Prince George's Council Approves Furlough Plan; Va. Prosecutors Seek Legislative Session; Causes of Death Unclear in Jacks Case

MARYLAND

Prince George's Council Approves Furlough Plan

The Prince George's County Council approved a plan Tuesday to furlough all county workers for 10 days for the second straight year, after delaying the measure for several weeks amid criticism from public safety unions that it would endanger residents by taking emergency responders off the street.

The furloughs were included in the county budget this year to help close a $113 million budget gap. Council member Samuel H. Dean (D-Mitchellville) proposed an amendment Tuesday that requires workers to take a minimum of three furlough days in the first three quarters and for the county to analyze revenue streams quarterly to see if the full 10 days are necessary. The plan was approved with the amendment.

Jonathan R. Seeman, the county's management and budget director, said County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) would have to introduce a new measure to reduce the number of furlough days before the council could approve such an adjustment.

-- Jonathan Mummolo

Montgomery Council Names Planning Nominee

Marye Wells-Harley of Silver Spring was nominated Tuesday to a four-year term on the Montgomery County Planning Board. Wells-Harley, 66, is the former parks and recreation director for Prince George's County. If her appointment is approved by Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett (D), she would be the first African American woman to serve on Montgomery's five-member planning board.

Wells-Harley was selected from a pool of 18 applicants for the part-time post, which pays $30,000 annually. She succeeds John Robinson, who served two terms and was ineligible for reappointment.

-- Miranda S. Spivack