Delaware General Assembly

CHAPTER 214

FORMERLY

SENATE BILL NO. 315

AN ACT TO RE- INCORPORATE THE TOWN OF NEWPORT.

WHEREAS, it is deemed advisable that the Charter of the Town of Newport, set forth In Chapter 283, Volume 52, Laws of Delaware, with subsequent amendments, be consolidated Into one complete Act and in certain respects be further amended and revised.

NOW, THEREFORE:

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (Two- thirds of all members elected to each House thereof concurring therein):

Section 1- 01. Incorporation

The inhabitants of the Town of Newport within the corporate limits as hereinafter defined in this Charter. Section 1- 02, or as subsequently altered by annexation procedure as provided by law, arc hereby declared to be a body politic incorporated in law and equity to be known as the "Town of Newport" and shall continue to be a municipal corporation and body politic in perpetuity.

Section 1-02. Geographic Boundaries

The geographic boundaries of the Town of Newport are hereby established and declared to be as follows:

BEGINNING at a point at the low water mark of the Christiana River and the westerly side of Mary Street and thence northerly to the north side of the Philadelphia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad's right- of-way and thence westerly with the north side of the said right- of- way five hundred seventy six feet to a point in the easterly side of a twenty five foot wide lane, known as Krebs Lane and thence along said easterly side of said lane, about 550 feet to the southerly line of land of Elizabeth L. Ball, thence North 85 degrees 31 minutes East 122 feet to a point thence along another line of land of said Elizabeth L. Ball. North 3 degrees and 58 minutes West 122 feet to the southerly side of Market Street, also known as Newport-Christiana Turnpike, thence along southerly side of said Market Street approximately three hundred thirteen feet to a point, thence northerly seventy feet to the northerly side of Market Street at its intersection with the easterly line of land now owned by Clara Weingarten, thence North six degrees West five hundred ninety- five and nine- tenths feet to a stone. thence North twenty four degrees and eighteen minutes West seven hundred fifty and fifty one hundredths feet to a stone in southeasterly side of a sixty foot wide roadway belonging to Claud Banta and extending from the Newport Gap Turnpike to the plot of land known as Tuxedo Park and thence along said southeasterly side of said sixty- foot wide roadway easterly to the Newport Gap Turnpike approximately eight hundred ninety-nine feet and thence south along the said Newport Gap Turnpike two hundred ninety-three feet to the present boundaries of said Town of Newport and thence Easterly on a line parallel to and 760 feet Northerly from the Northerly side of Christian Street to the land formerly owned by Robert Lynam thence Southerly along the line of said Robert Lynam's land and the present boundary line of the Town of Newport to the northern side of St. James' Cemetery, thence Easterly along the Northerly side of said Cemetery to the intersection of the present limit of Town of Newport with the Westerly line of land of Frank A. Herpel, thence Southerly along the line of said land of Frank A. Herpel 382 feet to a corner to the land of St. James' Cemetery, the Industrial Trust Company and Frank A. Herpel, thence Easterly along the line of land of Frank A. Herpel to a point in said line one hundred twenty- five feet Westerly from the Westerly side of Larch Avenue as laid out on the Plot of Newport Heights and thence Southerly on a line parallel to and one hundred twenty- five feet distant from the Westerly side of said Larch Avenue, approximately five hundred fifty- six feet to the southerly side of Ayre Street as laid out on the Plot of Newport Heights and thence westerly along the southerly side of said Ayre Street approximately fifty feet to the westerly side of Lot 87 as shown on the Plot of Newport Heights and thence southerly along said westerly side of said lot eighty- seven feet to the northerly side of the right of- way of the Philadephia, Wilmington and Baltimore Railroad and thence westerly with the north side of said right of- way approximately five hundred sixteen feet to the present boundaries of the Town of Newport and thence along said boundary and limits of the said Town of Newport to the Christiana River, low water mark, thence with low water of said river to the place of Beginning.

FURTHER, the Town of Newport shall include the following parcels that have been annexed:

(Fifty Feet Wide) where it meets the easterly boundary of the Town of Newport, thence a strip of land Fifty Feet Wide extending in an easterly direction Sixteen Hundred Thirty Two (1632') feet from the point of beginning. Being a Sixteen Hundred Thirty Two Feet Easterly Extension of Water Street. (Ordinance No. 332 adopted March 6, 1975)

ALL the pieces or parcels of Land which adjoin and arc contiguous to a portion of the easterly boundary of the Town of Newport in Christiana Hundred, State of Delaware, described herein, BEGINNING at the easterly boundary of the Town of Newport and extending easterly to the easterly boundary of Marsh Lane as described In a survey of property for Harvey, Knotts, and Schmusser, by Marvin S. Smith. Civil Engineer, dated November 30, 1967, of the Newport Industrial Park, Inc. and including all the parcels of land contained between the southern limits of the Penn Central Railroad and the low water mark of the Northern Banks of the Christiana River. (Ordinance No. 335 adopted November 20, 1975)

ALL that piece or parcel of land which adjoins the boundary of the Town of Newport and owned by the Conrad Area School District and presently the site of the Henrick J. Krebs Junior School. (Ordinance No. 339 adopted June 3, 1977)

ALL that piece of parcel of land which adjoins and is contiguous to a portion of the easterly boundary of the Town of Newport in Christiana Hundred, State of Delaware, being a piece or parcel of real estate consisting of 8.9649 acres more or less bounded on the cast side by Marsh Lane and on the south side by the Christiana River as more fully described as parcel No. 2 in a survey of the Newport Industrial Park, Inc., dated November 30, 1967, by Marvin S. Smith, Civil Engineer. (Ordinance No. 374 adopted May 7, 1981)

ALL the pieces and parcels of land, now described as one parcel, with improvements thereon which adjoin and are contiguous to a portion of the northeasterly boundary of the Town of Newport in Christiana Hundred, State of Delaware, BEGINNING at a point on the Southerly side of Ayre Street, at varying widths, a common Corner of the property herein being described, being the prolongation of the easterly division line of Lot No. 86 of the William Brown estate in Newport Heights, and Lot No. 1 of Cropper & Thomas, Inc., and further located along the southerly side of Ayre Street from the southwesterly end of a junction curve, having a radius of 20.00', joining the southerly side of Ayre Street by the following course and distance: South 75 28' - 00" West, 63.95'; thence from the point and place of the beginning, leaving the southerly side of Ayre Street, along a division line of Lot No. I of Cropper & Thomas, Inc., and along the lands, now or formerly, of the Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington Railroad Company, South 00 - 12' 00" East, 151.73' to a corner of the lands, now or formerly, of the Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington Railroad Company and Lot No. 86 of the William Brown Estate in Newport Heights; thence along the northerly right-of- way line, now or formerly of the Philadelphia, Baltimore & Washington Railroad Company, by a curve to the right, having a radius of 5,301.56' an arc distance of 100.55', (chord bearing and distance: South 81 • 49'- 19" West 100.55') to a common corner of Lot No. 87 of the William Brown Estate in Newport Heights and Lot No. 35 of the Industrial Trust Company Subdivision; thence leaving the northerly right of- way line, now or formerly, of the Philadelphia, Baltimore & Washington Railroad Company, along a division line of Lot No. 35 of the Industrial Trust Company Subdivision, North 00 - 12' - 00" West, 146.21' to a corner of the said Lot. a 1" iron pipe, on the previously mentioned Southerly side of Ayre Street; thence along the southerly side of Ayre Street, by the following two courses and distance: (1) North 84 13'00" East, 40.60' to an angle point, a 1" iron pipe; and (2) North 75 - 06' -00" East, 61.17' to the first mentioned point and place of beginning. Containing within the said described metes and bounds 0.3364 Acres of Land, be the same, more or less. (Ordinance No. 379 adopted March 3, 1983)

The jurisdiction of the Town shall extend over all wharves, docks, piers, and other construction in the Christina River adjoining the limits of Newport and for thirty yards in the Christina River beyond such wharves, docks, piers, and other construction.

The Mayor and Commissioners of the Town of Newport, at any time hereafter. may cause a survey and plat to be made of the said Town and said plat, when made and approved by the Mayor and Commissioners, shall be recorded in the Office of the Recorder of Deeds in and for New Castle County, State of Delaware and the same, or the record thereof, or a duly certified copy of said record, shall be evidence in all Courts of law and equity in this State.

Section 1 03. Annexation

The Town of Newport shall have the power to annex any additional continguous territory upon the petition of a majority of the real property owners and qualified voters (as defined in this Charter) within said territory; each such real property owner being entitled to one vote irrespective of the number of parcels owned or the acreage contained therein; and the Town may extend and apply to such additional territory all laws, ordinances, resolutions, rules and regulations in force within said Town, so far as they may be locally applicable. Before any additional territory shall be annexed to said Town, the Mayor and Commissioners shall pass a resolution describing and defining accurately the territory proposed to be annexed, shall provide for the zoning of the annexed territory, and shall give notice that the petition for such annexation has been presented by causing copies of said resolution to be posted in at least five public places in the Town; and within thirty days thereafter, if sufficient cause to the contrary be not shown to the Mayor and Commissioners, it _may by ordinance, three fifths of all the members concurring therein, annex to said Town the territory described and defined in said resolution, and such territory shall thereupon become a part of said Town. The Town may annex additional continguous territory by such other procedures as may be set forth under the laws of the State of Delaware.

ARTICLE II POWERS OF THE TOWN Section 2- 01. Powers of the Town

The Town of Newport shall have all the powers granted to municipal corporations and to cities and towns by the Constitution and general laws of the State of Delaware, together with all the implied powers necessary to carry into execution all the powers granted. The Town of Newport shall continue to enjoy all powers which have been granted to it by special acts of the General Assembly of the State of Delaware, except insofar as they may be repealed by the enactment of this Charter. The Town of Newport, as a body politic and corporate, shall succeed to, own or possess all property whether real, personal, or mixed, and all the rights, privileges, franchises, powers and immunities now or heretofore belonging to, possessed by, or enjoyed by the Commissioners of Newport.

The Town of Newport may have and use a corporate seal, may sue and be sued, may acquire property within or without its corporate limits by purchase, gift, devise, lease or condemnation, for the purpose of providing sites for public buildings, parks, sewer system, sewage treatment plant, water system, water plant, gas or electric system, or other municipal purposes, and may sell, lease, mortgage, hold, manage and control such property or utility as its interest may require; and except as prohibited by the Constitution of the State of Delaware, or restricted by this Charter, the Town of Newport shall and may exercise all municipal powers, functions, rights, privileges and immunities of every name and nature whatsoever.

The enumeration of particular powers by this Charter shall not be held or deemed to be exclusive, but, in addition to the powers enumerated herein, Implied thereby, or appropriate to the exercise thereof, it is intended that the Town of Newport shall have, and may exercise all powers which, under the Constitution of the State of Delaware, it would be competent for this Charter specifically to enumerate. All powers of the Town, whether expressed or implied, shall be exercised in the manner prescribed by this Charter, or, if not prescribed herein, then in a manner provided by ordinances or resolution of the Mayor and Commissioners.

All laws, ordinances, resolutions, rules and regulations for municipal purposes now in force within the Town, not inconsistent with, nor modified or repealed by the provision of the Charter, shall continue in force until repealed, rescinded or changed by proper authority. This Charter shall be construed liberally in favor of the Town, and nothing in this Charter shall be construed as exempting any individual or agency from the operation of this Section.

Section 2-02. Intergovernmental Relations

The Town may exercise any of its powers or perform any of its functions and may participate in the financing thereof, jointly or in cooperation, by contract or otherwise, with any one or more states or civil divisions or agencies thereof, or the United States or any agency thereof.

