§ 225-151. Water and sewer utility

(a) There shall be a Village of Hyde Park Water and Sewer Department which shall be responsible for continuing the present specific water and sewer services in existence.

(b) The water and sewer system shall be maintained separate from all other departments of the Village and no part of the rents and revenues therefrom may be used for any other purpose.

(c) Unless otherwise voted by the Village at a Village Meeting, all costs of the Water Department shall be paid by the users thereof and the annual water and sewer rents or 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. With specific reference to the legislative authority contained in 24 V.S.A. chapter 53, subchapter 2, "Indebtedness for Public Utility Purposes," sections 1821-1828, the Village of Hyde Park Water and Sewer Department is permitted to issue revenue-backed bonds and/or general obligation bonds for any capital improvement purpose related to their responsibilities to operate such utilities for the benefit of the people of the Village of Hyde Park, provided each such issue of bonds is approved by the Trustees and the voters according to law.

(d) The trustees shall be the water and sewer commissioners, who in connection with those powers enumerated in the general laws of the State with respect to waterworks and supply, shall have the power to adopt and enforce rules, regulations, or ordinances concerning the control and operation of such water system.

(e) The Water and Sewer Department service area may be enlarged or modified by the trustees after holding a public hearing on any such proposed enlargement or modification. The public notice for each such public hearing shall be by the publication of the date, place, and purpose of the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the Village of Hyde Park and by the posting of the same information in one or more public places within the Water and Sewer Department service area.

(f) The charges and rates for sewer and water services shall be a lien on real estate, wherever located, furnished with such service in the same manner and to the same effect as taxes are a lien upon real property under 32 V.S.A. § 5061. The owner of such property, furnished with water and sewer service, wherever located, shall be liable for such charges and rates.

(g) The Water and Sewer Department shall every year make a contribution to the Village of Hyde Park in lieu of taxes in the form of a cash payment and/or the equivalent in free services and municipal rate benefits in an amount equaling the amount of money which would be received by the Village of Hyde Park in ad valorem real estate taxes and personal property taxes were such department a privately-owned utility. (Added 1999, No. M-11 (Adj. Sess.), § 2, eff. May 9, 2000.)