An Act To Change the Name of Township 16, Range 4, WELS, to Madawaska Lake
Maine Legislature, Session 124, LD 0033
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: THERIAULT, CLARK, CLEARY, DILL, EBERLE, JACKSON

MAINE STATE LEGISLATURE 
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STATE LAW LIBRARY 
AUGUSTA~ MAINE 
124thMAI E LEGISLATURE 
Legislative Document 
No. 33 
H.P.28 
House of Representatives, January 5, 2009 
An Act To Change the Name of Township 16, Range 4, WELS, to 
Madawaska Lake 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed. 
Presented by Representative THERIAULT of Madawaska. 
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MILLICENT M. MacFARLAND 
Clerk 
Cosponsored by Representatives: CLARK of Millinocket, CLEARY of Houlton, DILL of Cape 
Elizabeth, EBERLE of South POliland, Senator: JACKSON of Aroostook. 
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Mandate preamble. This measure requires one or more local units of government 
to expand or modify activities so as to necessitate additional expenditures from local 
revenues but does not provide funding for at least 90% of those expenditures. Pursuant to 
the Constitution of Maine, Article IX, Section 21, 2/3 of all of the members elected to 
each House have determined it necessary to enact this measure. 
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not 
become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and 
Whereas, this legislation proposes a referendum to ratify changing the name of the 
unorganized area referred to currently as Township 16, Range 4, WELS, and located in 
Aroostook County to Madawaska Lake. The proposal results from the desire of residents 
of the township to preserve the area's identity and to erect signs to indicate this name; 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 ofthe State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1. Madawaska LakeL Wherever the designation Township 16, Range 4, 
WELS, appears or reference is made to that unorganized territory, that designation or 
reference means Madawaska Lake. 
Sec. 2. Referendum for ratification. This Act must be submitted to the legal 
voters residing in the unorganized territory of Township 16, Range 4, WELS, in 
Aroostook County. The date of the submission must be determined by the Aroostook 
County Board of Commissioners but may not be later than 6 months after adjournment of 
the First Regular Session of the 124th Legislature. The Aroostook County commissioners 
are authorized to expend such funds as necessary to implement the referendum. 
The county commissioners shall cause the preparation of the required ballots, on 
which they shall state the subject matter of this Act in the following question: 
"Do you favor changing the name of Township 16, Range 4, WELS, to 
Madawaska Lake?" 
The voters shall indicate by a cross or a check mark placed against the words "Yes" 
or "No" their opinion of the question. 
This Act takes effect immediately upon its acceptance by a majority of the legal 
voters voting at the election. 
The result of the election must be declared by the Aroostook County commissioners 
and due certificate filed with the Secretary of State. 
Emergency clause. 
In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
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SUMMARY 
This bill authorizes the Aroostook County commissioners to seek approval from the 
residents of Township 16, Range 4, WELS, to rename the township Madawaska Lake.