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.