An Act To Revise the Charter of the Rumford Water District
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 1482
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Sponsors: PATRICK

Legislative Document 
No. 1482 
S.P. 580 
In Senate, December 18, 2015 
An Act To Revise the Charter of the Rumford Water District 
Approved for introduction by a majority of the Legislative Council pursuant to Joint Rule 
203. 
Received by the Secretary of the Senate on December 18, 2015.  Referred to the Committee 
on Energy, Utilities and Technology pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Secretary of the Senate 
Presented by Senator PATRICK of Oxford. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  Territorial limits and corporate name.  The territory and the people 
within the Town of Rumford constitute a public municipal corporation under the name of 
the Rumford Water District, referred to in this Act as "the district." 
Sec. 2.  Powers of the Rumford Water District.  The district is authorized to 
take, hold, divert, use and distribute water for the purpose of supplying potable water for 
domestic, sanitary, commercial and municipal purposes.  The district may take or draw 
from any surface water or groundwater source within the territory of the district.  The 
district has all the powers of a standard district under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 
35-A, section 6404 to the extent not inconsistent with this Act. 
Sec. 3.  Board of Trustees.  All the affairs of the district must be managed by a 
board of trustees composed of 3 members, to be chosen by a majority of the municipal 
officers of the Town of Rumford.  The first board of trustees must be appointed within 6 
months of approval of this Act by the voters in accordance with this Act.  
Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 6410, subsection 5, as 
soon as is convenient after the first trustees have been appointed, they shall hold a 
meeting and organize by the election of a president and clerk and adopt a corporate seal; 
when necessary, they may choose a treasurer and all other officers and agents for the 
proper conduct and management of the affairs of the district.  At that first meeting, the 
trustees shall determine the term of office of each trustee so that one serves for one year, 
one for 2 years and one for 3 years.  Notwithstanding Title 35-A, section 6410, subsection 
4, for the initial appointment of trustees under this Act, the term of each trustee ends on 
the first Monday in April immediately following the end of the initial one-year, 2-year or 
3-year term for which that trustee was appointed.  Whenever the term of office of a 
trustee expires, the municipal officers of the Town of Rumford shall appoint a successor 
to serve the full term of 3 years pursuant to Title 35-A, section 6410, subsection 2, and in 
case any other vacancy arises it must be filled in like manner for the unexpired term.  The 
trustees may also adopt and establish such bylaws as are necessary for their own 
convenience and the proper management of the affairs of the district.  The trustees may 
procure an office and incur such expenses as may be necessary.  Each trustee is entitled to 
compensation, as recommended by the trustees and approved by a majority of municipal 
officers of the Town of Rumford, in accordance with Title 35-A, section 6410, subsection 
7.  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 such other matters and things pertaining to the district as demonstrate 
how the trustees are fulfilling the duties and obligations of their trust, such reports to be 
made and filed with the municipal officers of the Town of Rumford. 
Sec. 4.  Authority to lay mains, pipes, conduits and other water 
conveyances through public ways and across private lands.  The district is 
authorized to lay, maintain, repair and replace pipes, mains and other fixtures and 
appurtenances in, along and through the streets, roads, ways, highways, bridges, lakes, 
ponds, rivers and watercourses within the district and in, along and through private lands 
of any person or corporation within the district. When the district lays, maintains, repairs 
or replaces pipes, mains or any fixtures or appurtenances in any street, road, way or 
highway, it shall do so with as little obstruction as practicable to public travel and shall at 
its own expense and without unnecessary delay replace in proper condition the earth and 
pavement removed by it. 
Sec. 5.  Authority to erect and maintain dams, reservoirs and structures.  
The district is hereby authorized, for the purposes of its incorporation, to erect and 
maintain all dams, reservoirs and structures necessary and convenient for its corporate 
purposes. 
Sec. 6.  Take land in the Town of Peru.  The Rumford Water District, in 
addition to the rights and powers conferred upon it by law and under the franchises of the 
water companies by it acquired, shall have the right and is hereby authorized to take and 
hold as for public use, by purchase or otherwise, the following certain land or interest 
therein in the Town of Peru, County of Oxford and State of Maine: 
Two adjoining parcels of land containing approximately 168 acres, more or less, and 
bounded and described as follows: 
First:  Commencing at a point on the Town Line between the Town of Rumford, 
Maine and the Town of Peru, Maine, which point is the northeast corner of Lot #93 in 
said Town of Peru; thence South 80 degrees West along said Town Line to the northwest 
corner of said Lot #93; thence by same course along said Town Line to the northwest 
corner of Lot #90; thence by same course along said Town Line to the northwest corner 
of Lot #89; thence approximately South 10 degrees East along the line between Lot #89 
and Lot #86 in said Town of Peru, 25 chains; thence North 80 degrees East and parallel to 
said Town Line to a point on the line between Lot #93 and Lot #94; thence North 10 
degrees West along said easterly line of Lot #93, 25 chains to the point of beginning, 
containing approximately 152 acres, more or less; and 
Second:  Beginning at a point being the northeast corner of Lot #94 in said Town of 
Peru, said point being on the Town Line between the Town of Rumford and the Town of 
Peru; thence South 80 degrees West along said Rumford-Peru Town Line for a distance 
of 26.39 chains, more or less, to the northwest corner of Lot #94; thence South 10 degrees 
East along the westerly line of Lot #94 and the easterly line of Lot #93 for a distance of 
12.12 chains, more or less, to a point; thence North 55 degrees and 20 minutes East a 
distance of 29.04 chains, more or less, to the point of beginning, containing 
approximately 16 acres, more or less. 
The same is necessary for the purpose of increasing the supply of pure water for 
domestic, sanitary and municipal purposes for the inhabitants of the Town of Rumford 
and of said district. 
