2382                                             LAWS OF MARYLAND                                         Ch. 381

deems advisable; provided, however, that such classification
shall be based upon the quantities of water used and may (shall]
MAY be, insofar as possible, uniform throughout EACH SYSTEM IN
Carroll County. If the Board at any time shall not have meters
available to install in all the properties in a given locality
that are connected to the system, then a flat rate shall be
charged on properties in which meters have not yet been
installed, which rate shall be uniform in each system and based
upon the ready-to-serve charge and the amount of water used.
Bills for water and sewer charges shall be sent quarterly or
semi-annually as the Board may determine to each property served
and shall be payable at the office of the Board or such other
place as the Board may designate. Such charges shall be a lien
upon the property served and collectible as elsewhere herein
provided. If any bill remains unpaid after thirty (30) days from
date of sending, the Board, after written notice left upon the
premises or mailed to the last known address of the owner, shall
turn off the water from the property in question; and the water
shall not be turned on again until said bill has been paid,
including a penalty of Ten Dollars ($10.00).

(2) A charge for the upkeep of water and sewerage
systems against all properties having a connection with any water
main or sewer under its operation or ownership. The charge for
the upkeep of the water and sewerage system, if any, shall be
made upon such reasonable basis as the Board may determine and
shall be collected annually in the same manner as are front foot
benefit assessments against all property having a connection
within a water main or sewer under the operation or ownership of
the County and shall be a lien against such property. Such
charges shall be based upon such classifications as the Board
from time to time may establish and shall be uniform throughout
each system within each such classification; provided, however,
that no charge for the upkeep of water and sewerage systems shall
be made against any property in any year for which such property
is currently subject to a front foot benefit assessment as
elsewhere in this subtitle.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is
hereby declared to be an emergency measure and necessary for the
immediate preservation of the public health and safety and having
been passed by a yea and nay vote supported by three-fifths of
all the members elected to each of the two Houses of the General
Assembly, the same shall take effect from the date of its
passage.

Approved May 15, 1984.