(1) 
Authority. In accordance with Title 30-A MRS § 5401-5415, the Town of Camden is authorized to acquire, construct, reconstruct, improve, extend, enlarge, equip, repair, maintain, and operate a revenue-producing wastewater facility consisting of a sewer system, or part thereof, within or without or partly within and partly without, the corporate limits of the Town of Camden. The system shall be known as the Camden Wastewater Disposal System.
(2) 
Funding. The original construction cost and any future replacement costs of any portion of the wastewater facility, including but not limited to buildings, sewer lines, force mains, pump stations, or other appurtenant structures including replacement of sewer lines and fixed machinery, shall be considered as capital improvements and may be funded through use of the Wastewater Department's Capital Reserves, user service charges, or use of bonds and other loan sources.
(3) 
Debt service. Any debt service for capital improvements incurred by the Town of Camden on behalf of the Camden Wastewater Disposal System may be repaid through user service charges.
(4) 
Operational costs. The cost of operation and maintenance of the facility shall be derived solely from user service charges and not from property taxation.
(5) 
Facility regulations. All ordinances, rules, and regulations presently existing pertaining to the wastewater facility shall remain in full force and effect until amended.
(1) 
Commissioners Empowered. The Select Board, acting as Wastewater Commissioners (hereafter in this article called "Commissioners"), are hereby authorized and empowered to perform all duties and functions authorized and established by state statute or law or by municipal ordinance for fulfilling the purposes outlined above.
(2) 
Rates and Fees. The Wastewater Commissioners shall fix the schedule of rates, fees and other charges for the use of the services provided by the Camden Wastewater Disposal System. State Reference: Title 30-A MRS § 5405.
(3) 
Deliberations. In circumstances in which the Select Board considers, deliberates, or takes action on any Wastewater Department issue in a duly noticed Select Board meeting, the Select Board shall be deemed to be acting in their capacity as Wastewater Commissioners without the necessity of expressly convening as Wastewater Commissioners.
(1) 
Commission Organization. The Commission shall determine at its annual organizational meeting the rules and order of business to be followed by the Commission. The rules shall be recorded and made available for public inspection and publication. The Commission shall keep a permanent written and digital recording of all its meetings for the public record.
(2) 
Voting. The votes of each Commissioner shall be recorded in a written record. Three (3) members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum. No action of the Commissioners shall be binding or valid unless adopted by an affirmative vote of three (3) of the Commission members.
(3) 
Public Access. The Commission shall hold meetings as often necessary. All meetings of the Commission shall be open to the public.
(4) 
Executive Session.
(a) 
By an affirmative vote of three (3) members, the Commissioners may recess for the purpose of discussing matters in closed or executive session as permitted in Title 1 MRS § 405(6), and in accordance with that statute or any other applicable existing statute.
(b) 
Vote on Actions. Similar action on any matter taken up in such closed session, except those matters which are permitted or required by law to be acted upon in closed sessions, shall not be voted on until it is placed on the public portion agenda of a regular or special meeting of the Commissioners.
(5) 
Compensation. The Wastewater Commissioners shall receive an annual salary that shall be established by the vote of the Annual Town Meeting for each member. Members serving unexpired terms shall be paid on a prorated basis for time served. The Commissioners shall receive reimbursement for actual and authorized expenses incurred in the performance of the duties of office.
(6) 
Appointments. The Wastewater Commissioners at their organizational meeting, or as soon thereafter as possible, shall appoint the Town Manager as Chief Executive and Administrative Official of the Wastewater Department, and appoint a Superintendent of the Wastewater Department.
The duties of the Chief Executive and Administrative Official of the Wastewater Department shall be to:
(1) 
Report to and be directly responsible to the Select Board acting as Wastewater Commissioners for the administration of the Department.
(2) 
See to the execution and enforcement of all laws and ordinances pertaining to the Wastewater Department.
(3) 
Oversee the supervision and control of all personnel working for and in connection with the Department and have the authority to oversee the appointment of Wastewater personnel.
(4) 
Attend all meetings of the Wastewater Commission except when matters pertaining to the Town Manager's employment are being considered.
(5) 
Oversee the collection of necessary data for preparation of the annual budget, which budget together with supporting materials, is to be submitted directly to the Commissioners.
(6) 
Be responsible for the preparation of Articles pertaining to capital expenditures on sewer-related projects for inclusion in the Town Warrant.
(7) 
Be charged with the responsibility of establishing and carrying out purchasing procedures to be followed in connection with the operation and maintenance of the Department within the framework of the operating budget as approved by the Wastewater Commissioners.
(8) 
Advise the Commission on all matters pertaining to all capital improvements and other matters affecting wastewater disposal.
(9) 
Be responsible to the Commission for duties and responsibilities assigned in carrying out all capital improvements.
The Superintendent of the Wastewater Department shall:
(1) 
Have the authority and responsibility for the day-to-day management of the Wastewater Department and the personnel of the Wastewater Department.
(2) 
Report to and be directly responsible to the Town Manager for the administration of the Wastewater Department.
(3) 
Have the authority to hire and supervise all personnel working for, and in connection with, the Wastewater Department, as directed by the Town Manager.
(4) 
Be responsible for assisting the Town Manager in collecting the necessary data for the preparation of the annual budget for submission to the Wastewater Commissioners.
(5) 
In coordination with the Town Manager, advise the Commissioners on all matters pertaining to capital improvements, which shall include an annual updating of the ten (10)-year Wastewater capital improvement plan, and other matters affecting wastewater disposal.
(6) 
Prepare and submit to the Town Manager data necessary for the preparation of articles pertaining to capital expenditures on sewer-related projects for inclusion in the Town Warrant, and necessary for preparation of any other Articles for inclusion in the Town Warrant concerning the Wastewater Department.
(7) 
Assist the Town Manager in establishing and carrying out purchasing procedures to be followed in connection with the operation and maintenance of the Department within the framework of the operating budget as approved by the Wastewater Commissioners.
(8) 
Attend all meetings of the Wastewater Commission, except when matters pertaining to the Superintendent's employment are being considered.
(9) 
Be responsible to the Town Manager and to the Wastewater Commissioners for duties and responsibilities assigned by the Wastewater Commissioners or the Town Manager in carrying out all capital improvements.