An Act Regarding the Terms of Trustees of the Phippsburg Cemetery District
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0138
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: HEPLER, VITELLI

Legislative Document
No. 138
H.P. 84
House of Representatives, January 10, 2023
An Act Regarding the Terms of Trustees of the Phippsburg 
Cemetery District
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative HEPLER of Woolwich.
Cosponsored by Senator: VITELLI of Sagadahoc.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  P&SL 1963, c. 126, §3, first ¶ is amended to read:
Sec. 3. Officers; audit.  All of the affairs of said district shall must be managed by 
a board of trustees composed of 5 members.  As soon as may be after the acceptance of this 
act as hereinafter provided, the selectmen of the Town of Phippsburg shall appoint 5 
trustees of said district to hold office as follows:  One until the first annual meeting of the 
Town of Phippsburg after said appointment, one until the 2nd annual meeting of the Town 
of Phippsburg after said appointment, one until the 3rd annual meeting of the Town of 
Phippsburg after said appointment, one until the 4th annual meeting of the Town of 
Phippsburg after said appointment, and one until the 5th annual meeting of the Town of 
Phippsburg after said appointment.  At each annual town meeting of the Town of 
Phippsburg, beginning with the first annual meeting after the appointment of trustees by 
the selectmen, one trustee shall must be elected to serve until the annual meeting occurring 
years thereafter and until another trustee is elected and qualified in his that trustee's stead 
except that beginning in 2024 one trustee must be elected to serve until the annual meeting 
occurring 3 years thereafter and until another trustee is elected and qualified in that trustee's 
stead and, in those years in which the term of more than one trustee is expiring, those 
trustees must be replaced in the same manner for 3-year terms.  Whenever a vacancy shall, 
for any reason, occur in the board of trustees occurs for any reason, the same shall must be 
filled for the balance of the unexpired term by a trustee to be appointed by the municipal 
officers of the Town of Phippsburg.  A majority of said trustees chosen shall have has full 
power to act notwithstanding any vacancy in said board of trustees however caused. When 
a trustee ceases to be a resident of the district, his that trustee's office becomes vacant.  The 
trustees, as soon as convenient after they have been chosen as provided in this act Act, shall 
meet upon call of one of their number after such reasonable notice as he shall deem the 
member who called the meeting considers proper.  They shall then elect from their 
membership a president, clerk and treasurer; adopt a corporate seal; and do all other acts, 
matters and things necessary to perfect their organization.  Thus organized, the trustees 
shall have the right and authority to employ such officers and agents as they may deem 
consider necessary for the proper conduct and management of the affairs of the district, and 
may establish or adopt a code of bylaws, not inconsistent with law, and all necessary rules 
and regulations for the proper conduct of the affairs of said district.
Sec. 2.  Transition.  Notwithstanding Private and Special Law 1963, chapter 126, 
section 3, those trustees of the Phippsburg Cemetery District serving 5-year terms on the 
effective date of this Act shall continue to serve the remainder of their terms.
SUMMARY
This bill reduces the term of the trustees of the Phippsburg Cemetery District from 5 
years to 3 years.