2296                               Municipal Charters

48.    (Payment of Indebtedness.) The issuance and sale of general
obligation bonds, or tax anticipation notes, authorized by Section 47
hereof, shall constitute a pledge of the full faith and credit of the Town
to the prompt payment, when due, from ad valorem taxes and such other
revenues as may be described in the authorizing ordinance or ordinances
of the principal of and interest on such bonds or notes. The maturing
principal of and interest on any general obligation bonds may be paid,
in whole or in part, from the proceeds of such benefit assessments or
charges, or any combination thereof, as the Commissioners may impose
and collect during the life of said bonds, power and authority so to do
being hereby specifically granted where appropriate to the public
purpose for which said bonds may be issued, notwithstanding any limi-
tation contained in this charter or in any other law; but, in any event,
the Town shall, if and when necessary, annually levy upon all property
subject to taxation within its corporate limits ad valorem taxes sufficient
to provide for the payment of the maturing principal of and interest
on any such bonds or notes, without limitation as to rate or amount,
notwithstanding the limitation of any other law, and the issuance and sale
of any such bonds or notes shall constitute a covenant to that effect.

49.    (Previous Issues.) All Bonds, notes, or other evidences of in-
debtedness 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.

50.    (Purchasing and Contracts.) All purchases and contracts for the
Town government shall be made by the Clerk-Treasurer. The Commission
may provide by ordinance for rules and regulations regarding the use
of competitive bidding and contracts for all Town purchases and con-
tracts. 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
written contracts shall be awarded to the bidder who offers the lowest
or best bid, quality of goods and work, time of delivery or completion,
and responsibility of bidders being considered. All such written contracts
shall be approved by the Commission before becoming effective. The Clerk-
Treasurer shall have the right to reject all bids and readvertise. The
Town at any time in its discretion may employ its own forces or those
of any other government or governmental agency for the construction
or reconstruction of public improvements without advertising for (or re-
advertising for) or receiving bids. All written contracts may be pro-
tected by such bonds penalties, and conditions as the Town may require.

PERSONNEL

51.    (Clerk to the Commission.) The Clerk-Treasurer shall serve as
Clerk to the Commission. He shall attend every meeting of the Commis-
sion and keep full and accurate account of the proceedings of the Commis-
sion. He shall keep such other records and perform such other duties as
may be required by this Charter or the Commission.

52.    (Town Attorney.) The Commission may appoint a Town At-
torney. The Town Attorney shall be a member of the bar of the Mary-
land Court of Appeals. The Town Attorney shall be the legal adviser
of the Town and shall perform such duties in this connection as may