292 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 161

up, in whole or in part, the Mayor shall give at least ten days'
public notice by putting up printed or written posters in two
or more of the public places of said town, or published in one
newspaper of Washington County for three weeks, of their
purpose to lay out, extend, widen, straighten, or close up the
street, highway, promenade, lane, alley, square, drain or water-
course so directed to lie laid out, opened, extended, widened,
straightened, or closed up and of the day, hour and place of
their meeting for said purpose; and the said Mayor and Com-
missioners or a majority of the board shall meet at the time
and place mentioned in the notice given by the Mayor and
proceed to exercise the powers and perform the duties, and
ascertain whether any and what amount in value of damages
will be caused thereby for which the owner or occupant, of
any right, or interest claim ought to be compensated over and
above the amount in value or benefit which will thereby ac-
crue to such owner or occupant, and ascertain what amount
or benefit will thereby accrue to any lot or parcel of ground
within or adjacent thereto or to the owner or occupant thereof,
and which said lot or parcel of ground, or the owner or occu-
pant ought to pay, and have the decision recorded by the
clerk of the board in the minutes of the corporation.

328-S. Any person or corporation or association to whom
any damages have been awarded, or against whom any bene-
fits have been assessed, who shall feel aggrieved by said de-
cision, shall have the right of appeal to the Circuit Court for
Washington County within ten days after the decision has
been made.

All benefits assessed against any lot or parcel of ground of
the owner or occupant thereof shall be a lien against said lot
or parcel of ground from the time the Mayor and Comms-
sioners shall finally order the opening, widening, extending,
straightening or closing up of any street, highway, promenade,
lane, alley, square, drain or watercourse, as the case may be;
and it shall be the duty of the clerk of the corporation of
Fen Mar, immediately upon the passage of such order by the
Mayor and Commissioners, to notify the Commissioner of
Taxes of the amount of benefits so assessed against any lot
or parcel of ground, and the Commissioner of Taxes shall
forthwith enter the same on his hooks against the properly
so assessed. The Commissioner of Taxes shall collect such
benefits as other taxes are collected; provided, that no prop-