§ 108-601. Sewer Department

(a) Upon the effective date of this merger, the geographic area served by the so-called Bristol core area sewer system of the then abolished Village of Bristol shall constitute a Sewer Department service area of the Town of Bristol for the purpose of providing sewer service therein.

(b) The Selectboard of the Town of Bristol shall be the sewer commissioners, alternatively known as the sewage system commissioners or sewage disposal commissioners, who, in connection with those powers enumerated in the general laws of the State with respect to sewage systems or sewage disposal systems, shall have the power to adopt and enforce rules, regulations, or ordinances concerning the control and operation of such sewer system.

(c) Unless otherwise voted by the Town at a Town meeting, all costs of the Sewer Department shall be paid by the users thereof, and the annual sewer charges shall be at a rate sufficient to cover annual expenditures, temporary indebtedness, the amortizing of bonded indebtedness and interest, and any dedicated (sinking) funds. The Sewer Department shall be maintained separate from all other departments of the Town, and no part of the charges and revenues therefrom may be used for any other purpose. Prior to the setting of the annual budget and annual sewer charges, the sewer commissioners shall each year hold a public hearing on the proposed annual budget and annual sewer charges for the Sewer Department. The public notice for each such public hearing shall be given not less than 15 days prior to the date of the public hearing by the publication of the date, place, and purpose of the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town of Bristol and by the posting of the same information in one or more public places within the general area served by the Sewer Department.

(d) The Sewer Department service area may be enlarged or modified by the sewer commissioners after holding a public hearing on any such proposed enlargement or modification. The public notice for each such public hearing shall be given not less than 15 days prior to the date of the public hearing by the publication of the date, place, and purpose of the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town of Bristol and by the posting of the same information in one or more public places within the Sewer Department service area. (Added 1994, No. M-20, § 2, eff. Jan. 1, 1995.)