ARTICLE III - THE MAYOR AND COMMISSIONERS

Section 3 01. Form of Government

The form of government established by this Charter shall be known as the Mayor and Commissioners form. The administrative duties of the Mayor and Commissioners may be delegated, as provided in Article IX and other provisions of this Charter, to a Town Manager.

Section 3-02. The Commissioners

The Commissioner shall consist of five (5) Commissioners at large, one of whom shall be the Mayor. It shall be the duty of each Commissioner to propose necessary and appropriate legislation and resolutions for Commission consideration; serve on committees designated by the Mayor and Commissioners. It is the duty of the Commissioners to attend regular and special meetings and public hearings on proposed legislation; be available and responsive to constituents; and perform all other duties as provided in this Charter and by law.

Section 3 03. The Mayor

It shall be the duty of the Mayor to preside at all meetings of the Commissioners and to see that the laws, ordinances, rules and regulations of the Town are fully executed. He/she shall have custody of the seal of the Corporation and shall have the right of affixing the seal. The Mayor may vote on all ordinances, acts, resolutions or motions which a Commissioner may vote on, pursuant to this Charter. He/she shall approve the monthly list of drafts of the Town Clerk, unless such power is delegated to the Town Manager by ordinance. The Mayor shall also have the power to administer oaths and affirmations. The Mayor shall appoint all committees, subject to confirmation by Commissioners and shall be recognized as the head of the Town Government. The Mayor m_ay appoint, subject to confirmation by the Commissioners, a Town Manager to oversee and manage the administrative affairs of the Town.

Section 3- 04. The Vice-Mayor

At the organizational meeting (see Sec. 3-12) of the Mayor and Commissioners, the Commissioners shall elect, by a majority vote, among its members a Vice-Mayor who shall act as Mayor during the absence or disability of the Mayor and, if a vacancy occurs, shall become Mayor for remainder of the unexpired term. The Mayor may also vote for a Vice-Mayor.

Section 3- 05. Qualifications for Mayor and Commissioners

Any qualified voter of the Town of Newport who is at least twenty- one (21) years of age, who is a United States citizen, who has not been convicted of a felony as that crime is designated by the State of Delaware, who has resided in the Town for at least two (2) years next preceding his/her election. and has currently paid all Town taxes due, shall be eligible to hold the office of Mayor or Commissioner, provided that the "qualified voter" as used herein shall mean a person who is s registered voter at the time his/her nominating petition is filed.

Section 3-06. Election and Terms of Office

The general municipal election shall be held on the First Monday in April each and every year from 12 o'clock noon until 8 o'clock in the evening, local time. The Mayor and Commissioners of said Town shall continue to hold office during the respective terms for which they were elected or until their successors have been duly chosen and qualified.

Section 3-07. General Powers and Duties

All powers of the Town shall be vested in the Mayor and CommLssioners, except as otherwise provided by law or this Charter, and the Mayor and Commissioners shall provide for the exercise thereof and for performance of all duties and obligations imposed on the Town by law.

Section 3-08. Commissioners Prohibitions

A. Holding Other Office Except where authorized by law, no Mayor or Commissioner shall hold any other Town office, or Town employment during the term for which elected to Commissioner, and no Mayor or Commissioner shall hold any compensated appointive Town office or employment until one (1) year after the expiration of the term for which elected to office.

B. Appointment and removals. Neither the Mayor nor the Commissioners shall in any manner dictate the appointment or removal of the Town administrative officers or employees whom the Town manager or any of his/her subordinates are empowered to appoint, but the Mayor and Commissioners may express its views and fully and freely discuss with the Town Manager anything pertaining to appointment and removal of such officers and employees.

C. Interference with Administration. Except for the purpose of inquiries and investigations, the Mayor and Commissioners shall deal with Town officers and employees who are subject to the direction and supervision of the Town Manager solely through the Town Manager. and neither the Mayor nor the Commissioners. nor its members shall give orders to any such officer or employee. either publicly or privately.

Section 3-09. Vacancies and Forfeiture of Office

A. Vacancies. The office of Mayor or Commissioner shall become vacant upon death, removal from the Town, resignation, removal from office in any manner authorized by law, or forfeiture of office.

B. Forfeiture of Office, The Mayor or Commissioners shall forfeit office if: (1) he/she lacks, at any time during his/her term of office, any qualification for the office prescribed by this Charter or by law; (2) violates any express prohibition of this Charter; (3) is convicted of a felony u the term is defined by the State of Delaware; (4) failure to attend three (3) successive monthly meetings at any time or failure to attend four (4) regular meetings in a twelve (12) months period.

C. Filling of Vacancies. In case of vacancy for any cause in the office of Mayor. the Vice- Mayor, shall fill such vacancy. In the cue of a vacancy for any cause in the office of Commissioner. the Commission, including the Mayor, upon majority vote shall make a temporary appointment to fill such vacancy at the next regular meeting. Such appointment shall continue until the next general municipal election. Thereafter, such office shall be filled by election and the person so elected shall serve for the remainder of the term of the Commissioner whose office became vacant.

Section 3-10. Judge of Qualifications of Members

The Mayor and Commissioners shall be the judge of the election and the qualifications of the Mayor and Commissioner and of the grounds for forfeiture of their office, and for such purposes, shall have power to subpoena witnesses, take testimony, and require the production of records. A Mayor or Commissioner charged with conduct constituting grounds for forfeiture of his/her office, except for forfeiture by virtue of violation of Sec. 3-09 8(4), shall be entitled to a public hearing on demand; and notice of such hearing shall be posted in five (5) prominent locations in the Town, one of which shall include the Town Hall, at least ten (10) days in advance of the hearing.

Section 3-11. Mayor and Commissioners Compensation and Expenses

The Mayor and Commissioners shall determine the annual salary of the Mayor and Commissioners by ordinance, but no ordinance Increasing such salary shall become effective until the date of commencement of the terms of members of the Mayor and Commission elected at the next regular election, provided that such election follows the adoption of such ordinance by at least six (6) months. Members of the Mayor and Commission shall receive reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in traveling when on official business. The salary of the Mayor may exceed that of the Commissioners.

Section 3-12. Meetings of Commissioners

The Mayor and Commissioners shall hold an organizational meeting in the evening of the second Monday in April the regular municipal election and shall meet regularly at least once a month thereafter. Additional meetings may be held on a regular, adjourned or special basis, provided notice Is given in accordance with the law of the State of Delaware and the rules of the Mayor and Commissioners. Special meetings may be called by the Mayor, or by written request of any two members of the Commission and, whenever practical, upon no less than eight hours notice to each member. Ail meetings shall be open to attendance by the public, provided however, the Commissioners may recess for the purpose of discussing. in an executive session pursuant to the Sunshine Law of the State of Delaware, or any other matter appropriate for executive session, provided that the general subject matter for consideration is expressed in the motion calling for such session.

The Mayor and Commissioners shall have the same power and authority to enact all ordinances, adopt all resolutions, pass all motions, make all orders and transact all business at any adjourned or special meeting, called as aforesaid as the Mayor and Commissioners has at a regular meeting.

Section 3-13. Rules of Procedure

The Mayor shall determine the rules of procedure and order of business at the meetings. The Mayor and Commissioners shall provide for keeping a minute book of its proceedings, which shall be a public record and open to public Inspection. Voting, except on procedural motions, may be by roll call but In any event the ayes and nays and abstentions shall be recorded in the minutes.

Section 3-14. Quorum and Majority Requirement

A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum to do business. No ordinance shall be valid unless it shall have the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Commissioners. Resolutions. orders and motions shall be valid upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Commissioners present. No member shall be excused from voting on ordinances, resolutions, orders or motions except where a member of Commissioners has a conflict of interest, in which event, said member shall disqualify himself/herself from voting.

Section 3-15. Organizational Meeting

An organizational meeting of the Commissioners of Newport shall be held immediately following the annual election on the second Monday in April. At the Organizational meeting, the Commissioners, including those elected that day, shall select from amongst themselves one Commissioner, who shall be the presiding officer of the Commissioners and shall be called "Mayor". The Mayor shall have a term of one year. Any Commissioner may vote for himself/herself in the selecting of the Mayor. If the Commissioners are unable to select one of their number as Mayor. then the Mayor shall be chosen by drawing lots from a box.

ARTICLE IV - ASSESSMENT OF PROPERTY; TAXES

Section 4 01. Property Assessment Procedure

A. Generally. There annually shall be made a true, Just and impartial valuation and assessment of all real estate within the Town except such real estate as is exempt from municipal assessment and taxation by virtue of any State law, and also of such personal property as is subject to County assessment and taxation; provided, however, that in no event shall household furnishings, bank accounts, stocks, bonds or automobiles be assessed or taxed.

B. Use of County Assessments. it shall be lawful for the Town to enter into an agreement with the Board of Assessment for New Castle County to inspect and copy, or to obtain copies, of the assessments made for County purposes. Annually, the Commissioners shall make a Judgment regarding whether the Town will utilize such County assessments and whether said County assessments are a true, just and impartial evaluation. The Commissioners then shall order the adoption of such County assessment for municipal purposes or the adoption of assessments a_s determined by the Town assessment authority; provided, however, that adoption of the County assessment for municipal purposes shall not preclude the Town from modifying the County assessment list to take into account new construction or changes in ownership or use not reflected in the County assessment list, or clear cases of inequitable assessment.

The determination to use the County assessments shall be made by ordinance before February lst of any year and shall continue in effect from year to year until revoked by ordinance. Notice of a determination to use the County assessments shall be given to the Assessor or Board of Assessment prior to March 1st in the year that the determination is made and shall be published at least once a week for two (2) weeks prior to March 1st of each year in at least two (2) newspapers in the municipality, or to the extent no such newspaper exists, then in a newspaper of general circulation in New Castle County.

C. Approval and Posting of Assessment Roll. Each year, there shall be prepared and submitted to the Commissioners at least 60 days before the beginning of the tax year, two or more copies of the assessment roll, which shall show the location of each parcel of taxable real and personal property by street and number or other suitable description. When the Commissioners approve the roll as prepared. or as modified by the Commissioners, then a full and complete transcript thereof shall be posted in a place in the Town designated by the Commissioners. Such posting shall take place at least 45 days before the beginning of the tax year and shall remain posted up to, but not including, the appeal day as herein set out. Notice of the time and place where the assessment list may be viewed shall be given by posting such announcement in at least five (5) public places throughout the Town.

D. Assessment Board of Appeals. Each year, at least 30 days before the beginning of the tax year, the Commissioners shall hold a Board of Appeals, which Board shall continue open from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., during which time the Commissioners acting as such Board shall hear and determine appeals from assessments and shall make such corrections and additions as may be deemed necessary and proper. The decision of a majority of the Commissioners sitting on appeals shall be final and conclusive in respect to all appeals.

No Commissioner shall sit on his/her own appeal, but the same shall be heard and determined by the other Commissions. After the said valuation and assessment shall be examined and adjusted by the Commissioners, all property taxes shall be examined and adjusted by the Commissioners, all property taxes shall be levied on real and personal property thus assessed in just and equal proportions.

Section 4 02. Levy of Taxes

The Commissioners shall, after having ascertained the revenue necessary to balance the budget and having apportioned said sum on the assessment and valuation as provided for in this Charter, shall, on the first day for the fiscal year, furnish the Town Treasurer with a copy of the final assessment roll containing the names of the taxables, as well as the owners of real estate and the tax on the entire valuation and assessment at a rate per one hundred dollars. The Assessment roll shall be certified true and correct by a majority of all the Commissioners.

