The authority granted under this chapter shall supersede supersedes the authority granted the North Village Water Company to serve said area.

Sec. 2. Emergency clause; referendum; effective date. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved only for the purpose of permitting its submission to the legal voters within the territory of the New Portland Water District as proposed in this Act at a special or regular town meeting or election held prior to January 1, 2005. The election must be called, advertised and conducted according to the law relating to municipal elections, except that the registrar of voters is not required to prepare or the clerk to post a new list of voters. The registrar of voters must be in session on the secular day next preceding the election. The town clerk shall prepare the required ballots, on which the town clerk shall reduce the subject matter of this Act to the following question:

"Do you favor expanding the territory of the New Portland Water District to allow the district to access a new source of water supply?"

The voters shall indicate by a cross or check mark placed against the word "Yes" or "No" their opinion on the question.

The results must be declared by the municipal officers of the Town of New Portland and due certificate of the results filed by the town clerk with the Secretary of State.

This Act takes effect immediately upon its acceptance by a majority of the legal voters voting at the election. Failure of acceptance by a majority of the legal voters does not prohibit subsequent elections held in accordance with this section, provided the elections are held prior to January 1, 2005.