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THE CHAIRMAN: I want to introduce to the

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Committee two very distinguished members who are present

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and to welcome them: Mr. William S. Ratchford who is the

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Executive Secretary of the Maryland Association of

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County Commissioners, and Mr. Daniel R. Thompson,

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Executive Secretary and General Counsel of the Maryland

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Municipal League. They are each consultants of the

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Commission and I feel pleased to have them present here

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with us today.

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The Committee will note that we have a

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reporter present and the purpose of having the reporter

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present is that, as we discuss various subjects on our

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agenda, the contents of that discussion will be available

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for inclusion in the minutes and for the benefit of the

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members of the Committee who are not present and anyone

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else who may go into the study of the scope of activity

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of our Committee and the subjects which are part of our

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responsibility, and particularly the rewrite of the

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constitutional provision covering local government and

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other related matters in the Constitution,

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I think that we will probably get the best