§ 15-7-405 — Director of utilities; superintendent; office manager; utility attorney

(a) The board of public utilities may select and appoint
and fix the salaries of the following persons, who serve at the
board's pleasure:
(i) A director of utilities;
(ii) A superintendent;
(iii) An office manager; and
(iv) A utility attorney, who shall not be required to
perform any service other than legal service.
(b) Each appointee shall:
(i) Be a competent person thoroughly qualified for
his position by training and experience as the board requires;
(ii) Give a good and sufficient surety bond to the
city or town in the sum fixed and approved by the board
conditioned upon the faithful performance of his duties. The
cost of each bond shall be paid out of the revenue of these
plants. If the board is operating more than one (1) plant the
cost of the bond shall be paid pro rata out of the revenue of
the plants;
(iii) Perform all duties as prescribed and required
by the board.
(c) The director of utilities, if one is appointed, has
general supervision over all activities, property and employees
of the board. The board may delegate its authority to the
director of utilities to make appointments, including those of
office manager and superintendent, and to hire, promote,
transfer, demote and discharge employees of the departments. He
shall fix their salaries with the consent of the board.
(d) Under direction of the board and of the director of
utilities, if one is appointed, the superintendent shall:
(i) Manage and control the water plant and its
distribution system, the sanitary sewer system including sewage
disposal plant or plants and the electric utility distribution
system;
(ii) Supervise and inspect all parts of the plants
and see that they are maintained in good condition for use and
that all employees attend to their respective duties;
(iii) Keep in good repair all machinery and other
property; and
(iv) Advise the board and director of utilities, if
one is appointed, as to the needs of the plants.
(e) All employees, servants and agents of these plants,
when appointed by the board, are under the immediate control and
management of the director of utilities and the superintendent.
(f) Under direction of the board and of the director of
utilities, if one is appointed, the office manager shall keep a
regular set of books for the water department, the sanitary
sewer department and the electric utility distribution system
showing in detail their business transactions. Immediately
following the close of each month he shall make any reports to
the board, the director of utilities and the governing body of
the city or town, as they require, showing the transactions of
the preceding month and the financial conditions of the
departments. The reports shall include a correct account of all
collections, appropriations, expenditures and approved claims
entitled to payment. The board may appoint assistants to the
office manager as it deems necessary.