An Act To Change the Name of Township 17, Range 3 to Van Buren Cove (AFTER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 129, LD 1455
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: MARTIN, JACKSON

Legislative Document
No. 1455
H.P. 1067
House of Representatives, April 2, 2019
An Act To Change the Name of Township 17, Range 3 to Van Buren 
Cove
(AFTER DEADLINE)
(EMERGENCY)
Approved for introduction 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.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative MARTIN of Sinclair.
Cosponsored by President JACKSON of Aroostook.
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 territory referred to currently as Township 17, Range 3, WELS, and located 
in Aroostook County to Van Buren Cove, and requires the referendum to be held no later 
than 6 months after adjournment of the First Regular Session of the 129th Legislature; 
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.  Van Buren Cove.  Wherever the designation Township 17, Range 3, 
WELS, appears or reference is made to that unorganized territory, that designation or 
reference means Van Buren Cove.
Sec. 2.  Referendum for ratification.  This Act must be submitted to the legal 
voters residing in the unorganized territory of Township 17, Range 3, 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 129th 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 17, Range 3, WELS, to 
Van Buren Cove?"
The voters shall indicate by a cross or a check mark placed against the word "Yes" or 
"No" their opinion of the question.
The result of the election must be declared by the Aroostook County commissioners 
and due certificate filed with the Secretary of State.
Sec. 3.  Emergency clause; effective date.  In view of the emergency cited in the 
preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved only for the purpose of submitting it 
to the legal voters residing in the unorganized territory of Township 17, Range 3, WELS, 
in Aroostook County no later than 6 months after adjournment of the First Regular 
Session of the 129th Legislature.  The name change in section 1 of this Act takes effect 
immediately upon its acceptance by a majority of the legal voters voting at the election 
held pursuant to section 2.
SUMMARY
This bill authorizes the Aroostook County Board of Commissioners to seek approval 
from the residents of Township 17, Range 3, WELS, to rename the township to Van 
Buren Cove.