1516 LAWS OF MARYLAND [CH. 534

this section shall have the right to appeal to the Circuit
Court for Wicomico County within ten days after the final
ratification of any assessment by the council.

(f) All charges remaining unpaid after a reasonable
period, to be determined by the council, shall become liens
on the property and shall be collectible as are other city
taxes.

(g) Special assessments may be made payable in annual
or more frequent installments over such period of time and
in such manner as the council may decide.

(h) All special assessments levied under this section
shall be billed and collected by the department of finance.

ARTICLE XIV
CONDEMNATION

143. Procedure. The City of Salisbury shall have the
power to condemn any property, right or interest, belong-
ing to any person, persons, corporation or corporations
(whether such corporation be public or private, and
whether such property, right or interest be impressed with
a prior public or quasi-public use or not) for the purpose
of making public improvements. PUBLIC IMPROVE-
MENTS SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO MEAN SEWERS,
DRAINS, DISPOSAL PLANTS, PUBLIC BUILDINGS,
WATER SYSTEMS, WATER WORKS, WATER AND
WATER COURSES, RIGHTS OF WAY, STREETS,
ALLEYS AND OTHER PUBLIC WAYS AND SIDE-
WALKS. PARKS, MARKETS, BUILDINGS AND PARK-
ING LOTS. The manner of procedure in case of any con-
demnation proceedings shall be that established in Article
33A of the Annotated Code of Maryland, title "Eminent
Domain, " except that for the purpose of relocating, open-
ing, widening and closing of streets, alleys and public high-
ways the following additional procedure is authorized:

(1) The council may, upon its own motion, or at the
suggestion of the mayor, or at the instance of any citizen
or citizens, of Salisbury, if he sees fit so to do, by order,
motion, resolution, or ordinance, determine to undertake
any improvement which is authorized to make, and shall
thereupon direct the city engineer, or some other competent
person, to prepare a map or plat of the proposed improve-
ment. The validity of the proceedings shall in no measure
depend upon the taking of this preliminary step, it being
intended merely as a means of placing before the council
accurate information as to the work to be done.