700                               LAWS OF MARYLAND                        [CH. 423

Annexation

19. (Annexation.) (a) The legislative body, by whatever name
known, of every

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(b)  The proposal for change may be initiated by resolution regu-
larly introduced into the legislative body of the municipal corporation,
in accordance with the usual requirements and practices applicable
to its legislative enactments, BUT ONLY AFTER THE LEGISLA-
TIVE BODY SHALL HAVE OBTAINED THE CONSENT FOR
THE PROPOSAL FROM NOT LESS THAN TWENTY-FIVE PER-
CENTUM (25%) OF THE PERSONS WHO RESIDE IN THE
AREA TO BE ANNEXED AND WHO ARE REGISTERED AS
VOTERS IN COUNTY ELECTIONS AND FROM THE OWNERS
OF NOT LESS THAN TWENTY-FIVE PERCENTUM (25%)
OF THE ASSESSED VALUATION OF THE REAL PROPERTY
LOCATED IN THE AREA TO BE ANNEXED. The resolution shall
describe by a survey of courses and distances, and may also describe
by landmarks and other well-known terms, the exact area proposed
to be included in the change, and shall contain complete and detailed
provisions as to the conditions and circumstances applicable to the
change in boundaries and to the residents and property within the
area to be affected ANNEXED.

(c)  The proposal for change also may be initiated by a written
petition signed by not less than twenty-five per centum (25%) of the
persons who reside in the area to be affected ANNEXED and who
are registered as voters in county elections, AND BY THE OWNERS
OF NOT LESS THAN TWENTY-FIVE PERCENTUM (25%) OF
THE ASSESSED VALUATION OF THE REAL PROPERTY
LOCATED IN THE AREA TO BE ANNEXED. Upon the pre-
sentation of a petition to the legislative body of the municipal corpo-
ration, the presiding officer thereof shall cause to be made a verifica-
tion of the signatures thereon and shall ascertain that the persons
signing the petition represent at least twenty-five per centum (25%)
of the persons who reside in the area to be affected ANNEXED and
who are registered as voters in county elections, AND THE OWN-
ERS OF TWENTY-FIVE PERCENTUM (25%) OF THE AS-
SESSED VALUATION OF THE REAL PROPERTY LOCATED
IN THE AREA TO BE ANNEXED. Upon verifying that the re-
quirements of this sub-section have been complied with, the presiding
officer of the legislative body shall promptly cause to be introduced
therein a resolution proposing the change of boundaries as requested
by the petition. The resolution in form and content shall conform
to the requirements of this section.

(d)   After the introduction of the resolution into the legislative
body of the municipal corporation, the chief executive and adminis-
trative officer of the municipal corporation shall cause a public notice
thereof to be published not fewer than four times at not less than
weekly intervals in a newspaper OR NEWSPAPERS of general cir-
culation in the municipal corporation AND THE AREA TO BE
ANNEXED, briefly and accurately describing the proposed change
and the conditions and circumstances applicable thereto. The public