J. MILLARD TAWES, Governor                     1251

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall take effect
June 1, 1966.

Approved May 6, 1966.

CHAPTER 707
(House Bill 710)

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section SEC-
TIONS 3(a) (E), (F), (L), (M), (0), (R), (S) AND (Z) of
Article 25 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1965 Supplement),
title "County Commissioners," subtitle "General Provisions," to
grant the County Commissioners of Kent County certain enumer-
ated powers.

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland,
That Section SECTIONS 3(a) (E), (F), (L), (M), (0), (R), (S)
AND (Z) of Article 25 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1965
Supplement), title "County Commissioners," subtitle "General Provi-
sions," be and it is hereby repealed and re-enacted, with amendments,
to read as follows:

3.

(a) The county commissioners of each county in this State,,
except Worcester, [Kent,] Caroline, (except as hereinbelow pro-
vided), Allegany, except as specifically provided in subsection (s),
Prince George's, Washington, Somerset, Dorchester, Baltimore,
Anne Arundel, Cecil, Charles (except as provided in subsection
(bb)), Howard, Frederick and Queen Anne's counties, in addition
to, but not in substitution of, the powers which have been or may
hereafter be granted them, shall have the following express powers:

(E)    TO FIX AND PRESCRIBE THE SALARY OF COMPEN-
SATION OF ALL APPOINTED OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
OF THE COUNTY INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF
THEIR OFFICIAL DUTIES. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUB-
SECTION SHALL NOT BE APPLICABLE IN WIC0MIC0 AND
KENT COUNTIES.

(F)    TO ESTABLISH A MERIT SYSTEM IN CONNECTION
WITH THE APPOINTMENT OF ALL COUNTY OFFICIALS
AND EMPLOYEES NOT ELECTED OR APPOINTED UNDER
THE CONSTITUTION OR PUBLIC GENERAL LAWS OF THE
STATE. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SUBSECTION WILL NOT
BE APPLICABLE IN KENT COUNTY.

(L) TO PROVIDE FOR COMPETITIVE BIDDING FOR ANY
COUNTY WORK AND THE MAKING AND AWARDING OF CON-
TRACTS FOR THE PURCHASE OF MATERIALS AND SUP-
PLIES IN EXCESS OF $1,000 IN HARFORD COUNTY AND IN
ALL OTHER COUNTIES $500 AND TO REQUIRE BONDS IN
CONNECTION WITH SAID WORK OR CONTRACTS, WHEN-
EVER DEEMED PROPER; AND IF NO BIDS ARE SUBMITTED
IN RESPONSE TO ANY CALLS THEREFOR, TO PLACE THE