Section 4 03. Payment of Taxes

All taxes shall be paid to the Town Clerk at the Town Hall during regular business hours. All taxes are due on June 30th (or the next banking day, if June 30th is a weekend or holiday) of each year. On all taxes paid after June 30th there shall be paid a penalty at the rate of two percent (2%) per month or fraction thereof for each month unpaid after date due. All tax bills shall be sent out on or before May 15th of each year. Appropriate legal action shall be taken against all delinquent taxpayers whose taxes have become delinquent for a period of two (2) years or more.

Section 4 04. Collection of Delinquent Taxes - Generally

A. Tax Liens. The provisions of Title 25, Delaware Code Annotated, Chapter 29, as amended, with reference to tax liens shall be deemed and held to apply to all taxes imposed under the provisions of this Charter.

B. Debt Action. The Town Clerk may recover the amount of the tax due in an action of debt against the delinquent taxpayer in any court of competent jurisdiction; and it shall be sufficient to set forth that the action is to recover a specified sum of money, being a tax or taxes assessed against property owned by the defendant, in whole or in part, together with such description of the property as will be sufficient to identify the same and the year for which the taxed were levied. The right of appeal shall be the same as in other civil actions.

If a judgment be rendered in favor of the Town Clerk, there shall be an allowance for the additional expense in attending to the suit, including counsel fees. The amount of accrued interest, which shall be taxed by the court in the costs, thereupon execution shall issue against the real estate of defendant. No execution against the real estate shall issue except out of the Superior Court. Where such judgment is recovery from a lower court of competent jurisdiction and it is the desire of the Town Clerk to proceed against the real estate of the defendant, the Town Clerk shall take a transcript of the judgment from such lower court and cause the same to be entered in the Superior Court in and for New Castle County. When such transcripts are entered, the subsequent proceedings shall be the same as upon other judgments. The lien of the judgment, as aforesaid, shall be deemed to relate back and take effect from the date of the Certified Town Clerk assessment roll.

B. Remedies Cumulative. The remedies herein provided are cumulative and, if two or more proceedings are pending to recover the amount due for taxes upon the same property for any year, neither proceedings shall be pleaded in bar or in suspension of other proceedings. However, when the full amount due for taxes upon the property for the year shall have been paid to the plaintiff in _any proceeding, together with all costs in all proceedings then pending, the plaintiff shall enter upon the records thereof discontinuances thereof.

Section 4 OS. Collection of Dam:Mitt Taxes - Monition

A. Monition Method Established. In addition to all existing methods and authority for the collection of taxes or special assessments due the Town of Newport, the monition method and authority is established.

B. Praccipe: Judgment; Monition. The Town may file, or cause to be filed, a praecipe in the office of the Prothonotary of the Superior Court in and for New Castle County, which praecipe shall contain the name of the person against whom the taxes or assessments sought to be collected were assessed, and a copy of the bills showing the amount of taxes or assessments due and the property against which the tax or assessment was laid, and a statement of the lot number or numbers of the particular section in which said property is located. For the purpose of this and the next section, the street number or numbers also shall be sufficient identification and description of said property.

The Prothonotary shall make a record of the same on the judgment records of said Superior Court against the property mentioned or described in said praecipe. Thereafter, upon a praecipe for monition filed in the office of said Prothonotary by the Town, a monition shall be issued by the Prothonotary aforesaid to the Sheriff of New Castle County, which monition shall briefly state the amount of the judgment for the taxes or assessments due and the years thereof, together with a brief description of the property upon which said taxes or assessments are a lien.

C. Form of Monition. The monition shall be in substantially the following form:

To all persons having or claiming to have any title, interest or lien upon the within described premises, take warning that unless the judgment for the taxes or assessments stated herein is paid within twenty (20) days after the date hereof, or within such period of twenty (20) days, evidence of the payment of taxes herein claimed shall be filed in the office of the Prothonotary, which evidence shall be In the form of a reccipted bill or duplicate thereof, bearing the date prior to the filing of the lien in the office of the Prothonotary for New Castle County, and the Town of Newport may proceed to sell the property herein mentioned or described for the purposes of collecting the judgment for the taxes or assessments herein stated.

Names of Person in Whose Description Year or Years Amount of

Name Property Is Assessed of Property Judgment

D. Posting of Monition- Sheriff's Return; Alias and Piuriea Monition. Said monition, or copy thereof, shall be posted by the Sheriff upon some prominent place or part of the property against which said judgment for the taxes or assessments is a lien. The Sheriff shall make due and proper return of his/her proceedings under said Monition to said Prothonotary within ten (10)days after the posting of said copy of monition as aforesaid. Alias or Plurics Monition may issue upon like praccipe. The posting of said Monition shall constitute notice to the owner or owners and all persons having any interest is said property.

E. Issuance and Form of Writ of Venditioni Exponas. At any time after the expiration of twenty days following the return of the Sheriff upon such Monition, unless before the expiration of

said twenty days, the said judgment and costs on said Judgment shall be paid or evidence of the payment of such taxes evidenced by a receipted bill or a duplicate thereof, bearing date therefor prior to the filing of said lien for record in the office of the Prothonotary as aforesaid, upon praecipe flied by the Town of Newport through its attorney or any other person authorized on its behalf to collect taxes or assessments due to the Town of Newport, a writ of Venditioni Expo= shall issue out of the office of the said Prothonotary directed to the Sheriff, commanding the Sheriff to sell the property mentioned or described in said writ and make due return of his/her proceedings thereunder In the same manner as is not applicable with respect to similar writs of Venditionl Exponas issued out of the said Superior Court.

Said writ shall be substantially in the following form: COUNTY OF NEW CASTLE:

: 55.

STATE OF DELAWARE:

TO THE SHERIFF OF NEW CASTLE COUNTY GREETINGS:

WHEREAS, by a Monition issued out of the Superior Court dated at Wilmington, the day of , A.D. 19_, IT WAS COMMANDED. that you should post the said Monition or copy
thereof upon the real estate therein mentioned and described, and make a return to the said

Superior Court within ten days after said posting. That on the day of , A.D. 19_, you
returned that a copy of the said Monition was posted on the real estate therein mentioned and described in the day of A.D. 19_.

We therefore now command you to expose to public sale real estate mentioned and described in said Monition as follows:

And that you should cause to be made as well a certain debt of Dollars ($ j

lawful money of the United Stated, which to the said Town of Newport, a municipal corporation of the State of Delaware, is due and owing, as also the sum of Dollars ($ ) lawful money as aforesaid, for its costs, which it has sustained by the detaining of that debt, whereof the said was convicted as it appears of record and against which said property it is a lien;

And have you that money before the Judges of our Superior Court at Wilmington, on Monday, the ^ day of , next, to render to the said Town of Newport, a municipal corporation as aforesaid, for its debt and costs as aforesaid, and this writ;

W1TNESSETH, The Honorable at Wilmington, the day of , A.D.

19.

Prothonotary

Upon the return of the proceedings under said writ of Vendittoni Exponas, the Superior Court may inquire into the regularity of the proceedings thereunder, and either approve the sale or set It aside.

F. Title of Property Sold. Any real estate or interest therein sold under the provisions hereof shall vest in the purchaser all the right, title and interest of the person in whose name said property was assessed, and/or all right, title and Interest of the person or persons who are the owner or owners thereof, and likewise freed and discharged from any dower or courtesy or statutory right, in the nature of a dower or courtesy, whether absolute or inchoate, tn or to said real estate, and form all equity of redemption and liens and encumbrances held by persons and corporations against said property.

G. Redemption by Owner. The owner of any such real estate sold under the provisions of this Charter or his/her legal' representatives may redeem the same at any time within three months from the day the sale thereof Is approved by the Court, by paying to the purchaser of his/her legal representative, successors or assigns, the amount of the purchase price and fifteen percent in addition thereto, together with all costs incurred in the cause; or if the purchaser or his/her legal representatives, successors or assigns shall refuse to receive the same, or do not reside or cannot be found within the Town of Newport, by paying said amount into said Court for the use of said purchaser his/her legal representative or assigns.

li Petition by Purchasers for Deed of Conveyance. In the event that the owner of said property or his/her legal representatives shall fail to redeem said property as herein provided, the purchaser of said property or his/her legal representatives, successors or assigns may present a petition to the Superior Court setting forth the appropriate facts in conformity with this Charter and pray that the said Superior Court make an order directing the Sheriff, then in office, to execute, acknowledge and deliver a deed conveying the title to said property to the petitioner; and thereupon,the said Superior Court shall have power, after a hearing upon said petition, to issue an order directing the Sheriff to execute, acknowledge and deliver a deed as prayed for in said petition, and a description of said property by street number or by lot number or numbers of the particular section in which said property is located, together with a description of said property by metes and bounds.

I Petition by Owner After Redemption for Entry on Judgment Record. If the owner of any real estate sold under an order of sale, or his/her legal representative, shall redeem said real estate, he/she may prefer to said Superior Court a petition setting forth that fact and thereupon the said Superior Court, after hearing and determining the facts set forth in said petition, shall have power to cause to be entered upon the record of the Judgment under which said real estate was sold, a memorandum that the real estate described in the proceeding upon which said judgment was entered has been redeemed, and thereafter, the said owner shall hold such redeemed real estate subject to the same liens and the same order of priority as they existed at the time of the sale thereof, excepting so far as the said liens have been discharged or reduced by the application of the proceeds by the said Sheriff from the said sale.

J. No Proceedings Unless Tax is a Lien Upon Property. No monition proceedings shall be brought under this Charter unless the tax or assessment sought to be collected hereunder shall, at the time of the filing of said petition in the office of the Prothonotary, be and constitute a Uen upon the property against which the tax or assessment was assessed or laid. All taxes for Town purposes which may hereafter be lawfully assessed on real estate shall constitute a prior lien thereon for a period of ten years from the first day of the Town tax year succeeding the assessment of said taxes, but if the said real estate remains the property of the person to whom it is assessed, then the lien shall continue until the tax is collected and may, with all incidental costs and expenses, be levied by sale thereof as herelnbefore provided.

K. Counsel Fees; Purchase by Town. The said tax Uen and costs and reasonable counsel fees for the collection thereof shall be full paid and satisfied before any recognizance, mortgage, judgment, debt, obligation or responsibility which the real estate may be charged with or liable to. The Town of Newport shall have the authority to authorize any person or persons to make a bid or bids at the sale of any real estate under the provisions of this Charter, and in the event that such person or persons is the highest and best bidder or bidders therefor, the title thereto shall be taken in the name of the Town of Newport. The Commissioners, by resolution duly adopted, are authorized and empowered to sell and convey any real estate purchased under the provisions herein.

L. Definition of Superior Court. Whenever the Superior Court Is mentioned in this or the preceding Section of this Charter, the same shall be held to embrace the Judges or any Judge thereof, and any act required or authorized to be done under this or the preceding Section, may be done by the said Superior Court or any Judge thereof in vacation thereof, as well as in term time.

M. Fees and Costs. The fees and costs to be fixed in all monition proceedings under this and the preceding Sections, where not otherwise provided for, shall be set by the Commissioners by ordinance. AU other charges not covered by this and the preceding Sections shall be the same as are provided by law.

ARTICLE V - ORDINANCE PROCEDURE Section 5-01. Ordinances Generally

In addition to such acts of the Commissioners as are required by this Charter or by law to be by ordinance, every act of the Commissioners establishing a fine or penalty shall be by ordinance. Except as otherwise provided, every legislative act of Commissioners which shall have the force of law shall be by ordinance and shall include an enacting clause which reads: "The Commissioners of the Town of Newport hereby ordinance:".

