§13080-B. Loring Development Authority of Maine; powers; membership; obligations
1.
Powers.
The authority is a public municipal corporation and may:
A.
Sue and be sued;
[PL 1993, c. 474, §1 (NEW).]
B.
Adopt bylaws or regulations consistent with this article for the governance of its affairs;
[PL 1993, c. 474, §1 (NEW).]
C.
Exercise all of the general powers of corporations under Title 13‑C, section 302;
[RR 2001, c. 2, Pt. B, §3 (COR); RR 2001, c. 2, Pt. B, §58 (AFF).]
D.
Exercise the power of eminent domain;
[PL 1993, c. 474, §1 (NEW).]
E.
Provide for the public safety by imposing appropriate regulations, regulating appropriate use of the base facilities and enforcing laws and regulations as they apply to the use of the base facilities;
[PL 1993, c. 474, §1 (NEW).]
F.
Charge and collect fees, charges and rents for the use of the properties and other services and use the proceeds of those fees, charges and rents for the purposes provided in this article, both subject to and in accordance with any agreement with bondholders that may be made as provided in this article. Fees, charges and rents collected from properties contained in the public benefit transfer or otherwise generated by the airport must be used to support the development, maintenance and operation of aeronautical facilities and in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration Order 5190.6A;
[PL 1993, c. 729, §3 (AMD).]
G.
Contract with the Federal Government or its instrumentalities or agencies, this State or its agencies, instrumentalities or municipalities, public bodies, private corporations, partnerships, associations, individuals and other persons to carry out the purposes of this article;
[PL 2003, c. 598, §2 (AMD).]
H.
Accept the cooperation of the Federal Government or its agencies in the construction, maintenance, reconstruction, operation and financing of the readjustment of the base and take necessary actions to utilize that aid and cooperation;
[PL 1993, c. 474, §1 (NEW).]
I.
Borrow money and apply for and accept advances, loans, grants, contributions and other forms of financial assistance from the Federal Government, the State, a municipality or other public body or from other sources, public or private, for the purposes of this article, give any security that is required and enter into and carry out contracts in connection with that financial assistance;
[PL 1993, c. 474, §1 (NEW).]
J.
Borrow money, make, issue and sell at public or private sale negotiable notes, bonds and other evidences of indebtedness or obligation of the authority for the purposes under this article and secure the payment of that obligation or any part of that obligation by pledge of all or any part of the operating revenues or other revenues or property of the authority;
[PL 2003, c. 598, §2 (AMD).]
K.
Enter into loan or security agreements with borrowers or one or more lending institutions, including, but not limited to, banks, insurance companies and pension funds, or trustees for those institutions for the purposes for which bonds may be issued and exercise with respect to those loan or security agreements all of the powers delineated in this article for the issuance of bonds;
[PL 2003, c. 598, §2 (AMD).]
L.
Provide from operating revenues for the maintenance, construction or reconstruction of facilities to ensure the public safety for which the authority has not otherwise provided and in keeping with limitations set forth in paragraph F;
[PL 1993, c. 729, §3 (AMD).]
M.
Use operating revenues to provide payment of obligations, if any, due to the United States to implement the readjustment or reuse of the facility. Use of operating revenues for this purpose must be in accordance with the provisions of the Surplus Property Act, 50 United States Code App. Section 1622 et seq. and Federal Aviation Administration Order 5190.6A;
[PL 1993, c. 729, §3 (AMD).]
N.
Adopt rules pursuant to the Maine Administrative Procedure Act; and
[PL 1993, c. 474, §1 (NEW).]
O.
Take all other lawful action necessary and incidental to these powers.
[PL 1993, c. 474, §1 (NEW).]
[PL 2003, c. 598, §2 (AMD).]
2.
Membership; appointment.
The authority is governed by a board of trustees composed of 13 voting members appointed by the Governor and subject to review by the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over economic development matters and to confirmation by the Senate.
A.
Trustees are appointed for 4-year terms except that, for initial appointments, 3 trustees are appointed to one-year terms, 3 trustees to 2-year terms, 2 trustees to 3-year terms, 4 trustees to 4-year terms and the commissioner designated pursuant to paragraph D serves at the pleasure of the Governor.
[PL 1995, c. 166, §1 (AMD).]
B.
A trustee continues to hold office until a successor is appointed and qualified, but the term of the successor is not altered from the original expiration date of the holdover trustee's term.
[PL 1993, c. 474, §1 (NEW).]
C.
The Governor shall make 12 appointments, of which no less than 7 must be from candidates who are residents of Aroostook County and are nominated by the primary impact communities. The Governor shall appoint members who reflect the diversity of interests represented by these communities. At least 4 of the remaining appointments must be from candidates who are not residents of Aroostook County.
[PL 1995, c. 166, §1 (AMD).]
D.
The Governor shall designate a commissioner of a department of State Government to be a voting, ex officio member of the board of trustees.
[PL 1993, c. 474, §1 (NEW).]
[PL 1995, c. 166, §1 (AMD).]
3.
Quorum.
Seven members constitute a quorum. Seven affirmative votes are required for the board to take action.
[PL 1995, c. 166, §1 (AMD).]
4.
Liability.
The liability of the authority is governed by the Maine Tort Claims Act, Title 14, chapter 741. A member of the authority, a member of a board of the authority and an employee of the authority may not be subject to any personal liability for having acted in the service of their duty as board members of the authority within the course and scope of membership or employment to carry out a power or duty under this chapter. The authority shall indemnify a member of the authority, a member of a board of the authority and an employee of the authority against expenses actually and necessarily incurred in connection with the defense of an action or proceeding in which the member or employee is made a party by reason of past or present association with the authority.
[PL 1997, c. 71, §1 (AMD).]
5.
Expenses.
A trustee is not entitled to receive compensation for services to the authority but is entitled to receive reimbursement for necessary expenditures, including travel expenses, incurred in carrying out those services.
[PL 1993, c. 474, §1 (NEW).]
6.
Officers; employees.
The trustees shall elect a chair and vice-chair from among their members. The authority may employ an executive director, technical experts and other agents and employees, permanent and temporary, that it requires and may determine their qualifications, duties and compensation. Permanent employees of the authority are eligible to elect to participate in the Maine Public Employees Retirement System, any state-deferred compensation plan or any other plan or program adopted by the trustees to the extent the trustees may determine. For required legal services, the authority may employ or retain its own counsel and legal staff.
[PL 1995, c. 495, §2 (AMD); PL 2007, c. 58, §3 (REV).]
7.
Term limits.
A person may not serve more than 2 consecutive 4-year terms as a trustee.
[PL 1995, c. 644, §1 (NEW); PL 1995, c. 644, §3 (AFF).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1993, c. 474, §1 (NEW). PL 1993, c. 729, §§3,4 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 166, §1 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 495, §2 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 644, §1 (AMD). PL 1995, c. 644, §3 (AFF). PL 1997, c. 71, §1 (AMD). RR 2001, c. 2, §B3 (COR). RR 2001, c. 2, §B58 (AFF). PL 2003, c. 598, §2 (AMD). PL 2007, c. 58, §3 (REV).