An Act To Amend the Charter of the Hampden Water District
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0216
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Sponsors: CUSHING, DAVITT, THIBODEAU

Legislative Document 
No. 216 
S.P. 85 
In Senate, February 3, 2015 
An Act To Amend the Charter of the Hampden Water District 
(EMERGENCY) 
Reference to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology suggested and ordered 
printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator CUSHING of Penobscot. 
Cosponsored by Representative DAVITT of Hampden and 
Senator: President THIBODEAU of Waldo. 
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 must take effect before the expiration of the 90-day period 
to provide for the filling of any vacancies on the board of trustees of the Hampden Water 
District; 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 1937, c. 34, §8, 4th and 5th ¶¶, as enacted by P&SL 2001, c. 5, 
§3, are amended to read: 
The terms of trustees of the district are for 5 3 years.  The trustees must be nominated 
and elected under the same procedure and at the same time as provided for the town 
councilors of the town. 
The term of office of the trustees begins on the 3rd Thursday of January.  In the event 
a vacancy arises in the membership of the board of trustees, the unexpired term of the 
vacant office must be filled by the Town Council of the Town of Hampden trustees may 
call and hold a special election to fill the vacancy in the same manner as elections are 
called and held for expired terms pursuant to this act or the trustees may appoint a person 
eligible to fill the vacancy.  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 pursuant to this 
section.  A vacancy is created upon the death or resignation of a trustee, upon a trustee's 
ceasing to be a resident of the district or upon a trustee's failure to attend 2 consecutive 
meetings or 3 meetings annually except that, by a majority vote, the remaining trustees 
may, in their discretion, excuse a trustee's failure to attend a meeting or meetings.  All 
trustees are eligible for reelection, but a person holding the office of town councilor or 
road commissioner in the Town of Hampden is not eligible for nomination or election as 
trustee.  The trustees may procure an office and incur expenses as may be necessary.  
Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 6410, subsection 7, the 
compensation of the trustees and the treasurer of the board of trustees is determined by 
the board of trustees.  At the close of each fiscal year, the trustees shall make a detailed 
report of their doings, of the receipts and expenditures of the water district, of its financial 
and physical condition and of any other matters and things pertaining to the district that 
will show the inhabitants of the district how the trustees are fulfilling the duties and 
obligations of their trust, such report to be made and filed with the Town Council of the 
Town of Hampden.  
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this 
legislation takes effect when approved. 
SUMMARY 
This bill amends the Hampden Water District charter to change a trustee's term of 
office from 5 years to 3 years and to change what constitutes a vacancy on the board of 
trustees and how a vacancy may be filled.