Opinion ID: 1995280
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Power Improperly Exercised

Text: If it be assumed, arguendo, that the General Assembly did delegate the power to Rockville to make contracts of the type involved in this case, there can be little doubt that this power was not properly exercised by Rockville in accordance with Code (1957), Article 23A, sec. 19. The provisions of section 19(b) and (c) in regard to what the resolution for the annexation shall contain have already been set out in full. There would appear to be no doubt that the contract is a condition and circumstance applicable to the property within the area to be annexed. Section 19(b) and (c) mandatorily require that the annexation resolution shall contain complete and detailed provisions as to the conditions and circumstances applicable to the property within the annexed area. The annexation resolution adopted January 22, 1962, completely omitted any reference whatever regarding the contract or its provisions. Mayor Greene was interrogated by the Chancellor as to whether there was any condition included in the annexation resolution and the Mayor replied: The agreement was signed; the annexation action was a formal resolution which, I believe, does not include any condition. (The Court). Did the agreement have anything to do with the annexation, whether or not it would be granted or rejected? (The Witness) Yes it did, sir. (The Court) Did the annexation so state? (The Witness) No, it did not. Indeed the annexation resolution, containing no conditions, was introduced into the Council and the public hearing required by sec. 19(d) took place on the resolution on January 16, 1961, or approximately one year prior to the time the contract was executed on January 15, 1962. This contract was never added to the annexation resolution by amendment so that there was no opportunity for the citizens of Rockville to know of the contract, a condition or circumstance required to be a part of the annexation resolution and thus before the Council at the required public hearing. If Rockville had the power to make the contract at all, it is clear that this condition or circumstance must be part of the annexation resolution as required by sec. 19(b) and (c). Compliance with these mandatory requirements is a condition precedent to the validity of the contract and Rockville had no power to attempt to enter such a contract contrary to this express provision of the statute. Hanlon v. Levin, supra . The question of the failure to comply with the mandatory provisions of sec. 19 is properly before us even though it was not specifically considered in the opinion of the Chancellor below. The Chancellor decided that the contract was illegal, null and void. The issue of illegality of the contract was raised by Brookeville's answer and, as has been noted, the Chancellor interrogated Mayor Greene in regard to the absence of the contract as a condition in the annexation resolution. The issue of illegality of the contract was, therefore, raised below and decided below. We have affirmed a lower court when its decision was correct but for the wrong reason. See Bujno v. Montgomery County Commissioners, 243 Md. 110, 220 A.2d 126 (1966). If it be assumed for the argument only that all of the reasons assigned by the Chancellor in holding the contract to be illegal were erroneous, nevertheless, the contract was clearly illegal because of the failure to comply with the mandatory requirements of sec. 19(b) and (c) and the decree declaring the contract to be invalid should be affirmed for this reason. Moreover, Article 23A, sec. 19(e) expressly required Rockville to enact the annexation resolution in accordance with the usual requirements and practices applicable to its legislative enactments. As will be shown in a later section of this opinion, the annexation procedure followed by Rockville was most unusual and bizarre. And the failure to comply with usual practices would make the town's action illegal. 62 C.J.S., Municipal Corporations, sec. 159, and cases therein noted.