2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 38: WATERS AND NAVIGATION › Chapter 10: STANDARD SEWER DISTRICT ENABLING ACT › Subchapter 2: GOVERNANCE › 38 §1036. Trustees

§1036. Trustees
All of the affairs of a standard district must be managed by a board of trustees whose members must be residents of the standard district. The number of trustees must be specified in the standard district's charter and may not be less than 3. After selection of the first board, each trustee is nominated and elected or appointed as provided in the charter creating the standard district and in accordance with subsection 1 or 2, as applicable. If the charter does not indicate whether trustees are appointed or elected, after the selection of the first board the trustees must be elected in accordance with subsection 1.   [PL 2013, c. 555, §6 (NEW).]
1.  Nominations and elections; vacancies.
Nominations and elections of trustees must be conducted in accordance with the laws relating to municipal elections in Title 30‑A, chapter 121, and all elections must be conducted by secret ballot in accordance with Title 30‑A, section 2528.
When the term of office of a trustee expires, the trustee's successor is elected at large by a plurality vote of the voters of the standard district. For the purpose of election, a special election must be called and held on the date established by the trustees. The election must be called by the trustees of the standard district in the same manner as town meetings are called and, for this purpose, the trustees are vested with the powers of municipal officers. A vacancy is filled in the same manner for the unexpired term by a special election called by the trustees of the standard district.
The trustees shall acquire a complete list of all the registered voters residing in the standard district. The trustees may acquire this list or portions of the list from the registrar of any town within the standard district. The town may charge a fee for providing the list. The list acquired by the trustees governs the eligibility of a voter. Voters who reside outside the territorial limits of the standard district, as defined in its charter, are not eligible voters. All warrants issued for elections by the trustees must show that only the voters residing within the territorial limits of the standard district are entitled to vote.
[PL 2013, c. 555, §6 (NEW).]
2.  Appointments.
If the charter creating a standard district specifies that the trustees are appointed, the appointments must be made as provided in the charter.
[PL 2013, c. 555, §6 (NEW).]
3.  Eligibility requirements.
When a trustee ceases to be a resident of a standard district, the trustee shall vacate the office of trustee and the vacancy is filled as provided in subsections 1 or 2, as applicable. All trustees are eligible for reelection or reappointment, but a person who is a municipal officer, as defined in Title 30‑A, section 2001, subsection 10, of any town located, in whole or in part, within the standard district is not eligible for appointment, nomination or election as a trustee of that standard district.
[PL 2013, c. 555, §6 (NEW).]
4.  First board.
The first board is appointed or elected as provided in the charter creating the standard district. At the first meeting, the initial trustees shall determine by agreement or, failing to agree, shall determine by lot the term of office of each trustee. The terms of the trustees must be determined in accordance with the following table.
Total number of trustees
1 year
2 years
3 years
3
1
1
1
4
1
1
2
5
1
2
2
6
2
2
2
7
2
2
3
8
2
3
3
9
3
3
3
10
3
3
4
11
3
4
4
12
4
4
4
13
4
4
5
14
4
5
5
15
5
5
5
The trustees shall enter on their records the determination made. Vacancies are filled pursuant to subsection 1 or 2, as applicable.
At the first meeting, the trustees shall organize by electing from among their members a chair and a clerk, by adopting a corporate seal and by electing a treasurer who may or may not be a trustee.
[PL 2013, c. 555, §6 (NEW).]
5.  Organization; conduct of business.
Within one week after each annual appointment or election, the trustees of a standard district shall meet for the purpose of electing a chair, treasurer and clerk in accordance with subsection 4 to serve for the ensuing year and until their successors are elected or appointed and qualified. The trustees, from time to time, may choose and employ and fix the compensation of any other necessary officers and agents, who serve at the pleasure of the trustees. The treasurer shall furnish bond in the sum and with sureties approved by the trustees. The standard district shall pay the cost of the bond.
The trustees may adopt and establish bylaws consistent with the laws of this State and necessary for the convenience and the proper management of the affairs of the standard district and perform other acts within the powers delegated by law to the trustees.
The trustees must be sworn to the faithful performances of their duties including the duties of a member who serves as clerk or clerk pro tem. The trustees shall publish an annual report that includes a report of the treasurer.
Business of the standard district must be conducted in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Freedom of Access Act.
[PL 2013, c. 555, §6 (NEW).]
