An Act to Validate Certain Proceedings Authorizing the Issuance of Bonds and Notes by the City of Rockland
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 0917
Committee: State and Local Government
Sponsors: GEIGER, BEEBE-CENTER

Legislative Document
No. 917
H.P. 573
House of Representatives, March 2, 2023
An Act to Validate Certain Proceedings Authorizing the Issuance of 
Bonds and Notes by the City of Rockland
(EMERGENCY)
Reference to the Committee on State and Local Government suggested and ordered printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative GEIGER of Rockland.
Cosponsored by Senator BEEBE-CENTER of Knox.
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 City of Rockland is authorized pursuant to state law and its charter to 
borrow money and to issue its general obligation bonds and notes in furtherance of its 
municipal purposes; and
Whereas, at a city referendum held November 8, 2022, the voters of the city ratified 
and approved 3 bond ordinances that authorized the city to issue its general obligation 
bonds and notes for the following purposes and in the following amounts: an amount not 
to exceed $15,000,000 to finance roads and sidewalk improvements, $2,400,000 to finance 
the permanent closure of the city landfill and $15,000,000 to finance storm water projects, 
plus, in each instance, an amount not to exceed 2% to pay costs of issuance, all as described 
in the notices, warrants and ballots for the referendum; and
Whereas, the voters of the city voted in favor of the 3 bond ordinance questions as 
follows: Question 1, roads and sidewalk improvements, 2,360 in favor and 736 against, 
with 171 blank ballots; Question 2, landfill closure, 1,866 in favor and 1,158 against, with 
blank ballots; and Question 3, storm water projects, 2,275 in favor and 796 against, 
with 196 blank ballots; and
Whereas, the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, section 5772, subsection 2-A 
requires that any question submitted to the electors for ratification of a general obligation 
bond be accompanied by a statement signed by the treasurer of the municipality setting 
forth certain information including the following: 
1. The total amount of bonds of the municipality outstanding and unpaid, the total 
amount of bonds of the municipality authorized and unissued and the total amount of bonds 
of the municipality contemplated to be issued if the submitted questions are ratified;
2. The estimated cost of interest on the bond amount to be issued and the total cost of 
principal and interest to be paid at maturity; and
3. A declaration that the validity of the bonds and of the voters' ratification of the bonds 
may not be affected by any errors in the foregoing estimate; and
Whereas, due to an inadvertent oversight, the 3 bond ordinance questions were 
submitted to the voters without the signed statement required by Title 30-A, section 5772, 
subsection 2-A; and
Whereas, the failure to include such a signed statement as strictly required by Title 
30-A, section 5772, subsection 2-A could affect the marketability of the bonds or notes to 
be issued by the city in connection with the projects; 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. Validation and authorization.  Notwithstanding any provision of the 
Maine Revised Statutes or the charter of the City of Rockland to the contrary, the City of 
Rockland referendum conducted on November 8, 2022 with respect to the 3 bond ordinance 
questions and the proceedings related to that referendum are validated and made effective. 
The City of Rockland is authorized to enter into contracts and to issue bonds or notes of 
the city in an amount not to exceed $15,000,000 to finance roads and sidewalk 
improvements, all as set forth in "Bond Question #1 Roads & Sidewalks" of the warrant 
and ballot for the referendum; $2,400,000 to finance the permanent closure of the city 
landfill, all as set forth in "Bond Question #2 Landfill Closure" of the warrant and ballot 
for the referendum; and $15,000,000 to finance storm water projects, all as set forth in 
"Bond Question #3 Storm Water Projects" of the warrant and ballot for the referendum, 
plus, in each instance, up to 2% for costs of issuance.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation 
takes effect when approved.
SUMMARY
This bill validates the referendum conducted in the City of Rockland on November 8, 
2022. It authorizes the City of Rockland to enter into contracts and issue bonds or notes of 
the city in an amount not to exceed $15,000,000 to finance roads and sidewalk 
improvements, $2,400,000 to finance the permanent closure of the city landfill and 
$15,000,000 to finance storm water projects, plus up to 2% for costs of issuance.