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Maine Alliance for Road Associations

Incorporation

  • 03 Nov 2023 9:40 AM
    Message # 13275086

    CMP was pushing us for a 2 year agreement to use our private  road for  access to their power line.  We declined and after 6 months they found another  access point.  Now we  have been advised to incorporate the road association (currently a statutory road association) to protect us from further  action by CMP.  We have 14 lots (11 developed).  Two of the undeveloped lots are owned by out of state people who do not respond to requests for payment of assessments, etc.  Is incorporation even an option for us?

  • 06 Nov 2023 5:24 PM
    Reply # 13276197 on 13275086
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    I have been hoping others with non-profit corporation road associations might answer you. We are not incorporated but also have been advised to do so. So, yes, I believe it is possible to “upgrade” your statutory road association, keeping the statutory part, and making it a non-profit corporation. I would suggest getting legal advice from an attorney who is familiar with road associations. 

  • 07 Nov 2023 1:45 PM
    Reply # 13276551 on 13275086

     Perhaps the links below will be of assistance. The first is a link to the state's non-profit corporation website.   There you should first use the search function (Corporate Search) to check that there is not already a corporation registered using the exact name of your road association. 

     The site also provides links to other useful information about forming a nonprofit corporation including a link to the nonprofit corporation act.  

    The process is relatively straight forward and the second link below will reveal a PDF form for filing as a nonprofit corporation. The sections of the form are as follows:  Name, Obviously use the name as is shown in your bylaws, Road Associations are mutual benefit corporations, the registered agent will likely be one of your officers or directors (non-commercial registered agent), your bylaws will determine the number of directors, you will have members (some nonprofits do not,)  you will name one or more individuals as the incorporators who will also sign the form.   

    There is a $40 registration fee and there is a requirement for filing an annual renewal (@$35 as of 2022!). So that is easy peasy. But you should consult with an attorney to determine if filing as a Maine nonprofit will provide the benefits you are seeking and is otherwise appropriate for your statutory association.  This is not rocket surgery and most attorneys can answer your questions and help make the filing for only one or two billing hours.  

    Do keep in mind the following:  there are no tax benefits to being a Maine nonprofit corporation,  you must renew the nonprofit corporation registration every year, your bylaws and articles of incorporation must agree so be sure to be sure they do, the Maine nonprofit corporation act may allow more powers than recited in your bylaws or in the provisions of the state Private Ways law but your organization will still have to strictly comply with the Private Ways law (Title 23, sections 3101-3106) to benefit fully from that law.

    https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/corp/nonprofit.html

    https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/forms/nonprofit/mnpca6.pdf

                            The Maine Alliance for Road Associations


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