2. Protection of the rights and dignity of the individual in the correctional system.
(1971 and 1972, revised 1984)
Adult Correctional System
3. The adult correctional system providing an initial diagnostic evaluation of the individual’s problems and needs. (1971, reviewed and reaffirmed 1983)
4. Coordination of the entire range of community services with the adult correctional system. Individuals entering the system should be informed of the availability of alcohol and drug programs; medical, educational, recreational, and mental health services; family and individual counseling; job training and referral; and financial assistance. (1971)
5. Alternatives to incarceration which should include: (1971, revised 1983)
a) speed-up of trial and sentencing procedures
b) improvements in the bail and bond systems, including pre-trial supervision
c) halfway houses in the community for both sentenced and unsentenced individuals
d) improved parole and probation services
e) expanded work-release opportunities.
6. Corrective facilities for adults which are accessible, without need for cars, to visitors, workers, and inmates on work-release. (1971, reviewed and reaffirmed 1983)
7. Montgomery County Detention Center, which is limited in use. It should be used as a facility for serving short sentences and as a pre-trial diagnostic and holding center. Individuals should be detained there pre-trial only for their own protection or that of the community.
(1971, revised 1983)
8. Individuals in the
Juvenile Correctional System
9. For the child entering the juvenile court process: (1971 and 1972, revised 1984)
a) written guidelines which permit flexibility
b) a juvenile counselor always available to help the child and parents
c) mandatory notification of available services and financial assistance
d) more options available in the county for individualized short-term care such as counseling programs, halfway houses, and foster and group homes (including homes for those with special problems).
10. Juvenile records accessible only to those dealing with the child in the social/legal process. They should be available to others only with waiver by the judge with mandatory notification of the child and parents. (1972, revised 1984)
EDUCATION
We support quality public
education and equal educational opportunity for all. Support for:
Board of Education and Staff
1. Members of the Board of Education chosen in
non-partisan elections. (1966, 1971) Terms should be staggered so that
approximately half the members are elected at one time. (1982)
2. Ensuring quality professional personnel by: (1982)
a) adequate financing to maintain salary
schedules designed to attract and hold teachers
b) effective supervision and opportunities
for further education
c) vigorous evaluation of professional
personnel and appropriate follow-up action
d) implementation of the Peer Assistance and
Review (PAR) process to evaluate and support MCPS instructional staff. (2000)
3. Protection of the personnel of the school system and of the
Board of Education in the exercise of their exclusive responsibility for the
selection of instructional materials and textbooks. (1954, 1971, 1978)
Budget
4. Adequate financing for:
a) art, music (including instrumental
music), and physical education programs in elementary schools (1963, 1971)
b) textbooks, instructional materials, and
school libraries (adequate school libraries within two years of opening) (1960,
1971)
c) plant facilities, with planning for
dual-purpose schools (1961, 1971)
d) desirable class size. (Reaffirmed 1963,
1971)
Innovative Practices
5. School board policies which guide the use of innovative
practices throughout the school system, with the following guidelines: (1971)
a) evaluation standards should be continuously
applied to all innovative practices. These standards should be reviewed
periodically
b) the dissemination of information about
new programs and their evaluation to all administrators, teachers, students,
and parents is essential
c) teachers should be provided with the
necessary training and support (including adequate resource and supervisory
staff) to carry out innovative practices effectively
d) principals should be provided with
exposure to new ideas and be able to initiate innovative practices in their
schools
e) a choice of teaching approaches
(instructional practices) should be available for students
f) necessary procedures which allow for
flexibility should be established, and lines of responsibility should be
clearly understood.
Counseling (1972)
6. Secondary school counselor maintaining confidentiality and being
readily available to the student, parent, principal, and teacher as a liaison
and consultant. Responsibilities should include:
a) orientation for students and parents new
to the school
b) career planning — vocational and/or
college
c) academic guidance — course selection,
curriculum planning, scheduling
d) personal guidance — relationships with
parents, teacher, and students within the school setting
e) referral — meeting specific problems
through the use of school and community resources.
7. Counseling services in all elementary schools with emphasis on
early identification of problems.
Counseling needs should be met in a variety of ways, with emphasis on
more in-service training of classroom teachers.