Section 5-02. Commissioners Action on Ordinance

A. Every proposed ordinance shall be introduced in writing. Any ordinance which amends an existing ordinance shall set out in full that part of the ordinance, section or subsection to be repealed or amended, and shall indicate the matter to be omitted. Every ordinance, except general modifications and revisions of Town ordinances, shall contain not more than one subject, which shall be clearly expressed in its title.

B. An ordinance may be Introduced by any Commissioner. Upon introduction of any ordinance, copies thereof shall be distributed to each Commissioner and the Town Solicitor, and a reasonable number of copies shall be filed in the Town Hall and such other places as the Commissioners may designate. No ordinance shall be passed unless it shall have read M full or abstract at a previous meeting. After first reading, the proposed ordinance shall be posted in five (5) prominent locations in the Town, one of which shall include the Town Hall, at least seven (7) days prior to the established hearing date, stating the time and place where said ordinance will be given a public hearing and be considered for final passage.

C. At the time of the stated meeting and public hearing, which can be a regular, adjourned or special meeting, the proposed ordinance shall be read in full or subtract and considered for passage. After the public hearing and consideration, the Commissioners may pass the proposed ordinance, or a substitute version thereof, which is substantially similar thereto.

D. All ordinances must be passed by at least three (3) Commissioners. Section 5 03. Effective Date

Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, every adopted ordinance shall become effective immediately upon adoption or at a later date as specified in the Ordinance.

Section 5-04. Adoption of Codes of Technical Regulations

The Commissioners may adopt any standard code of technical regulations by reference thereto in an adopting ordinance. The procedure and requirements governing such an adopting ordinance shall be as prescribed for ordinances generally, except that a copy of each adopted code of technical regulations as well as of the adopting ordinance shall be made available by the Town Clerk or for purchase at a reasonable price.

Section 5 05. Authentication and Recordation

The Town Clerk shall authenticate by his/her signature and record in full, M a properly indexed book for that purpose, all ordinances, resolutions and regulations adopted by the Commissioners.

Section 5 06. Emergency Ordinances

A. To meet a public emergency affecting life, health, property or the public peace, the Commissioners may adopt emergency ordinances; but such ordinances may not levy taxes, grant, renew or extend a franchise, regulate the ratc charged by the Town for any of its utilities, or authorize the borrowing of not more than three- tenths of one percent (0,3%) of the assessed valuation of the assessable and taxable real property within the limits of the Town of Newport for emergency purposes.

B. An emergency ordinance shall be introduced in the form prescribed for ordinances generally, except that it shall be plainly designated as an emergency ordinance and shall contain, after the enacting clause, a declaration stating that an emergency exists and describing it in dear and specific terms.

C. An emergency ordinance may be adopted without a first reading, but copies of the ordinance shall be made available to the public prior to the meeting considering approval thereof, and time shall be set aside, prior to Commissioners' vote, for public comment.

D. An emergency ordinance may be adopted only by an affirmative vote of at least three (3) Commissioners After its adoption, the ordinance shall become effective upon its adoption or at such later time as it may specify; but, every emergency ordinance, including any amendment made therein after its adoption, shall automatically stand repealed as of the ninety first (91st) day following the date on which it was adopted, unless extended by regular ordinance enacted by the Commissioners, and it shall be the duty of the Town Secretary to so notify the Commissioners.

ARTICLE VI FINANCES AND INDEBTEDNESS Section 6 01. Fiscal Year

The Town's fiscal year, which shall constitute the budget and accounting year, but need not constitute the tax year, shall commence on January 1st of each year and conclude upon December 31st of the following year, but the Commissioners may, by ordinance, adopt a different fiscal year.

Section 6 02 Payment of Moneys Out of the Town Treasury

All payments out of the Town Treasury shall be by check drawn by the Town Clerk and signed by the Town Manager and the Mayor or one other Commissioners.

Section 6 03. Annual Operating Budget

A. It shall be the duty of the Commissioners, at least before the end of the fiscal year, to adopt the annual operating budget for the next fiscal year. Such budget shall be adopted by resolution with a hearing as required by Section 6. 05 of this Charter. The consideration of the _operating budget shall begin forthwith upon the receipt from the Town Clerk or Town Manager of an annual written operating budget message and the proposed annual operating budget, which shall be submitted at the first regular meeting in October of each year. The proposed budget shall be regarded as having been introduced immediately upon its receipt.

B. The annual operating budget shall provide for discharging any deficit and shall provide appropriations to the Commissioners and all officers, departments, boards and Commissioners which form a part of the Town Government, and for all other items which are to be paid out of the revenue of the Town. All appropriations shall be made in lump sum amounts and according to the following classes of expenditures for each office, department, board or commission:

(I) Personal services;

(2) Materials, supplies and equipment;

(3) Debt service; and

(4) Such additional classes as the Town Clerk or Town Manager shall recommend in the proposed annual operating budget.

Expenditures for the repair of any property and for the acquisition of any property or for any work or project which does not have a probable useful life to the Town of a least five (5) years following the time the expenditure is made for it shall be deemed to be ordinary expenses to be provided for in the annual operating budget. Appropriations for the use of any departmental board or commission shall be made to the department with which it is connected.

Section 6 04. The Capital Plan and Capital Budget

A. Generally. The Commissioners shall adopt a capital plan and capital budget. The Capital plan and budget shall be submitted with the annual operating budget on or before the regular meeting in October. Such budget shall be adopted by resolution with a hearing as required by Section 6 05 of this Charter.

B. The Capital Plan. The capital plan should embrace all physical public improvements and preliminary studies and surveys relative thereto, the acquisition of property of a permanent nature. and the purchase of equipment for any public improvement when first erected or acquired that are to be financed in whole or in part from funds subject to control or appropriation by the Mayor and Commissioners. It should show the capital expenditures which are planned for each of the five (5) ensuing fiscal years. For each separate purpose, project. facility, or other property there should be shown the amount, if any, and the source of the money that has been spent, encumbered, or is intended to be spent or encumbered prior to the beginning of the ensuing fiscal year and also the amounts and the sources of the money that are intended to be spent during each of the ensuing five

(5) years.

C. The Capital Budget. The capital budget shall show in detail the capital expenditures intended to be made or incurred in the ensuing fiscal year that are to be financed from funds subject to control or appropriation by the Commissioners, and shall be in full conformity with that part of the capital plan applicable to the year which it covers. Amounts specified as intended to be spent out of new appropriations shall, upon enactment of the capital budget, constitute appropriations or such amounts.

Section 6- 05. Commissioners Action on the Budgets

A. The Commissioners shall cause to be posted in at least five (5) prominent places located in the Town, a general summary of the proposed capital and operating budget, a notice of the tittles and places where copies of such budgets are avallahie for inspection and the time and place for a public hearing on such budgets. Such notice shall be posted at least seven (7) days prior to such hearing.

B. After the public hearing the Commissioners may adopt, by resolution, the budgets with or without amendment. The Commissioners may insert new items of expenditure or may increase, decrease, or strike out items of expenditure.

C. The budget and tax rate shall be adopted prior to the beginning of the fiscal year for which such budget relates. If the Commissioners fall to so adopt, the budget for the current fiscal year shall be deemed adopted for the ensuing fiscal year on a month to- month basis with all items prorated accordingly, until such time as the Commissioners adopt a budget for the ensuing fiscal year. D. All amendments to the budget shall be made at meetings open to the public. Section 6- 06. Power to Raise Revenue

A. The Commissioners shall have the power to levy and collect taxes on real property withi_n the Town, except that which is not assessable and taxable by virtue of any law of the State of Delaware, which shall not be more than 2% of the assessed valuation of the assessable and tax_abl_e real estate within the Town in any year clear of all delinquencies and expenses of collection; provided, however, in addition thereto, the Commissioners shall have the power to levy the taxes necessary to service the bonded indebtedness of the Town.

B. The Commissioners shall have the right to grant or refuse, and to charge fees for licenses or permits for all trades or businesses, of any description, within the Town and to control their use of any property within the Town. The Commissioners shall have the power to levy and collect franchise fees.

C. The Commissioners shall have the power to impose reasonable penalties and forfeitures for tax delinquencies, and to review and determine proper and appropriate properties to be exempt from taxation.

D. The Commissioners shall have the power to fix the rates for utilities operated by the Town and to collect and utilize revenues from such utilities for the benefit of the Town.

E. The Commissioners shall have the right to levy and collect taxes upon all gas mains, water lines and telephone, telegraph power poles or other erections of like character erected within the limits of the Town of Newport, together with the wires, cables and appliances thereto or thereon attached, as well as such wires, cables and appliances which may be installed underground, and to this end may, at any time, direct the same to be included in or added to the Town assessment. In cases the owner or lessee of such poles or erections and such wires, cables and appliances shall refuse or neglect to pay the taxes that may be levied thereon, the said taxes may be collected as in the case of other taxes.

Section 6-07. Borrowing for Current Expenses and CapW.al Expenditures

A. Whenever the needs of the Town shall require more money than Is, at the time, in the Town treasury from current receipts, the Commissioners may, and It Is hereby authorized and empowered, to anticipate current fiscal year revenue by borrowing such amounts as are needed; provided, however, the amount of such Indebtedness shall not at any time exceed^-one-half of one percent (0.5%) of the assessed valuation of the assessable and taxable real property within the limits of the Town, except in the case of a Declared Emergency in which case the limit shall not exceed one percent (1%) of the assessed valuation upon the affirmative vote by all five Commissioners.

B. The Town of Newport shall have the full power and authority to borrow, for the exclusive purpose of financing a capital asset, upon the faith and credit of the Town of Newport, a sum or sums of money not exceeding five percent (5%) of the total assessed property value, exclusive of borrowing against current expenses referred to in subsection A hereof, when in the opinion of the majority of the Commissioners the needs of the Town demand it. The Commissioners may secure such sum or sums of money by promissory note or notes, or certificates of indebtedness of the Town of Newport, duly authorized by resolution of the Commissioners, signed by the Town Secretary, and by the Mayor or Acting Mayor, with or without the corporate seal of the Town affixed in accordance with the request of the person or corporation advancing the money on said notes or certificates, and no Commissioner or officer shall be personally liable for the payment of such note or notes, because of his/her signature as an officer of the Town of Newport or as a Commissioner or his/her approval of the authorizing resolution. Provided however; that any sum of money borrowed by the Commissioners on the full faith and credit of the Town as aforesaid, shall be repaid in full, together with all interest and charges thereon, within a period not to exceed the estimated useful life of the capital asset or five (5) years whichever is less.

This provision in no way shall be intended to apply to the right of the Commissioners to submit to the voters for their approval major capital improvement projects to be financed by long term bond issue as provided for in this Charter.

Section 6 08. Power to Incur Bonded Indebtedness

A. Power to Borrow Money. The Town may incur indebtedness by issuing either general obligation bonds or certificates of indebtedness secured by the full faith and credit of the Town, or by issuing revenue bonds, either In whole or in part of the total amount necessary to provide funds for the erection, extension, enlargement or repair of any plant, machinery, appliances or equipment for the furnishing of water, for the construction, repair or Improvement of highways, streets or lanes, or the paving, curbing, or erection of gutters along the same; for the construction or repair of sewers or sewage disposal equipment; or to defray the cost of the share of the Town in the cost of any permanent municipal improvement; or to replace any monies advanced from current funds of the Town to finance any one or more of such projects; or to carry out any capital improvement project deemed by the Commissioners to be necessary to the proper execution of any function or power of the Town.

It general obligation bonds are issued, the total outstanding debt secured by such bonds shall not exceed fifteen (15) percentum of the assessed value of all the real estate subject to taxation located within the Town.

