1474                             Laws of Maryland                       [Ch. 796

or function it shall proceed therewith BY PROPER ORDINANCE
OR RESOLUTION, TO CONSTRUCT, OPERATE OR MAINTAIN
SAID PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT OR FUNCTION either by con-
tract, publicly advertised or by its own force, or under its own super-
vision as it deems desirable and more economical, no earlier than the

fiftieth day after said determination unless on or before the fortieth

day after said determination there shall be presented to the Board

or mailed to it by registered mail a petition as follows:

3. In the case of the improvement provided in Sub section (e)
either a petition opposing the improvement signed by the owners of
at least 51% of the assessed valuation of the real property located
in the area affected which petition shall defeat the Board's deter-
mination of a petition signed by twenty per centum or more of the
persons who resided in the area affected and who are registered as
voters in county elections PROVIDED FURTHER THAT IN THE
CASE OF THE IMPROVEMENTS PROVIDED IN SUB-SECTION
(E), THE BOARD, FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS FROM THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ACT, MAY PROCEED ONLY BY
CONTRACT AND NOT BY ITS OWN FORCE, AND PROVIDED
FURTHER THAT THE EFFECTIVE DATE FOR THE COM-
MENCEMENT OF SAID IMPROVEMENTS SHALL BE NO
EARLIER THAN THE FIFTIETH (50TH) DAY AFTER SAID
HEARING ADOPTING THE ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION;
AND SAID ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION IN THE CASE OF
IMPROVEMENTS ADOPTED UNDER SUB-SECTION (E)
SHALL BE INEFFECTIVE IF ON OR BEFORE THE FORTIETH
(40TH) DAY AFTER THE ADOPTION OF SAID ORDINANCE
OR RESOLUTION THERE SHALL BE PRESENTED TO THE
BOARD OR MAILED BY REGISTERED MAIL, A PETITION
SIGNED BY THE OWNERS OF AT LEAST 20% OF THE AS-
SESSED VALUATION OF THE REAL PROPERTY LOCATED
IN THE AREA AFFECTED requesting a referendum on the ques-
tion. In such an event, the Board shall notify the County Board of
Supervisors of Elections immediately after receipt of the petition,
giving to the Board a full and complete copy of the question to be de-
termined. The Board shall set a date for the referendum on the ques-
tion within the area to be affected. The date for the referendum shall
he set within 60 days after receipt of the petition and shall permit the
giving of at least fifteen (15) days' notice thereof. Such notice shall be
published by the Board on two occasions at not less than weekly inter-
vals, in a newspaper or newspapers of general circulation within the
area to be affected. They shall specify the time and date of the refer-
endum and the place or places at which it will be held. The County
Board of Supervisors of Elections shall conduct and he responsible for
the referendum. The Board shall determine from the county registra-

1. In the case of the improvement provided in Sub-section (a) a

petition opposing the improvement signed by the owners of at least

51% of the the abutting front footage of the property adjoining the road

ways, alleys, curbs, sidewalks or gutters to be improved which peti-
tion shall defeat the Board's determination.

2. In the case of the improvement provided in Sub section (c) a

petition opposing the improvement signed by the owner of at least

51% of the assessed valuation of the real property located in the area
affected which petition shall defeat the Board's determination.