41'2'/Maryland Manual

Commission administers activities and functions
of the Washington Suburban Transit District, and
has powers to develop, on a bi-county basis, a
transportation system including mass transit facil-
ities for the needs and growth of Montgomery
and Prince George's Counties.

The Commission consists of seven members.
Three are appointed by the Montgomery County
Executive, and three by the Prince George's
County Executive. The Secretary of Transporta-
tion serves ex officio. Commissioners who are
appointed serve at the pleasure of the County Ex-
ecutive, and commissioners who are not ap-
pointed from among the members of the govern-
ing bodies serve for a period of three years. By
law, the position of chairperson alternates on an
annual basis between Montgomery and Prince
George's counties.

The Commission appoints two of its members
and two alternates to the Board of Directors of
the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Au-
thority (WMATA), the interstate agency charged
with the overall responsibility of planning, financ-
ing, and operating the regional rapid rail and bus
transit systems for the Washington metropolitan
area. The Commission works in conjunction with
the Authority in the development of the regional
rapid rail transit system, which has been under
construction since December 1969. The first seg-
ment of that system—4.5 miles extending from
the Rhode Island Avenue Station to Farragut
North Station in downtown Washington, D.C.—
began revenue operations March 29, 1976. With
completion of an additional 5.5 miles of track,
the Red Line was extended from the Rhode Is-
land Station to Silver Spring, where the first
Maryland Station was opened for revenue opera-
tions on February 6, 1978.

In February 1973, the Authority acquired the
operations of the areas' four privately-owned bus
companies and began immediate plans for im-
proving transit service in Montgomery and Prince
George's counties. The Commission acts as the fi-
nancial conduit through which funding of mass
transportation projects within the counties take
place. It acts as the coordinating body for mass
transit matters within the bi-county area, and as
such coordinates mass transit activities of the two
county governments with each other, with the
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authori-
ty, and with the Maryland Department of Trans-
portation.

WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION
COMMISSION

Chairperson: Charles J. Krysiak, 1992

Harold Lee Frankel, 1989; Edward A. Palamara,
1990; G. Joseph Sills, Jr., 1989; Clement R.
Mercaldo, 1991; Sidney W. Albert, 1993;
Carmel Snow, 1993; Francis J. Valle, 1982.

Virginia R. Barnes, Secretary and Director of Ad-
ministration

William Hemelt, Director of Claims
Robert L. Dodson, Chief, Hearing Division

108 E. Lexington Street
Baltimore 21202 Telephone: 659-4700
Toll Free: 800-492-0479

The Workmen's Compensation Commission
originally was created in 1914 as the State Indus-
trial Accident Commission (Chapter 800, Acts of
1914). It received its present name in 1957 (Chap-
ter 584, Acts of 1957). The Commission consists
of ten members, all of whom are appointed by
the Governor with the advice and consent of the
Senate for terms of twelve years (Chapter 521,
Acts of 1982). The Governor designates the
chairperson.

Like its predecessor, the Commission adminis-
ters the Workmen's Compensation Law. It hears
contested cases and holds hearings throughout
the State; receives reports of accidents and adju-
dicates claims for compensation arising under the
law; and investigates companies and firms that
fail to carry insurance under the terms of the Act.
The Chairperson sits on the trial of cases when
his administrative and executive functions permit
(Code 1957, Art. 101, secs. 1, 2, 5, 16, 38-40).

In recent years the General Assembly has made
many important changes in the Workmen's Com-
pensation Act. The Legislature increased maxi-
mum payments for temporary disability and per-
manent total disability to one hundred percent of
State average weekly wage. It also increased the
maximum total payable for total disability to
$45,000, provided, however, that if the employ-
ee's total disability shall continue after a total of
$45,000 has been paid, then further weekly pay-
ments at the rate previously paid shall be paid to
him during such disability. In 1965 the Serious
Disability Section was added to the Act. This
provides for a greater amount and rate of com-
pensation for a workman who sustains a serious
disability, as defined by the Law (Code 1957,
Art. 101, secs. 21-36, 66).

The Commission publishes Annual Report of
the Workmen's Compensation Commission, and
Brochure of Questions and Answers about Mary-