CHARTER OF THE. Town of Delmar WICOMICO COUNTY, MARYLAND

Transcription

1 CHARTER OF THE Town of Delmar WICOMICO COUNTY, MARYLAND As found in The Public Local Laws Of Wicomico County, 1978 Edition Supplemented to April 25, 1980, as amended (Reprinted November 2008)

2 The Department of Legislative Services General Assembly of Maryland prepared this document. For further information concerning this document contact: Library and Information Services Office of Policy Analysis Department of Legislative Services 90 State Circle Annapolis, Maryland Baltimore Area: ( ) Washington Area: ( ) Other Areas: ( ) TTY: ( ) ( ) TTY users may also contact the Maryland Relay Service to contact the General Assembly E mail: libr@mlis.state.md.us Home Page: The Department of Legislative Services does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, or disability in the admission or access to its programs or activities. The Department s Information Officer has been designated to coordinate compliance with the nondiscrimination requirements contained in Section of the Department of Justice Regulations. Requests for assistance should be directed to the Information Officer at Library and Information Services of the Department of Legislative Services.

3 Charter of the Town of Delmar 41 - iii CONTENTS ARTICLE I Corporate Name and Definitions Section DC1 1. DC1 2. Corporate name. Definitions. ARTICLE II General Corporate Powers DC2 1. General Powers. ARTICLE III Corporate Limits DC3 1. DC3 1A. Description of corporate boundaries Annexation. ARTICLE IV Legislative Powers; Commissioners DC4 1. Mayor and Commissioners; selection; term. DC4 2. Qualifications of Mayor and Commissioners. DC4 3. Salary of Mayor and Commissioners. DC4 4. Meetings of Commission. DC4 5. Commission to be judge of qualifications of its members. DC4 6. Deputy Mayor. DC4 6A. Duties of Mayor. DC4 7. Quorum. DC4 8. Rules and order of business; journal. DC4 9. Passage of ordinances; publication; date effective. DC4 9A. Emergency ordinances. DC4 10. Referendum. DC4 11. Filing of ordinances and resolutions. DC4 12. Powers of Commission enumerated. DC4 13. Enforcement of ordinances. DC4 13A. Enforcement of Municipal Infractions. DC4 14. Voter registration, nominations and elections. DC4 15. Board of Supervisors of Elections. DC4 16. Same: removal of members. DC4 17. Same: duties. DC4 18. Notice of registration days and elections.

4 41 - iv Municipal Charters of Maryland DC4 19. DC4 20. DC4 21. DC4 22. DC4 23. DC4 24. DC4 25. DC4 26. DC4 27. DC4 28. DC4 29. DC4 30. DC4 31. DC4 32. Registration. Appeal from action of Board of Supervisors of Election. Filing certificate of nomination. Primary election. Election of Commissioners and Mayor. Conduct of elections generally. Absentee Ballot. Special elections. Vote count. Preservation of ballots. Vacancies. Women. Regulation and control by Commission. Penalties. ARTICLE V Finance DC5 1. Town Manager. DC5 1A. Suspension and removal of Town Manager. DC5 2. Same: powers and duties. DC5 3. Same; bond. DC5 4. Fiscal year. DC5 5. Budget. DC5 6. Same: adoption. DC5 7. Appropriations. DC5 8. Transfer of funds. DC5 9. Overexpenditures forbidden. DC5 10. Appropriations lapse after one year. DC5 11. Checks. DC5 12. Taxable property. DC5 13. Budget authorizes levy. DC5 14. Notice of tax levy. DC5 15. When taxes are overdue. DC5 16. Sale of tax delinquent property. DC5 17. Fees. DC5 18. Audit. DC5 19. Borrowing power. DC5 20. Tax anticipation borrowing. DC5 20A. Emergency Borrowing. DC5 21. Payment of indebtedness. DC5 22. Previous issued. DC5 23. Purchasing and contracts.

5 Charter of the Town of Delmar 41 - v ARTICLE VI Special Assessments DC6 1. DC6 2. Power of town to levy special assessments. Procedure for special assessments. ARTICLE VII Personnel DC7 1. DC7 2. DC7 3. DC7 4. DC7 5. DC7 6. DC7 7. DC7 8. DC7 9. Town Manager. Town Attorney. Authority to employ personnel. Merit system authorized. Unclassified and classified service. Prohibitions and penalties. Retirement system. Compensation of employees. Employee benefit programs. ARTICLE VIII Public Ways and Sidewalks DC8 1. DC8 2. DC8 3. DC8 4. Definition of public ways. Control of public ways. Powers of town as to public ways. Powers of town as to sidewalks. ARTICLE IX Water and Sewers DC9 1. DC9 2. DC9 3. DC9 4. DC9 5. DC9 6. DC9 7. DC9 8. DC9 9. DC9 10. DC9 11. DC9 12. DC9 13. Powers of town. Placing structures in public ways. Obstructions. Entering on county public ways. Connections. Same: charge. Changes in plumbing, etc., to prevent waste or improper use. Private systems. Extensions beyond boundaries. Right of entry. Pollution of water supply. Contracts for service. Charges.