If revenue bonds are issued, each such bond shall recite In substance that said bond, including interest therein, is payable from the revenue pledged to the payment thereof, and that said bond does not constitute a debt of the Town of Newport within the meaning of the bonded Indebtedness limitation; provided, however, that In the event of some emergency, the Town may temporarily borrow, advance or loan such amount as is necessary to meet current Interest on outstanding bonds, such advance or loan to be repaid to the Town of revenue subsequently received from the undertaking. If revenue bonds are issued, the Commissioners shall prescribe and have collected reasonable rates, fees or charges for the service, facilities and accommodations of said undertaking and shall review such rates, fees or charges from time to time whenever necessary so that such undertaking shall be and always remain self-supporting. The rates, fees or charges prescribed shall be such as will procure revenue at least sufficient to pay, when due, all bonds and Interest thereon, for the payment of which such revenue is or shall have been pledged, charged or otherwise encumbered, Including reserves therefor, and to provide for all expenses of operation and maintenance of such undertaking, payments in lieu of taxes, depreciation and other reserves.

No capital improvement bonds, notes or certificates of indebtedness may be authorized, which bonds are payable more than forty (40) years from the date of issuance thereof.

B. Method of Borrowing Money. Before the Town may incur indebtedness by the issuance of bonds as set out in the preceding Section, the borrowing of money shall have been authorized by the Commissioners and shall have been approved In the manner set out in this Section.

(1) The Commissioners shall, by resolution, propose to the qualified voters according to law in the Town of Newport the purposes for which the stated amount of money shall be borrowed. The resolution shall state the amount of money desired to be borrowed, the purpose for which it is desired, the manner of securing the same, and all other pertinent facts relating to the loan, including data on total related debt and the debt limitations established by this Charter; shall fix a time and place for hearing on the resolution; and shall provide for publication of an announcement of the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town and posting of the announcement in at least five (5) prominent places in the Town, one of which shall include the Town Hall, at least ten (10) days prior to the hearing date.

(2) A public hearing shall be held, at which time all interested persons shall be given an opportunity to express their views. Their testimony shall be considered in evidence by the Commissioners.

(3) If the Commissioners desire to continue with the bond proceeds, they shall then, by resolution, direct that the question be submitted to the public by a referendum. An election shall be held not less than thirty (30) days nor more than sixty (60) days after the date of such resolution.

(4) The notice of the time and place for holding said special election shall be printed in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town once a week for two consecutive weeks prior to the election and notice of such election shall be placed in five (5) prominent places in the Town, one of which shall include the Town Hall, at least ten (10) days prior to the special election. The special election shall be conducted by the Election Board as herein established and as provided for by regular general elections.

(5) The Commissioners shall cause the Election Board to prepare the ballots for the voting machines and to hold the referendum. At said referendum, all qualified voters of the Town of Newport shall be entitled to vote.

(6) The Election Board shall count the votes for and against the proposed bond issue and shall announce the result thereof; shall make a certificate under their hands of the number of votes cast for and against the proposed issue; and shall deliver the same to the Commissioners, which certificate shall be entered on the minutes and the original thereof filed by the Town Secretary. No bond issue shall be deemed approved unless a majority of those voting at such referendum shall vote for such bond issue.

(7) The form of the bonds or certificates of indebtedness, the date of payment of interest, the classes, the dates of maturity, and the provisions pertaining to any registration thereof, shall be determined by the Commissioners. The bonds shall be sold to the highest bidder after at least one month's notice, published at least twice in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town and at least once in a publication carrying municipal bond notices and devoted primarily to financial news. The Commissioners shall provide, in the budget, for revenues sufficient to pay the interest and principal on said bonds or certificates at the maturity or maturities thereof. The full faith and credit of the Town shall be deemed pledged for the due payment of the principal and interest of general obligation bonds issued within the prescribed debt limitation when the same have been properly executed and delivered for value.

Section 6- 09. Independent Audit

Annually, the Commissioners shall designate a firm of certified public accountants who, as of the end of the fiscal year, shall make an independent audit of accounts and other evidences of fiscal transactions of the Town government and shall submit their report to the Commissioners. Such accountants shall have no direct or indirect personal interest in the fiscal affairs of the Town government or of any of its officers. They shall not maintain any accounts for the Town, but shall, within specifications approved by the Commissioners, audit the books and documents of all appropriate officers and employees of the Town government in all departments, offices and agencies. Designation of the accountants shall be made by the Commissioners not later than thirty days after the beginning of the fiscal year for which the audit Is to be conducted. When received, the audit report shall become part of the Town minutes.

ARTICLE VII . TOWN APPOINTIVE OFFICES

Section 7. 01. Town Solicitor

The Mayor with the advice and consent of three Commissioners shall appoint an officer of the Town who shall have the title of Town Solicitor. He/she shall be a member of the Bar of the State of Delaware and shall have practiced law for at least five years prior to appointment. It shall be the duty of the Town Solicitor to give legal advice to the Commissioners, the Town Manager and, as authorized by the Commissioners, to department heads and other officers of the Town, and all Town departments, offices or agencies; he/she shall represent the Town in all legal proceedings and shall perform such other legal services as may be required by the Mayor, Commissioners, Town Manager, this Charter, law or ordinance. The Mayor and Commissioners may procure such additional legal services as it may deem to be required. The Town Solicitor shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor and three Commissioners.

Section 7-02. Assessor

The Mayor shall appoint, with the approval of three Commissioners, an assessor who shall be a legally qualified voter of the Town. The assessor shall be appointed at the first regular meeting in May for a term of one year and prior to entering upon the duties of the office, as set forth In Article IV shall be duly qualified by oath or affirmation to perform the duties of the office to the best of his/her ability and knowledge, without favor or partiality.

Section 7 03. Town Secretary

The Mayor shall appoint with the advice and consent of a majority of all the Commissioners an officer of the Town who shall have the title Town Secretary. The Town Secretary shall be appointed at the organizationar meeting for a term of one year. The Town Secretary shall give notice of the Commissioners' meetings to its members and the public, keep minutes of the meetings and hearings and all official proceedings. file and keep in a safe place the Seal of the Town, attest the same when authorized by the Commissioners, keep all papers and documents relative to the affairs of the Town which shall be deemed appropriate to be kept in his/her office, and perform such other duties as may be designated by the Mayor and Commissioners, Town Manager, this Charter or ordinance. The responsibilities and duties of the Town Secretary may be assigned to or combined with another office or department of the Town government upon approval of the Mayor and Commissioners.

Section 7 04. Town Clerk

The Mayor shall. with the advice and consent of three Commissioners. unless there is a Town Manager appointed, in which case the Town Manager shall, appoint a Town Clerk. The Town Clerk may be a full time employee of the Town. who shall collect taxes, water bills, and perform any and all administrative duties of the Commissioners and/or the Town Manager, as required by them.

The Town Clerk shall keep a true, accurate and detailed account of all monies received and all monies paid out by the Town in alt its activities and for all its departments, offices and agencies; shall preserve all financial records, but under a records disposal program and schedule approved by the Mayor and Commissioners, may periodically destroy such records and documents. as authorized by State law. The Town Clerk shall make such reports at such time as the Mayor and Commissioners and Town Manager shall direct and which shall keep the Town government and the public informed of the financial condition of the Town. The Town Clerk shall have such other duties as may be prescribed by this Charter. by law or ordinance. The Town Clerk shall be custodian of all funds of the Town, and shall deposit them on a regular basis In banking Institutions as designated by the Mayor and Commissioners. The books, records and accounts of the Town Clerk shall be open at all times to inspection by the Mayor and Commissioners and the public, under such regulations as the Mayor and Commissioners may prescribe.

Section 7- 05. Members of Board, Bureaus and Commissions

Except as expressly otherwise provided and subject limitations set forth in this Charter, the Mayor shall appoint, with the advice and consent of three Commissioners, all members of the Boards, Bureaus and Commissions created by this Charter, by law or by ordinance.

Section 7. 06. Alderman

The Mayor may appoint with the advice and consent of three Commissioners an officer of the Town who shall have the title Alderman. The Alderman may be removed from office by the Mayor subject to the approval of three Commissioners. Any Magistrate or Justice of the Peace serving the State of Delaware may be designated to also serve as Alderman for the Town, but he/she shall not be a Commissioner or the Town Solicitor.

Before appointment of any person to the position of Alderman, his/her ability and qualifications to act in this capacity must be approved by the Resident Judge of the Superior Court for New Castle County. All costs attributable to certification shall be borne by the Town. In the event that there is no certified Alderman within the Town, the members of the Town of Newport Police Department are directed to take all violators to the nearest available Magistrate, who is authorized to serve in the capacity of Alderman.

The compensation of the Alderman shall be fixed by resolution, and unless otherwise provided by the Mayor and Commissioners by resolution, the Alderman shall not retain any fines levied by the Court, but must pay such fines into the Town Treasury within fifteen (IS) days of collection. Before entering upon the duties of his/her office, he/she shall be sworn or affirmed by the Mayor or by any one of the Commissioners or by any Justice of the Peace, to perform the duties honestly, faithfully, and diligently. The Alderman shall have jurisdiction of all violations of ordinances of the Town and of all misdemeanors prescribed by any law of the State of Delaware committed within the boundaries of the Town. Thc Alderman shall have power and authority to hold for bail, fine or imprison offenders, compel the attendance of persons accused of violation of Town ordinances by service or process either within or without the limits of the Town, compel the attendance of witnesses, and hold or punish for contempt; provided that in the case of a violation of an ordinance, he/she shall impose no fine or penalty in excess of that fixed by the ordinance, and shall not commit to prison for a longer term than thirty (30) days in default of the payment of a fine Imposed by him/her. He/she shall keep a book to be called "Alderman's Docker, in which shall be entered at large all his/her official acts. If any vacancy shall occur in the office of the Alderman by death, resignation, removal from office, or otherwise, such vacancy may be filled by the Mayor and Commissioners at any meeting thereafter for the residue of the term. If any Alderman shall be removed from office by the Mayor and Commissioners as herein provided, he/she shall deliver to his/her successor in office within two days after selection of his/her successor, all books and papers belonging to his/her office, and shall pay over to the Town Clerk all monies belonging to the said Town within five days after removal; upon neglect or failure to pay over to the Town Clerk, within the time aforesaid, all monies belonging to the Town, he/she shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) nor more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00).

Thc Alderman, at every stated meeting of the Commissioners, shall report to them all fines and penalties imposed by him/her since their last meeting, and to pay to the Town Clerk all such fines and penalties received by him/her during the said time, and in default of making such report or paying such fines and penalties for a period of thirty (30) days after such report should be made and such fines and penalities should be paid aforesaid, he/she shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than Twenty Dollars ($20.00) nor more than One Hundred Dollars ($100.00).

Section 7 07. Town Fire Marshall

Thc Mayor shall appoint, with the advice and consent of three Commissioners, an officer of the Town who shall have the title of Town Fire Marshall. Thc Town Fire Marshall shall have the duty and authority of inspecting the buildings. premises and property within the corporate limits for compliance with fire prevention regulations, codes and rules. Thc Town Fire Marshall shall enforce the Fire Prevention Code of the Town of Newport and shall have the power to issue orders, pursuant to that Code, for the removal and abatement of hazardous conditions. The Town Fire Marshall shall have such other duties and powers as set forth M the Are Prevention Code of the Town of Newport.

