2116                                 MUNICIPAL CHARTERS

17-24. (FINANCES) TO LEVY, ASSESS, AND COLLECT AD VALOREM
PROPERTY TAXES; TO EXPEND MUNICIPAL FUNDS FOR ANY
PUBLIC PURPOSE; TO HAVE GENERAL MANAGEMENT AND
CONTROL OF THE FINANCES OF THE TOWN.

17-25. (FIRE) TO SUPPRESS FIRES AND PREVENT THE DANGERS
THEREOF AND TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN A FIRE
DEPARTMENT; TO CONTRIBUTE FUNDS TO VOLUNTEER FIRE
COMPANIES SERVING THE TOWN; TO INSPECT BUILDINGS FOR THE
PURPOSE OF REDUCING FIRE HAZARDS, TO ISSUE REGULATION
CONCERNING FIRE HAZARDS AND TO FORBID AND PROHIBIT THE
USE OF FIRE-HAZARDOUS BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES
PERMANENTLY OR UNTIL THE CONDITIONS OF TOWN
FIRE-HAZARD REGULATIONS ARE MET; TO INSTALL AND
MAINTAIN FIRE PLUGS WHERE AND AS NECESSARY, AND TO
REGULATE THEIR USE; AND TO TAKE ALL OTHER MEASURES
NECESSARY TO CONTROL AND PREVENT FIRES IN THE TOWN.

17-26. (FOOD) TO INSPECT AND TO REQUIRE THE
CONDEMNATION OF, IF UNWHOLESOME, AND TO REGULATE THE
SALE OF, ANY FOOD PRODUCTS.

17-27. (FRANCHISES) TO GRANT AND REGULATE FRANCHISES TO
WATER COMPANIES, ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANIES, GAS
COMPANIES, TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE COMPANIES, TRANSIT
COMPANIES, TAXICAB COMPANIES, AND ANY OTHER WHICH MAY
BE DEEMED ADVANTAGEOUS AND BENEFICIAL TO THE TOWN,
SUBJECT, HOWEVER, TO THE LIMITATION AND PROVISIONS OF
ARTICLE 23 OF THE ANNOTATED CODE OF MARYLAND. NO
FRANCHISE SHALL BE GRANTED FOR A LONGER PERIOD THAN
FIFTY YEARS.

17-28. (GAMBLING) TO RESTRAIN AND PROHIBIT GAMBLING.

17-29. (GARBAGE) TO PREVENT THE DEPOSIT OF ANY
UNWHOLESOME SUBSTANCE EITHER ON PRIVATE OR PUBLIC
PROPERTY, AND TO COMPEL ITS REMOVAL TO DESIGNATED
POINTS; TO REQUIRE SLOPS, GARBAGE, ASHES AND OTHER WASTE
OR TO REQUIRE THE OCCUPANT OF THE PREMISES TO PLACE
THEM CONVENIENTLY FOR REMOVAL, AND THE TOWN WILL NOT
BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGES INCURRED IN THE ACT
OF REMOVING GARBAGE OR TRASH FROM THE PREMISES OF ANY
RESIDENT.

17-30. (GRANTS-IN-AID) TO ACCEPT GIFTS AND GRANTS OF
FEDERAL OR OF STATE FUNDS FROM THE FEDERAL OR STATE
GOVERNMENTS OR ANY AGENCY THEREOF, AND TO EXPEND THE
SAME FOR ANY LAWFUL PUBLIC PURPOSE, AGREEABLY TO THE
CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THE GIFTS OR GRANTS WERE MADE.

17-31. (HAWKERS) TO LICENSE, TAX, REGULATE, SUPPRESS AND
PROHIBIT HAWKERS AND ITINERANT DEALERS, PEDDLERS,
PAWNBROKERS AND ALL OTHER PERSONS SELLING ANY
ARTICLES ON THE STREETS OF THE TOWN, AND TO REVOKE SUCH
LICENSES FOR CAUSE.

17-32. (HEALTH) TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE THE HEALTH OF
THE TOWN AND ITS INHABITANTS; TO APPOINT A PUBLIC HEALTH
OFFICER, AND TO DEFINE AND REGULATE HIS POWERS AND