HERBERT R. O'CONOR, GOVERNOR. 1765

his or her office or position and be subject to a fine not to
exceed one thousand ($1, 000. 00) dollars or imprisonment in
the Maryland House of Correction for a term not to exceed
one year. Provided, however, that the provisions of this para-
graph shall not apply to any contract or other transaction
involving the purchase of land or the deposit of county funds
in any authorized State or Federal banking institution.

Where the amount involved in any contract for work to
be done or purchase of supplies to which the Board of County
Commissioners or the County Board of Education 6f said coun-
ty is a party exceeds the sum of five hundred ($500. 00) dollars,
the said Board, as the case may be, shall advertise for bids
in one or more newspapers published in said county, the pub-
lication thereof to appear at least one week prior to the date
on which bids are to be opened, and the contract or purchase
shall be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder, but the said
Board, as the case may be, shall have the right to reject any
and all bids.

In every case where the said County Commissioners or the
County Board of Education desire to purchase land, said Board
as the case may be, shall advertise once a week for two weeks
in one or more newspapers published in said county a state-
ment setting forth the option and price of any land proposed
to be purchased by said Board, the location, purpose, and
owner. This advertisement shall also include description and
price of at least two additional sites regarded by said Board as
also available for the purpose in question, or a statement by
said Board that no such additional sites are available. When
the land in question is to be purchased by any organization or
agency representing either a public library to be supported in
part by Montgomery County tax funds, or a fire department
to be supported in part by Montgomery County tax funds, the
library or fire department board in question shall furnish the
information required incident to the proposed purchase of
land to the Board of County Commissioners who shall adver-
tise same as prescribed herein.

Failure to comply with the requirements of this section
after its enactment shall thereafter prohibit any library or
fire department from receiving Montgomery County tax funds
for its support.

The County Board of Education, when it is the desire to
purchase the land for educational purposes, and the Board of
County Commissioners, when it is the desire to purchase the
land for any other public or semi-public purpose described
herein shall promptly arrange and advertise a public hearing
on the said proposed purchase if any taxpayers or voters of
Montgomery County protest to said Board said proposal to
purchase within two weeks after notice of such proposed pur-