6 41 - vi Municipal Charters of Maryland ARTICLE X Town Property DC10 1. DC10 2. DC10 3. Acquisition, possession and disposal. Condemnation. Protection of town property. ARTICLE XI Annexation DC11 1. Annexation. ARTICLE XII General Provisions DC12 1. DC12 2. DC12 3. DC12 4. DC12 5. Oath of office. Official bonds. Prior rights and obligations. Effect of Charter on existing ordinances. Severability. ARTICLE XIII Charter Amendments DC13 1. DC13 2. DC13 3. DC13 4. DC13 5. DC13 6. DC13 7. DC13 8. DC13 9. How amendments may be initiated. Initiation by legislative body. Initiation by petition. Posting and publication. Referendum. Form and registration of amendments. Compilation of measures enacting, amending or repealing Charter provisions. Codification of amendments. Administrative corrections.

7 41-1 Section DC1 1. Corporate name. DELMAR ARTICLE I Corporate Name and Definitions This Charter is the Municipal Corporation Charter of the Town of Delmar, Maryland, the corporate name of which is the Mayor and Commissioners of Delmar. (Res. No , 6/29/82.) Section DC1 2. Definitions. A. The terms town, city, municipality or municipal corporation in this Charter shall be construed as synonymous. B. The terms Boards of Commissioners, Board, Commission and Mayor and Commissioners may be used interchangeably in this Charter. (Res. No , 6/29/82.) Section DC2 1. General Powers. ARTICLE II General Corporate Powers The municipal corporation here continued, under its corporate name, Mayor and Commissioners of Delmar, has all the privileges of a body corporate, by that name to sue and be sued, to plead and be impleaded in any court of law or equity, to have and use a common seal and to have perpetual succession, unless the Charter and the corporate existence are legally aborogated [abrogated]. (Res. No , 6/29/82.) ARTICLE III Corporate Limits Section DC3 1. Description of corporate boundaries. (See Note 1) A description of the corporate boundaries of the town at all times shall be on file with the Town Manager and with the Clerk of the court of the county. The corporate boundaries are as follows: Beginning for the same at the Wicomico and Sussex County post on the Delaware and Maryland division line, located just west of the New York, Philadelphia and Norfolk Railroad, thence runnning [running] along said division line in an easterly direction three thousand two hundred sixty one and six tenths (3,261.6) feet to a cedar stake; thence along said division line south 79 degrees 30 minutes east seven hundred eighty six and four tenths (786.4) feet to an iron driven in the ground at the northeast corner of the land of Willard Oliphant; thence by and

8 41-2 Municipal Charters of Maryland with said Oliphant land south 05 degrees 15 minutes west three hundred ninety two and four tenths (392.4) feet to an iron driven in the ground at the southeast corner of the land of said Oliphant; thence north 85 degrees 10 minutes west seven hundred fifty eight (758) feet to a concrete post; thence north 85 degrees 10 minutes west four hundred ninety two and five tenths (492.5) feet to a cedar stake on the east side of Seventh Street; thence south 02 degrees 20 minutes west one hundred forty (140) feet to a cedar stake; thence north 83 degrees 25 minutes west two hundred eighty eight and three tenths (288.3) feet to a cedar stake; thence south 06 degrees 08 minutes west eight hundred thirty six (836) feet to a pine post; thence north 83 degrees 40 minutes west seven hundred seventeen and ninety eight hundredths (717.98) feet to a stake on the westerly line of the Salisbury Delmar State Road; thence by and with the westerly line of said State Road south 19 degrees 35 minutes east three hundred eighty three and nine tenths (383.9) feet to a stake; thence by and with the center line of a ten foot alley north 81 degrees 55 minutes west one thousand one hundred twenty three and nine tenths (1,123.9) feet to a post; thence south 08 degrees 05 minutes west six hundred eighty one and one tenth (681.1) feet to an iron pipe; thence north 81 degrees 55 minutes west one hundred sixty nine and five tenths (169.5) feet to a post on the west line of Second Street; thence by and with the center line of a twelve foot alley north 86 degrees 15 minutes west four hundred forty three and one tenth (443.1) feet to a post; thence by and with the center line of said alley north 77 degrees 45 minutes west two hundred eighty six (286) feet to a post on the easterly line of Railroad Avenue; thence north 81 degrees 55 minutes west seven hundred twelve and two tenths (712.2) feet to a post; thence north 11 degrees 25 minutes east one thousand thirty four (1,034) feet to the center of an alley running between West Pine Street and West Walnut Street at its intersection with the center line of the alley running between Park Street and Maryland Avenue; thence running by and with the center line of said alley running between West Pine Street and West Walnut Street north 81 degrees 55 minutes west one hundred seventy four (174) feet to a stake on the west side of Park Street; thence north 09 degrees 50 minutes east four hundred ninety six (496) feet along the west side of Park Street to a concrete post at the intersection of the south side of Chestnut Street; thence north 10 degrees 43 minutes east one thousand eighty two (1,082) feet to a stake on the Delaware and Maryland Division line; thence by and with said division line in an easterly direction seven hundred forty seven (747) feet to the place of beginning. All that certain area of land, situated contiguous to and binding upon the southerly and southeasterly corporate limits of the Town of Delmar, in the Delmar Election District, of Wicomico County, State of Maryland, and beginning for the same at a point south 19 degrees 35 minutes east six hundred forty five and sixty eight hundredths (645.68) feet south of the intersection of the southerly corporate limits of the Town of Delmar with the intersection of the easterly line of Alternate U.S. Route 13, same being designated by a cement post in the center of a sixteen foot road leading to the residence of Russell W. Owens at its intersection with the easterly line of Alternate U.S. Route 13 and designated by the letter A on plat hereinafter referred to; thence running by and with the center line of said sixteen foot road, south 81 degrees 02 minutes east a distance of nine hundred sixty six and sixty five hundredths (966.65) feet to a cement post settled in the center of the aforesaid sixteen foot road; thence running by and with a ditch commonly known as Wood Creek, north 22 degrees 31 minutes east a distance of one hundred ninety six and eight tenths (196.8) feet to the letter C on said plat; thence running by and with said ditch commonly known as Wood Creek, north 06 degrees 30 minutes east a

