(a)The board of public utilities has exclusive control of
all municipally owned waterworks, sanitary sewer systems and
sewage disposal plants, or any of them, as specified by
ordinance. The board is charged with producing and supplying
the city or town and its inhabitants with water for domestic and
industrial purposes, and for public use, and may sell and
dispose of any surplus outside of the city or town. The board
may also furnish surplus sanitary sewer facilities to persons
outside of the city or town.
(b)The board may:
(i)Hire and discharge all employees and agents of
these departments and fix their compensation;
(ii)Purchase all machinery, tools and other
appliances and all materials and supplies necessary for the
purposes of the departments;
(iii)In the name of the city or town
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(a) The board of public utilities has exclusive control of
all municipally owned waterworks, sanitary sewer systems and
sewage disposal plants, or any of them, as specified by
ordinance. The board is charged with producing and supplying
the city or town and its inhabitants with water for domestic and
industrial purposes, and for public use, and may sell and
dispose of any surplus outside of the city or town. The board
may also furnish surplus sanitary sewer facilities to persons
outside of the city or town.
(b) The board may:
(i) Hire and discharge all employees and agents of
these departments and fix their compensation;
(ii) Purchase all machinery, tools and other
appliances and all materials and supplies necessary for the
purposes of the departments;
(iii) In the name of the city or town take and hold
by lease, purchase, gift, devise, bequest or otherwise such
franchises and property, either within or without the city or
town, as may be necessary or convenient for carrying out the
purposes of the board, including office space and equipment for
carrying on the business of these departments;
(iv) Establish all reasonable rules and regulations
to protect the rights and property vested in the city or town
and under control of the board;
(v) Issue vouchers or warrants in payment of all
claims and accounts incurred by the board for its departments.
When the vouchers or warrants are approved by the board the city
or town treasurer shall pay and charge them against the proper
funds.
(c) The board may:
(i) Provide for either civil service status or
pension system, or both, for its employees, which shall be under
the supervision and subject to the order of the board;
(ii) Withhold two percent (2%) of the wages of its
employees to be placed in a fund to be known as "utilities
department pension fund";
(iii) Set aside and place in the pension fund each
month, an amount not to exceed three (3) times the total amount
of two percent (2%) deducted each month from employees' wages
for pension purposes.
(d) Disbursements from the pension fund shall be made in
the same manner as other disbursements and payments made
pursuant to this article.