New leader for Montgomery board

Francoise Carrier, head of Montgomery County's hearing examiner's office, is poised to become Montgomery County's next planning board chairman.

The County Council will vote Tuesday morning on the nomination. Last week, five of nine council members said they would back Carrier. Council members Phil Andrews (D-Gaithersburg, Rockville); Roger Berliner (D-Potomac, Bethesda); Marc Elrich (D-At Large) and Nancy Navarro (D-Eastern County) said they are backing Carrier.

Carrier would replace Royce Hanson, whose term as head of the five-member board expires in June. He did not seek reappointment.

The post pays between $160,000 and $180,000. The planning board oversees land use and parks in Montgomery.

-- Miranda Spivack