An Act to Allow a Member of the Town of Perham Select Board to Facilitate the Election to Vacant Seats on the Select Board and to Approve and Sign Disbursement Warrants (AFTER DEADLINE)
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 2288
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: JACKSON, STEWART

Legislative Document
No. 2288
S.P. 1001
In Senate, April 9, 2024
An Act to Allow a Member of the Town of Perham Select Board to 
Facilitate the Election to Vacant Seats on the Select Board and to 
Approve and Sign Disbursement Warrants
(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.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by President JACKSON of Aroostook.
Cosponsored by Senator: STEWART 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, the Town of Perham Select Board does not have the quorum of members 
required to carry out the functions of the Select Board; and
Whereas, without the election of additional members to the Select Board to ensure a 
quorum, the functions of the Select Board will not be carried out; 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. Town of Perham temporary authority of a member of the Select 
Board; filling vacancies through appointment.  A member of the Town of Perham 
Select Board may appoint a municipal clerk, registrar of voters and treasurer to fill existing 
vacancies for the purpose of facilitating an election to fill empty seats on the Select Board. 
The terms of these appointments end upon the election of a quorum to the Select Board 
unless the appointees are later confirmed as otherwise required by law or procedure.
Sec. 2. Town of Perham authority of a member of the Select Board; 
authority to call town meetings and elections and designate shortened paper 
process.  A member of the Town of Perham Select Board may issue a warrant calling a 
town meeting and an election to fill the vacancies on the Select Board pursuant to the Maine 
Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, sections 2521 and 2528. A member of the Select Board may 
also designate a shortened nomination paper process for the election pursuant to Title 30-A, 
section 2528, subsection 4, paragraph E and may appoint the necessary number of ballot 
clerks to carry out the election pursuant to Title 30-A, section 2528, subsection 8.
Sec. 3. Town of Perham authority of a member of the Select Board; 
disbursement warrants.  Until a quorum of members is elected to the Town of Perham 
Select Board, a member of the Select Board may approve and sign disbursement warrants 
under the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, section 5603, subsection 2.
Sec. 4. Town of Perham authority of a member of the Select Board; general 
assistance program administration.  Until a quorum of members is elected to the 
Town of Perham Select Board, a member of the Select Board may approve any general 
assistance applications and perform any necessary functions to administer the Town of 
Perham’s general assistance program that would otherwise require a quorum of members.
Sec. 5. Repeal.  This Act is repealed December 31, 2024.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill allows a member of the Town of Perham Select Board to take action to 
facilitate an election to fill empty seats on the Select Board. Until a quorum of members is 
elected to the Town of Perham Select Board, the bill allows a member to approve and sign 
disbursement warrants, approve general assistance applications and perform any necessary 
functions to administer the Town of Perham’s general assistance program.