2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 38: WATERS AND NAVIGATION › Chapter 11: SANITARY DISTRICTS › Subchapter 4: BONDS, RATES AND ASSESSMENTS › 38 §1201. Bonds and notes

§1201. Bonds and notes
1.  Authorization of bonds.
Any sanitary district formed under this chapter may provide by resolution of its board of trustees, without district vote, except as provided in subsection 10, for the borrowing of money and the issuance from time to time of bonds for any of its corporate purposes, including, but not limited to:
A. Paying and refunding its indebtedness;   [PL 1979, c. 696, §1 (NEW).]
B. Paying any necessary expenses and liabilities incurred under this chapter, including organizational and other necessary expenses and liabilities, whether incurred by the district or any municipality therein or any person residing in unorganized territory encompassed by the district, the district being authorized to reimburse any municipality therein or any person residing in unorganized territory encompassed by the district for any such expenses incurred or paid by it or the person;   [RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. B, §277 (COR).]
C. Paying costs directly or indirectly associated with acquiring properties, paying damages, laying sewers, drains and conduits, constructing, maintaining and operating sewage and treatment plants, or systems, and making renewals, additions, extensions and improvements to the same, and to cover interest payments during the period of construction and for such period thereafter as the trustees may determine;   [PL 1985, c. 506, Pt. B, §35 (AMD).]
D. Providing such reserves for debt service, repairs and replacements or other capital or current expenses as may be required by a trust agreement or resolution securing bonds; and   [PL 1979, c. 696, §1 (NEW).]
E. Any combination of these purposes.   [PL 1979, c. 696, §1 (NEW).]
Bonds may be issued under this chapter as general obligations of the district or as special obligations payable solely from particular funds. The principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all bonds shall be payable solely from the funds provided for that purpose from revenues. For purposes of this chapter, the term "revenues" means and includes the proceeds of bonds, all revenues, rates, fees, entrance charges, assessments, rents and other receipts derived by the district from the operation of its sewer system and other properties, including, but not limited to, investment earnings and the proceeds of insurance, condemnation, sale or other disposition of properties. All bonds issued by a district under this chapter shall be legal obligations of the district, and all districts formed under this chapter are declared to be quasi-municipal corporations within the meaning of Title 30‑A, section 5701. Bonds may be issued under this chapter without obtaining the consent of any commission, board, bureau or agency of the State or of any municipality encompassed by the district, and without any other proceedings or the happening of other conditions or things other than those proceedings, conditions or things which are specifically required by this chapter. Bonds issued under this chapter do not constitute a debt or liability of the State or of any municipality encompassed by the district or a pledge of the faith and credit of the State or any such municipality, but the bonds shall be payable solely from the funds provided for that purpose, and a statement to that effect shall be recited on the face of the bonds.
[RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. B, §277 (COR).]
2.  Notes.
Any sanitary district formed under this chapter may also provide by resolution of its board of trustees, without district vote, for the issuance from time to time of notes in anticipation of bonds authorized under this chapter and of notes in anticipation of the revenues to be collected or received in any year or in anticipation of the receipt of federal or state grants or other aid. The issue of these notes shall be governed by the applicable provisions of this chapter relating to the issue of bonds, provided that notes in anticipation of revenue must mature no later than one year from their respective dates and notes issued in anticipation of federal or state grants or other aid and renewals thereof must mature no later than the expected date of receipt of those grants or aid. Notes in anticipation of revenue issued to mature less than one year from their dates may be renewed from time to time by the issue of other notes, provided that the period from the date of an original note to the maturity of any note issued to renew or pay the same or the interest thereon may not exceed one year.
Any such district is authorized and empowered to enter into agreements with the State or the United States, or any agency of either, or any municipality, corporation, commission or board authorized to grant or loan money to or otherwise assist in the financing of projects of the type which that district is authorized to carry out, and to accept grants and borrow money from any such government, agency, municipality, corporation, commission or board as may be necessary or desirable to accomplish the purposes of the district.
[PL 1979, c. 696, §1 (NEW).]
