CHAPTER 23
H.P. 1459 - L.D. 2091
An Act to Amend the Charter of the Richmond Utilities District
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. P&SL 1961, c. 154, §14-A, as amended by P&SL 1995, c. 10, §1 and affected by §2, is further amended by amending the first sentence to read:
For accomplishing the purpose of this Act, the district, by vote of its board of trustees, without district vote except as provided, is authorized to borrow money temporarily and to issue its negotiable notes; and for the purpose of renewing and refunding the indebtedness so created, of paying necessary expenses and liabilities incurred under the provisions of this Act, and in acquiring properties, paying damages, laying pipes, mains, sewers, drains and conduits, purchasing, constructing, maintaining and operating a water system and a sewerage system and making renewals, additions, extensions and improvements to such systems and to cover interest payments during the period of construction, the Richmond Utilities District, by votes of its board of trustees, without district vote except as provided, is also authorized to issue, from time to time, bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the district in such amount or amounts, bearing interest at such rate or rates, and having such terms and provisions as the trustees determine; except that the total indebtedness of the district may not exceed the sum of $2,000,000 at any one time outstanding or such other amount as may be established pursuant to section 14-B and in the case of a vote by the trustees to authorize bonds or notes to pay for the acquisition of property, except for the original acquisition of property of Richmond Water Works, for the cost of a water system or sewerage system or part of a water system or sewerage system, for renewals or additions or for other improvements in the nature of capital costs, the estimated cost of which singly or in the aggregate included in any one financing is $30,000 or more, but not for renewing or refunding existing indebtedness or to pay for maintenance, repairs or for current expenses, notice of the proposed debt and of the general purpose or purposes for which it was authorized must be given by the clerk by publication at least once in a newspaper having a general circulation in the Town of Richmond.
Sec. 2. P&SL 1961, c. 154, §14-B is enacted to read:
Sec. 14-B. Debt limit; referendum. Notwithstanding the limitation on total indebtedness established under section 14-A, the trustees of the district may propose a different debt limit and submit that debt limit for districtwide approval in a referendum held in accordance with this section. The referendum must be called, advertised and conducted according to the law relating to municipal elections, except the registrar of voters is not required to prepare or the clerk to post a new list of voters. For the purpose of registering voters, the registrar of voters must be in session on the regular workday preceding the election. The question presented must conform to the following form:
"Do you favor changing the debt limit of the Richmond Utilities District from (insert current debt limit) to (insert proposed debt limit)?"
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 trustees and entered upon the district's records. Due certificate of the results must be filed by the clerk with the Secretary of State.
A debt limit proposal becomes effective upon its acceptance by a majority of the legal voters within the district voting at the referendum. Failure of approval by the majority of voters voting at the referendum does not prevent subsequent referenda from being held for the same purpose. The costs of referenda are borne by the district.
The total indebtedness of the district at any one time outstanding may not exceed the sum approved by referendum.
Sec. 3. P&SL 1961, c. 154, §24-A, 2nd paragraph, 8th sentence, as enacted by P&SL 1979, c. 39, §10, is amended to read:
The fee to be charged by the district to the ratepayer for the notice and filing shall may not exceed $10 and the fee to be charged to the district by the register of deeds for filing and recording shall not exceed the amount established in the Revised Statutes, Title 33, section 751, subsection 12 the cost to the district for giving such notice and for filing and recording the certificate of lien.
Effective September 18, 1999, unless otherwise indicated.
| Revisor of Statutes Homepage | Subject Index | Search | 119th Laws of Maine | Maine Legislature |
About the 1st Regular Session Laws Of Maine
