An Act To Create the Princeton Standard Water District
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas, a number of private wells in the Town of Princeton have been contaminated and this poses a serious threat to the health and well-being of the inhabitants of the area; and
Whereas, an adequate supply of pure water is essential to the health and well-being of the inhabitants of the Town of Princeton; and
Whereas, in the judgment of the Legislature, these facts create an emergency within the meaning of the Constitution of Maine and require the following legislation as immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; now, therefore,
Sec. 1. Territorial limits; corporate name. Pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, chapter 64, that part of the Town of Princeton described as Tax Map 8 and Tax Map 10 and its inhabitants constitute a standard water district under the name of Princeton Water District, referred to in this Act as "the district."
Sec. 2. Powers; authority; duties. The district has all the powers and authority and is subject to all the requirements and restrictions provided in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, chapter 64, except as otherwise provided in this Act.
Sec. 3. Power to take water. The district is authorized to take, to hold and to convey within the Town of Princeton and from any part of the town water from any surface or groundwater source within the town.
Sec. 4. Number of trustees. The board of trustees of the district is composed of 3 trustees. A trustee must be a resident of the Town of Princeton but need not reside in a household to which the district's service is provided.
Sec. 5. First board. The first board is appointed by the municipal officers of the Town of Princeton in accordance with this Act. The terms of the first board are governed by the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 6410.
Sec. 6. Terms of trustees. After the appointment of the first board of the district, trustees are elected to 3-year terms.
Sec. 7. State funds exempt from investigation. The management and allocation by the Princeton Water District of a contribution of funds by the State under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 38, section 568, subsection 2 and the income from those funds are not subject to investigation or review by the Public Utilities Commission under Title 35-A, section 310, 1302 or 1303, except upon request by the Department of Environmental Protection.
Sec. 8. Referendum; effective date. This Act takes effect when approved only for the purpose of permitting its submission to the legal voters within the territory described in section 1 of this Act at an election called for that purpose and held within 3 years of the effective date of this Act. 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. For the purpose of registration of voters, the registrar of voters must be in session the secular day preceding the election. The subject matter of this Act is reduced to the following question:
"Do you favor creating the Princeton Water District?"
The voters shall indicate by a cross or check mark placed against the word "Yes" or "No" their opinion of the same.
The results must be declared by the municipal officers of the Town of Princeton and due certificate of the results filed by the clerk with the Secretary of State.
This Act takes effect for all other purposes immediately upon its approval by a majority of the legal voters voting at the election. Failure to achieve the necessary approval in any referendum does not prohibit subsequent referenda consistent with this section, provided the referenda are held within 3 years of the effective date of this Act.
Emergency clause. In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.