3.  Maturity; interest; form; temporary bonds.
The bonds issued under this chapter must be dated, must mature no later than 40 years from their date or dates and must bear interest at such rate or rates as may be determined by the board of trustees, and may be made redeemable before maturity, at the option of the district, at such price or prices and under such terms and conditions as may be fixed by the board of trustees prior to the issuance of the bonds. The board of trustees shall determine the form of the bonds, including any interest coupons to be attached thereto, and the manner of execution of the bonds, and shall fix the denomination or denominations of the bonds and the place or places of payment of principal and interest, which may be at any bank or trust company within or without the State. Bonds must be executed in the name of the district by the manual or facsimile signature of such officer or officers as may be authorized in the resolution to execute the bonds, but at least one signature on each bond must be a manual signature. Coupons, if any, attached to the bonds must be executed with the facsimile signature of the officer or officers of the district designated in the resolution. In case any officer whose signature or a fascimile of whose signature appears on any bonds or coupons ceases to be such officer before the delivery of the bonds, the signature or its facsimile is nevertheless valid and sufficient for all purposes as if the officer had remained in office until the delivery. Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this chapter or any recitals in any bonds issued under this chapter, all such bonds are deemed to be negotiable instruments under the laws of this State. The bonds may be issued in coupon or registered form, or both, as the board of trustees may determine, and provision may be made for the registration of any coupon bonds as to principal alone and as to both principal and interest, and for the reconversion into coupon bonds of any bonds registered as to both principal and interest. The board of trustees may sell such bonds in such manner, either at public or private sale, and for such price as they may determine to be for the best interests of the district. The proceeds of the bonds of each issue must be used solely for the purpose for which those bonds have been authorized, and must be disbursed in such manner and under such restrictions, if any, as the board of trustees may provide in the resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds or in the trust agreement securing the bonds. The resolution providing for the issuance of bonds, and any trust agreement securing the bonds, may contain such limitations upon the issuance of additional bonds as the board of trustees may consider proper, and these additional bonds must be issued under such restrictions and limitations as may be prescribed by that resolution or trust agreement. Prior to the preparation of definitive bonds, the board of trustees may, under like restrictions, issue interim receipts or temporary bonds, with or without coupons, exchangeable for definitive bonds when those bonds are executed and are available for delivery. The board of trustees may provide for the replacement of any bond that is mutilated, destroyed or lost.
[RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. B, §278 (COR).]
4.  Pledges and covenants, trust agreement.
In the discretion of the board of trustees of any district, each or any issue of bonds may be secured by a trust agreement by and between the district and a corporate trustee, which may be any trust company within or without the State.
The resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds or the trust agreement may pledge or assign, in whole or in part, the revenues and other moneys held or to be received by the district and any accounts and contract or other rights to receive the same, whether then existing or thereafter coming into existence and whether then held or thereafter acquired by the district, and the proceeds thereof, but may not convey or mortgage the sewer system or any other properties of the district. The resolution may also contain such provisions for protecting and enforcing the rights and remedies of the bondholders as may be reasonable and proper and not in violation of law, including, but not limited to, covenants setting forth the duties of the district and the board of trustees in relation to the acquisition, construction, reconstruction, improvement, repair, maintenance, operation and insurance of its sewer system or any of its other properties, the fixing and revising of rates, fees and charges, the application of the proceeds of bonds, the custody, safeguarding and application of revenues, defining defaults and providing for remedies in the event thereof, which may include the acceleration of maturities, the establishment of reserves and the making and amending of contracts. The resolution or trust agreement may set forth the rights and remedies of the bondholders and of the trustee, if any, and may restrict the individual right of action by bondholders as is customary in trust agreements or trust indentures securing bonds or debentures of corporations. In addition, the resolution or trust agreement may contain such other provisions as the board of trustees may deem reasonable and proper for the security of the bondholders. All expenses incurred in carrying out the resolution or trust agreement may be treated as a part of the cost of operation. The pledge by any such resolution or trust agreement is valid and binding and is deemed continuously perfected for the purposes of the Uniform Commercial Code from the time when the pledge is made. All revenues, moneys, rights and proceeds so pledged and thereafter received by the district are immediately subject to the lien of the pledge without any physical delivery or segregation thereof or further action under the Uniform Commercial Code or otherwise, and the lien of the pledge is valid and binding as against all parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract or otherwise against the district irrespective of whether those parties have notice thereof.
The resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds under this chapter, or any trust agreement securing those bonds, may provide that all or a sufficient amount of revenues, after providing for the payment of the cost of repair, maintenance and operation and reserves therefor as may be provided in the resolution or trust agreement, must be set aside at such regular intervals as may be provided in the resolution or trust agreement and deposited in the credit of a fund for the payment of the interest on and the principal of bonds issued under this chapter as the same become due, and the redemption price or purchase price of bonds retired by call or purchase. The use and disposition of moneys to the credit of the fund are subject to such regulations as may be provided in the resolution authorizing the issuance of the bonds or in the trust agreement securing the bonds and, except as may otherwise be provided in the resolution or trust agreement, the fund is a fund for the benefit of all bonds without distinction or priority of one over another.
[RR 2013, c. 2, §52 (COR).]
5.  Trust funds.
Notwithstanding any other law, all moneys received pursuant to the authority of this chapter shall be deemed to be trust funds, to be held and applied solely as provided in this chapter. The resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds or the trust agreement securing the bonds shall provide that any officer to whom, or bank, trust company or other fiscal agent to which, those moneys shall be paid shall act as trustee of those moneys and shall hold and apply the same for the purposes hereof, subject to such regulations as may be provided in the resolution or trust agreement or as may be required by this chapter.
[PL 1979, c. 696, §1 (NEW).]