9 Charter of the Town of Delmar 41-3 distance of one thousand four hundred twenty five (1,415 [1,425]) feet, more or less, to the southerly corporate limits of the Town of Delmar, designated by the letter D on said plat; thence running by and with the present corporate limits of said Town of Delmar the following five (5) courses and distances: North 85 degrees 10 minutes west a distance of four hundred (400) feet, more or less, to a point designated by the letter E on said plat; thence running south 02 degrees 20 minutes west a distance of one hundred forty (140) feet to a point designated by the letter F on said plat; thence running north 83 degrees 25 minutes west a distance of two hundred eighty eight and three tenths (288.3) feet to a point designated by the letter G on said plat; thence running south 06 degrees 08 minutes west a distance of eight hundred thirty six (836) feet to the place designated by the letter H on said plat; thence running north 83 degrees 40 minutes west a distance of six hundred forty five and sixty eight hundredths (645.68) feet to a point designated by the letter J on said plat; thence running by and with the easterly line of Alternate U.S. Route 13, south 19 degrees 35 minutes east a distance of six hundred forty five and sixty eight hundredths (645.68) feet to the place of beginning, containing thirty (30) acres of land, more or less, and being all that land as laid down and shown on plat for the Town of Delmar, Maryland, Proposed Annexation No. 2, made by G.F. Schafer, surveyor, in November 1965, generally subject to all provisions of the Charter of the Town of Delmar, Maryland. All that tract or parcel of land situate, lying and being in the Delmar Election District of Wicomico County, State of Maryland, and contiguous to and binding upon the Easterly corporate limits of the present limits of Delmar, Maryland, and more particularly described as follows: BEGINNING for outlines of the same at a Hub settled in the ground at the Southwest corner of the property of Concord Realty Co., also the Southeast corner of the property of Richard V. Powell and Sharon L. Powell, his wife, then running by and with the Southerly line of the property of the Concord Realty Co., South 89 degrees 26 minutes 00 seconds East a distance of feet to a concrete monument settled in the center of a ditch on the line of the land now or formerly owned by Iris Webster, thence running by and with the center of said ditch separating this land from the said Webster land South 00 degrees 47 minutes 20 seconds West a distance of 9.18 feet to a concrete monument placed in the center of said ditch; thence running by and with the center of said ditch South 89 degrees 12 minutes 40 seconds East a distance of feet to a concrete monument in the center of said ditch; thence running by and with the center line of said ditch which separates the land hereby described from the land of Russell W. Owens and Helen E. Owens, his wife, South 04 degrees 44 minutes 41 seconds West a distance of feet to a concrete monument in the center of said ditch; thence continuing by and with the center of said ditch which separates the land herein described from said Owens land North 89 degrees 01 minute 19 seconds West a distance of feet to a concrete monument in the center of Wood Creek and Easterly limits of the present corporate limits of the Town of Delmar; thence running by and with the center line of said Wood Creek and the Easterly corporate limits of Delmar North 01 degree 36 minutes 44 seconds East a distance of feet to a concrete monument settled in the ground on the South line of South Eighth Street, as shown on plat hereinafter referred to; thence running by and with the Southerly line of said South Eighth Street, the land of the Pilgrim Holiness Church and the land of Richard V. Powell and Sharon L. Powell, his wife, South 89 degrees 26 minutes 00 seconds East a distance of feet to the place of beginning, containing acres of land, more or less, and being laid down and shown as Parcel No. 1 and 2 on Plat of Property Survey for Chestnut Manor Associates and Case/Edwards Associates,

