Democratic Panel to End Secret Ballot for Vacancies

The bill's sponsor, Duchy Trachtenberg (D-At Large), looked relieved to put the dispute behind her. Opponents had showed up at her house to protest, she said, and attacked her in inflammatory e-mail messages after she appeared on CNN to defend the measure.

Trachtenberg, who also sponsored legislation to ban trans-fats earlier this year, tried to make light of the situation, saying it was time to take a breather from such bills.

"We've had trans-fat and transgenders. I know we're seen as a transformational office," she said. "But I hope my next bill is a little less controversial." So do some of her colleagues.

Rift Over Housing

Last week's council debate on the new growth policy highlighted deep disagreements on the nine-member council over how best to address the county's shortage of affordable housing.

Before he was injured in a car accident and unable to rejoin the final debate, George Leventhal had been sharply critical of his colleagues for pushing elements of the new policy that he said would discourage developers and limit the stock of new, affordable housing. The argument continued in his absence, with council member Nancy Floreen (D-At Large) saying the new policy "does nothing" to encourage affordable housing, which some large new projects are required to build in exchange for winning development rights from the county. A recent report from the council's Office of Legislative Oversight pointed out problems with the program, saying that many of the new units still are too costly for residents whose income levels qualify them to participate in the county-run program.

Council member Valerie Ervin (D-Silver Spring) tried to win an exemption last week from the new rules and taxes for a developer seeking to renovate the Falkland apartment complex on East-West Highway in downtown Silver Spring and include some affordable housing in the mix. The company had applied for approvals just after a January 2007 deadline, and will be affected by the new policy. Barbara Sears of the firm Linowes and Blocher, the attorney for the developer, complained in a letter to the council that staff shortages at the planning agency had contributed to a delay in winning earlier approval of the project, which would have been subject to the old rules. Sears was in the audience during the debate, and at one point Floreen came off the dais to consult with her.

Ervin's motion lost, 4 to 4. Leventhal might have tipped the balance.

Council member Marc Elrich (D-At large) criticized Ervin during the debate for trying to push a measure that he said was aimed at helping "one developer," something that the council is usually reluctant to do. Ervin said she thought some of the new growth policy was essentially counterintuitive, and could have the effect of discouraging new development because of higher fees and taxes. And that, she believes, will also discourage construction of the companion less-expensive units for moderate- and low-income residents.