1000                            LAWS OF MARYLAND                      [CH. 572

promoted, demoted, removed, or in any way favored or discriminated
against because of his political or religious opinions or affiliations
or any other factors not related to ability to perform the work; no
person shall wilfully or corruptly commit or attempt to commit any
fraud preventing the impartial execution of the personnel provisions
of this charter or of the rules and regulations made thereunder;
no officer or employee in the classified service of the town shall con-
tinue in such position after becoming a candidate for nomination or
election to any public office; no person seeking appointment to or pro-
motion in the classified service of the town shall either directly or
indirectly give, render, or pay any money, service, or other valuable
thing to any person for or on account of or in connection with his
appointment, proposed appointment, promotion, or proposed promo-
tion; no person shall orally, by letter or otherwise, solicit or be in
any manner concerned in soliciting any assessment, subscription, or
contribution for any political party or political purpose whatever
from any person holding a position in the classified service of the
town; no person holding a position in the classified service of the
town shall make any contribution to the campaign funds of any po-
litical party or any candidate for public office or take any part in
the management, affairs, or political campaign of any political party
or candidate for public office, further than in the exercise of his
right as a citizen to express his opinion and to cast his vote.

(b) Penalties. Any person who by himself or with others wilfully
or corruptly violates any of the provisions of this section [shall be] is
guilty of a misdemeanor and [shall], upon conviction thereof, shall
be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100.00),
or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding thirty days, or by both
such fine and imprisonment. Any person who is convicted under this
section [shall] for a period of five years [be] is ineligible for ap-
pointment to or employment in a position in the town service, and
[shall], if he be an officer or employee of the town, shall im-
mediately forfeit the office or position he holds.

71.    Retirement System.

The town [shall have the power to] may do all things necessary
to include its officers and employees, or any of them, within any re-
tirement system or pension system under the terms of which they are
admissible, and to pay the employer's share of the cost of any such
retirement or pension system out of the general funds of the town.

72.    Compensation of Employees.

The compensation of all officers and employees of the town shall be
set from time to time by an ordinance passed by the council, subject
to the restrictions imposed upon establishing the salaries of the
councilmen and mayor.

73.    Employee benefit programs.

The town [is authorized and empowered,] by ordinance [to]
may provide for or participate in hospitalization or other forms of
benefit or welfare programs for its officers and employees, and [to]
may expend public monies of the town for such programs.