Section 7 08. Town Building Inspector

The Mayor shall appoint, with the advice and consent of three Commissioners, an officer of the Town who shall have the title of Town Building Inspector. The Town Building Inspector shall have the duty to review all building plans, issue building permits and enforce all building codes, except plumbing codes if there is a Town Plumbing Inspector, adopted by ordinance. The Town Building Inspector shall have the authority to inspect all buildings in the corporate limits of the Town of Newport and to issue stop work orders and such other orders as are necessary to obtain conformanc_e to the Building Codes. The Town Building Inspector shall be compensated at a rate to be determi_ned by the Mayor and three Commissioners. The Town Building Inspector shall submit a monthly report to the Mayor and Commissioners, prior to the regular monthly meeting.

Section 7-09. Town Plumbing Inspector

The Mayor may appoint with the advice and consent of three Commissioners an officer of the Town who shall have the title of Town Plumbing Inspector. The Town Plumbing Inspector shall have the duty to review all plumbing plans, issue plumbing permits and enforce all plumbing cod_es, adopted by ordinance. The Town Plumbing Inspector shall have the authority to inspect all buildings in the corporate limits of the Town of Newport and to issue stop work orders and such other orders as are necessary to obtain conformance to the Plumbing Codes. The Town Plumbing Inspector shall be compensated at a rate to be determined by the Mayor and three Commissioners. The Town Plumbing Inspector shall submit a monthly report to the Mayor and Commissioners, prior to the regular monthly meeting.

ARTICLE VIII - ELECTION RULES AND PROCEDURE Section 8-01. The General Municipal Election

The general municipal election shall be held in the Town Hall or some suitable building within the Town limits designated by the Mayor and Commissioners on the First Monday in April, of each and every year. The Town Clerk shall, at least 15 days before any election or referendum, give notice of such election, together with the officers to be elected thereat, the referenda to be considered and any other matter to be voted on, by posting notices in five (5) or more public places in the Town of Newport.

Section 8-02. Filing for the Office of Commissioner

Filing for the Office of Commissioner shall be by letter signed by the candidate and there shall be no party designation on any such letter beside the name of any candidate or on any ballot in any municipal election.

All persons desiring to be candidates at any municipal election shall file with the Town Clerk or Town Manager of the Town of Newport a written and signed statement of their candidacy at the Town Hall during normal business hours not later than thirty (30) days before the election. The Town Clerk and Town Manager are authorized to accept a notice of withdrawal signed by the candidate up until twenty (20) days before the election.

Section 8 03. Term of Office of Commissioners and Mayor

Commissioners shall serve a term of two (2) years commencing with the Organizational Meeting following their election. All Commissioners shall serve at large. The election of three (3) Commissioners shall be held in odd numbered years. The election of two (2) Commissioners shall be held in even numbered years. The Mayor shall be selected by and from the Commissioners at the Organizational Meeting and shall serve a term of one (I) year.

Section 8 04. The Election Board of the Town of Newport

All municipal elections shall be held by an Election Board consisting of not less than three (3) nor more than five (5) qualified voters, not commissioners, appointed by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of three Commissioners.

The Election Board shall consist of:

(0 A chairperson, who shall oversee elections generally;

(2) At least one inspector. who shall be responsible for compliance with proper procedures; and

(3) At least one judge who shall be responsible for the determination of the legality of the votes offered; and

(4) An alternate to fill any vacant position. When the polls have been closed, the Election Board shall publicly count and/or tabulate the ballots, certify the results of the election to each of the persons elected and the Commissioners of Newport by giving them "Certificates of Election" and enter the results of the election, by name and ballot count, as a minute of such election In a book designated for that purpose. Compensation of members of the Election Boardshall be set by the Commissioners. Section 8-0S. Voter Qualifications

Every person domiciled in the Town of Newport who shall have reached the age of eighteen (18) years who is a citizen of the United States and who can prove the foregoing by proper identification, shall be entitled to vote at all regular and special municipal elections and referenda, except as otherwise provided in the Charter. Domicile in any area annexed to the Town by virtue of any action taken under this Charter or the laws of the State of Delaware shall constitute, for the purpose of this Section. domicile in the Town.

The Commissioners, by ordinance duly adopted, may provide for the registration of voters and require that a person, otherwise qualified to vote, must also be properly registered in order to vote in the municipal elections. Any such ordinance providing for registration of voters shall make adequate provision for the preparation and custody of registration books and for the entry therein of the names of registered voters, their qualifications as such, the fact of their voting at each municipal election, and such other matters as may be required by this Charter of the Laws of the State of Delaware. Reasonable opportunity shall be provided for voters to register, and there shall be at least five (5) registration days in each year, the last one of which shall be not more than 30 days prior to any election or referendum. Hours of registration shall be determined by ordinance. The ordinance may provide for permanent registration lists.

Section 8-06. Absentee Voting

The Commissioners may prescribe, by ordinance. for absentee registration and for the casting of absentee ballots by qualified voters unable to be at the polls at any election or referendum.

Section 8-07. Polling Places and Regulations

The Commissioners shall designate the polling places which shall be open from 12 o'clock noon to 8 o'clock p.m. on all municipal election and referendum days. In addition, the Commissioners may, by ordinance, make all necessary regulations not inconsistent with this Charter or with State laws, for the conduct of elections, for the prevention of fraud in elections. and for the recount of ballots in cue of doubt or fraud.

Section 8-08. Voting Machines

Voting machines shall be used at ail municipal election, in which a contest exists, and shall be so constructed as to permit the voter to vote for the candidates fully nominated pursuant to the provisions of this Charter. The official ballots provided for municipal elections shall contain the names of all nominees for the office of Commissioners, listed alphabetically under a heading reading "CANDIDATES FOR COMMISSIONER". Thereunder shall be a designation of the number of Commissioner seats open and the terms therefore and an Instruction to vote for only that number of nominees for Commissioner. A plurality of all votes cast shall make the choice. A separate designation shall be made for the one-year term on the ballot.

Section 8-09. Failure to Hold Election, Uncontested Election

A failure to hold an election. or the omission to execute any authority conferred by this act, shall not dissolve the corporation. but the authority of each officer shall continue until their successors are chosen. Any qualified voter under this Charter can bring an action in any competent court in the State of Delaware to compel the Commissioners to cause such an election to be held, at which election all of the Commissioners shall be elected. In the event of a tie between candidates then the candidates shall draw lots from a box to determine who received the higher vote.

In the event an election is not contested, it shall and may be lawful to have the candidates assume office without the holding of a formal election, pursuant to State Law. The requirement for a voting machine shall be dispensed within the event the entire election is uncontested.

ARTICLE IX - TOWN MANAGER

Section 9-01. Appointment; Qualifications; Compensation

The Mayor may appoint a Town Manager for an indefinite term and fix his/her compensation subject to confirmation and approval of three of the Commissioners. The Town Manager should be appointed on the basis of his/her executive and administrative qualifications. In the performance of his/her duties and the exercise of his/her powers, the Town Manager shall not be influenced by any matters whatsoever of a political or factional nature. He/she need not be a resident of the Town or State at the time of his/her appointment, but may reside outside the Town while in office, only with the approval of the Commissioners.

Section 9-02. Removal

A. The Town Manager may be removed by the Mayor with the consent of three of the Commissioners or all of the Commissioners without the Mayor's consent. Before such removal shall become effective, the Mayor and/or Commissioners shall, by the Mayor and majority vote of all the Commissioners or by all the Commissioners, without the consent of the Mayor, adopt a preliminary resolution stating the reasons for removal and may suspend the Town Manager from duty without pay and for a period that the Mayor and Commissioners deem appropriate.

B. Within five (5) days after a copy of the resolution is delivered to the Town Manager, he/she may file with the Commissioners a written request for a public hearing. This hearing shall be held at a Commissioners' meeting not earlier than fifteen (15) days nor later than thirty (30) days after the request is filed. The Town Manager may file with the Commissioners a written reply not later than five (5) days before the hearing.

C. The Commissioners may adopt a final resolution of removal, which may be made effective immediately, by affirmative vote of the Mayor and three of the Commissioners or by all the Commissioners without consent of the Mayor at any time after five (5) days from the date when a copy of the preliminary resolution was delivered to the Town Manager, if he/she has not requested a public hearing, or at any time after the public hearing if he/she his requested one.

The Town Manager, if suspended without pay, shall receive compensation for the period of suspension if he/she is not ultimately removed. The action of the Mayor and/or Commissioners in suspending or removing the Town Manager shall not be subject to review by any court or agency.

Section 9 03. Absence of Town Manager

In case of the temporary absence or disability of the Town Manager, the Mayor with the advice and consent of three of the Commissioners may designate some qualified person, who may be an elected or appointed official of the Town of Newport, to perform the duties of such office during such absence or disability.

In the case of the permanent absence of a Town Manager, the Mayor with the advice and consent of three of the Commissioners may designate a qualified person to serve until a new Town Manager is hired, unless there is a decision not to have a Town Manager, in which event the Mayor shall designate each Commissioner as a Department Head of the various Town Departments.

Section 9 04. Powers and Duties of the Town Manager

The Town Manager shall be the chief administrative officer of the Town. He/she shall be responsible to the Commissioners of Newport for the proper administration of the affairs of the Town placed in his/her charge by or under this Charter. He/she shall have the following powers and duties:

A. Personnel. The Town Manager shall have the power to make such appointments and to hire employees at such compensation as the Commissioners, by resolution, shall determine, subject to such rules and regulations as may be adopted by the Commissioners. AU employees shall be hired for an indefinite term and may be removed by the Town Manager at any time unless otherwise provided by resolution of the Commissioners. The Town Manager shall be the sole judge of the competence or incompetence of any such person so appointed or hired by him/her. However, the Commissioners shall sit as a Board of Appeal for the protection of Town employees at those times when three of the Commissioners arc agreed that a review of the action of the Town Manager would be in the best interests of the Town of Newport. An aggrieved employee of the Town shall have the right to petition for a hearing before such Board of Appeal; provided that the petition is received by the Commissioners within ten (10) days of receipt of written notice of termination or suspension. The decision of a majority of the Commissioners who hear the appeal shall be final and conclusive.

B. The Town Manager shall direct and supervise the administration of all departments, offices and agencies of the Town, except as otherwise provided by this Charter, or by ordinance, resolution or other law.

C. The Town Manager shall attend meetings of the Commissioners as directed by the Commissioners and shall have the right to take part In the discussion, but shall not vote.

D. The Town Manager shall see that all laws, ordinances, provisions of this Charter and acts of the Mayor and Commissioners, subject to enforcement by him/her or by officers subject to his/her direction and supervision, are faithfully executed.

E. The Town Manager shall prepare and submit the annual operating budget, capital plan and capital budget to the Commissioners according to the requirements of this Charter.

F. The Town Manager shall submit to the Commissioners and make available to the public a complete report on the financial and administrative activities of the Town as of the end of each rascal year.

G. The Town Manager shall keep the Commissioners fully advised as to the financial condition and true needs of the Town and make such recommendations to the Mayor and Commissioners concerning the affairs of the Town as he/she deems desirable.

H. The Town Manager shall prepare and submit such reports or special assignments as may be required by the Mayor and Commissioners. He/she shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by this Charter or required by him/her by Ordinance or Resolution of the Commissioners.

I. The Town Manager shall have charge and supervision of the streets, gutters, curbs, waterworks, sidewalks, boardwalks, jetties, piers, parks and other administrative affairs of the Town and all work relating thereto.

J. The Town Manager shall supervise the receiving of all taxes, assessments, rentals, license fees, and other charges due the Town.

K. The Town Manager may execute on behalf of the Town, when authorized by the Commissioners, all agreements, contracts, bonds, deeds, leases, and other documents necessary to be executed.

