The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1890-02-08
EIktOn's New Charter.

The citizens meeting held on Tuesday
evening last in the office of the Cecil
County Agricultural Society wa we'll at
tended. The committee appointed at a
previous meeting reported new charter.
| Much discussion followed and several
changes were made. The new charter
the provisions of which are as follows
will doubtless become law
The date of the town election is chang
ed from the first Monday in May to the
second NJ ,nday in April. That next April
a president and four town commissioners
be elected, the president and two of the
commissioners to serve two years and
two of the commissioners to serve one
year. A president will be elected every
two years thereafter, and two commits
sioners each year afterward. The quail
fications for commissioner are that he be
% years, shall have resided two years in
the town and he or his wife own property
assessed at $500. All persons owning
property in the town and those who have
resided here two years are entitled to
vote.
The taxes will be collected hereafter
by town treasurer instead of by the
town bailiff as heretofore, thus creating
a new Office. The treasurer cannot be
member of the board of commissioners
and shall receive a salary of $3.50. He
must give security in twice the amount
of money coming into his hands during
the year and must deposit the money col
lected weekly in one of the National
Banks of the town. The tax rate is limi.
ted to IS cents on the 500 instead of 30
cents as at present. All property in the
town must be assessed oscce ~ ten years
or oftener. The town limits can DO =
tended by permission of two-thirds OF
the property holders interested. The
commissioners are empowered to contract
for light, water sewerage, ETC., not Civ
ing them power. however, to erect water
works at the expense of the town. The
town bailIff, besides attending to his po-
lice duties. shall light the street lamps
and attend to the engine house. His
salary is fixed at $500 per annum. The
commissioners are empowered to contract
with water works company to supply
the town with water and water plugs for
use in case of fire at an annual cost TO the
town not exceeding $500. The commits
sioners are given power of forbidding
erection of buildings dangerous to public
safety in case of fire, and TO, if necessary
paw for and tear down dangerous struct-
ures. The town will demand of the
County Commissioners one-half of the
amount levied on leasehold property of
the town for road purposes. The COM
missioners were empowered to issue
bonds not exceeding So, 900 for 90 years
at per cent. for the purpose of building
a house for fire apparatus and place of
meeting tor town council.
The charter as reported by the COM
mittee fixed the salary of the bailif at
$3.50. L. NJ. Haines wanted this cut
down to s400 A motion of William S.
Evans to make it $500 was adopted. The
committee fixed the emoluments of the
town treasurer at not exceeding two per
cent. of the amount. This was deemed
excessive by the meeting. DR.. c. NJ.
Ellis named 5000 as a sufficient salary
and it was finally fixed at $3.50 on motion
of H. R. Torbert, Esq. Geo. w. Cruik-
shank, Esq, is responsible for the clause
forbidding the erection of buildings en-
dangering adjoining property. Many
doubt whether the county can be re-
quired to turn over to the town the
amount asked of the levy on the lease
hold property of the town for road pur
poses. States Attorney Evans who was
a member of the committee thought,
however, that the clause was sound.