HB 379 Summary

• Increases maximum fine for Town ordinance violations from $100 to $500, and grants the Town authority to impose and collect a realty transfer tax not exceeding 1.5% of property value or the maximum percentage permitted under state law, whichever is greater.

• Grants the Town power to license activities, impose permit fees, and require abatement costs for nuisances, dangerous buildings, and other hazardous conditions to be paid by responsible parties.

• Converts the elected positions of Treasurer, Secretary, and Tax Collector to regular Council seats beginning in 2019, with the Mayor and all Council members serving staggered one or two-year terms, and changes the Tax Collector to an appointed position subject to Council confirmation.

• Establishes detailed procedures for municipal elections including candidate filing requirements, Board of Elections composition and duties, voting machine requirements, and compliance with state election laws found in 15 Del. C. Ch. 75.

• Adds comprehensive annexation procedures allowing the Town to annex contiguous territory through petition, committee review, public hearing, and special election requiring majority votes from both Town residents and property owners in the territory proposed for annexation.

• Authorizes the Town to recover court costs, attorney's fees, and reasonable out-of-pocket expenses when prevailing in legal actions for tax collection, ordinance enforcement, or other matters where the Town is the prevailing party.