An Act To Amend the Charter of the Richmond Utilities District
Maine Legislature, Session 128, LD 0757
Committee: Energy, Utilities and Technology
Sponsors: PIERCE, AUSTIN, FARRIN, O'CONNOR, PICKETT, SIMMONS, TUCKER, WADSWORTH, WOOD

Legislative Document
No. 757
H.P. 537
House of Representatives, March 2, 2017
An Act To Amend the Charter of the Richmond Utilities District
Reference to the Committee on Energy, Utilities and Technology suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative PIERCE of Dresden.
Cosponsored by Representatives: AUSTIN of Gray, FARRIN of Norridgewock, O'CONNOR 
of Berwick, PICKETT of Dixfield, SIMMONS of Waldoboro, TUCKER of Brunswick, 
WADSWORTH of Hiram, WOOD of Greene.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  P&SL 1961, c. 154, §14-A, as amended by P&SL 1999, c. 23, §1, is 
further amended to read: 
Sec. 14-A.  Authorized to borrow money, to issue bonds and notes.  For 
accomplishing the purpose of this Act, the district, by vote of its board of trustees, 
without district vote except as provided, is authorized to borrow money temporarily and 
to issue its negotiable notes; and for the purpose of renewing and refunding the 
indebtedness so created, of paying necessary expenses and liabilities incurred under the 
provisions of this Act, and in acquiring properties, paying damages, laying pipes, mains, 
sewers, drains and conduits, purchasing, constructing, maintaining and operating a water 
system and a sewerage system and making renewals, additions, extensions and 
improvements to such systems and to cover interest payments during the period of 
construction, the Richmond Utilities District, by votes of its board of trustees, without 
district vote except as provided, is also authorized to issue, from time to time, bonds, 
notes or other evidences of indebtedness of the district in such amount or amounts, 
bearing interest at such rate or rates, and having such terms and provisions as the trustees 
determine; except that the total indebtedness of the district may not exceed the sum of 
$2,000,000 at any one time outstanding or such other amount as may be established 
pursuant to section 14-B and in the case of a vote by the trustees to authorize bonds or 
notes to pay for the acquisition of property, except for the original acquisition of property 
of Richmond Water Works, for the cost of a water system or sewerage system or part of a 
water system or sewerage system, for renewals or additions or for other improvements in 
the nature of capital costs, the estimated cost of which singly or in the aggregate included 
in any one financing is $30,000 or more, but not for renewing or refunding existing 
indebtedness or to pay for maintenance, repairs or for current expenses, notice of the 
proposed debt and of the general purpose or purposes for which it was authorized must be 
given by the clerk by publication at least once in a newspaper having a general circulation 
in the Town of Richmond.  No debt may be incurred under such vote of the trustees until 
the expiration of 7 full days following the date on which such notice was first published.  
Prior to the expiration of that period, the trustees may call a special district meeting for 
the purpose of permitting the voters of the district to express approval or disapproval of 
the amount of debt so authorized, and the trustees shall call a special district meeting, if 
within 7 days following the publication of the notice, there shall have has been filed with 
the clerk of the district a petition or petitions signed by not less than 50 qualified voters of 
the district requesting that such a special district meeting be called.  If at the district 
meeting a majority of voters present and voting thereon expresses disapproval of the 
amount of debt authorized by the trustees, the debt shall may not be incurred and the vote 
of the trustees authorizing the same shall be is void and of no effect.  The bonds, notes 
and evidences of indebtedness may be issued to mature serially in annual installments of 
not less than 1% of the face amount of the issue and beginning not later than 2 years from 
the date thereof of issue, or made to run for such periods as the trustees may determine, 
but no issue thereof shall of bonds, notes or evidences of indebtedness may run for a 
longer period than 40 years from the date of original issue thereof.  Bonds, notes or 
evidences of indebtedness may be issued with or without provision for calling the same 
prior to maturity, and if callable may be made callable at par or at a premium as the 
trustees may determine.  All bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness shall must 
have inscribed upon their face the words "Richmond Utilities District," shall must be 
signed by the treasurer and countersigned by the chairman chair of the board of trustees 
of the district, and if coupon bonds are issued, the interest coupons attached thereto shall 
to the coupon bonds must bear the facsimile of the signature of the treasurer.  All bonds, 
notes and evidences of indebtedness so issued by the district shall be are legal obligations 
of the district, which is hereby declared to be a quasi-municipal corporation within the 
meaning of the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30 30-A, section 5053 chapter 120.  The 
district may, from time to time, issue its bonds, notes and other evidences of 
indebtedness, for the purpose of paying, redeeming or refunding outstanding bonds, notes 
or evidences of indebtedness, and each authorized issue shall constitute constitutes a 
separate loan.  All bonds, notes and evidences of indebtedness issued by the district shall 
be are legal investments for savings banks in the State of Maine and shall be are tax 
exempt.  The district is hereby authorized and empowered to enter into agreements with 
the State or Federal Government, or any agency or of either, or any corporation, 
commission or board authorized by the State or Federal Government to grant or loan 
money to or otherwise assist in the financing of projects such as the district is authorized 
to carry out, and to accept grants and borrow money from any such government agency, 
corporation, commission or board as may be necessary or desirable to enforce the 
provisions of this Act.  All notes and bonds with the maturity of more than one year shall 
must be first approved by the Public Utilities Commission pursuant to the Maine Revised 
Statutes, Title 35 35-A, section 171 902.  
SUMMARY 
This bill amends the charter of the Richmond Utilities District to remove the cap on 
the district's total indebtedness and to update obsolete language and references.