674

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

benefits, and they shall, within ten days, return to the mayor
and council such map, together with the amounts of damages
awarded to such owners or occupants, and the amount of bene-
fits assessed to any lot or parcel of ground, or the owner
thereof , together with a certificate of their qualifications, which
may be ratified or rejected or altered and amended, in whole
or in part, by said mayor and council; provided, that the
mayor and council shall give ten days' notice, at least, by pub-
lication in one of the county papers published in Snow
Hill, or by ten days' notice, at least, in writing to each prop-
erty owner so interested, of the time set for final action on
return of said examiners; and said mayor and council shall
act ou said returns within twenty days after expiration of said
notice, and may issue a new commission, as, in their judgment,
may seem proper, and before actually proceeding to open, widen,
extend or close any such street or alley, the mayor and council
shall pay or tender to the person, his agent, guardian or repre-

Right of
appeal.

sentative, the amount of damages so awarded; and if any one
should feel aggrieved by the decision of the mayor and council
in any matter relating to their decision, he, she or they may
appeal to the Circuit Court for Worcester county, by giving
written notice within twenty days from said decision, filed with
the secretary of the council, of their desire to appeal, and on
the filing of said notice it shall be the duty of the said secre-
tary to deliver the papers connected therewith to the clerk of
said court, and the same proceedings shall be had in the appeal
as in the cases of appeals from judgments of justices of the
peace; provided, nevertheless, that the mayor and council may
decline to open, lay out, extend, widen, grade or straighten, any
streets, alley or highway, or any square, waterway or drain,
notwithstanding the decision of said court; but in case of the
refusal so to do, they shall be liable for all costs incurred, and
shall pay the same. All benefits assessed by virtue of the
above provisions shall be liens on the respective lots or parcels
of ground on which they are assessed for the time of the final
ratification of the aforesaid return, and shall be collected as
taxes are collected, or may be collected by action at law. On
appeal the court or jury may alter the award so returned,
whether damages or benefits, and award costs in its discretion.

SEC. 17. And be it enacted, That for the purposes of

May impose
penalties

carrying out the foregoing powers, and for the preservation
of the health, cleanliness, peace and good order of the com-
munity, and for the protection of the lives and property of the
citizens from fire or disease, and to suppress or cause to be