Article XII. Miscellaneous Provisions.

Section 1. Oath of office.


Each person elected or appointed to any office of honor, profit or trust under the government of the Town of Easton shall before assuming the duties of his office take, and subscribe in a book prepared by the Town Clerk for the purpose, the following oath or affirmation: I ____________________________ do swear (or affirm) 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. (1906, ch. 458, sec. 97R, Resolution No. 6005, November 20, 2012.)

Section 2. Charter powers not exclusive.


The enumeration of particular powers in this Charter shall not be held or deemed to be exclusive, and the Town shall have such other powers as are incident to those specifically mentioned or as are a necessary consequence of the powers herein conferred. In addition to the powers enumerated in this Charter, the Town shall have all powers, rights, and privileges now or hereafter granted or made available to a municipal corporation by the Constitution and laws of the State of Maryland. (Resolution No. 6005, November 20, 2012.)

Section 3. Present consistent State and Town law continued if effect.


All Charter provisions, Code provisions, ordinances and regulations of the Town, and State law in force at the effective date of this Charter, insofar as they or any portion thereof are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Charter, shall remain in force until amended or repealed by law. (1906, ch. 458, sec. 97Q, Resolution No. 6005, November 20, 2012.)

Section 4. Separability.


If any provision of this Charter is held invalid, the other provisions of the Charter shall not be affected thereby. If the application of the Charter or any of its provisions to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the application of the Charter and its provisions to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby.

Section 5. Charter amendments.


Amendments to this Charter shall be made in accordance with Article 11-E of the Constitution of Maryland and Article 23A, section 11-18 of the 1957 Annotated Code of Maryland, as amended, and such amendments shall have the same force of law as if they had been enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Maryland. 

Section 6. Penalties for misdemeanors and municipal infractions.


(a) Whenever in this Charter, the Town Code, or in any resolution or ordinance adopted pursuant to this Charter or otherwise lawfully adopted, an act or omission to act is declared to be unlawful or a misdemeanor, any person found guilty of such act or omission to act shall be subject to a fine or imprisonment or both according to the limits set forth in said resolution or ordinance, but in no event shall the fine or imprisonment exceed the limits set forth in Article 23A, § 3(a) of the Annotated Code of Maryland or corresponding future provision thereof. If no limit for the fine and/or imprisonment is contained in any ordinance or resolution of the Town, then the fine and/or imprisonment shall be the maximum fine and/or imprisonment allowed by law. Imprisonment in default of fine and costs shall be regulated by the provisions of Article 38 § 4 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, or corresponding future provision thereof. Each day on which such act or omission to act occurs shall constitute a separate offense. (Resolution No. 6005, November 20, 2012.)

(b) Whenever in this Charter, the Town Code, or in any resolution or ordinance adopted pursuant to this Charter, or otherwise lawfully adopted, an act or omission to act is declared to be a "Municipal infraction", it shall be a civil offense, and any person found guilty of such act or omission to act shall be guilty of a municipal infraction and shall be subject to a fine according to the limits set forth in the resolution or ordinance, but in no event shall the fine exceed the limits set forth Article 23A, §3(b) of the Annotated Code of Maryland, or corresponding future provisions thereof. Each day upon which such act or omission to act occurs shall constitute a separate offense. The Council may adopt a schedule of fines for municipal infractions by resolution or ordinance. If a fine for a specific type of municipal infraction is not set forth in any resolution or ordinance of the Town, then the fine shall be the maximum fine allowed by law. (Res. 47, passed 8/17/78, Resolution No. 6005, November 20, 2012.)

Section 7. Liens


In addition to any other remedies available at law, the Mayor and Council may provide by ordinance that any valid charges, taxes or assessments made against any real property within the Town shall be liens upon such property collectible in the same manner in which municipal real estate ad valorem taxes are collected. (Resolution No. 6005, November 20, 2012.)

Section 8. Effective date.


This Charter shall become effective on November 20, 2012.