5525
MONTGOMERY COUNTY

seen fit in enacting this legislation to provide the
County Executive with broad latitude in making
appointments to the Board. Nevertheless, the Council
strongly urges and sincerely hopes that the Executive
will consider for appointment to the Board
representatives from the aforementioned categories of
health providers.

b. As stated in Section 24-23 of Bill 16-73, the
Council strongly urges the Executive, in making initial
appointment to the Advisory Board, to consider, to the
extent possible, for membership on the Board those
individuals who have served on the Board of Community and
Mental Health, which terminates as of the effective date
of this legislation. The Council feels that these
individuals possess the type of background, dedication
and interest in health—related matters that would enhance
significantly the comprehensive health planning program
in the County. For this reason the County should
continue to make maximum use of the talents and services
of these former Board members.

2.    orientation program for consumer representatives on
the Health Planning Advisory Board.

The Council is aware that Advisory Board members
representing providers of health services will possess,
for the most part, a broad background and experience in
health programs and health—related matters. However,
consumer members, if they are to be representative of all
segments of the community, hardly could be expected to
share this same type of background and experience. For
this reason, the Council strongly urges the County
Executive and the Advisory Board to develop for the
newly—appointed consumer members of the Board a program
of orientation covering comprehensive health planning and
related health programs and services. The Council
believes that this course of action should facilitate the
full and meaningful participation in the Board's
activities by consumer members of the Board.

3.    Review of operations and activities of the County
Health Department.

The Council deems it essential that the review and
oversight of the operations and activities of the County
Health Department formerly exercised by the Board of
Community and Rental Health be continued by the
newly—created Health Planning Advisory Board. Such
duties and responsibilities are set out in Section
24-28(b) of Bill 16-73. In this regard, it is the intent
of the Council that the Board, pursuant to authority
contained in Section 24—27 of the bill, establish a
standing committee whose sole purpose would be to