2302                               Municipal Charters

78. (Town Buildings.) The Town shall have the power to acquire,
to obtain by lease or rent, to purchase, construct, operate, and maintain
all buildings and structures it deems necessary for the operation of the
Town government.

79. (Protection of Town Property.) The Town shall have the power
to do whatever may be necessary to protect Town property and to keep
all Town property in good condition.

80.    (Oath of Office.) (a) Before entering upon the duties of their
offices, the Commissioners, shall take the following oath or affirmation:

"I........................................ do swear (or affirm, as the case may be), that

I will support the Constitution of the United States; and that I will be
faithful and bear true allegiance to the State of Maryland, and support
the Constitution and Laws thereof, and that I will, to the best of my
skill and judgment, diligently and faithfully, without partiality or prej-
udice, execute the office of Commissioner of Church Hill, according to the
Constitution and Laws of this State."

(b) The Commissioners shall each take this oath or affirmation
before a Notary Public or other officer authorized to administer oaths in
the State of Maryland, who shall certify to the Clerk-Treasurer that such
oath has been administered, which certification shall be filed and recorded
in the journal of the proceeding of said Commission.

81.    (Official Bonds.) Such other officers or employees of the Town
as the Commission or this Charter may require shall execute a bond
in such amount, with such surety and with such conditions as may be
required by the Commission. The premiums on such bonds shall be paid
by the Town.

82.    (Prior Rights and Obligations.) All right, title, and interest held
by the Town or any other person or corporation at the time this Charter
is adopted, in and to any lien acquired under any prior Charter of
the Town, are hereby preserved for the holder in all respects as if this
Charter had not been adopted, together with all rights and remedies in
relation thereto. This Charter shall not discharge, impair, or release any
contract, obligation, duty, liability, or penalty whatever existing at the
time this Charter becomes effective. All suits and actions, both civil and
criminal pending, or which may hereafter be instituted for causes of
action now existing or offenses already committed against any law or
ordinance repealed by this Charter, shall be instituted, proceeded with, and
prosecuted to final determination and judgment as if this Charter had
not become effective.

83.    (Misdemeanors.) Every act or omission which, by ordinance,
is made a misdemeanor under the authority of this Charter, unless other-
wise provided shall be punishable upon conviction before any trial mag-
istrate or in the Circuit Court for the County within which the offense
is committed by a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00) or
imprisonment for thirty days in the County Jail, or both, in the dis-
cretion of the court or trial magistrate. The party aggrieved shall have
the right to appeal as is now provided under the general laws of the
State. Where the act or omission is of a continuing nature and is per-
sisted in a conviction for one offense shall not be a bar to a conviction
for a continuation of the offense subsequent to the first or any succeeding
conviction.