Maine Revised Statutes, Title 30-A, § 2171-C: Initial hearing, 1999

Upon receipt of a petition with the required number of verified signatures, the municipal officers shall call and hold a public hearing. The purpose of the public hearing is to allow municipal residents, officers and residents in the secession territory to discuss secession. The public hearing must be conducted by a moderator elected in the manner provided for in section 2524, except that no other official vote may be taken at the public hearing. The public hearing must be conducted in accordance with the following. [PL 1999, c. 381, §2 (NEW).] 1. Hearing advertised. The municipal officers shall publish notice of the public hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the area. One notice must be published as close as possible to the 14th day before the hearing and a 2nd notice must be published as close as possible to the 7th day before the hearing. [PL 1999, c. 381, §2 (NEW).] 2. Purpose of secession hearing. The public hearing must include a formal presentation by those initiating the petition, which must include a description of the problems that have led to the secession effort. Attendees shall discuss the problems, potential solutions other than secession and the potential impact of secession on the secession territory and the municipality. The persons initiating the petition shall submit a written report at the public hearing that describes the impact of the proposed secession on property taxes in the municipality as well as in the secession territory. [PL 1999, c. 381, §2 (NEW).] 3. Nonresidents eligible to participate. Notwithstanding section 2524, subsection 3, paragraph A, nonresidents may participate in the public hearing on secession. [PL 1999, c. 381, §2 (NEW).]