744 LAWS OF MARYLAND [CH. 400

and sent by registered mail to the last known address of
the person in whose name the property is assessed for
taxation. If the name of the owner of the property be un-
known, or the owner be a non-resident of Prince George's
County, notice of the proposed assessment and of the date
and place of the hearing shall be published once a week
for three consecutive weeks in some newspaper having
general circulation in the County. At the hearing, unless
good cause to the contrary be shown, the Mayor and Town
Council shall have authority to levy the reasonable costs
incurred by the town, together with the expense of adver-
tising, as a special tax against the property. The assess-
ment shall be certified by the town clerk to the town treas-
urer, to be added to the annual tax bill against the prop-
erty to be collected in the same manner as ordinary taxes
are collected and subject to the same interest and penalty
for non-payment as provided by law for the non-payment
of town taxes. Such special tax shall constitute a lien
against the property from the date of the assessment until
paid.

SEC. 2. An be it further enacted, That this Act shall
not become effective until it shall first be submitted to the
legally qualified voters of the Town of Forest Heights at
the next regular election held in said town. There shall
be printed on the ballot to be used at said election the title
of this Act and underneath said title, on separate lines,
a square or box or lever to the right of and opposite the
words "For Abatement of Nuisance on Vacant Lots", and
a corresponding square or box or lever to the right of and
opposite the words "Against Abatement of Nuisance on
Vacant Lots", so that the voters shall be able to designate
his or her decision for or against said Act. If a majority
of the votes cast in said election shall be "For Abatement
of Nuisance on Vacant Lots", then this Act shall become
immediately effective, but if a majority of the votes cast
in said election shall be "Against Abatement of Nuisance 011
Vacant Lots", then this Act shall be of no effect and null
and void.

SEC. 3. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall
take effect June 1, 1953.

Approved April 6, 1953.