Mission - top

The County Charter is the constitutional framework for County Government. The County Council appoints an eleven-member, bi-partisan, Charter Review Commission to study the County Charter. The Commission must report to the County Council in May of every even-numbered year with recommendations for possible Charter revisions. These recommendations may lead to proposed Charter amendments that are voted on by the electorate.

Legislative Authority - top

Charter Section 509 provides the following: “There shall be a Charter Review Commission appointed by the County Council every four years, within six months after the Council assumes office, for the purpose of studying the Charter. The Commission shall be composed of eleven members who shall be residents of the County, five of whom shall be appointed from a list of names submitted by the County Executive. Not more than six members shall be of the same political party. The chairperson shall be designated by the Council and the vice-chairperson shall be designated by the County Executive. The Commission shall report at least once to the Council on the Commission's activities within one year after appointment of the Commission. Commission reports shall be submitted not later than May 1 of every even-numbered year. The reports shall contain recommendations concerning proposed Charter amendments, if any. (Char. Res. No. 8-935, § 1.)

Current Members - top

Nancy Soreng, Chair

Alice Gresham Bullock, Vice Chair

Michael Cogan

Karen Czapanskiy

Dianne Felton

Meeting Location and Dates - top

Generally, the Charter Review Commission meets on the second Wednesday of every month from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. in the 6th floor conference room of the Council Office Building in Rockville, Maryland. This date and time is subject to change depending on the schedule of Commission members.

Charter Review Commission Reports - top

The Commission submits a report to the County Council by May 1 of every even-numbered year. The reports contain recommendations regarding proposed Charter amendment.

2008 Charter Review Commission Report (pdf | 3.16mb)

2006 Charter Review Commission Report (pdf | 4.45mb)

2004 Charter Review Commission Report (pdf | 7.66mb)

2002 Charter Review Commission Report (pdf | 10.98mb)

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Staff - top

The following individuals staff the Charter Review Commission and can be reached via e-mail at charterreview.commission@montgomerycountymd.gov or by calling 240-777-7900:

Justina Ferber, Legislative Analyst, Office of the County Council

Marc Hansen, Chief, Division of General Counsel, Office of the County Attorney

Amanda Mihill, Legislative Analyst, Office of the County Council

Marie Jean-Paul, Legislative Services Coordinator, Office of the County Council