An Act To Authorize the Deorganization of the Town of Cooper (AFTER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 122, LD 1626
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: RA YE, McFADDEN

Legislative Document 
No. 1626 
S.P.603 
In Senate, May 3, 2005 
An Act To Authorize the Deorganization of the Town of Cooper 
(AFTER DEADLINE) 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 205. 
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Senator RA YE of Washington. 
Cosponsored by Representative McFADDEN of Dennysville. 
Printed on recycled paper 
JOY J. O'BRIEN 
Secretary of the Senate 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. Deorganization of Town of Cooper. 
The Town of Cooper in 
Washington 
County is 
deorganized, 
except 
that 
the 
corporate 
existence, powers, duties and liabilities of the town survive for 
the purposes of prosecuting and defending all pending suits to 
which the town is, or may be, a party and all needful process 
arising out of any suits, including provisions for the payment of 
all or any judgments or debts that may be rendered against the 
town or exist in favor of any creditor. 
Sec. 2. Unexpended school funds. 
The treasurer of the town or 
any other person who has custody of the funds of the town shall 
pay to the Treasurer of State all unexpended school funds that, 
together with the credits due the town for school purposes, are 
to be used by the State Tax 
Assessor to settle any 
school 
obligations contracted by the town before deorganization. 
Any 
unexpended school funds 
remaining with the Treasurer of State 
after all the obligations have been met must be added to the 
Unorganized Territory Education and Services Fund, as established 
in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 36, chapter 115. 
Sec. 3. Withdrawal from School Union 107. 
The Town of Cooper 
is withdrawn from School Union No. 107. 
Sec. 4. Provision of education services. 
Notwithstanding 
any 
other law, this section entitles all kindergarten to grade 
pupils in Cooper to attend school in Alexander or East Machias 
and all secondary school pupils to attend school within School 
Union No. 
(Calais High School) or at Washington Academy in 
East Machias. 
Pupils must be provided transportation at state 
expense to those schools. 
Sec. 5. Assessment of taxes. 
The State Tax Assessor shall 
assess the real and personal property taxes in the Town of Cooper 
as of April 1, 2006, as provided in the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 36, chapter 115. 
Sec. 6. Referendum; certificate to Secretary of State. 
This Act 
takes effect 90 days after its approval only for the purpose of 
permitting its submission by the municipal officers to the legal 
voters of the Town of Cooper by ballot at the next statewide 
election to be held in November. 
This election must be called, 
advertised and conducted according to the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 30-A, sections 2528 and 2532. 
The town clerk shall prepare 
the required ballots on which the clerk shall reduce the subject 
matter of this Act to the following question: 
"Do you favor the deorganization of the Town of Cooper?" 
Page l-LR2295(1) 
The voters shall indicate their op~n~on on this question by 
a cross or check mark placed against the word "Yes" or "No." 
Before becoming effective, this Act must be approved by at least 
2/3 of the legal voters voting at the election, and the total 
number of votes cast for and against the acceptance of this Act 
at the election must equal or exceed 
50~ of the total number of 
votes cast in the town for Governor at the last gubernatorial 
election. 
The municipal officers of the Town of Cooper shall declare 
the result of the vote. 
The town clerk shall file a certificate 
of the election result with the Secretary of State within 10 days 
from the date of the election. 
Sec. 7. Effective date. 
Sections 1 to 5 of this Act take effect 
on July 1, 2006 if deorganization is approved by the voters of 
the Town of Cooper pursuant to section 6 of this Act. 
SUMMARY 
This bill provides for the deorganization of the Town of 
Cooper 
in 
Washington 
County, 
subject 
to 
approval 
at 
local 
referendum.