998                              LAWS OF MARYLAND                      [CH. 572

ning of the fiscal year in which they are issued. No tax anticipation
notes or other evidences of indebtedness shall be issued which will
cause the total tax anticipation indebtedness of the town to exceed
fifty per centum (50%) of the property tax levy for the fiscal year
in which [such] the notes or other evidences of indebtedness are is-
sued. All tax anticipation notes or other evidences of indebtedness
shall be authorized by ordinance before being issued. The council
shall have the power to regulate all matters concerning the issuance
and sale of tax anticipation notes.

62.    Payment of indebtedness.

The power and obligation of the town to pay any and all bonds,
notes, or other evidences of indebtedness issued by it under the au-
thority of this charter shall be unlimited and the town shall levy ad
valorem taxes upon all the taxable property of the town for the pay-
ment of such bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness and in-
terest thereon, without limitation of amount. The faith and credit
of the town is hereby pledged for the payment of the principal of
and the interest on all bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebted-
ness [, hereafter] issued under the authority of this charter, whether
or not such pledge be stated in the bonds, notes, or other evidences
of indebtedness, or in the ordinance authorizing their issuance.

63.    Previous issues.

All bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness validly issued
by the town previous to the effective date of this charter and all
ordinances passed concerning them are hereby declared to be valid,
legal, and binding and of full force and effect as if herein fully set
forth.

64.    Purchasing and contracts.

All purchases and contracts for the town government shall be made
by the clerk-treasurer. The council may provide by ordinance for
rules and regulations regarding the use of competitive bidding and
contracts for all town purchases and contracts. All expenditures for
supplies, materials, equipment, construction of public improvements,
or contractual service involving more than one thousand dollars
($1,000) shall be made on written contract. The clerk-treasurer
shall [be required to] advertise for sealed bids, in such manner as
may be prescribed by ordinance, for all such written contracts.
[Such] The written contracts shall be awarded to the bidder who
offers the lowest or best bid, quality of goods and work, time of de-
livery or completion, and responsibility of bidders being considered.
All such written contracts shall be approved by the council before be-
coming effective. The clerk-treasurer [shall have the right to] may
reject all bids and readvertise. The town at any time in its discretion
may employ its own forces for the construction or reconstruction of
public improvements without advertising for (or readvertising for)
or receiving bids. All written contracts may be protected by such
bonds, penalties, and conditions as the town may require.

Personnel

65.    Clerk to the Council.

The clerk-treasurer shall serve as clerk to the council. He shall
attend every meeting of the council and keep a full and accurate
account of the proceedings of the council. He shall keep such other