2172                            JOINT RESOLUTIONS

for sanitary facilities in newly developed areas and because of the
important relationship between the provision of basic sanitary
facilities and the nature of development that may occur in the
future; and

WHEREAS, PROVISION OF WATER, SANITARY SEWERAGE
AND DRAINAGE IN RAPIDLY EXPANDING POPULATION
AREAS IS A REGIONAL PROBLEM AND IS A MATTER OF
CONCERN, NOT ONLY TO THE LOCAL AREAS INVOLVED,
BUT ALSO TO THE STATE OF MARYLAND BECAUSE OF THE
IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE PROVISION
OF THESE FACILITIES AND THE PHYSICAL AND ECONOMIC
HEALTH OF THE STATE; AND

Whereas, the Baltimore Metropolitan Area Study Commission has
been studying the general problem of metropolitan government in
this area, and is expected to make its final report during 1964
so that it will be available for use by the 1965 General Assembly,
and that Commission has already indicated its belief that water
and sewer functions in the Baltimore Metropolitan Area should be
handled by an Authority but has not undertaken the detailed fiscal
and engineering analysis that would enable the governments affected
to determine whether or not a separate Authority would be the
most efficacious method of organizing for administration of
the services and whether such a reorganization would be to the
benefit of their citizens. Moreover, studies need to be conducted to
enable an intelligent determination of the policies under which
transition to an Authority form of administration could be achieved,
if that should be determined to be the best approach. Even if there
were no basic change in the present responsibilities of the presently
constituted local governments with respect to water and sanitary
sewerage, the results of such studies should assist immeasurably
in determining future course of financial relationships between the
Counties and Baltimore City; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the Governor
establish a Commission charged with the duty of studying the
present and prospective water supply, drainage and sanitary sewer-
age systems for the Baltimore Metropolitan Area comprising Balti-
more City, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Harford and Howard
Counties; and be it further

Resolved, That said Commission shall make detailed studies as to
the appropriate powers, duties, functions and obligations of the
several governments involved with relation to water, sanitary
sewerage and drainage, and shall study the desirability of creating
an Authority to deal with these functions, including the relationship
of any such Authority to and with all units of government within
the area; and be it further

Resolved, That the Study Commission shall give particular at-
tention to problems of allocation of financial responsibility of the
metropolitan water and sewer functions under present law and
under an Authority form; and be it further

Resolved, That said Commission shall maintain liaison with the
Baltimore Metropolitan Area Study Commission in order that the
study authorized herein shall be available for the purpose of enabling