Through its Public Affairs Office, the Commis-
sion distributes printed material on all facets of its
operation free of charge. The Plumbing and Gas
Fitting Regulations are available for a fee. An
active Speakers' Bureau is managed by the WSSC's
Public Affairs Office.

The Commission consists of six members, three
from each county who are appointed by the
governing body of each county (Code 1957, Art.
29).

WASHINGTON SUBURBAN TRANSIT
COMMISSION

Chairperson: Carlton R. Sickles, Montgomery
County

Vice-Chairperson: Richard J. Castaldi, Prince
George's County

Cleatus E. Bamett, Montgomery County; Robert B.
Ostrom, John Wesley White, Prince George's
County.

Ex officio: Larry J. Saben, designee of Secretary of
Transportation

Executive Secretary: Gloria B. Fischer

8720 Georgia Ave., Suite 904
Silver Spring 20910 Telephone: 587-7270

The Washington Suburban Transit Commission
was created by Chapter 870, Acts of 1965. The
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 facili-
ties 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 Coun-
ty Executive. The Secretary of Transportation or
his designee serves ex officio. Commissioners who
are appointed from among the members of the
elected governing bodies serve at the pleasure of
the County Executive, while others serve three-
year terms. The position of chairperson alternates
annually 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 Authority
(WMATA), the interstate agency charged with the
overall responsibility of planning, financing, and
operating the regional rapid rail and bus transit

Independent Agencies/411

systems for the Washington metropolitan area.
The Commission works in conjunction with the
Authority in the development of the regional rapid
rail transit system.

The Commission acts as the financial 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 govern-
ments with each other, with the Washington
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and with the
Maryland Department of Transportation.

WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION
COMMISSION

Chairperson: Charles J. Krysiak, 1992

Robert S. Redding, 1989; G. Joseph Sills, Jr., 1989;
Edward A. Palamara, 1990; Clement R.
Mercaldo, 1991; Sidney W. Albert, 1993;
Carmel Snow, 1993; L. Douglas Jefferson, 1994;
J. Max Millstone, 1994; Stephen Rosenbaum,
1994.

Virginia R. Barnes, Secretary and Director of
Administration

Catherine Gemmill, Director of Claims
Robert L. Dodson, Chief, Hearing Division

6 N. Liberty St.
Baltimore 21201 Telephone: 659^700
Toll Free: 800-492-0479

The Workmen's Compensation Commission
originally was created in 1914 as the State Industri-
al 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, 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.

The Commission administers the Workmen's
Compensation Law. It hears contested cases and
holds hearings throughout the State; receives re-
ports of accidents and adjudicates claims for
compensation arising under the law (Code 1957,
Art. 101, secs. 1, 2, 5, 16, 38^t0).