dw/purvis.pr                            Contact:  David Weaver, (301) 217-6530
                                          (301) 629-8940    - pager

ANIMAL CONTROL NOMINEE PURVIS WITHDRAWS;
DUNCAN QUESTIONS WHETHER COMMITTEE EVER
MET TO MAKE REPORTED RECOMMENDATION; 
ASKS FOR MINUTES OF COMMITTEE MEETING

                                      For Immediate Release: May 13, 1996 

     Montgomery County Executive Douglas M. Duncan's nominee to head the
Division of Animal Control, Brenda S. Purvis, withdrew her name from
consideration today, and the Executive questioned whether the Public Safety
Committee actually ever met to make a recommendation, as was reported in a May
10, County Council staff packet.  The Executive also asked for minutes of the
meeting where Ms. Purvis reportedly received an unfavorable recommendation.   
     "Council staff reports that the Public Safety Committee voted not to
recommend Ms. Purvis for the animal control position, but I'm not aware that
the Committee ever met," Duncan said.  "If the Committee met, I'd like to see
the minutes; if they did not, then I'd like to know how they managed a
recommendation to the Council."
     In a memorandum dated May 10, 1996, County Council staff indicated to
the Council that "It is the unanimous recommendation of the Public Safety
Committee to recommend that the Council not confirm the appointment of Ms.
Purvis as Director of Animal Control and Humane Treatment Division."  However,
there are no public records indicating that a Public Safety Committee meeting
ever took place on the subject of whether or not to recommend Ms. Purvis to
the full Council. 
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Page 2

     "This is a low point for the conduct of the Public Safety Committee,"
Duncan said.  "The Committee managed to turn this job into a political
football; cast their votes against the nominee out of public view; and
discredit one of top animal control professionals in the State of Maryland. 
I'm ashamed of the Committee and I'm embarrassed for Ms. Purvis."
     In March, Duncan recommended Purvis, 37, to head the Division of  Animal
Control.  Under a reorganization plan put forward by Duncan and approved
earlier by the County Council, animal control and humane treatment
responsibilities now fall under the jurisdiction of the Police Department.
Duncan had earlier recommended that the position be taken out of the political
arena, making the Director a merit employee, a move the Council rejected. 
     "It was my intention all along to keep this position from being hindered
by politics," Duncan added.  "But the Council insisted that this be a
political job, and what we got from the Public Safety Committee was politics
at its worst.  Innuendos and hearsay should not be what guides our decisions
here in Montgomery County."
     Purvis is currently the Animal Control Administrator for Howard County. 
Prior to that, she served as the shelter director for the Animal Welfare
League of Alexandria and as an animal control officer with the City of
Hyattsville.
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