2038 LAWS OP MARYLAND. [CH. 842

offices, take an oath that they will support the Constitutions
of the United States and the State of Maryland, and that
they will diligently and faithfully discharge the duties of
their offices without favor, partiality or prejudice.

(I) The Council may require any of its officers to give
bond in such penalty and with such sureties as they may
deem necessary, conditioned for the faithful performance of
their duties. The Council shall require the City Clerk and
Treasurer to be bonded in an amount equal to not less than
forty per cent (40%) of the total estimated receipts of the
City for the ensuing year. Said bond shall be filed with the
Mayor. When any officer wilfully fails to discharge any
duty of his office, he may, in addition to the remedy on his
bond, be fined by the Mayor, at his discretion, not exceeding
Ten Dollars ($10.00) for any one offense, and for the pay-
ment of such fine his bond shall be responsible. Any officer
may be dismissed by the Council at its discretion.

(J) The Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Council,
shall in the month of September in each year employ a cer-
tified public accountant to make an audit of the books, ac-
counts, statements and records relating to the financial
affairs of the City for the preceding fiscal year, including
particularly those of the Clerk and Treasurer of said City.
Said accountant shall have no connection with or relation
to the City government or any of its officers or employees:
Upon completion of said audit, the said accountant shall
prepare a report thereon and submit the same, together with
his recommendations, if any, to the Mayor and Council. There-
after, said report and recommendations shall be public rec-
ords open to public inspection during business hours at
the office of the City Clerk. The said accountant shall re-
ceive such compensation for his services, not exceeding Five
Hundred Dollars ($500.00) for each audit, as the Council
may fix.

(K) Neither the Mayor nor any member of the Council
shall be financially interested in any contract, agreement,
sale or lease, in which the said town is or may become a
party and in which the said Mayor or member of the Council
may individually profit financially to his benefit. Any vio-
lation of this sub-section is hereby declared to be a misde-
meanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punishable by a
fine not to exceed $100.00 and forfeiture of office.

(L) The Council may establish and maintain a general
system of pensions and retirement benefits for the officers
and employees of the City, by whatever authority appointed,