10 41-4 Municipal Charters of Maryland made by George L. Ryan, Registered Surveyor, dated March 21, 1980, and to be recorded among the Land Records for Wicomico County, Maryland. (Annexation Res. 5 80, 8/14/80.) Section DC3 1A Annexation. It is hereby proposed and recommended that the boundaries of the Town of Delmar, Maryland be changed so as to annex to and include with the boundaries of the Town of Delmar, all that certain area of land situated contiguous to and binding upon the southerly corporate limits of the Town of Delmar, in the Delmar election district of Wicomico County, State of Maryland and beginning the same at a concrete monument in the center of a 12 foot alley at the northwest corner of the lot of Benjamin T. Vanderwende and wife, formerly owned by Charles E. Holloway, thence running by and with the westerly line of said Vanderwende lot south 01º east a distance of feet to a concrete monument settled in the ground on the northerly line of the land of Robert P. Binebrink, thence running by and with the same south 89º west a distance of feet to an iron pipe at the northwest corner of said Binebrink s land; thence running by and with the westerly line of said Binebrink s land south 00º east a distance of feet to a concrete monument at the southwest corner of said Binebrink s land; thence running by and with the south line of said Binebrink s land north 89º east a distance of 297 feet to the west line of Second Street as shown on plat hereinafter referred to; thence running by and with the west line of said Second Street south 00º east a distance of feet to a concrete monument on the north line of Foskey Lane, as shown on said plat; thence running by and with the north line of said Foskey Lane the following four courses and distances: south 85º west a distance of feet, thence running in a westerly direction on a curve with a radius equal to 1, feet a distance of feet to a point; thence running north 85º west a distance of feet to a point; thence running north 84º west a distance of feet to the easterly line of Maryland Avenue, as shown on said plat; thence running by and with the easterly line of said Maryland Avenue north 02º east a distance of feet to the southwest corner of the lot owned by Jerry H. Moore; thence running by and with the southerly line of said Moore lot south 86º east a distance of 145 feet to the southeast corner of said Moore lot; thence running by and with the east line of said Moore lot north 02º east a distance of feet to the southerly line of the land of Williams Refrigerator Express, Inc.; thence running by and with the southerly line of said Williams Refrigerator Express, Inc. land south 89º west a distance of feet to the easterly line of said Maryland Avenue; thence running by and with the easterly line of said Maryland Avenue north 02º east a distance of feet to the southerly line of the corporate limits of the Town of Delmar; thence running by and with the southerly line of the corporate limits of the Town of Delmar the following three courses and distances: north 89º east a distance of feet to a concrete bounder on the east line of S. Pennsylvania Avenue, thence running by and with the center line of said 12 foot alley south 86º east a distance of feet; thence continuing by and with the center line of said 12 foot alley north 85º east a distance of feet to the place of beginning, containing acres of land being laid down and shown on plat entitled Town of Delmar Annexation Survey made by Philip Parker, Registered Surveyor, dated May 11, 1982, generally subject to all provisions of the Charter of Town of Delmar, Maryland. (Res. No , )

11 Charter of the Town of Delmar 41-5 ARTICLE IV Legislative Powers; Commissioners Section DC4 1. Mayor and Commissioners; selection; term. All legislative powers of the town are vested in a Commission consisting of the Mayor and four (4) Commissioners who shall be elected as hereinafter stated. The Mayor shall hold office for a term of two (2) years or until the succeeding Mayor takes office. Commissioners shall hold office for a term of four (4) years or until the succeeding Commissioners take office. The regular terms of the Mayor and Commissioners shall expire on the second Monday following the election of their successors. The Mayor and Commissioners holding office at the time this Charter becomes effective as amended shall continue to hold office for the remainder of the terms for which they were originally elected until the succeeding Commission takes office under the provisions of this Charter as amended. (Res. No , 6/29/82.) Section DC4 2. Qualifications of Mayor and Commissioners. The Mayor and Commissioners shall (a) be citizens of the United States, (b) be at least eighteen (18) years of age on the date of the general election, (c) reside in the State of Maryland for at least one (1) year prior to the date of the general election, (d) reside in the corporate limits of the Town of Delmar for six (6) months immediately preceding the date of the general election, and (e) be qualified voters of the Town of Delmar on the date of the general election. (Res. No , 6/29/82.) Section DC4 3. Salary of Mayor and Commissioners. Each Commissioner shall receive an annual salary which shall be equal for all Commissioners, and shall be as specified from time to time by an ordinance passed by the Commission in the regular course of its business; and the Mayor shall receive a salary which shall be equal to three hundred dollars ($300) per annum more than the highest salary paid to any Commissioner; provided however, that the salary specified at the time any Mayor and Commissioner begins his term of office shall not be changed during the remainder of his or her term of office. The ordinance making any change in the salary paid to the Mayor and the several Commissioners, either by way of increase or decrease, shall take effect only after the expiration of the current terms of the Mayor and all Commissioners in office when such ordinance is passed. If any Mayor or Commissioner in office at the time such ordinance is passed vacates his office prior to the expiration of his current term of office, and he does not thereafter fill or succeed to such office prior to the expiration of his original term of office, then, for purposes of this section only, his current term of office shall be deemed to have expired. (Res. No , 6/29/82.) Section DC4 4. Meetings of Commission. The newly elected Commission shall meet at 8:00 p.m. on the second Monday following its election for the purpose of organization, after which the Commission shall meet regularly at such times as may be prescribed by its rules but not less frequently than once each month.

