15-7-404. Specific powers and duties; vouchers; civil service or pension system.

(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.