Career Education (1974)
8. Career education as a combined responsibility of parent, school,
and community with the schools serving as the focal point:
a) the career education program should offer
all students a knowledge of the world of work and the widest possible awareness
of career choice
b) career education in the schools should
begin in kindergarten
c) students should have the opportunity to
acquire a salable skill, but such a skill should not be required for graduation
d) the vocational education aspect of career
education should be expanded.
Programs for At-Risk Students (1990)
9. MCPS programs to reduce the incidence of underachievement and
failure for those students who, without intervention, are likely to emerge from
school unprepared for further education and unprepared for the demands of a
changing workplace.
10. Programs which include:
a) prevention
b) early intervention
c) in-school services where possible (2000)
d) small, individualized programs as needed
(2000)
e) collaboration with other public and
private resources
f) access to core subjects taught by
qualified teachers to meet requirements for graduation (2000)
g) access to a variety of services that
address academic, social, mental health, and emotional needs. (2000)
Special Education
11. Special education programs incorporating the concept of
“mainstreaming” with recognition that to be successful, mainstreaming requires
special training for classroom teachers and sufficient supportive staff. (1975)
12. Emphasis on early identification, with cooperation between
public and private sectors. (1975)
13. A full range of supplementary programs and services for all
students with special needs, including the gifted and talented: (1976)
a) funding should be provided by the county
and the state
b) services should be provided through a
combination of public and private programs with the county continuing to
contract with private agencies for some services.
Programs for Limited-English-Proficient Students (1984) and Adults (2007)
14. A variety of programs (since no single instructional approach
will meet the needs of all limited-English-proficient students) designed to
assure that these students:
a) receive an educational opportunity,
regardless of linguistic background
b) are offered instruction that helps them
learn English as quickly as possible to allow for success in school and in
future employment
c) are assessed and placed in appropriate
programs.
15. Free or low cost basic English language instruction should be
available for
a) Local, state and federal governments should have a role in funding
this instruction.
b) Local, state, and federal governments should provide safety net
funding to ensure maintenance of services.
c) Local and state governments should work with non-profits,
foundations and businesses to assure coordination of services, provide
information and referral and assist in areas such as securing grants, training
personnel and evaluating programs.
d) Local government should establish a non-profit that can deliver
the services described in 15c.
Community College (1965, 1971)
16. A publicly supported comprehensive community college education
in Montgomery County with an “open door” admission policy and a commitment to
upholding standards of academic excellence.
Testing Criteria
17. The appropriate goal of testing in the schools is for the
evaluation of student achievements.
18. Testing for the purpose of accountability is appropriate.
19. A broad range of tests is important: oral, essay, multiple
choice, and true/false. (2002)
20. State-wide testing of all high school students prior to
graduation.
21. The right of a student to take the tests as many times as
necessary to pass the tests.
22. The tests’ scores should be reported to the students in time to
take advantage of remediation.
23. That remediation should be available at no cost to the students
and should be funded by the government level that imposed the mandate for
testing.
24. There was no agreement in the
ELDERLY
We
support a wide range of services and facilities to meet the needs of the
elderly in
Role of
1. The county government taking prime responsibility for planning for the needs of the elderly and for coordinating the various services, as well as acting as a catalyst in providing programs
2. The Commission on Aging as the advocate for the elderly in the county.
3. Expanded publicity and outreach pertaining to all programs for the elderly.
4. Involvement of the elderly in planning and operating programs in participation within the community.
Housing
5. Availability to the elderly of a variety of housing providing options for the individual, including different levels of care ranging from independent living to institutionalization, with stress on
semi-independent living (i.e., sheltered and congregate housing, domiciliary care, foster care, etc.)
6. Special facilities provided in group housing including meal availability, transportation, health services, recreation, and socialization.
Nutrition
7. A variety of nutrition programs (including congregate dining programs and home-centered programs such as Meals-on-Wheels) available in Montgomery County to serve elderly people in economic need, people with nutritional problems, and those needing socialization.
Senior Centers
8. Multi-purpose senior centers providing recreational, social, and cultural activities; transportation, medical, social, and nutritional services.
Home Care
9. A comprehensive home care program provided by a combination of public, voluntary, and private agencies including health care, social services, homemaker and chore needs, transportation and nutritional services, with the client charge on a sliding scale basis.
ELECTION
PROCESS
Election
Criteria
1. We
believe it is important that election systems:
a) produce representation that reflects community sentiment,
b) help increase voter participation by encouraging a broader
range of candidates and more civil
campaigns and
c) are feasible to implement.
