Panel Weighs Increasing Size of Howard County Council

Keeping Howard County Council members part-time legislators is a goal most county leaders take for granted, but some worry that that if the county's population continues to swell the size of the five members' districts, the job may become more of a full-time commitment.

The county's Charter Review Commission discussed the best size for the council in a still-growing county at a meeting Wednesday in Ellicott City, along with other potential changes to the charter, which by law must be reviewed once every eight years. The results could end up on the ballot next year.

"The idea is we want to make sure the position is attractive to those who have other careers," said County Councilwoman Courtney Watson, a Democrat, after speaking to the commission at a meeting in the George Howard Building on Wednesday morning. "In Howard County, standards are high. We want to make sure we can provide the level of constituent service that people expect."

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