] is old law to be omitted. LBD07597-02-5S. 6247 2 1 construction of improvements required by the Department of Health to 2 operate the system. Various discussions between representatives of the 3 state comptroller and the town followed regarding the application 4 submitted by the town. The town decided to amend the scope of the 5 improvements to be undertaken to reduce the impact to the residents 6 served by the former Orchard Hill Water Company. The land owned by the 7 Orchard Hill Water Company remained in receivership following the death 8 of the owners and the town withdrew its application submitted to the 9 state comptroller. The town ultimately took ownership of the land in 10 2019. 11 In 2019, the town's engineer prepared a map, plan and report for Water 12 District No. 14. On July 1, 2019, the town board held a public hearing 13 with respect to Water District No. 14 and adopted an Order Following 14 Public Hearing. The town filed said order with the county clerk; howev- 15 er, the town board did not obtain the permission of the state comp- 16 troller for the establishment of the district. 17 The town has operated Water District No. 14 as a de-facto water 18 district in violation of town law since 2013, including requiring the 19 residents of Water District No. 14 to repay a portion each year of the 20 money spent for the improvements. As of December 31, 2024, the total 21 amount of the initial payment by the town that remains outstanding is 22 $577,539. 23 The failure of the town board to adopt a bond resolution prior to the 24 expenditure of such money for the water system improvements was contrary 25 to the provisions of Section 165.00 of the Local Finance Law. 26 § 2. Notwithstanding the defects described in section 1 of this act, 27 the establishment of Water District No. 14 is hereby legalized, vali- 28 dated, ratified and confirmed. Said water district established pursuant 29 to this act shall be funded, operated, expanded and otherwise controlled 30 in accordance with the provisions of articles 12 and 12-A of the town 31 law and the provisions of this act. To the extent that the provisions of 32 this act shall any in way be in conflict with articles 12 and 12-A of 33 the town law, the provisions of this act shall be controlling. The impo- 34 sition of any special assessments by the town upon the properties previ- 35 ously served by the Orchard Hill Water Company are hereby validated. 36 § 3. The town is authorized to issue bonds or notes in the principal 37 amount of $577,539 on behalf of Water District No. 14 for the purpose of 38 reimbursing the general fund of the town from which money have been 39 temporarily diverted in 2013 to pay certain of the costs incurred in the 40 improvement of the water system acquired by the town in accordance with 41 mandate of the public service commission, notwithstanding the provisions 42 of section 165.00 of the local finance law which, provide, in effect 43 that a bond resolution shall have first adopted before any such tempo- 44 rary diversion of funds shall have been so made. The period of probable 45 usefulness for such improvements is forty (40) years from the date of 46 the initial construction, which occurred in 2013. In anticipation of 47 such bonds, bond anticipation notes are hereby authorized. 48 § 4. Except as provided herein, any obligations issued pursuant to 49 this act shall be issued in accordance with the local finance law. 50 § 5. If any clause, sentence, subdivision, paragraph, section, or part 51 of this act be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be 52 invalid, judgment shall not affect, impair, or invalidate the remainder 53 thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, 54 subdivision, paragraph, section, or part thereof directly involved in 55 the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered. 56 § 6. This act shall take effect immediately.