12 41-6 Municipal Charters of Maryland Special meetings shall be called by the Town Manager upon the request of the Mayor or a majority of the members of the Commission. All meetings of the Commission shall be open to the public, and the rules of the Commission shall provide that residents of the town shall have a reasonable opportunity to be heard at any meeting in regard to any municipal question. The Commissioners may from time to time hold an executive session from which the public is excluded, but no ordinance, resolution, rule or regulation shall be finally adopted at such an executive session. Section DC4 5. Commission to be judge of qualifications of its members. The Commission shall be the judge of the qualifications of its members. Section DC4 6. Deputy Mayor. At the first meeting of each newly elected Commission, the Mayor shall appoint a Deputy Mayor from among the Commissioners, without confirmation of the Commissioners. The Deputy Mayor shall act as Mayor during the Mayor s absence or incapacity and shall succeed the Mayor in the event of his permanent incapacity or leaving office. Upon succession of the Deputy Mayor to the office of Mayor, the new Mayor shall choose from the Commissioners a new Deputy Mayor. (Res. No , 6/29/82.) Section DC4 6A. Duties of Mayor. The Mayor shall preside over the Commission and may take part in all discussions and vote in all matters and shall enjoy all other rights and privileges of the several Commissioners. The Mayor shall appoint, subject to confirmation by a majority of the Commission, the members of all commissions and boards of the Mayor and Commissioners of Delmar. (Res. No , 6/29/82.) Section DC4 7. Quorum. A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and a majority vote thereof shall be sufficient to pass any ordinance or any other action without the favorable votes of a majority of the whole number of members elected to the Commission. If a Commissioner abstains for cause shown from voting on any matter, then he shall not be counted for purposes of constituting a quorum for the vote on such matter. (Res. No , 6/29/82.) Section DC4 8. Rules and order of business; journal. The Commission shall determine its own rules and order of business. It shall keep a journal of its proceedings and enter therein the yeas and nays upon final action on any question, resolution or ordinance, or at any other time if required by any one (1) member. The journal shall be open to public inspection.

13 Charter of the Town of Delmar 41-7 Section DC4 9. Passage of ordinances; publication; date effective. When any ordinance is introduced for passage by the Commission other than as an emergency ordinance, it shall be read but not passed at the meeting at which it is introduced. As soon thereafter as reasonable convenience allows, a statement of the substance of the ordinance shall be published by posting same at some public place in the Town of Delmar, or by printing same in a newspaper in general circulation in Wicomico County, Maryland. At any regular or special meeting of the Commission held not more than sixty (60) nor less that six (6) days after the meeting at which the proposed ordinance was introduced and first read, the ordinance shall be read for a second time and passed, or amended and passed, or rejected, or its consideration deferred to some specified future date by the Commission; provided that no ordinance shall be passed until it has been published as required herein for at least five (5) days. Every ordinance shall become effective upon passage by the Commission or upon the date specified in the ordinance, if any such date shall be specified. (Res. No , 3/30/82.) Section DC4 9A. Emergency ordinances. In cases of emergency, the requirements that an ordinance may not be passed at the meeting at which it is introduced and that it be published as provided in DC4 9 may be suspended by the affirmative votes of four (4) members of the commission. An emergency ordinance shall become effective on the date specified in the ordinance but it shall expire automatically no later than six (6) months after the date on which it was passed. (Res. No , 3/30/82.) Section DC4 10. Referendum. The voters of the Town of Delmar shall have the right of referendum on all matters for which State and Federal law require the right of referendum. (Res. No , 3/30/82.) Section DC4 11. Filing of ordinances and resolutions. Ordinances and resolutions shall be permanently filed by the Town Manager and shall be kept available for public inspection. (Res. No , 3/30/82.) Section DC4 12. Powers of Commission enumerated. A. General powers. The Board of Commissioners shall have the power to pass all such ordinances not contrary to the Constitution and laws of the State of Maryland or this Charter as it may deem necessary for the good government of the town; for the protection and preservation of the town s property, rights and privileges; for the preservation of peace and good order; for securing persons and property from violence, danger or destruction; and for the protection and promotion of the health, safety, comfort, convenience, welfare and happiness of the residents of and visitors in the town. B. Power to enter into agreements with Delmar, Delaware. The Commission shall have the power to enter into any cooperative agreement with the Town of Delmar, Delaware, for the

14 41-8 Municipal Charters of Maryland common good of the two (2) towns. The Commission may authorize the establishment of various commissions, boards or agencies representing citizens of both towns and having authority to carry out such duties as the Board of Commissioners may prescribe. The Board of Commissioners shall have the power to authorize such boards, commissions or agencies to enforce and carry into effect town ordinances, to grant or refuse permits and to adopt such rules and regulations as may be required to carry out the agencies responsibilities, according to the standards and guideline set forth by the Commission. The Board of Commissioners may delegate to such boards, commissions or agencies any governmental powers to the full extent permitted by state and federal law. C. Specific powers. The Commission shall have, in addition, the power to pass ordinances not contrary to the laws and Constitution of this state, for the specific purposes provided in the remaining subsections of this section: (1) Advertising. To provide for advertising for the purposes of the town, for printing and publishing statements as to the business of the town. (2) Aisles and doors. To regulate and prevent the obstruction of aisles in public halls, churches and places of amusement and to regulate the construction and operation of the doors and means of egress therefrom. (3) Amusements. To provide, in the interest of the public welfare, for licensing, regulating or restraining theatrical or other public amusements. (4) Appropriations. To appropriate municipal moneys for any purpose within the powers of the Commission. (5) Auctioneers. To regulate the sale of all kinds of property at auction within the town and to license auctioneers. (6) Band. To establish a municipal band, symphony orchestra or other musical organization and to regulate by ordinance the conduct and policies thereof. (7) Billboards. To license, tax and regulate, restrain or prohibit the erection or maintenance of billboards within the city, the placing of signs, bills and posters of every kind and description on any building, fence, post, billboard, pole or other place within the town. (8) Bridges. To erect and maintain bridges. (9) Buildings. To make reasonable regulations in regard to buildings and signs to be erected, constructed or reconstructed in the town and to grant building permits for them; to formulate a building code and a plumbing code and to appoint a Building Inspector and a Plumbing Inspector and to require reasonable charges for permits and inspections; to authorize and require the inspection of all buildings and structures and to authorize the condemnation thereof in whole or in part when dangerous or insecure and to require that such buildings and structures be made safe or be taken down.

