3628 ARTICLE 16

husband of such, within the corporate limits, not less than twenty-five
years of age, and must have resided within said limits for a period of not
less than three years next preceding the election in which he is a candi-
date for such office He shall preside at all meetings of the council and
shall call such special meetings of the same from time to time as he may
deem necessary, but in the event of the absence of the Mayor from any
meeting, the members of the council present shall elect one of their own
number to preside during his absence, who shall, for the time being, be
clothed with all the powers and authorities of said Mayor The council
shall pass rules and by-laws for their own government while in session.
All vacancies in the office of Mayor or councilman caused by death,
absence from session of the council for more than three consecutive months
without satisfactory excuse, or otherwise, shall be filled by vote of the
council until the next annual town election

1906, ch 795, sec 5 1912, ch 790, sec 539

915. The qualifications for member of the council shall be as follows:
That he be a voter of said town as above prescribed and a citizen of the
State of Maryland, a bona fide property owner, or the husband of such,
within the corporate limits, and must have resided within said limits for
a period of not less than one year next preceding the election in which
he is a candidate for such office The council shall meet in some con-
venient place in said town on or before the first Monday in June next
succeeding their election, and as often thereafter as the duties of their
office may require, but meeting not less than once every month Failure
of the council to meet as herein prescribed shall not work a forfeiture of
this charter, and meetings not held in due time may be held as soon there-
after as practicable A majority of the council shall constitute a quorum
for the transaction of business

1906, ch 795, sec 6 1912, ch 790, sec 540

916. The council shall annually, on or before the first Monday in
April appoint three judges of election, who shall appoint a clerk, and said
judges shall conduct an election by ballot, in accordance with the provi-
sions of section 913 of this subtitle, the polls to be opened at five o'clock
P M and close at nine o'clock P. M, or at such other hours as the
people at any election may determine upon for the future The Mayor
and other members of the council shall be liable to presentment and in-
dictment in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County for wilful failure
to do any act or to perform any duty required by this subtitle of this
Article or by the ordinances or by laws that shall be passed relating to the
holding of town elections, and, upon conviction, shall be liable to fine or
imprisonment or both, in the discretion of the court The judges and
clerk shall make their returns to the council, and also, in the case of
election of Mayor, to the clerk of the Circuit Court for Montgomery
County, but said judge and clerk shall receive no compensation for their
services Not more than two of said judges of election shall be of the same