All rights, title and interest held by the Town or any other
person or corporation on the effective date of this Charter in and
to any lien acquired under any prior Charter of the Town are hereby
preserved for the holder in all respects as if this Charter had not
been adopted, together with all rights and remedies in relation thereto.
This Charter shall not discharge, impair or release any contract,
obligation, duty, liability or penalty whatever existing on the effective
date of this Charter. All suits and actions, both civil and criminal,
pending or which may hereafter be instituted for causes of action
now existing or offenses already committed against any law or ordinance
repealed by this Charter shall be instituted, proceeded with and prosecuted
to final determination and judgment as if this Charter had not become
effective.
If any section or part of a section of this Charter shall be
held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, such holding shall
not affect the remainder of this Charter nor the context in which
such section or part of a section so held invalid shall appear, except
to the extent that an entire section or part of a section may be inseparably
connected in meaning and effect with the section or part of a section
to which such holding shall directly apply.
Any person who fails to perform any duty required of him under
the provisions of this Charter or any ordinances passed thereunder,
in any manner willfully or corruptly violates any of the provisions
of this Charter or any ordinances passed thereunder or willfully or
corruptly does anything which will or will tend to affect fraudulently
any registration, nomination or Town election is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Any officer or employee of the Town government who is convicted of
a misdemeanor under the provisions of this section shall immediately,
upon conviction thereof, cease to hold such office or employment.