An Act To Promote Economic Development in the Greater Portland Region

Sec. 1. P&SL 1945, c. 123, §2,  as amended by P&SL 1951, c. 204, §1, is further amended to read:

Sec. 2. Powers. The said corporation shall have the power, within the confines of Portland and , South Portland , Westbrook, Falmouth, Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough, to acquire, manage, operate or lease any business, facility structure, building, machinery or equipment owned by the federal government or any agency thereof, which may hereafter become surplus property and not needed for any function of said federal government, including, but not restricting the power aforesaid, the utilization of shipyards, wharves, trackage, dry-docks and any facilities useful or necessary in connection therewith, and shall also have the power to acquire, build, manage, operate, rent or lease, other properties both real and personal, within said confines of Portland and , South Portland , Westbrook, Falmouth, Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough, and for those purposes to purchase, lease, hold, own, manage, control, sell, mortgage, lease or let land, buildings, real estate and rights in real estate, and all manner of personal property, and to accept gifts thereof in trust, or otherwise.

Sec. 2. P&SL 1945, c. 123, §5,  as amended by P&SL 1951, c. 204, §3, is further amended to read:

Sec. 5. Collection and disposition of income. The corporation shall have power to fix and receive by private contract or regularly established fees, revenue for the use, occupation or enjoyment of any of its property, and shall devote the same exclusively to the management, repair, replacement, construction, and reconstruction, purchase and general development of its property within the scope of its powers as herein defined, and shall render an account thereof annually to the governor and his council. It shall be the policy of the said corporation to establish as rental for the facilities to be leased by it a sum which will be in parity with comparable facilities established by private enterprises so as to prevent any undue competitive condition which would tend to handicap, destroy or put out of business existing competitive comparable facilities. The corporation may transfer or assign any funds or other assets in this section that are needed to manage the corporation's affairs to a nonprofit corporation that has a mission consistent with the corporation of continuing economic development efforts in Greater Portland.

Sec. 3. Conduct of business. Notwithstanding Resolve 2007, c. 224, the Greater Portland Public Development Commission may expend funds, incur new liabilities and obligations and conduct current and new business activities in carrying out its powers.

SUMMARY

This bill modifies the charter of the Greater Portland Public Development Commission by allowing it to conduct its regular business and transfer its funds and its assets to a nonprofit corporation that has the same mission as the commission and to add the municipalities of Westbrook, Falmouth, Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough to the geographic area served by the commission.