§ 3054. District powers

(a) In addition to the powers enumerated in 24 V.S.A. § 4866, and, subject to the limitations and restrictions set forth in section 3056 of this chapter, a district created under this chapter shall have the power to:

(1) operate, cause to be operated, or contract for the construction, ownership, management, financing, and operation of a communications plant for the delivery of communications services, as provided in 24 V.S.A. chapter 54, and all enactments supplementary and amendatory thereto;

(2) purchase, sell, lease, own, acquire, convey, mortgage, improve, and use real and personal property in connection with its purpose;

(3) hire and fix the compensation and terms of employment of employees;

(4) sue and be sued;

(5) enter into contracts for any term or duration;

(6) contract with architects, engineers, financial and legal consultants, and others for professional services;

(7) contract with individuals, corporations, associations, authorities, and agencies for services and property, including the assumption of the liabilities and assets thereof;

(8) provide communications services for its district members, including the residential and business locations located therein; and also provide communications services for such other residential and business locations as its facilities and obligations may allow, provided such other locations are in a municipality that is contiguous with the town limits of a district member, and further provided such other locations do not have access to Internet service capable of speeds that meet or exceed the current speed requirements for funding eligibility under the Connectivity Initiative, section 7515b of this title.

(9) contract with the State of Vermont, the United States of America, or any subdivision or agency thereof for services, assistance, and joint ventures;

(10) contract with any municipality for the services of any officers or employees of that municipality useful to it;

(11) promote cooperative arrangements and coordinated action among its members and other public and private entities;

(12) make recommendations for review and action to its members and other public agencies which perform functions within the region in which its members are located;

(13) exercise any other powers which are necessary or desirable for dealing with communications matters of mutual concern and that are exercised or are capable of exercise by any of its members;

(14) enter into financing agreements as provided by 24 V.S.A. § 1789 and chapter 53, subchapter 2, or other provisions of law authorizing the pledge of net revenue, or alternative means of financing capital improvements and operations;

(15) establish a budget to provide for the funding thereof out of general revenue of the district;

(16) appropriate and expend monies;

(17) establish sinking and reserve funds for retiring and securing its obligations;

(18) establish capital reserve funds and make appropriations thereto for communications plant improvements and the financing thereof;

(19) enact and enforce any and all necessary or desirable bylaws for the orderly conduct of its affairs for carrying out its communications purpose and for protection of its communications property;

(20) solicit, accept, and administer gifts, grants, and bequests in trust or otherwise for its purpose;

(21) exercise all powers incident to a public corporation;

(22) adopt a name under which it shall be known and shall conduct business; and

(23) establish an effective date of its creation.

(b) Before a district may sell any service using a communications plant subject to Public Utility Commission jurisdiction and for which a certificate of public good is required under chapter 5 or 13 of this title, it shall obtain a certificate of public good for such service. Each such certificate of public good shall be nonexclusive and shall not contain terms or conditions more favorable than those imposed on existing certificate holders authorized to serve the municipality. (Added 2015, No. 41, § 20, eff. June 1, 2015.)