The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission still is waiting for a background report on David E. Chardavoyne and will delay consideration of hiring him as the utility's general manager until it is delivered.

Chairwoman Joyce Starks said the commission wants a full accounting before she puts the issue on its agenda.

If the report arrives soon, it could still go on the commission's April 15 agenda, she said.

Starks, of Prince George's County, and Vice Chairman Gene Counihan, of Montgomery County, said both counties' representatives on the six-member commission want to make sure they've had a thorough investigation before they deliberate.

Search firm Heidrick and Struggles failed to inform county executives Isiah Leggett (D) of Montgomery and Jack B. Johnson (D) of Prince George's that Chardavoyne was the subject of a discrimination suit, settled for $600,000, when he was chief of the San Antonio Water System, where he was hired to improve performance.

Council committees

approve disability bill

Three members at a joint council committee session Thursday voted for a bill aimed at overhauling the county's disability retirement system.

Bill sponsors Philip M. Andrews (D-Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg, Duchy Trachtenberg (D-At large) of North Bethesda, and Roger Berliner (D-Dist. 1) of Potomac voted for the bill. Valerie Ervin (D-Dist. 5) of Silver Spring and Marc Elrich (D-At large) of Takoma Park abstained.

A full council vote could come April 28.

The vote follows months of debate on the bill, which would create a two-tiered system of disability retirement benefits and require an independent medical exam for retirement.

Initially, the legislation banned employees who commit serious crimes from retiring on a service-related disability. The Public Safety and Management and Fiscal Policy committees Thursday amended the legislation to pertain to employees convicted of felonies, who could have their benefits reduced instead of eliminated.

Leggett and union officials have maintained that changes to the system should be done through negotiations, rather than legislation. Leggett currently is in informal negotiations with the police union regarding the retirement system.

Ervin argued that the bill was premature, while Elrich said the timing of the votes did not allow for adequate input from employee unions.

Bill affecting development projects introduced

Councilwoman Nancy Floreen (D-At large) of Garrett Park introduced a bill last week to help developers, the Planning Board and the council better understand what project information can and cannot be discussed with council members.

The ex parte ethics rules that govern the conversations have come under scrutiny lately with a few development projects being heard and decided on by the council.

Floreen's bill further defines which communications are allowed when a decision must be made on the basis of a hearing record. It would govern county officials and their employees' conduct regarding on-the-record proceedings before the Planning Board or any other quasi-judicial agency.

A public hearing on the bill is set for April 28.