County To Decide Whether Committees Are Worth the Funds

Advisory boards in Wheaton may soon face the day of judgment. That is, the day when a county review committee judges whether the boards should continue their existence.

A bill enacted Nov. 8 by a unanimous vote in the Montgomery County Council requires 47 advisory boards in the county to submit certain materials to the review committee within 60 days: a description and justification of the board, a two-year work plan, an explanation of the resources used and a plan to reduce that use.

However, the review committee has not yet been convened, and the bill did not set a deadline for the county executive to appoint its 11 members--whom the county council would then have to confirm.

The bill includes the Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee and the Mid-County Citizens Advisory Board in its list of advisory boards--but not the Wheaton Redevelopment Advisory Committee, whose members are not selected by the county executive.

What's the purpose of WUDAC and MCCAB? Here’s how they describe their missions on their websites:

WUDAC
"The Wheaton Urban District is funded by special taxes to support the work of the Committee. It provides special services to the Central Business District to ensure that downtown Wheaton is maintained in a clean, safe and attractive manner to promote a vibrant social and business environment and long-term economic viability and vitality. These services include security, streetscape maintenance, tree maintenance, sidewalk repairs, marketing, and events." 

MCCAB
"The 15-member Mid-County Citizens Advisory Board (MCCAB) serves as Montgomery County's bridge to the 220,000 residents and businesses spread throughout the 99 square miles of the Mid-County area of Montgomery County. The Board provides advice and recommendations to the County Executive on policy and budget issues, planning and goal setting procedures, and legislative matters; educates the community on governmental structures and services; and acts as a facilitator to foster solutions to community problems, needs, and issues."

The county spent $1.4 million on these 47 advisory boards in Fiscal Year 2011. The committee members volunteer their time, but the county provides support personnel and covers operating costs.

Each committee will also have to report to the review board the number of hours spent by the committee members and other volunteers.

The first report by the review committee will consider scenarios in which the county could reduce the amount of time its staff spends supporting these advisory boards--and also whether any of the boards could be consolidated.