2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 30-A: MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES › Part 2: MUNICIPALITIES › Subpart 5: HEALTH, WELFARE AND IMPROVEMENTS › Chapter 161: SEWERS AND DRAINS › Subchapter 3: ASSESSMENTS AND FEES › 30-A §3442. Expense of construction

§3442. Expense of construction
1.  Sewer district defined.
As used in this section, sewer district means a quasi-municipal corporation, as defined in section 2604, subsection 3, established to construct and operate sewer systems to assist in the abatement of the pollution of public streams, lakes and inland and ocean waters.
[PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
2.  Estimate and assessment of costs; notice.
When any municipality or sewer district has constructed and completed a public drain or common sewer, the municipal officers or sewer district trustees shall determine what lots or parcels of land are benefited by the drain or sewer, and shall estimate and assess upon the lots and parcels of land and against the owner of the land or person in possession, or against whom the taxes on the land are assessed, whether the person to whom the assessment is so made is the owner, tenant, lessee or agent and whether the land is occupied or not, the sum not exceeding the benefit they consider just and equitable towards defraying the expenses of constructing and completing the drain or sewer, together with any sewage disposal units and appurtenances that are necessary and in operation after May 31, 1979. The whole of the assessments may not exceed 1/2 the cost of the drain or sewer and sewage disposal units unless 75% or more of the landowners that will be benefited by the expansion petition the municipal officers to construct the drain or sewer and sewage disposal unit and agree to pay a higher assessment that must be identified in the petition. The municipality or sewer district shall maintain and keep the drain or sewer in repair.
A. Farmland, as defined by Title 36, section 1102, subsection 4, is exempt from assessment under this subsection when no benefits are derived from the common sewer or drain. The owner of the farmland must notify the municipal officers or sewer district trustees that farmland property may qualify for this exception. The municipal officers or sewer district trustees shall revise the assessments against qualified farmland to exempt it from assessment. Any revision of assessment provided by this paragraph must be in writing and recorded by the clerk or sewer district trustees.
When the use of the land is changed from farmland, the owner shall within 60 days notify the municipal officers or sewer district trustees in writing of the change. The municipal officers or sewer district trustees shall assess this land in an amount equal to the assessment which would have been due but for this subsection. The municipal officers or sewer district trustees shall notify the owner of the assessment due which the owner shall pay within 60 days of notice or as provided by the municipal officers under their authority in section 3444.   [PL 1991, c. 236, §1 (AMD).]
[PL 1991, c. 236, §1 (AMD).]
3.  Filing of assessments.
The municipal officers or sewer district trustees shall file with the municipal clerk:
A. The location of the drain or sewer and sewage disposal unit, with a profile description of the same;   [PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
B. A statement of the amount assessed upon each lot or parcel of land assessed under this section; and   [PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
C. The name of the owner of the lots or parcels of land or persons against whom the assessment is made.   [PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
The municipal clerk and the sewer district trustees shall record the assessment in a book kept for that purpose.
[PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
4.  Notice of assessment.
Within 10 days after filing occurs under subsection 3, each person so assessed shall have notice of the assessment given to that person or left at that person's usual place of abode in the municipality.
A. If the person has no place of abode in the municipality, then the notice shall be given or left at the abode of the tenant or lessee, if any. If there is no tenant or lessee in the municipality, then the notice shall be given by:
(1) Posting it in some conspicuous place in the vicinity of the lot or parcel of land so assessed at least 30 days before the hearing; or
(2) Publishing it for 3 successive weeks in any newspaper of general circulation in the municipality. The first publication must be at least 30 days before the hearing.   [PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
B. The notice must contain an authentic copy of the assessment, and an order of notice signed by the municipal clerk or the chairman of the sewer district trustees stating the time and place for a hearing upon the subject matter of the assessments. A return made upon a copy of the notice by any constable in the municipality or the production of the paper containing the notice is conclusive evidence that the notice was given.   [PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
[PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
5.  Hearing; revision of assessments.
When the hearing is held, the municipal officers or sewer district trustees may revise, increase or diminish any of these assessments. Any revision, increase or diminution must be in writing and recorded by the municipal clerk and the sewer district trustees.
[PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. A, §2 (NEW); PL 1987, c. 737, Pt. C, §106 (NEW); PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD); PL 1989, c. 104, Pt. C, §§8, 10 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 1987, c. 737, §§A2,C106 (NEW). PL 1989, c. 6 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 9, §2 (AMD). PL 1989, c. 104, §§C8,10 (AMD). PL 1991, c. 236, §1 (AMD).