An Act To Expand the Powers of the Stonington Sanitary District (AFTER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1658
Committee: Utilities and Energy
Sponsors: PINGREE, DAMON, STRIMLING

Legislative Document 
No. 1658 
H.P.1169 
House of Representatives, May 5, 2005 
An Act To Expand the Powers of the Stonington Sanitary 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 PINGREE of North Haven. 
Cosponsored by Senator DAMON of Hancock and 
Senator: STRIMLING of Cumberland. 
Printed on recycled paper 
7r/~/J7.~ 
MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted 
as emergencies; and 
Whereas, 
the 
Stonington 
Sanitary 
District 
was 
formed 
pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 38, chapter 11; and 
Whereas, this legislation increases the number of trustees 
of the district and expands the territory and the powers of the 
district; and 
Whereas, the purposes of this legislation are to be voted on 
by the residents of the district at a meeting to be held in June; 
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. Stonington Sanitary District; expanded territory; additional 
powers; additional trustees. 
The 
Stonington 
Sanitary District, 
formed pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 38, chapter 
and referred to in this Act as "the district," is granted 
additional powers, rights, privileges and obligations as provided 
in this Act. 
All authority and powers of the Stonington Sanitary 
District 
as 
previously 
granted 
continue 
in full 
force 
and 
effect. 
The board of trustees of the district as presently 
elected 
and constituted may 
exercise all additional 
powers, 
rights, privileges and obligations granted by this section in the 
same 
manner 
as 
currently 
empowered 
for 
the affairs of 
the 
district. 
Sec. 2. 
Territory. 
The district's territory is expanded to 
include the entire Town of Stonington. 
Sec. 3. Trustees. 
The district consists of 7 trustees. 
Four 
of the trustees must be residents of the district and reside in 
households that use the district's services, and 3 trustees must 
be residents of the district but need not use the district's 
services. 
Sec. 4. Powers. 
In addition to 
the 
powers 
granted the 
district under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 38, chapter 11, 
the district has the authority to implement seasonal rates, the 
authority to pump out, truck or treat sewage and the authority to 
finance and operate sand filters and other septic services . 
. Page l-LR2261 (1) 
Sec. 5. Existing trustees. 
The 
trustees of 
the 
Stonington 
Sanitary District holding office on the effective date of this 
Act hold office as trustees for the terms for which they were 
elected, and as each term expires one trustee must be elected by 
the registered voters of the district at the next annual meeting 
of the district to serve for a term of 3 years. 
The additional 
trustees must be elected at the next annual meeting, one for a 
term of 2 years and one for a term of 3 years. 
If a vacancy 
arises, it must be filled for the remainder of the unexpired term. 
Sec. 6. Referendum; emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency 
ci ted in the preamble, this Act takes effect when approved only 
for the purposes of permitting its submission to the legal voters 
within the district at an election called for that purpose or at 
a town meeting. 
The election or the meeting must be held in June 
2005. 
1. 
If the referendum is held at an election, 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 the 3 secular days 
preceding the election, of which the first 2 days must be devoted 
to registration of voters and the last day to verification of the 
list and 
completion of 
the 
records 
of 
the 
session by 
the 
registrar. 
The subject matter of this Act is reduced to the 
following question: 
"Do you favor expanding the territory, increasing the number 
of trustees 
and expanding the powers 
of the Stonington 
Sanitary District?" 
The voters shall indicate by a cross or check mark placed against 
the words "Yes" or "No" their opinion of the same. 
The results must be declared by the municipal officers of the 
Town of Stonington and due certificate of the results filed by 
the clerk with the Secretary of State. 
2. 
If 
procedures of 
2354 apply. 
the 
referendum is 
the Maine Revised 
held at 
Statutes, 
a 
town 
Title 
meeting, 
the 
30-A, 
section 
This Act takes effect for all purposes immediately upon its 
acceptance by a majority of the legal voters in the district if 
voting is held at an election or upon acceptance at a 
town 
meeting if voting is held at a town meeting. 
Failure to achieve 
the necessary approval 
by 
a majority of voters at any such 
election does not prevent a subsequent election or elections from 
being held for that purpose. 
SUMMARY 
This bill authorizes the Stonington Sanitary District to 
expand its territory to include the entire Town of Stonington, 
increase the number of trustees and expand the powers of the 
district.