The town may levy and collect taxes in the form of special assessments upon property in a limited and determinable area for special benefits conferred upon the property by the installation or construction of water mains, sanitary sewer mains, stormwater sewers, curbs, gutters, public parking facilities, pedestrian malls and streetlighting and by the construction and paving of public ways and sidewalks or parts thereof, and it may provide for the payment of all or any part of the above projects out of the proceeds of the special assessment. The cost of any project to be paid in whole or in part by special assessments may include the direct cost thereof, the cost of any land acquired for the project, the interest on bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in anticipation of the collection of special assessments, a reasonable charge for the services of the administrative staff of the town and any other item of cost which may reasonably be attributed to the project.
A. 
Assessment of cost. The cost of the project being specially charged for shall be assessed according to the front rule of apportionment or some other equitable basis determined by the Commission.
B. 
Uniformity of rates. When desirable, the affected property may be divided into different classes to be charged different rates, but, except for this, any rate shall be uniform.
C. 
Levy of charges; public hearing; notice. All special assessment charges shall be levied by the Commission by ordinance. Before levying any special assessment charges, the Commission shall hold a public hearing. The Town Manager shall cause notice to be given stating the nature and extent of the proposed project, the kind of materials to be used, the estimated cost of the project, the portion of the cost to be assessed, the number of installments in which the assessment may be paid, the method to be used in apportioning the cost and the limits of the proposed area of assessment. The notice shall also state the time and place at which all persons interested, or their agents or attorneys, may appear before the Commission and be heard concerning the proposed project and special assessment. Such notice shall be given by sending a copy thereof by mail to the owner of record of each parcel of property proposed to be assessed and to the person in whose name the property is assessed for taxation and by publication of a copy of the notice at least once in a newspaper of general circulation in the town. The Town Manager shall present at the hearing a certificate of publication and mailing of copies of the notice, which certificate shall be deemed proof of notice, but failure of any owner to receive the mailed copy shall not invalidate the proceedings. The date of hearing shall be set at least ten (10) and not more than thirty (30) days after the Town Manager shall have completed publication and service of notice as provided in this subsection. Following the hearing, the Commission, in its discretion, may vote to proceed with the project and may levy the special assessment.
D. 
Right to appeal. Any interested person feeling aggrieved by the levying of any special assessment under the provisions of this section shall have the right to appeal to the Circuit Court for Wicomico County within thirty (30) days after the levying of any assessment by the Commission.
[Amended 5-10-1982 by Res. No. 28-1982]
E. 
Payments; interest. Special assessments may be made payable in annual or more frequent installments over such period of time, not to exceed ten (10) years or, in the case of water mains, sanitary sewer mains and stormwater sewers, not to exceed forty (40) years, and in such manner as the Commission may determine. The Commission shall determine on what date installments shall be due and payable. Interest may be charged on installments at the rate to be determined by the Commission.
[Amended 5-10-1982 by Res. No. 28-1982]
F. 
When due; lien on property; collection. All special assessment installments are overdue six (6) months after the date on which they became due and payable. All special assessments shall be liens on the property and all overdue special assessments shall be collected in the same manner as town taxes or by suit at law.
G. 
Town Manager. All special assessments shall be billed and collected by the Town Manager.