Rockville Patch: College Gardens Debate Could Frame New Law

Marcuccio calls for collaboration; Some worry the bill cedes too much to the county

On the eve of the county school board's vote to overrule Rockville planners and bring portable classrooms to College Gardens Elementary School members of the county's delegation to the General Assembly debated a bill that could determine how such decisions between schools and municipalities are made in the future.

Introduced by county Senate delegation Chairman Richard S. Madaleno Jr. (D-Dist. 18) of Kensington, the bill would give the county government "exclusive authority to issue permits and enforce regulations and codes associated with the construction or remodeling of school buildings or the placement of relocatable classroom buildings."

The local legislation would apply solely to Montgomery County and must receive majority approval from delegation members in both chambers before being introduced in the General Assembly...