mh/billbd.pr                  Contact:  Charles Thompson, 301-217-2600
                                        or David Weaver, 301-217-6530

COUNTY SEEKS END TO BILLBOARDS;
FILES MOTIONS AGAINST OWNERS       For Immediate Release:  July 8, 1996


     In an effort to rid the County of all roadside billboards, Montgomery
County Executive Douglas M. Duncan announced that the County filed several
actions today in Circuit Court to ensure that all billboards in the County
will be removed without cost to the County and that all pending appeals be
dismissed.
     Approximately 18 billboards still exist in the County, despite being
illegal since 1972.  Since that time, several lawsuits and appeals have been
filed by both the County and billboard owners without resolution. In 1990, the
County entered into an agreement with Revere National Corporation which
permitted the continued use of its billboards at 14 sites for a maximum of 10
years.  The agreement, which has been upheld by the Court of Appeals of
Maryland, calls for the billboards to be removed by April 11, 2000.  After the
Court of Appeals upheld the agreement, Revere's attorneys publicly pronounced
that Revere did not intend to remove the billboards unless it was compensated
by the County.        
     "We're filing suit today to ensure our citizens will not have to live
with these billboards another four years and then have to pay for their
removal," said Duncan.  "The Court of Appeals said as much when they decided
that Revere gave up its right to compensation in return for the County's
commitment in 1990 to allow the billboards to remain for 10 years"    
                                  -more-

COUNTY FILES COURT ACTIONS AGAINST BILLBOARD OWNERS              2-2-2-2

     Today's actions filed by the County Attorney include a request for 
declaratory judgement against Revere National Corporation, Inc. and a motion
to dismiss an appeal filed by both Revere and Whitehead Associates in the
early 70s.
     In the first action, the County is requesting the Court to declare that
the County need not pay compensatory relief to Revere and that the company
must remove all of its billboards by April 11, 2000, as specified in the 1990
agreement.
     In the second action, the County asks the court to dismiss two 1973
administrative appeals from the Board of Appeals by Rollins Outdoor
Advertising (predecessor to Revere National Corporation, Inc.) and Whitehead
Associates.  The appeal challenged the County zoning ordinance provisions
governing billboards.  The appeal was never heard by the Circuit Court because
it was stayed pending the outcome of a related lawsuit by Revere. The County
has asked the Court to dismiss Whitehead appeal based on its failure to follow
through with the 1973 appeal in a timely manner, and as to Revere based on its
signed agreement in the separate case allowing its signs to remain until April
2000. 
     "This issue has been stagnant for too long and its time to free our
roads and neighborhood streets from these unsightly billboards," said Duncan.
"Each and every one of my predecessors has had to deal with this issue.  I
want to ensure that I am the last.  In today's marketplace, there are so many
other ways to advertise without cluttering our communities with oversized
signs."
                                  -more-

COUNTY FILES ACTIONS AGAINST BILLBOARD OWNERS               3-3-3-3
     
     The Executive also announced that the County has sued Revere based upon
its violation of the 1990 agreement regarding the restrictions on the size of
billboards established in that agreement.
                                   # # #
 
                                    

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