Sec. 7.  Take land in Milton Township.  The district, in addition to the rights 
and powers conferred upon it by law and under the franchises of the water companies by 
it acquired, shall have the right and is hereby authorized to take and hold as for public 
uses, by purchase or otherwise, any land or interest therein in Milton Township, in the 
county of Oxford, necessary for preserving the purity of the water and watershed of the 
so-called Mount Zircon water supply belonging to the district and for the general 
purposes of its incorporation. 
Sec. 8.  Authority to acquire property; right of eminent domain 
conferred; procedures in exercising eminent domain.  The district is authorized 
and empowered to acquire and hold real and personal property, including water rights, 
necessary or convenient for its purposes.  The district is also authorized and empowered 
to take and hold water rights necessary for erecting and maintaining dams, for flowage, 
for power for pumping its water supply through its mains or reservoirs and for preserving 
the purity of the water and watershed.  The district is granted the right of eminent domain 
as specified in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 6408, as amended.  The 
procedures for the exercise of eminent domain must conform to Title 35-A, section 6409, 
as amended. 
Sec. 9.  Crossing property of other public utilities and railroad 
corporations.  If the district, in constructing, maintaining or replacing any of its 
facilities, must cross property of another public utility or railroad corporation, the district 
shall obtain the consent of the other public utility or railroad corporation and undertake 
the work in accordance with conditions established by agreement.  If, within 30 days after 
requesting consent, the district fails to reach an agreement with the public utility or 
railroad corporation, the district may petition as follows: 
1.  Public utility.  In the case of crossing property of a public utility, the district may 
petition the Public Utilities Commission to determine the time, place and manner of 
crossing.  All work done on the property of the public utility must be done under the 
supervision and to the satisfaction of the public utility or as prescribed by the Public 
Utilities Commission; and 
2.  Railroad corporation.  In the case of crossing property of a railroad corporation, 
the district may petition the Department of Transportation to determine the time, place 
and manner of crossing.  All work done on the property of the railroad corporation must 
be done under the supervision and to the satisfaction of the railroad corporation or as 
prescribed by the Department of Transportation. 
Sec. 10.  Authority to make and assume contracts.  The district, through its 
trustees, in order to carry out the purposes of its incorporation, may contract with any 
person, district, utility, corporation or municipality. 
Sec. 11.  Authorized to borrow money; to issue bonds and notes; to 
receive government aid.  For accomplishing the purposes of this Act, the district, by 
vote of its board of trustees, is authorized to borrow money temporarily and to issue for 
the borrowing of money its negotiable notes. 
The district, by vote of its board of trustees, is authorized to issue bonds, notes or 
other evidences of indebtedness of the district, bearing interest at a rate or rates and 
having terms and provisions as the trustees determine. 
All bonds, notes and other evidences of indebtedness issued by the district must have 
inscribed upon their face the corporate name of the district and be signed by the treasurer 
and countersigned by the president of the board of trustees of the district. 
All bonds, notes and other evidences of indebtedness issued by the district are legal 
obligations of the district, which is declared to be a quasi-municipal corporation within 
the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, section 5701.  All bonds, notes and other 
evidences of indebtedness issued by the district are legal investments for savings banks 
and are exempt from state income tax.  The district, through its trustees, in order to pay 
necessary expenses and liabilities incurred in accordance with its purposes and powers, 
may receive state and federal aid and grants. 
Sec. 12.  Property tax exempt.  The property of the district is exempt from all 
taxation in accordance with the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, section 6415, as 
amended. 
Sec. 13.  Water rates; application of revenue; sinking fund.  An individual, 
firm or corporation, whether public, private or municipal, shall pay to the treasurer of the 
district the rates and other lawful charges established by the trustees for the water used or 
made available to it.  All water rates and other lawful charges of the district are governed 
by the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 35-A, chapter 61. 
The water rates and other lawful charges are established to provide revenues for all 
purposes authorized by law, and the following specific purposes: 
1.  Current operating expenses.  To pay the current expenses for operating and 
maintaining the water system including depreciation; 
2.  Payment of interest.  To provide for the payment of interest on the indebtedness 
created by the district for the benefit of its water system; and 
3.  Sinking fund.  To provide each year a sum equal to not less than 1% nor more 
than 5% of the entire indebtedness created by the district for the benefit of its water 
system, which sum must be turned into a sinking fund to provide for the extinguishment 
of the indebtedness.  The money set aside for the sinking fund must be devoted to the 
retirement of the obligations of the district or invested in such securities as savings banks 
are allowed to hold.  The trustees may, in their discretion and in lieu of the establishment 
of a sinking fund, issue bonds of the district so that not less than 1% of the amount of the 
bonds so issued mature and are retired each year. 
There is a lien issued on real estate served by the district to secure the payment of 
unpaid water rates and other lawful charges.  The water lien takes precedence over all 
other claims on the real estate, except claims for taxes and sewer rates.  The procedures of 
obtaining, enforcing and receiving payment on the water lien are governed by Title 35-A, 
section 6111-A. 
Sec. 14.  Incidental powers granted.  All incidental powers, rights and privileges 
necessary to the accomplishment of the objectives set forth in this Act, and in the 
Standard Water District Enabling Act, are granted to the district. 
Sec. 15.  Retains powers and authorities.  The district retains all powers and 
authorities of, and all properties acquired from, Union Construction Company, Virginia 
Spring Water Company, Rumford Falls Light and Water Company and the Mexico Water 
Company to the extent not inconsistent with this Act. 
Sec. 16.  P&SL 1911, c. 290, as amended, is repealed. 
Sec. 17.  P&SL 1915, c. 50, as amended, is repealed. 
SUMMARY 
This bill revises the charter of the Rumford Water District.