Ch. 37

1996 LAWS OF MARYLAND

(c)     (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, the County
Commissioners may sell real or leasehold property without public sale to any municipality
or other governmental agency within Dorchester County upon terms and conditions and
for consideration, if any, which they consider proper, when in their discretion the
property is no longer needed for public use by the county, and may execute and
acknowledge any and all deeds and other instruments necessary to effect and complete
the sale of the real or leasehold property.

(2)     The County Commissioners may not sell or lease the riparian rights
adjacent to any real or leasehold property that belongs to Dorchester County and is
located in the City of Cambridge unless the County Commissioners provide for the public
sale or lease under a process that includes the following elements:

(i) A public advertisement, in at least one newspaper of general
circulation in the county, soliciting sealed bids or proposals;

(ii) The public opening of sealed bids or proposals;

(iii) The rejection of unresponsive or unacceptable bids or proposals;
and

(iv) The selection of the bidder or offeror who offers the terms most
favorable to the county.

(3)     The County Commissioners may take any and all actions necessary to
effectuate and complete the process of competitive bidding under paragraph (2) of this
subsection.

(d)    The County Commissioners may lease real or leasehold property belonging to
the county, in lieu of sale, to nonprofit organizations upon terms and conditions they
deem proper, when in their discretion the real or leasehold property is no longer needed
for public use, and to execute and acknowledge any instruments necessary to effect and
complete the lease of the property.

(e)     The County Commissioners may sell real or leasehold property OR ANY
REVERSIONARY INTEREST IN THAT PROPERTY without a public sale to any volunteer
fire company located in the county for use in providing fire, emergency, and supporting
services or facilities, upon the terms and conditions and for whatever consideration, if
any, which they consider proper when in their discretion the property is no longer needed
for public use by the county, and may execute and acknowledge any and all deeds and
other instruments necessary to effect and complete the sale of real or leasehold property.
[The deed or other instrument of conveyance shall provide that ownership of the
property shall revert to the county when the property is no longer used by the volunteer
fire company in providing fire, emergency, and supporting services or facilities.]

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act is an emergency
measure, is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public health and safety, has
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, and shall take effect from the date it is
enacted.

Approved April 9, 1996.

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