MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                            2651

shall have whatever engineering, legal, advisory,
clerical and other personnel as in his judgment are
necessary for carrying out the provisions of this
subtitle and are approved by the county commissioners.
Such personnel, with the exception of legal counsel,
shall be subject to the rules and regulations of the
Queen Anne's County Merit System. Legal personnel shall
receive such wage as may be approved by the county.

428.

(b) No private or public water supply, solid waste
or sewerage installation intended for use of two or more
buildings [or premises] , TWO OR MORE RESIDENTIAL HOUSING
OR CONDOMINIUM UNITS; BUILDINGS OR PREMISES; COMMERCIAL
BUSINESSES, RENTALS OR LEASEHOLD UNITS; INDUSTRIAL
BUILDINGS; VESSELS OR PLEASURE CRAFT shall be
constructed, nor shall any existing system be extended in
the sanitary district unless the person, firm or
corporation doing the work has first obtained a permit
from the Director and paid a reasonable charge therefor.
The plant then shall be installed, maintained, and
operated under such rules and regulations as the Director
may require or devise. The county shall have full and
complete jurisdiction over all fire hydrants connected
with its water system. No person, firm, or corporation
may operate, use, or make connection with the system
without the written authority of the Director, except
that no restriction shall apply to any bona fide fire
department in the discharge of its duties. The Director,
upon a determination that public safety will be served,
may require the installation of fire hydrants to public
or private systems existing or to be constructed in the
sanitary district and may prescribe such rules and
regulations for the use and maintenance thereof as he
deems necessary. The county is authorized to enter into
any agreements with the owners or operators of such
systems designed to install fire hydrants or other fire
protection equipment as may be deemed in the public
interest. No person, firm, or corporation may tamper
with, deface, damage, or obstruct any fire hydrant. A
violation of any of the provisions of this section is a
misdemeanor, punishable under this subtitle.

(a) To provide for the general health and welfare of
the residents of the county, the county may acquire,
construct, operate, and maintain whatever water, sewer,
solid waste, and drainage systems as it deems to be in
the public interest. The county may cause surveys,
plans, specifications, and estimates to be made for these
systems. Unless all owners of land which will be served
by any such proposed improvements consent in writing to

431.