15 Charter of the Town of Delmar 41-9 (10) Cemeteries. To regulate or prohibit the interment of bodies within the municipality and to regulate cemeteries. ordinances. (11) Codification of ordinances. To provide for the codification of all (12) Community services. To provide, maintain and operate community and social services for the preservation and promotion of the health, recreation, welfare and enlightenment of the inhabitants of the town. (13) Cooperative activities. To make agreements with other municipalities, counties, districts, bureaus, commissions and governmental authorities for the joint performance of or for cooperation in the performance of any governmental functions. (14) Curfew. To prohibit the youth of the town from being in the streets, lanes, alleys or public places at unreasonable hours of the night. (15) Dangerous improvements. To compel persons about to undertake dangerous improvements to execute bonds with sufficient sureties conditioned that the owner or contractor will pay all damages resulting from such work which may be sustained by any persons or property. (16) Departments. To create, change and abolish offices, departments or agencies, other than the offices, departments and agencies established by this Charter; to assign additional functions or duties to offices, departments or agencies established by this Charter, but not including the power to discontinue or assign to any other office, department or agency any function or duty assigned by this Charter to a particular office, department or agency. (17) Dogs. To regulate the keeping of dogs in the town and to provide, wherever the county does not license or tax dogs, for the licensing and taxing of them; to provide for the disposition of homeless dogs and of dogs on which no license fee or taxes are paid. (18) Elevators. To require the inspection and licensing of elevators and to prohibit their use when unsafe or dangerous or without a license. (19) Explosives and combustibles. To regulate or prevent the storage of gunpower [gunpowder], oil or any other explosive or combustible matter; to regulate or prevent the use of firearms, fireworks, bonfires, explosives or any other similar things which may endanger persons or property. (20) Filth. To compel the occupant or owner of any premises, building or outhouse situated in the town, if it has become filthy or unwholesome, to abate or cleanse the condition; and, after reasonable notice to the owners or occupants, to authorize such work to be done by the proper officers and to assess the expense thereof against the property, making it collectible by taxes or against the occupant or occupants.

16 41-10 Municipal Charters of Maryland (21) Finances. To levy, assess and collect ad valorem property taxes; to expend municipal funds for any public purpose; to have general management and control of the finances of the town; to borrow money and issue bonds, notes or other evidence of indebtedness and pay interest on such debts. (22) Fire. To suppress fires and prevent the dangers thereof and to establish and maintain a fire department and furnish any necessary facilities, meeting places, fire halls, etc., as may be necessary; to contribute funds to volunteer fire companies serving the town; to inspect buildings for the purpose of reducing fire hazards, to issue regulations concerning fire hazards and to forbid and prohibit the use of fire hazardous buildings and structures permanently or until the conditions of town fire hazard regulations are met; to install and maintain fireplugs where and as necessary and to regulate their use; and to take all other measures necessary to control and prevent fires in the town. (23) Food. To inspect and regulate the sale of any food products and to require the condemnation thereof if unwholesome. (24) Franchises. To grant and regulate franchises to water companies, electric light companies, gas companies, telegraph and telephone companies, transit companies, taxicab companies and any others which may be deemed advantageous and beneficial to the town, subject to the limitations and provisions of Article 23 of the Annotated Code of Maryland. No franchise shall be granted for a longer period that fifty (50) years. (25) Garbage. To prevent the deposit of any unwholesome substance either on private or public property and to compel its removal to designated points; to require slops, garbage, ashes and other waste or other unwholesome materials to be removed to designated points or to require the occupants of the premises to place them conveniently for removal; to provide for the regular collection and removal of garbage and refuse. (26) Grants in aid. To accept gifts and grants of federal or of state governments or any agency thereof and to expend the funds for any lawful purpose, agreeably to the conditions under which the gifts or grants were made. (27) Hawkers. To license, tax, regulate, suppress and prohibit hawkers and itinerant dealers, peddlers, pawnbrokers and all other persons selling any articles or soliciting on the streets of the town, and to revoke such licenses for any action or threat of action by such licensee in the course of his occupation which causes or threatens harm or injury to inhabitants of the town or to their welfare or happiness. (28) Health. To protect and preserve the health of the town and its inhabitants; to provide facilities for health care; to appoint a public health officer and to define and regulate his powers and duties; to prevent the introduction of contagious diseases into the town; to establish quarantine regulations and to authorize the removal and confinement of persons having contagious or infectious diseases; to prevent and remove all nuisances; to inspect, regulate and abate any buildings, structures or places which cause or may cause unsanitary conditions or