2. We
also prefer election systems that:
a) are easy for the voter to understand, both in terms of how
to vote and how their vote is counted,
b) help ensure minority views and interests have some influence
in selecting elected officials,
c) help raise the level of political campaigns by encouraging a
focus on the issues and discouraging negative campaigning,
d) maximize the power of each voter’s vote and
e) help promote more openness and responsiveness between
candidates and constituents.
Election
Systems
3. We
support the option to use Instant Runoff Voting for single seat or executive
office elections, both at the county and local level. This would require the winner to receive a
majority of the votes cast.
a) To
fill vacancies in any county offices, when special elections are held, we
support a single election requiring a candidate to receive a majority of votes
(using Instant Runoff Voting) instead of conducting both special political
party primaries and a special general election.
b) In
addition, we support using a single election, instead of both a primary and
general, which requires a candidate to receive a majority of votes (using
Instant Runoff Voting) in order to be elected to the nonpartisan Board of
Education. The election should be
concurrent with the general election.
4. We
support the continued use of plurality voting system in our elections.
5. We
do not support Limited Voting as an alternative voting method.
Election
Equipment
6. We
believe all newly acquired voting equipment (hardware and software) for use in
FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICES
We
support fire and rescue services that protect the health and safety of
1. Services delivered by both career and volunteer personnel.
2. Retention of Emergency Medical Services within the Department of Fire and Rescue Services.
3. Ambulance service without fees.
4. Changes in the fire and rescue services system: (1996)
a) the administrative power of the county over the independent fire and rescue corporations
should be strengthened (1997)
b) the Fire and Rescue Commission should be the policy-making body and a Fire Administrator should be charged with carrying out its policies (1997)
c) the Fire and Rescue Commission should include two members representing the career service, two the volunteer service, and three the community (1997)
d) the Fire Administrator’s assistants (such as career and volunteer chiefs) should be specified in the law. (1997)
Opposition to:
5. Mandatory installation of sprinkler systems in existing residences.
6. Changes in the fire and rescue services system by charter amendment. (1996)
HEALTH CARE
We
support the improvement of public health services and facilities for
Public Health Services
1. The prevention of physical and psychological disorders as a major role of the Department of
Health and Human Services. (1974, revised 2000).
2. In the area of preventive care, health education as the most cost-effective method of improving basic health care. Of special concern are the areas of immunizations and nutrition. (1977)
3. In the area of curative care, increased access to 24-hour medical services. (1977, revised 2000).
4. Expansion of the services of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services to include access to treatment and well-child care. (1974, revised 2000).
Making Services Accessible
5. Information about services available from the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services fully disseminated to the public. (1974, reworded 2000)
6. Better coordination of services within the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services and with other county agencies. (1974, reworded 2000).
7. Better utilization of existing facilities such as schools and shopping centers for provision of health services (Ex., School-Based Health Centers). (1974, revised 2000).
8. Transportation upgraded to provide easy access to all county health services. (1974)
9. County extension of financial assistance eligibility parameters to include those with incomes above the cutoff to qualify for Medicaid other government programs but too low to afford private medical care. (1974, revised 2000)
Prenatal Care
10. Efforts to ensure that prenatal care be a high priority of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (1991, reworded 2000)
11. Supplemental nutrition programs with county funding as necessary for pregnant women, infants, and children up to five years. (1991)
12. A variety of outreach programs to improve prenatal care for the needy. (1991)
Mental Health Services for Children and Adolescents
13. Provision of the following public and mental health services for children and adolescents: (2000)
a) prevention and early intervention
b) culturally sensitive and bi-lingual providers
c) comprehensive range of treatment services
d) respite care.
14. Appropriate and timely compensation for providers, particularly reimbursement for case management. (2000)
15.
a) seeking additional funds from the state as needed
b) supplementing state funding with county funds, if necessary
c) maintaining a safety net for underserved children and those with the most complex problems
Mental Health Services for Adults
16. The League supports provision of the following public mental health services for adults: (2004)
a) a range of treatment services including in-patient, out-patient, residential, home and community-based crisis intervention, and pharmacy.
b) culturally sensitive, diverse, multi-lingual providers
c) case management with coordination and continuity among agencies including in-patient