Proposed Southern York County Regional Development Authority
For more than a year South Berwick, Berwick, Eliot, Kittery, North Berwick, and Wells have been discussing the creation of a regional development authority. As a result, LD 2003, “An Act To Create the Southern York County Regional Development Authority” was sponsored by Senator Bowman of York and cosponsored by Representative Gould of South Berwick and Representatives Wheeler of Kittery, Chase of Wells, Weaver of York, and Hill of York.
On January 17, the legislation went before the Business Research and Economic Development Committee (BRED) in Augusta for a public hearing and a vote. At the time of the hearing, Senator Bowman, the original sponsor, had withdrawn his support because he was concerned that the legislation was too strongly worded and that local citizens were not fully informed about it. Consequently BRED tabled their decision and set a work session for Feb. 26 so they can hear more input and review possible amendments to the legislation.
Citizens of the towns involved have an opportunity to learn more about the legislation, ask questions of its proponents and opponents, and let our legislators and the members of the BRED Committee know what we think of the legislation before the February 26 work session.
Here’s more information about the bill.
A summary of the bill:
This legislation would legally create a regional development authority that would have as its eligible members the six named communities located in Southern York County, which, once the bill became law, would have the opportunity to vote on whether to become participating members of that authority. The submission of this proposed legislation resulted from the regional effort of several communities located in Southern York County and has been developed as a result of a regional development grant awarded to the Town of South Berwick, Maine by the Maine State Planning Office.
The Southern York County Regional Development Authority would have broad legal authority to engage in activities to promote, facilitate, and conduct economic development through the creation of jobs, educational programs, workforce housing, and other related activities, which would all take place through a coordinated, cooperative regional effort among the communities that vote to become members of the regional development authority.
Links to the full text of the proposed bill:
In adobe acrobat pdf format:
http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/billpdfs/LD200301.pdf
As a web page:
http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/billtexts/LD200301.asp
An overview of what’s covered in the legislation:
- Sec. 1. Southern York County Regional Development Authority established; incorporation; purposes
- Sec. 2. General powers
- Sec. 3. Operational phases of the authority
- Sec. 4. Governing body; general assembly; executive board
- Sec. 5. How financed
- Sec. 6. Sinking fund; refunding bonds
- Sec. 7. Referendum on bond issues
- Sec. 8. Authority voting list
- Sec. 9. Authority to issue temporary notes in anticipation of taxes
- Sec. 10. Agreements for financial assistance authorized
- Sec. 11. Annual reports and budget; levy of taxes
- Sec. 12. Authority budget meeting
- Sec. 13. Dissolution
- Sec. 14. Other cities and towns may join; procedure for withdrawing from the authority
- Sec. 15. Emergency clause; referendum; effective date
- Sec. 16. Subsequent votes of cities and towns to participate in development projects of authority
Maine State Legislature page pertaining to LD 2003 (unfortunately the page is not up to date but looks like it will eventually have the notes from the public hearing)
Contact information:
Senator Peter Bowman’s Website
Representative Bonnie Gould’s Website
List of members of the Business, Research and Economic Development Committee
Tags: eliot, news, regional dev authority, south berwick