An Act To Validate Certain Proceedings Authorizing the Issuance of Bonds and Notes by Maine School Administrative District No. 29 (AFTER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 123, LD 2321
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: BARSTOW, SHERMAN, CLEARY, JOY, SCHNEIDER

Legislative Document 
No. 2321 
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H.P. 1683 
House of Representatives, April 15, 2008 
An Act To Validate Certain Proceedings Authorizing the Issuance of 
Bonds and Notes by Maine School Administrative District No. 29 
(AFTER DEADLINE) 
(EMERGENCY) 
Approved for mtroduction 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 Representative BARSTOW of Gorham. 
Cosponsored by Senator SHERMAN of Aroostook and 
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MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Representatives: CLEARY of Houlton, JOY of CrystaL SUTHERLAND of Chapman, Senator: 
SCHNEIDER of Penobscot. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, Maine School Administrative District No. 29 is made up of the towns of 
Hammond, Houlton, Littlefield and Monticello and is authorized pursuant to state law to 
operate and maintain schools within the district; and 
Whereas, at the district referendum held November 6, 2007, the voters of the 
district voted to authorize the board of directors of the district to renovate Houlton High 
School at a cost not to exceed $2,500,000, to construct a new performing arts center at the 
high school at a cost not to exceed $5,000,000 and to accept and expend gifts for the 
performing arts center project as described in the warrants and ballots for the referendum; 
and 
Whereas, an engineer has been retained to draft plans for the high school renovation 
project; and 
Whereas, the warrant for the referendum in the Town of Hammond was not 
countersigned by the selectmen of that town as required by the Maine Revised Statutes, 
Title 20-A, section 1352, subsection 1, paragraph B; and 
Whereas, the failure of the selectmen to countersign the warrant; in the Town of 
Hammond has created a legal technicality that could affect the marketability of the bonds 
or notes to be issued by the district in connection with the projects; 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. Validation and authorization. Notwithstanding any provision of the 
Maine Revised Statutes to the contrary, the Maine School Administrative District No. 29 
referendum conducted on November 6, 2007 and the proceedings related to that 
referendum are validated and made effectivc. Maine School Administrative District No. 
is authorized to enter into contracts and to issue bonds or notes of the district for the 
renovation of Houlton High School in an amount not to exceed $2,500,000, to construct a 
performing arts center at a cost not to exceed $5,000,000 and to issue bonds or notes and 
accept and expend gifts for the performing arts center, as set forth in Question I of the 
warrant and ballots for the referendum, which provided for: 
1. Performing arts gifts. The board of directors is not authorized to issue any bonds 
or notes for the performing arts project until donors have made cash gifts and written 
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pledges for the performing arts project in the aggregate amount of $2,500,000 or 
more; and 
2. Performing arts borrowing. After the minimum amount of gifts for the performing 
arts project has been received as cash or in the form of written pledges, the board of 
Page I - 123LR3650(Ol)-1 
directors may issue general obligation bonds or notes for the performing arts project, 
as long as the amount authorized is reduced by the total amount of cash gifts received 
prior to the commitment to issue those bonds or notes, and as long as all pledged gifts 
are used upon receipt to pay debt service on those bonds or notes. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill validates and authorizes the renovation project of Houlton High School in 
Maine School Administrative District No. 29 that voters approved in a referendum. The 
Town of Hammond, within the school district failed to get the warrant for referendum 
countersigned by the selectmen, as required by statute, which affects the bonds or notes to 
be issued in connection with the project.