17 Charter of the Town of Delmar conditions detrimental to health; but nothing herein shall be construed to affect in any manner any of the powers and duties of the State Board of Health, the County Board of Health or any public general or local law relating to the subject of health. (29) House numbers. To regulate the numbering of houses and lots and to compel owners to renumber them or, in default thereof, to authorize and require the work to be done by the town at the owner s expense, such expense to constitute a lien upon the property, collectible as tax moneys. (30) Housing. To establish a Housing Authority pursuant to Article 44A of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1957 Edition, as amended), to provide safe and sanitary dwelling accommodations. (31) Jail. To establish and regulate a station house or lockup for temporary confinement of violators of the laws and ordinances of the town or to use the county jail for such purpose. (32) Licenses. Subject to any restrictions imposed by the public general laws of the state, to license and regulate all persons beginning or conducting transient or permanent business in the town for the sale of any goods, wares, merchandise or services; to license and regulate any business, occupation, trade, calling or place of amusement or business; to establish and collect fees and charges for all licenses and permits issued under the authority of this Charter. (33) Liens. To provide that any valid charges, taxes or assessments made against any real property within the town shall be liens upon the property, to be collected as municipal taxes are collected. (34) Lights. To provide for the lighting of the town. (35) Livestock. To regulate and prohibit the running at large of cattle, horses, swine, fowl, sheep, goats, dogs or other animals; to authorize the impounding, keeping, sale and redemption of such animals when found in violation of the ordinance in such cases provided. (36) Markets. To obtain by lease or rent, to own, construct, purchase, operate and maintain public markets within the town. (37) Minor privileges. To regulate or prevent the use of public ways, sidewalks and public places for signs, awnings, posts, steps, railings, entrances, racks, posting handbills and advertisements and display of goods, wares and merchandise. (38) Noise. To regulate or prohibit unreasonable noisemaking. (39) Nuisances. To prevent or abate by appropriate ordinance all nuisances in the town which are so defined at common law, by this Charter or by the laws of the State of Maryland, whether they be herein specifically named or not; to regulate, to prohibit, to control

18 41-12 Municipal Charters of Maryland the location of or to require the removal from the town of all trading in, handling of or manufacture of any commodity which is or may become offensive, obnoxious or injurious to the public comfort or health. In this connection, the town may regulate, prohibit, control the location of or require the removal from the town of such things as stockyards, slaughterhouses, cattle or hog pens, tanneries and renderies. The operation of any instrument, device or machine that shall cause electrical interference with radio or television reception within the limits of the town shall be deemed to be a nuisance. This listing is by way of enumeration, not limitation. (40) Obstructions. To remove all nuisances and obstructions from the streets, lanes and alleys and from any lots adjoining thereto, or any other places within the limits of the town. (41) Parking facilities. To license and regulate and to establish, obtain by purchase, by lease or by rent, own, construct, operate and maintain parking lots and other facilities for off street parking. (42) Parking meters. To install parking meters on the streets and public places of the town in such places as by ordinance they determine and, by ordinance, to prescribe rates and provisions for the use thereof; but the installation of parking meters on any street or road maintained by the State Roads Commission of Maryland must first be approved by that Commission. (43) Parks and recreation. To establish and maintain public parks, gardens, playgrounds and other recreational facilities and programs to promote the health, welfare and enjoyment of the inhabitants of the town. (44) Police force. To establish, operate and maintain a police force; to enter into an agreement with the Town of Delmar, Delaware, providing for the joint operation of one (1) police department to serve the two (2) towns, said agreement to specifically provide that the two (2) towns shall be jointly liable for the costs and expenses thereof. All town policemen within the municipality shall have the powers and authority of constables in this state. (45) Police powers. To prohibit, suppress and punish within the town all vice, gambling and games of chance; prostitution and solicitation therefor and the keeping of bawdy houses and houses of ill fame; all tramps and vagrants; all disorder, disturbances, annoyances, disorderly conduct, obscenity, public profanity and drunkenness. (46) Property. To acquire by conveyance, purchase or gift, real or leasable property for any public purposes; to erect buildings and structures thereon for the benefit of the town and its inhabitants; and to convey any real or leasehold property when no longer needed for the public use, after having given at least twenty (20) days public notice of the proposed conveyance; to control, protect and maintain public buildings, grounds and property of the town. (47) Regulations. To adopt by ordinance and enforce within the corporate limits police, health, sanitary, fire, building, plumbing, traffic, speed, parking and other similar regulations not in conflict with the laws of the State of Maryland or with this Charter.

19 Charter of the Town of Delmar (48) Sidewalks. To regulate the use of sidewalks and all structures in, under or above them; to require the owner or occupant of premises to keep the sidewalks in front thereof free from snow or other obstruction; to prescribe hours for cleaning sidewalks. (49) Sweepings. To regulate or prevent the throwing or depositing of sweepings, dust, ashes, offal, garbage, paper, handbills, dirty liquids or other unwholesome materials into any public way or on any public or private property in the town. (50) Transit system. To acquire by purchase or lease and operate and maintain motor buses or other vehicles for the purpose of transporting persons, both within the municipality and between the town and points located outside the corporate limits of the town. (51) Taxicabs. To license, tax and regulate public hackmen, taxicabmen, draymen, drivers, cabmen, porters and expressmen and all other persons pursuing like occupations. (52) Vehicles. To regulate and license wagons and other vehicles not subject to the licensing powers of the State of Maryland. (53) Voting machines. To purchase, lease, borrow, install and maintain voting machines for use in town elections. (54) Zoning. To exercise the powers as to planning and zoning, conferred upon municipal corporations generally in Article 66B of the Annotated Code of Maryland, subject to the limitations and provisions of said Article. D. Appointments and removal of employees and heads of offices, departments and agencies. The Board of Commissioners shall appoint the heads of all offices, departments and agencies of the town government as established by this charter or by ordinance. All office, department and agency heads shall serve at the pleasure of the Commission. All subordinate officers and employees of the offices, departments and agencies of the town government shall be appointed and removed by the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations of any merit system which may be adopted by the Commission. The appointing, hiring and removal of employees may be delegated to the Town Manager, subject to review by Commission, to the extent allowed by law. E. Saving clause. The enumeration of powers in this section is not to be construed as limiting the powers of the town to the several subjects mentioned. F. Exercise of powers. All the powers of the town shall be exercised in the manner prescribed by this Charter, or, if the manner be not prescribed, then in such manner as may be prescribed by ordinance.

