2600                               Municipal Charters

thereof, to authorize the County Council to establish a "Rehabilitation
Loan Fund" to make loans therefrom to homeowners of low income
for the purpose of rehabilitating their homes to applicable County
Code requirements and to provide for the administration of said fund.

Whereas, THE COUNTY COUNCIL OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY,
MARYLAND is committed by law to the enforcement of housing and
building codes; and

Whereas, THE COUNTY COUNCIL believes an effective codes en-
forcement program must consider human needs in its implementation;
and

Whereas, THE COUNTY COUNCIL wishes to encourage the reten-
tion of home ownership by families of low income in the county; and

Whereas, THE COUNTY COUNCIL believes it to be in the public
interest to retain a population with a full range of income levels to
meet the economic needs of the County; and

Whereas, THE COUNTY COUNCIL finds the provision of safe,
sanitary, and decent housing opportunities for all its residents to be
in the public interest; and

Whereas, THE COUNTY COUNCIL believes that the establishment
of a fund which has as its objective the making of low-interest loans
to homeowners who would otherwise be unable to carry out reasonable
and necessary rehabilitation activities on their homes with normal bank
financing and who are not eligible for other forms of low-interest re-
habilitation loans and grants would be of substantial benefit in encour-
aging the retention of home ownership by low income homeowners;
and

Whereas, it is the intention of the County Council that such a loan
fund provide a supplement and not a substitute to the other means avail-
able for financing home improvements,

Now, THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED by the County Council for
Montgomery County, Maryland, that—

Section 1. Chapter 2 of the Montgomery County Code 1965, as amen-
ded, title "Administration", is hereby amended by adding a new Section
128B, title "Rehabilitation Loan Fund", to read as follows:

The County Council is hereby empowered and authorized by resolution
to establish and thereafter to maintain a special fund to be known as
the "Rehabilitation Loan Fund" for the purpose of making loans to home-
owners of low income to finance rehabilitation required to make their
homes conform to applicable County Code requirements, provided such
loans are not available on comparable terms and conditions from other
sources. The Council shall prescribe from time to time such terms, con-
ditions, rules and regulations as it shall deem appropriate for the making
of such loans and the administration of the Fund, including the right
to contract with private organizations for the administration of said fund.

Section 2. This Act shall take effect on the 76th day following its
enactment.

Certified correct as passed.

President
Secretary