3613

DENTON

necessary to render him eligible to election or shall
neglect or refuse to attend meetings of the commissioners
for the space of three months, he shall forfeit such
office, and such forfeiture shall be declared by a
majority of the remaining commissioners, and the vacancy
caused thereby shall be immediately filled as other
vacancies; and if said commissioners shall neglect or
refuse to declare such vacancy and to fill the same, then
any tax paying inhabitant of said municipality being a
legal voter therein, may file a petition in the Circuit
Court for Caroline County against such officer, and the
Court, or the Judge thereof if in vacation, shall pass an
order requiring such officer to show cause why his office
should not be vacated and the vacancy filled as provided,
and such order shall be made returnable on the first
Monday of the month next succeeding its passage, and a
copy thereof shall be served on such officer; and if he
shall fail to answer the same, then the said Court, or
the Judge thereof if in vacation, shall hear and
determine such matter ex parte; and if such officer shall
answer the same, then the said Court, or the Judge
thereof if in vacation, shall hear at once and determine
the issue raised by such petition and answer and shall
declare the office of the said respondent vacant and
order the filling of the vacancy or shall dismiss the
petition, as the proof may justify, and may award costs
as may appear equitable and right.

(b)    Terms of Office. An election shall be held on
the fourth Monday of May, 1972 and of each year
thereafter, between the hours of 12 l'clock noon and
eight o'clock P.M., at such place in said town as shall
be designated by the commissioners, at which one
commissioner shall be elected for a term of five years
from the first day of July next after election and until
his successor is elected and qualified.

(c)    Filing for office. Any person qualified to
hold the office of commissioner, desiring to be a
candidate for such office, shall file with the town
Commissioners a written statement to that effect at least
fifteen days prior to the date of the election at which
he desires to be a candidate, or his name shall not be
printed on the ballot.

(d)    Election procedure. The commissioners shall
give notice of such election by publication once in each
week for two successive weeks in one or more newspapers
published in Caroline County immediately preceding such
election and by such other means as they may elect. Such
notice shall specify the time and place of such election
and the judges who shall officiate thereat and the names
of the candidates, filed as aforesaid. The commissioners
each year shall appoint and fix the pay of three judges