[Amended 5-16-2005 by
HR 05-09]
A. Oath required. Before entering upon the duties of their offices,
the Mayor, the members of the City Council, the Clerk, the Treasurer,
the City Administrator, the Department Heads and the members of the
Board of Supervisors of Elections shall take and subscribe the following
oath or affirmation: "I, __________, do swear (or affirm, as the case
may be,) that I will support the Constitution of the United States,
and that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the State
of Maryland and support the Constitution and laws thereof, and that
I will, to the best of my skill and judgment, diligently and faithfully,
without partiality or prejudice, execute the office of __________
according to the Constitution and laws of this state."
B. Before whom taken and subscribed. The Mayor shall take and subscribe
this oath or affirmation before the Clerk of the Circuit Court for
the county or before one (1) of the sworn deputies of the Clerk. All
other persons taking and subscribing the oath shall do so before the
Mayor or his/her designee.
The Treasurer and such other officers or employees of the City
as the Council or this Charter may require shall give bond in such
amount and with such surety as may be required by the Council. The
premiums on such bonds shall be paid by the City.
All right, title and interest held by the town or any other
person or corporation at the time this Charter is adopted, in and
to any lien acquired under any prior Charter of the City, are hereby
preserved for the holder in all respects as if this Charter had not
been adopted, together with all rights and remedies in relation thereto.
This Charter shall not discharge, impair or release any contract,
obligation, duty, liability or penalty whatever existing at the time
this Charter becomes effective. All suits and actions, both civil
and criminal, pending or which may hereafter be instituted for causes
of action now existing or offenses already committed against any law
or ordinance repealed by this Charter shall be instituted, proceeded
with and prosecuted to final determination and judgment as if this
Charter had not become effective.
If any section or part of section of this Charter shall be held
invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such holding shall not
affect the remainder of this Charter nor the context in which such
section or part of section so held invalid shall appear, except to
the extent that an entire section or part of a section may be inseparably
connected in meaning and effect with the section or part of a section
to which such holding shall directly apply.