ARTICLE X - TOWN ADMINISTRATION

Section 10 01. Police Department

A. There shall be a Police Department which shall be directed and supervised by a police officer of the Town who shall have the title of Chief of Police. The Commissioners shall, from time to time, make such rules and regulations as may be necessary for the organization, government and control of the Police Department. The Police Department shall preserve peace and order and shall compel obedience within the Town limits to the Ordinances of the Town and the laws of the State of Delaware. The Police Department shall have such other duties as the Commissioners shall, from time to time, prescribe. The Chief of Police and the members of the Police Department shall be subject to the direction of the Town Manager, acting on behalf of the Commissioners.

Section 10 02. Board of Health

A. The Board of Health shall consist of five (5) members, who must be residents of Newport, one of whom shall be a practicing physician, if available, and one of whom may be a Commissioner, who is assigned to the Board of Health. The Board shall be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of three Commissioners. A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum. Members shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor and three Commissioners for a period of one (I) year and shall be appointed at the first regular meeting of the Commissioners in May or until their successors are duly appointed and qualified.

B. The Board of Health shall have cognizance of and interest in the life and health of the people of Newport and shall report to the Commissioners in writing whatever, in its judgment, is injurious to the health and safety of the citizens and shall make recommendations to the Commissions concerning whatever may contribute to the health and sanitation of the citizens of the Town of Newport. The Board shall have all powers now or hereafter vested by the laws of the State of Delaware in Boards of Health generally, and also such additional powers as may be conferred by ordinance.

C. The Board of Health shall organize by the election of a Chairperson and Secretary within ten (10) days after notice of their appointment and shall keep a record of their proceedings and acts.

D. The Board of Health, at a regular or special meeting, may authorize any of its members, agents or employees of the Town with the consent of the Town Manager and under his/her direction to make an inspection of private property, upon presenting official identification, and where there is good cause shown that a violation of the health and sanitation code or related health ordinances exists on such property and provided that the owner is advised at least three (3) days in advance of such Inspection, and that the inspection is made at a reasonable hour; except that such requirements shall not apply in the case of an emergency.

E. The Board of Health shall have the power to recommend the adoption of ordinances relating to the health of the citizens or to prevent the introduction or spread of infectious or contagious diseases or nuisances affecting the same and such ordinances, when adopted by the Commissioners, shall extend to an area outside the Town limits for a distance of one (I) mile.

Section 10 03. Creation of Departments

provided however, that the number of departments. offices or agencies shall not be excessive, and each of which shall be headed by or under the direction of the Town Manager or a single person appointed by the Town Manager; provided however, that special offices, commissions, committees and boards appointed or selected by the Mayor, with the advice and consent of the Commissioners may not be included in the above- referenced limitations or under the direction of the Town Manager.

Section 10-04. Purchases and Contracts

All contracts for the purchase of materials or for the furnishing of services authorized or permitted by this Charter shall be accomplished by competitive bidding, as required by resolution of the Commissioners.

Section 10- OS. Administrative Policy

A. The administrative policies of the Town of Newport shall be prepared by the Town Manager and shall be adopted by the Commissioners by ordinance with or without amendment. However, all appointments and promotions of Town employees under the direction of the Town Manager shall be made solely on the basis of merit and fitness for the position concerned.

B. The Commissioners shall establish, by ordinance, a code of ethics which shall apply to all employees and officials of the Town including, but not limited to, appointed, elected, part-time employees and officials and members of boards, committees and commissions.

ARTICLE XI - PLANNING Section Planning Commission

The Mayor, with the advice and consent of three Commissioners, shall appoint a Planning Commission consisting of five members at large. Appointments should be made at the first meeting of the Commissioners in May. All appointments shall be for terms of three years. Appointments during the transition period shall be fixed by ordinance. but terms shall not exceed three years. The compensation of the Planning Commission, if any, shall be determined by the Commissioners. They shall receive reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses incurred in traveling on official business approved by the Commissioners.

The powers, duties and scope of activities of the Planning Commission shall be determined by ordinance. The Commission shall advise the Mayor and Commissioners on zoning and land subdivision matters, on the comprehensive development plan, on flood plain regulation, on the official map of the Town. and on such other matters as shall be contained in said ordinance.

The Planning Commission shall elect annually, from among its members, a Chairperson and Secretary. The Commission shall have no authority to employ persons, disburse monies, make contracts, or to exercise administrative authority in any manner whatsoever, but all such employees engaged in planning matters, and all disbursements, contracts and administrative duties shall be under the direct supervision of the Town Manager.

Section 11-02. Comprehensive Development Plan

A. Development. The Commissioners shall adopt. and may from time to time modify, a comprehensive development plan setting forth, in graphic and textual form, policies to govern the future physical development of the Town. Such plan may cover the entire Town and all of its functions and services or may consist of a combination of plans governing specific functions and services or specific geographic areas. Such comprehensive development plan shall show, among other things, existing and proposed public ways. streets, bridges. tunnels, viaducts, parks, parkways, playgrounds, sites for public buildings and structures. pierhead and bulkhead lines, waterways, routes of railroads and buses, locations of sewers, water mains, and other public utilities, and other appurtenances of such a plan, including certain private ways. Such plan shall be adopted and have the effect as set out herein.

B. Adoption of the Development Plan. Upon receipt from the Town Manager of the proposed comprehensive plan, portions thereof, or proposed modifications thereto, the Commissioners shall refer such proposal to the Planning Commission, which shall, within a time specified by the Commissioners. report its recommendations thereon. After receipt of the recommendations of the Planning Commission, the Commissioners shall hold a public hearing on the proposed comprehensive plan or modification thereof. and may thereafter adopt it by ordinance with or without amendment. The comprehensive development plan shall serve as a guide to all future action of the Commissioners concerning land use and development regulations, urban renewal programs, and expenditures for capital improvements.

C. Implementation of the Development Plan. The Commissioners may, by ordinance, adopt land use and development regulations including. but not limited to zoning and subdivision regulations. The Commissioners may. by ordinance, provide for redevelopment. rehabilitation,conservation and renewal programs for the alleviation or prevention of slums, obsolescence, blight, or other conditions of deterioration, and the achievement of the most appropriate use of land.

Before acting on any proposed ordinance concerning land use and development regulations, urban renewal, or expenditures for capital improvements, where such ordinance refers to a matter covered by the comprehensive development plan or the official map, the Commissioners shall refer the proposal to the Planning Commission, which shall, within a time specified by the Commissioners and prior to the public hearing on the proposed ordinance, report its recommendations thereon. Upon adopting any such ordinance, the Commissioners shall make findings and report on the relationship between the ordinance and the comprehensive plan, and in the event that the ordinance does not accord with the comprehensive plan, the plan shall be deemed to be amended in accordance with such findings and report.

Section U-03. Official Map

A. Adoption of Official Map. The Commissioner shall have the authority to adopt an official map showing the public ways and parks within the Town as therefore laid out and established by law and the private ways then existing and used in common by more than two owners. Such official map is hereby declared to be established to conserve and promote the public health, safety and general; welfare. Upon the adoption of such an official map, and upon any change therein or addition thereto made, as hereinafter provided, the Town Secretary shall forthwith file with the Recorder of Deeds in and for New Castle County a certificate of such action and a copy of such official map as adopted or as changed or added to.

B. Changes in Official Map. The Commissioners may, whenever and as often as it may deem it for the public interest, change or add to such official map so as to place thereon lines and notations showing existing or proposed locations not theretofore mapped of new or widened public ways and new or enlarged parks and proposed discontinuances in whole or In part of existing or mapped public ways and parks. No such change or addition shall become effective untU after a public hearing in relation thereto before the Commissioners, at which parties in interest shall have an opportunity to be heard. At least ten days' notice of such a public hearing shall be given by advertisement in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town.

After the Commissioners have adopted an official map as herein provided, no public way shall be laid out, altered, relocated or discontinued if such laying out, alteration, relocation or discontinuance is not in accordance with such official map as it then appears. After such adoption, no person shall open a way for public use, except as provided under this Charter, unless the location of such way is in accordance with the official map as it then appears, and the grading, surfacing and draining of such way have been approved by the Commissioners or the Town Manager.

Upon final action by the proper authorities in laying out, altering or relocating a proper way, or in the discontinuing the whole or July part thereof, or In establishing or enlarging a public park or closing thereof in whole or in part, the lines and notations showing such improvement, discontinuance or closing as so established or affected shall, without further action by the Commissioners, be made a part of the official map.

C. Enforcement of Official Map. Officers and employees of the Town, may so far as they deem it necessary in carrying out the provisions of the preceding Section, enter upon any lands and there make examinations and surveys, and place and maintain monuments and marks.

The Commissioners may petition the Court of Chancery for the State of Delaware to enforce any of the provisions of the preceding two Sections, and any ordinance made thereunder, by restraining by injunction violations thereof.

Section 11-04. Limitations on Planning

The provisions of the preceding three Sections shall not be construed to authorize the taking of land nor the authorization of the Town to lay out or construct any way which may be indicated on any plan or plot until such way has been laid out as a public way in the manner prescribed by law; nor shall any of the provisions of the preceding three Sections be construed to render the Town liable for damages except as may be sustained by reason of changes in the official map.

ARTICLE XII - GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 12-01. Personal Financial Interest

Any Commissioner, officer or employee who has a substantial financial Interest, or indirect or by reason of ownership of stock in any corporation, in any contract with the Town or in the sale of any land, material, supplies or services to the Town or to a contractor supplying the Town shall make known that interest and shall refrain from voting upon or otherwise participating in his/her capacity as a Town Commissioner, officer or employee in the making of such sale or in the making or performance of such contract. Any Town Commissioner, officer or employee who willfully conceals such substantial interest or willfully violates the requirements of this section shall be guilty of malfeasance in office or position and shall forfeit his/her office or position. Violation of this section with the knowledge express or implied of the person or corporation contracting with or making a sale to the Town shall render the contract or sale voidable by the Town Manager or the Commissioner

Section 12- 02. Performance Bonds

The Town Manager, Town Clerk and Alderman, and such other officers and employees of the Town as the Commissioners may require, shall give bonds for the faithful performance of their duties in such amounts and with such surety as may be approved by the Commissioners. The premiums on such bonds shall be paid by the Town.

Section 12- 03. Actions or Sults: Notice of Claim

No action, suit or proceeding shall be brought or maintained against the Town of Newport for damages, either compensatory or punitive, on account of any physical injury or injuries, death or injury to property by reason of negligence, simple, gross, or willful or wanton of the said Town of Newport, or any of its departments, officers, agents, servants or employees unless the person by or on behalf of whom such claim or demand is asserted, within ninety (90) days from the happening of said injury or the suffering of such damages shall notify the Town of Newport in writing of the time, place, cause, circumstances of the occurrence, character and extent of the injury sustained or damages suffered, name and residence of person or persons on whose behalf the claim is made, names of witnesses to the occurrence, and that the person on whose behalf the claim is made will claim damages therefor from the Town. Such notice shall be directed to the Mayor of the Town of Newport by certified mail with return receipt requested and postage paid.

Section 12- 04. Oath of Office

Every member of the Mayor and Commissioners, the Town Manager, and the Town Secretary, the Alderman, the heads of all departments, and such other officers or employees as Commissioners may by ordinance require, shall, before entering upon the duties of their office, take and subscribe to the following oath or affirmation, to be filed and kept in the office of the Town Secretary:

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Delaware, that I will uphold the Charter and ordinances of the Town of Newport, and that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of according to the best of my ability."

The Mayor, Commissioners, Alderman, and Town Secretary shall have the power to administer oaths required by this Charter.

