program for the development and effective employment of all State
resources, known as the State Development Plan. To this end the
Department studies "the resources of the State and . . . existing and
emerging problems of agriculture, commerce, transportation, popula-
tion, housing, public service, local government" and other matters that
affect the development of Maryland. It also "prepares the State's
capital program in collaboration with the Department of Budget and
Procurement and . . . assists in the preparation of the annual capital
budget." In addition, it acts "as an advisory . . . and coordinating
agency," harmonizing its planning activities with those of State or
local government agencies and providing these agencies with planning
assistance. Finally, it attempts to stimulate "public interest and par-
ticipation in the development of the State." The Director of the State
Planning Department is appointed by the Governor and serves at his
pleasure.

The law provides for a State Planning Commission within the State
Planning Department to advise and assist the Director. The Commis-
sion consists of nine members: Seven are appointed by the Governor
for four-year terms; the other two represent the House of Delegates
and the State Senate and are appointed by the Speaker of the House
and the President of the Senate respectively.

The Commission may establish subcommittees to which it may dele-
gate any of its functions. It is also to (1) "study and report from
time to time upon the effectiveness of planning in the State;" (2)
"evaluate the effectiveness of this Article, and . . . urge its revision
or amendment whenever necessary;" (3) "receive and approve, dis-
approve, or resubmit to the Director of State Planning recommenda-
tions concerning the establishment of regional or metropolitan areas;"
(4) "hold public and private hearings and sponsor public forums in
any part of the State."

The Medical Care Committee, which formerly functioned under the
Planning Commission as a study group to review medical and health
problems, was discontinued as an operation of the Planning Commis-
sion and the Planning Department as of July 1, 1963. This was
brought about by Legislative action, discontinuing appropriation to
the Planning Department for staffing the Medical Care Committee
(Code 1957, 1963 Supp., Art. 88C).

Appropriations 1963 1964

General Funds ................................... $232,188 $223,281
Staff: 24.

BALTIMORE REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCIL

Chairman: James J. O'Donnell,
State Planning Department

Vice Chairman: John R. Royster, Baltimore City

Joseph F. Collinson, Jr., and Friedrich E. von Schwerdtner,
Anne Arundel County; Philip Darling, Baltimore City; Mal-
colm H. Dill and Jervis S. Finney, Baltimore County; Edmund
L. Carr and George A. Grier, Carroll County; Abe Davis and
J. Lee Hanlin, Harford County; Thomas G. Harris, Jr. and
Charles E. Miller, Howard County.
Franz J. Vidor, Director

301 W. Preston Street, Baltimore 1 Telephone: 837-9000

The Baltimore Regional Planning Council was established by the
Maryland State Planning Commission in December 1966 to take ad-