6.  Decisions of the board.
All decisions of the board of trustees must be made by a majority of those present and voting, except that a vote to approve the issuing of any bond, note or other evidence of indebtedness payable within a period of more than 12 months after the date of issuance must be approved by a majority of the entire board. A quorum of the board of trustees consists of the total number of authorized trustees divided by 2 and, if necessary to obtain a whole number, the resulting number rounded up to the next whole number.
Trustees are subject to the conflict of interest provisions of Title 30‑A, section 2605.
[PL 2013, c. 555, §6 (NEW).]
7.  Trustees compensation; applicable to all sewer districts.
The trustees of a sewer district receive compensation as recommended by the trustees and approved by majority vote of the municipal officers in municipalities representing a majority of the population within the sewer district, including compensation for any duties they perform as officers as well as for their duties as trustees. Certification of the vote must be recorded with the Secretary of State and recorded in the bylaws. Compensation for duties as trustees must be based on an amount specified in the bylaws for each meeting actually attended plus reimbursement for travel and expenses, with the total not to exceed a specific amount as specified in the bylaws. Compensation schedules in effect on January 1, 2013 continue in effect until changed.
This subsection is deemed to be incorporated into the private and special laws governing a sewer district, and any part of a sewer district charter not in conformity with this subsection is void, unless the sewer district's charter expressly references this subsection or former section 1252, subsection 5 and specifically provides that this subsection or former section 1252, subsection 5 does not apply.
[PL 2013, c. 555, §6 (NEW).]
8.  Trustees retirement; applicable to all sewer districts.
A person who has not been a trustee of a sewer district prior to January 1, 1987, or who is not a full-time employee, is not eligible to become a member of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System as a result of the person's selection as a trustee.
This subsection is deemed to be incorporated into the private and special laws governing sewer districts, and any part of a sewer district charter not in conformity with this subsection is void, unless the sewer district's charter expressly references this subsection or former section 1252, subsection 6 and specifically provides that this subsection or former section 1252, subsection 6 does not apply.
[RR 2013, c. 2, §50 (COR).]
9.  Expenses.
The trustees of a standard district may obtain an office and incur necessary expenses.
[PL 2013, c. 555, §6 (NEW).]
10.  Recall.
A trustee may be recalled under the following provisions.
A. The eligible voters of a standard district may petition for the recall of any trustee after the first year of the term for which the trustee is elected by filing a petition with the municipal clerk, or the county commissioners in the case of unorganized territory, demanding the recall of the trustee. A trustee may be subject to recall for misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance in office. The petition must be signed by eligible voters of that portion of the standard district that that trustee represents equal to at least 25% of the vote cast for the office of Governor at the last gubernatorial election within that portion of the standard district. The recall petition must state the reason for which removal is sought.   [PL 2013, c. 555, §6 (NEW).]
B. Within 3 days after the petition is offered for filing, the official with whom the petition is left shall determine by careful examination whether the petition is sufficient and so state in a certificate attached to the petition. If the petition is found to be insufficient, the certificate must state the particulars creating the insufficiency. The petition may be amended to correct any insufficiency within 5 days following the affixing of the original certificate. Within 2 days after the offering of the amended petition for filing, the petition must again be carefully examined to determine sufficiency and a certificate stating the findings must be attached. Immediately upon finding an original or amended petition sufficient, the official shall file the petition and call a special election to be held not less than 40 days nor more than 45 days from the filing date. The official shall notify the trustee against whom the recall petition is filed of the special election.   [PL 2013, c. 555, §6 (NEW).]
C. The trustee against whom the recall petition is filed must be a candidate at the special election without nomination, unless the trustee resigns within 10 days after the original filing of the petition. There may not be a primary. Candidates for the office may be nominated under the usual procedure of nomination for a primary election by filing nomination papers, not later than 5 p.m., 4 weeks preceding the election and have their names placed on the ballot at the special election.   [PL 2013, c. 555, §6 (NEW).]
D. The trustee against whom a recall petition has been filed shall continue to perform the duties of the trustee's office until the result of the special election is officially declared. The person receiving the highest number of votes at the special election is declared elected for the remainder of the term. If the incumbent receives the highest number of votes, the incumbent continues in office. If another receives the highest number of votes, that person succeeds the incumbent, if that person qualifies, within 10 days after receiving notification.   [PL 2013, c. 555, §6 (NEW).]
E. After one recall petition and special election, no further recall petition may be filed against the same trustee during the term for which the trustee was elected.   [PL 2013, c. 555, §6 (NEW).]
[PL 2013, c. 555, §6 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
RR 2013, c. 2, §50 (COR). PL 2013, c. 555, §6 (NEW).