Section 12 05. Charter Amendments

The Mayor and Commissioners may, by ordinance, provide a procedure by which it may propose to the voters an amendment to this Charter, but said procedure shall, in all respects, comply with applicable State law. Referendum on such amendments proposed may be held at a regular or special election, as determined by the Mayor and Commissioners by resolution. Amendments to this Charter to be voted on at referendum shall be presented for voting by ballot title. The ballot title may differ from its legal title and shall be a clear, concise statement describing the substance of the proposed amendment without argument or prejudice. Below the ballot title shall appear the following question: "Shall the Above- described Amendment be Adopted?". Immediately below such question shall appear the following words, "YES" and "NW, and to the left of each, a square in which, by making a mark, the voter may cast his/her vote. Votes shall be counted and results determined in the same manner as for Commissioners' election. Amendments receiving a majority of the votes cast on the question shall be processed and adopted in accordance with State Law.

Section 12 06. General Prohibitions

A. No person shall be appointed to or removed from, or In any way favored or discriminated against with respect to any Town position or appointive Town administrative office because of sex, age, race or political or religious opinions or affiliations.

B. No person shall willfully make any false statement, certificate, mark, rating or report In regard to any test, certification or appointment under the personnel provisions of this Charter, or the regulations made thereunder, or in any manner commit or attempt to commit any fraud preventing the impartial execution of such provisions and regulations.

C. No person who seeks appointment or promotion with respect to any Town position or appointive Town administrative office shall directly or indirectly give, render or pay any money, service or other valuable thing to any person for, or in connection with, his/her test, appointment, proposed appointment, promotion or proposed promotion.

D. No officer or employee of the Town, whether elected or appointed, shall promise an appointment to any Town position as a reward for any political activity.

E. Any person who, by himself/herself, or with others, willfully violates any of the provisions of this Section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and may be prosecuted In the Alderman's Court or any Magistrates Court, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than three hundred dollars, ($300.00), or by imprisonment for not more than thirty (30) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment, and shall further be ineligible for a period of five years thereafter, to hold any Town office or position, and if an officer or employee of the Town, shall immediately forfeit his/her office or position.

Section 12- 07. Indemnification of Officials and Employees

The Town Solicitor and/or other retained counsel shall undertake the representation or defense, without charge to the offender, of any Town official, employee, including the Mayor and Commissioners, the Town Manager, committee members, advisory board members and all other employees, with respect to any claim or cause of action arising out of or related to the performance by said official of employee of his/her public duties, provided that such activities:

(I) were done in good faith; and

(2) were done in the reasonable belief that such activities were in the best interest of the Town and in the furtherance of the official practices and policies of the Town; and

(3) were within the scope of authority of the person so acting; and

(4) were within the course of employment of the person so acting; and

(5) were not willful, malicious or wanton, as determined by the Town Solicitor, subject to the approval of the Mayor and Commissioners.

Section 12-08. Transfer of Powers

If a Town department, office or agency is abolished by this Charter, the powers and duties given it by law shall be transferred to the Town department, office or agency designated In this Charter, or if said Charter makes no provision, then as designated by the Commissioners. All rights, claims, actions, orders, contracts and legal or administrative proceedings shall continue, except as modified pursuant to the provisions of this Charter, and in each case, shall be maintained, carried on, or death with by the Town department, office or agency appropriate under this Charter and Charter amendments.

Section 12 09. Severability

If any provision of this Charter and Charter amendments, or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect any provisions or applications of this Charter which can be given effect without the invalid provisions or applications, and to this end, the provisions of this Charter are declared to be severable.

ARTICLE XIII INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM

Section 13 01. General Authority

A. Initiative. The qualified voters of the Town shall have power to propose ordinances to the Mayor and Commissioners and, if the Mayor and Commissioners fall to adopt an ordinance so proposed without any change in substance, other than those changes recommended by the Town Solicitor for reasons of legality, to adopt or reject it at a Town election, provided that such power shall not extend to the budget or capital program or any ordinance relating to appropriation of money, levy of taxes or salaries of Town officers or employees.

B. Referendum. The qualified voters of the Town shall have power to require reconsideration by the Mayor and Commissioners of any adopted ordinance and, if the Mayor and Commissioners fail to repeal an ordinance so reconsidered, to approve or reject it at a Town election, provided that such power shall not extend to the budget or capital plan or any emergency ordinance or ordinance relating to appropriation of money or levy of taxes.

Section i3 02. Commencement of Proceedings; Petitioners' Committee; Affidavit

Any five qualified voters may commence Initiative or referendum proceedings by filing with the Town Secretary an affidavit stating they will constitute the petitioners' committee and be responsible for circulating the petition and filing it in proper form, stating their names and addresses and specifying the address to which all notices to the committee are to be sent, and setting out In full the proposed initiative ordinance or citing the ordinance sought to be reconsidered.

Promptly after the affidavit of the petitioners' committee is filed the Town Secretary shall issue the appropriate petition blanks to the petitioners' committee.

Section 13-03. Petitions

A. Number of Signatures. Initiative and referendum petitions must be signed by qualified voters of the Town equal in number to at least 50 percent of the total number of qualified voters registered to vote at the last regular municipal election.

B. Form and Contents. AU papers of a petition shall be uniform in size and style and shall be assembled as one instrument for filing. Each signature shall be executed in ink or Indelible pencil and shall be followed by the address of the person signing. Petitions shall contain or have attached thereto throughout their circulation the full text of the ordinance proposed or sought to be reconsidered.

C. Affidavit of Circulator. Each paper of a petition shall have attached to it when filed, an affidavit executed by the circulator thereof stating that he/she personally circulated the paper, the number of signatures thereon, that all the signatures were affixed in his/her presence, that he/she believes them to be the genuine signatures of the persons whose names they purport to be and that each signor had an opportunity before signing to read the full text of the ordinance proposed or sought to be reconsidered.

D. Time for Filing Referendum Petitions. Referendum petitions must be filed within 60 days after adoption by the Mayor and Commissioners of the ordinance sought to be reconsidered.

Section 13- 04. Procedure After Filing

A. Certificate of Town Secretary; Amendment. Within twenty days after the petition is filed, the Town Secretary shall complete a certificate as to its sufficiency, specifying, if it is insufficient, the particulars wherein it is defective and shall promptly send a copy of the certificate to the petitioners' committee by certified mail. A petition certified insufficient for lack of the required number of valid signatures may be amended once if the petitioners' committee files a notice of intention to amend it with the Town Secretary within two days after receiving the copy of his/her certificate and files a supplementary petition upon additional papers within ten days after receiving the copy of such certificate. Such supplementary petition shall comply with the requirements of subsections B and C of Section 13.03, and within five days after it Is filed the Town Secretary shall complete a certificate as to the sufficiency of the petition as amended and promptly send a copy of such certificate to the petitioners' committee by certified mall as in the case of an original petition. If a petition or amended petition is certified sufficient, or if a petition or amended petition is certified insufficient and the petitioners' committee does not elect to amend or request the Commissioners review under subsection II of this Section within the time required, the Town Secretary shall promptly present his/her certificate to the Mayor and Commissioners and the certificate shall then be a final determination as to the sufficiency of the petition.

B. Mayor and Commissioners' Review. If a petition has been certified insufficient and the petitioners' committee does not file notice of intention to amend it or if an amended petition has been certified insufficient, the committee may, within two days after receiving the copy of such certificate, file a request that it be reviewed by the Mayor and Commissioners. The Mayor and Commissioners shall review the certificate at its next meeting following the filing of such request and approve or disapprove it, and the Commissioners' determination shall then be a final determination as to the sufficiency of the petition.

C. Court Review; New Petition. A final determination as to the sufficiency of a petition shall be subject to court review. A final determination of insufficiency, even if sustained upon court review, shall not prejudice the filing of a new petition for the same purpose.

Section 13 05. Referendum Petitions; Suspension of Effect of Ordinance

When a referendum petition is filed with the Town Secretary, the ordinance sought to be reconsidered shall be suspended from taking effect. Such suspension shall terminate when:

(I) There is a final determination of insufficiency of the petition, or

(2) The petitioners' committee withdraws the petition, or

(3) The Mayor and Commissioners repeal the ordinance, or

(4) Five days have elapsed after a vote of the Town on the ordinance.

Section 13 06. Action by Mayor and Commissioners. When an initiative or referendum petition has been finally determined sufficient, the Mayor and Commissioners shall promptly consider the proposed initiative ordinance in the manner provided in Article IV or reconsider the referred ordinance by voting its repeal. If the Mayor and Commissioners fall to adopt a proposed initiative ordinance without any change in substance within 60 days or fall to repeal the referred ordinance within 30 days after the date the petition was finally determined sufficient, it shall submit the proposed or referred ordinance to the voters of the Town.

B. Submission to Voters. The vote of the Town on a proposed or referred ordinance shall be held not less than 60 days and not later than 6 months from the date of the final Mayor and Commissioners' vote thereon. If no regular Town election is to be held within the period prescribed in this subsection, the Mayor and Commissioners shall provide for a special election; otherwise, the vote shall be held at the same time as such regular election, except that the Mayor and Commissioners may in its discretion provide for a special election at an earlier date within the prescribed period. Copies of the proposed or referred ordinance shall be made available at the polls.

C. Withdrawal of Petitions. An initiative or referendum petition may be withdrawn at any time prior to the fifteenth day preceding the day scheduled for a vote of the Town by filing with the Town Secretary a request for withdrawal signed by at least three members of the petitioners' committee. Upon the filing of such request the petition shall have no further force or effect and all proceedings thereon shall be terminated.

Section 13- 07. Results of Election

A. initiative. If two- thirds of the qualified electors voting on a proposed initiative ordinance vote in its favor, it shall be considered adopted upon certification of the election results and shall be treated in all respects in the manner as ordinances of the same kind adopted by the Mayor and Commissioners. If conflicting ordinances are approved at the same election, the one receiving the greatest number of affirmative votes shall prevail to the extent of such conflict.

B. Referendum. If two- thirds of the qualified electors voting on a referred ordinance vote against it, it shall be considered repealed upon certification of the election results.

ARTICLE XIV - TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

Section 14-01. Former Government in Force

All ordinances, resolutions, orders, rules or regulations in force in the Town of Newport, made or enacted by the Commissioners of Newport at the time this Charter takes effect, regardless of the authority under which originally enacted, shall continue in full force and effect until the Commissioners otherwise provide by ordinance, resolution, order, rule or regulation, whichever may be appropriate, notwithstanding any change in organization effected by this Charter.

All acts and doings of the Commissioners of Newport or any officer of said Town, lawfully performed under the provisions of any law of this State, or any ordinance of said Town are hereby ratified and confirmed and continue in force. All debts, fines, penalties or forfeiture due said Town, and all debts due from said Town to any person or persons or to any corporation are declared to be unaffected and unimpaired, and all the Laws of this State for the collection and enforcement of taxes in said Town, heretofore assessed and uncollected shall continue in full force until the same shall be lawfully paid.

Section 14- 02. Continuance in Office

All persons holding any elective or non-elective office or employment with the Commissioners of Newport at the time this Charter takes effect shall continue in such office or employment and shall draw the same rate of compensation as during the month preceding the adoption of this Charter until removed or until the compensation is changed.

Section 14-03. Inconsistent Acts

All acts or parts of acts inconsistent with or in conflict with the provisions of this Charter be and the same are hereby repealed to the extent of any such inconsistency.

Section 14-04. Effective Date

This Charter shall be taken as and deemed to be a Public Act of the State of Delaware. This Charter shall be effective immediately upon passage and signature of the Governor.

Approved September 6, 1985.