2182                                  Municipal Charters

Section 54-65. Protection of Town Property.

The Town may do whatever may be necessary to protect Town prop-
erty and to keep all Town property in good condition.

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 54-66. Oath of Office.

(a)    Oath required.—Before entering upon the duties of their office,
the mayor, the councilmen, the clerk-treasurer, the judges of elections,
and all other persons elected or appointed to any office of profit or trust in
the Town government shall take and subscribe to the following oath or

affirmation: "I,.............................. do swear (or affirm, as the case may be),

that I will support the Constitution of the United States; and that I will
be faithful and bear true allegiance to the State of Maryland, and support
the Constitution and laws thereof; and that I will, to the best of my skill
and judgment, diligently and faithfully, without partiality or prejudice,

execute the office of .........................., according to the Constitution and

laws of this State."

(b)    Before whom taken and subscribed.—The mayor shall take and
subscribe to this oath or affirmation before the clerk of the circuit court for
the county or before one of the sworn deputies of the clerk. All other per-
sons taking and subscribing to the oath shall do so before the mayor.

Section 54-67. Official Bonds.

The clerk-treasurer and such other officers or employees of the Town
as the council or this charter may require, shall give bond in such amount
and with such surety as may be required by the council. The premiums on
such bonds shall be paid by the Town.

Section 54-68. Prior Rights and Obligations.

All right, title, and interest held by the Town or any other person
or corporation at the time this charter is adopted, in and to any lien ac-
quired under any prior charter of the Town, are hereby preserved for the
holder in all respects as if this charter had not been adopted, together with
all rights and remedies in relation thereto. This charter shall not discharge,
impair, or release any contract, obligation, duty, liability, or penalty what-
ever existing at the time this charter becomes effective. All suits and ac-
tions, both civil and criminal, pending, or which may hereafter be insti-
tuted for causes of action now existing or offenses already committed
against any law or ordinance repealed by this charter, shall be instituted,
proceeded with, and prosecuted to final determination and judgment as if
this charter had not become effective.

Section 54-69. Misdemeanors.

Every act or omission which, by ordinance, is made a misdemeanor
under the authority of this charter, unless otherwise provided, shall be
punishable upon conviction before any trial magistrate or in the circuit
court for the county within which the offense is committed by a fine not
exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00) or imprisonment for thirty
days in the county jail, or both, in the discretion of the court or trial
magistrate. The party aggrieved as the right to appeal as is now pro-
vided under the general laws of the State. Where the act or omission is
of a continuing nature and is persisted in, a conviction for one offense is not
a bar to a conviction for a continuation of the offense subsequent to the
first or any succeeding conviction.