1286 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 639

any lot or parcel of ground by or through which the same may
pass, or improvements made, or any other property, or to the
owner or occupant thereof, and which the said lot or parcel
of ground or the owner or occupant thereof ought to pay; they
shall locate boundaries and prepare an explanatory map, giv-
ing description of the street or alley opened, closed, extended,
widened, straightened or improved, with each separate lot or
parcel of ground deemed to have sustained damages or received
benefits, and they shall, within ten days, return to the Mayor
and Council such map, together with the amount 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 there-
of, 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 publication
in one of the county papers published in Snow Hill, or by ten
days' notice, at least, in writing to each property owner so in-
terested, of the time set for final action on return of said ex-
aminers; and said Mayor and Council shall act on said returns
within twenty days after expiration of said notice, and may
issue a new commission, as, in their judgment, may seem prop-
er, 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 representative,
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 of 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 secretary
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 de-
cline to open, lay out, extend, widen, grade or straighten, any
street, 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.