Church Hill                                     2301

cost, the limits of the proposed area of assessment. The notice shall
also state the time and place at which all persons interested, or their
agents or attorneys, may appear before the Commission and be heard con-
cerning the proposed project and special assessment. Such notice shall
be given by sending a copy thereof by mail to the owner of record of
each parcel of property proposed to be assessed and to the person in
whose name the property is assessed for taxation and by publication of
a copy of the notice at least once in a newspaper of general circu-
lation in the Town. The Clerk-Treasurer shall present at the hearing
a certificate of publication and mailing of copies of the notice, which
certificate shall be deemed proof of notice, but failure of any owner to
receive the mailed copy shall not invalidate the proceedings. The date
of hearing shall be set at least ten and not more than 30 days after
the Clerk-Treasurer shall have completed publication and service of no-
tice as provided in this section. Following the hearing the Commission,
in its discretion, may vote to proceed with the project and may levy the
special assessment.

(f)    Any interested person feeling aggrieved by the levying of any
special assessment under the provisions of this section shall have the right
to appeal to the Circuit Court of Queen Anne's County within ten days
after the levying of any assessment by the Commission.

(g)    Special assessments may be made payable in annual or more
frequent installments over such period of time, not to exceed 40 years,
and in such manner as the Commission may determine. The Commission
shall determine on what date installments shall be due and payable.
Interest may be charged on installments at the rate to be determined
by the Commission.

(h) All special assessment installments shall be overdue six months
after the date on which they became due and payable. All special assess-
ments shall be liens on the property and all overdue special assessments
shall be collected in the same manner as Town taxes or by suit at law.

(i) All special assessments shall be billed and collected by the
Clerk-Treasurer.

TOWN PROPERTY

76.     (Acquisition, Possession, and Disposal.) The Town may acquire,
real, personal, or mixed property within the corporate limits of the Town
for any public purpose by purchase, gift, bequest, devise, lease, condem-
nation, or otherwise and may sell, lease, or otherwise dispose of any
property belonging to the Town. All municipal property, funds, and
franchises of every kind belonging to or in the possession of the Town
(by whatever prior name known) at the time this Charter becomes effec-
tive are vested in the Town, subject to the terms and conditions thereof.

77.    (Condemnation.) The Town shall have the power to condemn
property of any kind, or interest therein of franchise connected there-
with, in fee or as an easement, within the corporate limits of the Town,
for any public purpose. Any activity, project, or improvement authorized
by the provisions of this Charter or any other State law applicable to the
Town shall be deemed to be a public purpose. The manner of procedure
in case of any condemnation proceedings shall be that established in
Article 33A of the "Annotated Code of the Public General Laws of Mary-
land," title "Eminent Domain."