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An Act To Amend the Charter of the Rumford Water District
Emergency preamble. Whereas, acts and resolves of the Legislature do not become effective until 90 days after adjournment unless enacted as emergencies; and
Whereas,  Private and Special Law 2015, chapter 14 revised the charter of the Rumford Water District and allows the district to contract with any person, district, utility, corporation or municipality to carry out the purposes of the district; and
Whereas,  this legislation amends the charter of the district to require that all commercial contracts for water extraction or water resale be decided by a vote of the voters of the district; and
Whereas,  it is imperative that these charter changes take effect as soon as possible to avoid disruption in the operations of the district; 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.  P&SL 2015, c. 14, §10  is amended to read:
Sec. 10. Authority to make and assume contracts. The district, through its trustees, in order to carry out the purposes of its incorporation, may contract with any person, district, utility, corporation or municipality, except that a contract for water extraction or water resale is subject to a vote by the voters of the district conducted pursuant to the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, section 2528 for each proposed contract. The results of a vote conducted under this section are valid only if the total number of votes cast is at least 60% of the number of votes cast for Governor by the voters of the district at the last gubernatorial election.
Emergency clause.  In view of the emergency cited in the preamble, this legislation takes effect when approved.
 
SUMMARY
This bill requires that all proposed commercial contracts of the Rumford Water District for water extraction or water resale be subject to a vote by the voters of the district. For the vote to be valid, the total number of votes cast must be at least 60% of the number of votes cast for Governor by the voters of the district at the last gubernatorial election.