An Act To Amend the Charter of the Mount Desert Water District (AFTER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 121, LD 1860
Committee: Utilities and Energy
Sponsors: KOFFMAN, DAMON, BLISS, DUPLESSIE, HALL

Legislative Document 
No. 1860 
H.P.1386 
House of Representatives, February 19,2004 
An Act To Amend the Charter of the Mount Desert Water District 
(AFTER DEADLINE) 
(EMERGENCY) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
205. 
Reference to the Committee on Utilities and Energy suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative KOFFMAN of Bar Harbor. 
Cosponsored by Senator DAMON of Hancock and 
17/~ 
117.11!d£~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: BLISS of South Portland, DUPLESSIE of Westbrook, Senator: HALL of 
Lincoln. 
Printed on recycled paper 
Emergency preamble. Whereas~ Acts of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted 
as emergencies; and 
Whereas, the election of trustees of the Mount Desert Water 
District will occur before the end of the current legislative 
session; and 
Whereas, the charter restrictions 
on 
the eligibility of 
trustees pose an immediate disturbance in the management of the 
district; and 
Whereas, the water district must be managed consistently to 
provide for the health and safety of its customers; 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, 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. P&SL 1993, c. 83, §9, sub-§4 is amended to read: 
4. 
Vacancy. 
Whenever the term of office of 
a 
trustee 
expires, the trustee I s successor must be elected at large by a 
plurality vote by the inhabitants of the district. 
For the 
purpose of election, a special election must be called and held 
on the first Monday in Mayor on such other date in Mayas the 
trustees establish, the election to be called by the trustees of 
the district in the same manner as town meetings are called and 
for this purpose the trustees are vested with the powers of 
municipal officers of towns. 
The trustee so elected shall serve 
the 
full 
term of 
years. 
If any 
vacancy 
arises 
in 
the 
membership of the board of trustees, it must be filled in like 
manner for the unexpired term by a special election to be called 
by the trustees of the district. 
When any trustee ceases to be a 
resident of the district, the trustee shall vacate the office of 
trustee and the vacancy must be filled as provided in this 
section. 
All trustees are eligible for reelection, but a-~e~seB 
whe-~~-a-~R4€4pa~-~~-~--iB-~~-~ewB-~-~~~-~e~e~~--~-Bet 
e;bi§is;be--f-o-r--BeHliBatieB--o-r--eleetieB--a&--tl:'1:istee no more than 2 
trustees may be municipal officers of the Town of Mount Desert. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this Act takes effect when approved. 
Page l-LR2756(1) 
SUMMARY 
This bill amends 
the charter of the Mount Desert Water 
District. 
A municipal officer in the Town of 
eligible to be a trustee under the charter. 
more than 2 municipal officers to be trustees. 
Mount Desert is not 
The bill allows no