6.  Remedies.
Any holder of bonds issued under this chapter or of any of the coupons appertaining thereto, and the trustee under any trust agreement, except to the extent the rights given may be restricted by the resolution authorizing the issuance of those bonds or trust agreement, may, either at law or in equity, by suit, action, mandamus or other proceeding, including proceedings for the appointment of a receiver to take possession and control of the properties of the district, protect and enforce any and all rights under the laws of the State or granted hereunder or under such resolution or trust agreement, and may enforce and compel the performance of all duties required by this chapter or by such resolution or trust agreement to be performed by the district or by any officer thereof, including the fixing, charging and collecting of rates, fees and charges for the use of or for the services and facilities furnished by the district.
[PL 1979, c. 696, §1 (NEW).]
7.  Refunding bonds.
Any sanitary district formed under this chapter by resolution of its board of trustees, without district vote, may issue refunding bonds for the purpose of paying any of its bonds at maturity or upon acceleration or redemption. The refunding bonds may be issued at such time prior to the maturity or redemption of the refunded bonds as the board of trustees deems to be in the public interest. The refunding bonds may be issued in sufficient amounts to pay or provide the principal of the bonds being refunded, together with any redemption premium thereon, any interest accrued or to accrue to the date of payment of such bonds, the expenses of issue of the refunding bonds, the expenses of redeeming the bonds being refunded and such reserves for debt service or other capital or current expenses from the proceeds of such refunding bonds as may be required by a trust agreement or resolution securing bonds. The issue of refunding bonds, the maturities and other details thereof, the security therefor, the rights of the holders thereof, and the rights, duties and obligations of the district in respect of the same shall be governed by the applicable provisions of this chapter relating to the issue of bonds other than refunding bonds.
[PL 1979, c. 696, §1 (NEW).]
8.  Tax exemption.
All bonds, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued under this chapter, and their transfer and the income therefrom, including any profit made on the sale thereof, shall at all times be free from taxation within the State.
[PL 1979, c. 696, §1 (NEW).]
9.  Bonds declared legal investments.
Bonds and notes issued by any district under this chapter are made securities in which all public officers and public bodies of the State and its political subdivisions, all insurance companies and associations and other persons carrying on an insurance business, trust companies, banks, bankers, banking associations, savings banks and savings associations, including savings and loan associations, credit unions, building and loan associations, investment companies, executors, administrators, trustees and other fiduciaries, pension, profit-sharing, retirement funds and other persons carrying on a banking business, and all other persons who are now or may hereafter be, authorized to invest in bonds or other obligations of the State, may properly and legally invest funds, including capital in their control or belonging to them. The bonds and notes are made securities which may properly and legally be deposited with and received by any state, municipal or public officer, or any agency or political subdivision of the State, for any purpose for which the deposit of bonds or other obligations of the State is now or may hereafter be authorized by law.
[PL 1979, c. 696, §1 (NEW).]
10.  Certain bond issues; notice; special meeting; vote.
In the event that the trustees vote to authorize bonds or notes, for any of the corporate purposes of a sanitary district, excluding notes payable within one year, notes in anticipation of bonds authorized pursuant to this section, or notes in anticipation of the revenues to be collected or received in any year or notes in anticipation of the receipt of approved federal or state grants, the authorized amount of which, singly or in the aggregate included in any one financing, is $150,000 or more, the trustees shall call a special district meeting for the purpose of permitting the collection of testimony from the public concerning the purpose and the amount of debt so authorized. Notice of the special district meeting, stating the approximate amount of the debt and the purpose for which it is being issued, shall be published not less than 7 full days prior to the date of the meeting in a newspaper having general circulation in the district and shall be mailed to each ratepayer in the district not later than the date of the publication. No debt may be incurred under the vote of the trustees until the expiration of 7 full days following the date of the special district meeting.
[PL 1983, c. 684 (RPR).]
Except for debt to fund that part of any project which has been approved for grant financing by the State Government or Federal Government to meet the requirements of the United States Clean Water Act, United States Code, Title 33, Section 1251 et seq., including any related facilities not eligible for that financing but essential to the operation of the approved project as an integral system, for debts in excess of the amount specified in this section, the following petition and referendum procedure shall apply. If, on or before the 7th day following the date of the special district meeting a petition signed by at least 5%, but not less than 50, of the registered voters of the district is filed with the clerk of the district requesting reference of the vote of the trustees to referendum, the clerk of the district shall call and hold a special election of the voters of the district for the purpose of submitting to referendum vote a question of approving the vote of the trustees. The vote of the trustees shall be suspended until it has received approval by vote of a majority of the voters of the district voting on the question at the special election.   [PL 1983, c. 684 (RPR).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1965, c. 310 (NEW). PL 1967, c. 524, §8 (AMD). PL 1975, c. 461, §2 (AMD). PL 1979, c. 696, §1 (RPR). PL 1981, c. 466, §§10,11,14 (AMD). PL 1983, c. 684 (AMD). PL 1985, c. 506, §B35 (AMD). PL 1987, c. 737, §§C94,C106 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 104, §§C8,C10 (AMD). RR 2013, c. 2, §52 (COR). RR 2021, c. 2, Pt. B, §§277, 278 (COR).