20 41-14 Municipal Charters of Maryland Section DC4 13. Enforcement of ordinances. To assure the observance of the ordinances of the town, the Commission has the power to provide that any violation thereof shall be a misdemeanor, which shall be punishable, upon conviction by the District Court of Wicomico County, by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.) or imprisonment for up to thirty (30) days in the county jail, or both, in the discretion of the Court. Any person so convicted shall have the right of appeal within ten (10) days to the Circuit Court of Wicomico County. Where the act or omission is of a continuing nature and is persisted in, a conviction for one (1) offense is not a bar to a conviction for a continuation of the offense subsequent to the first or any succeeding conviction. Section DC4 13A. Enforcement of Municipal Infractions. To assure the observance of ordinances of the town, the Commission has the power to provide that any violation thereof shall be a municipal infraction, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of Article 23A, 3 of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Municipal infractions shall be punishable by a fine not to exceed one hundred dollars ($100) for each conviction. The fine shall be payable by the recipient within twenty (20) calendar days of receipt of the citation. Repeat offenders may be assessed a fine not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200). (Res. No , 6/29/82.) Section DC4 14. Voter registration, nominations and elections. Every person who is a citizen of the United States, is at least eighteen (18) years of age, has resided in the State of Maryland for at least thirty (30) days next preceding any town election, has resided within the corporate limits of the town for thirty (30) days next preceding any town election and is registered in accordance with the provisions of this Charter is a qualified voter of the town. Every qualified voter of the town is entitled to vote at all town elections. (Res. No , 8/2/83.) Section DC4 15. Board of Supervisors of Elections. There shall be a Board of Supervisors of Elections, consisting of three (3), members who shall be appointed by the Commission on or before the first Monday in March in every second odd numbered year. The terms of members of the Board of Supervisors of Elections begin on the first Monday in March in the year in which they are appointed and run for four (4) years. Members of the Board of Supervisors of Elections shall be qualified voters of the town and shall not hold or be candidates for any elective office during their term of office. The Board shall appoint one (1) of its members as Chairman. Vacancies on the Board shall be filled by appointment by the Commission; the substitute appointee shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term. The compensation of the members of the Board shall be determined by the Commission. (Res. No , 6/29/82.)

21 Charter of the Town of Delmar Section DC4 16. Same: removal of members. Any member of the Board of Supervisors of Elections may be removed for good cause by the Commission if in the judgment of the Commission the member is not properly performing or will not properly perform the duties of the position. Before removal, the member of the Board of Supervisors of Elections to be removed shall be given a written copy of the charges against him and shall have a public hearing on them before the Commission if he so requests within ten (10) days after receiving the written copy of the charges. Section DC4 17. Same: duties. The Board of Supervisors of Elections shall be in charge of the registration of voters, nominations and all town elections. The Board may appoint Election Clerk or other employees to assist it in any of its duties. The Board of Supervisors of Elections shall be the judges of all elections. Section DC4 18. Notice of registration days and elections. The Board of Supervisors of Elections shall give at least two (2) weeks notice of every election by an advertisement published in at least one (1) newspaper of general circulation in the town and by posting a notice thereof in some public place or places in the town. Section DC4 19. Registration. Qualified persons who are not registered to vote shall have the opportunity to register on any day the town office is open for regular business. Registration shall be permanent. No person is entitled to vote in town elections unless he is registered. The Board of Supervisors of Elections shall keep the registration lists up to date by striking from the lists persons known to have died or to have moved out of the town. The Commission, by ordinance, shall adopt and enforce any provisions necessary to establish and maintain a system of permanent registration and provide for a reregistration when necessary, including central registration utilizing the registration books of other governmental bodies. Registration may be suspended for a period not exceeding five (5) days immediately preceding any election. Section DC4 20. Appeal from action of Board of Supervisors of Election. If any person is aggrieved by the action of the Board of Supervisors of Elections in refusing to register or in striking off the name of any person or by any other action, he may appeal to the Commission. Any decision or action of the Commission upon such appeals may be appealed to the Circuit Court for Wicomico County within the time allowed for such appeals. Section DC4 21. Filing certificate of nomination. Persons may be nominated for elective office in the town by filing a certificate of nomination at the office of the Board of Supervisors of Elections on or before the second Monday in September next preceding the town election. No person shall file for nomination to