The town shall have and exercise with regard to all utilities
and franchises, all municipal powers including, without limitation,
all powers now existing and which may be hereafter provided by the
constitution and statutes. The right of the town to construct, purchase
or condemn any public utility, work or way, is expressly reserved.
Except as otherwise provided by Constitution or this Charter, all
powers concerning the granting, amending, revoking or otherwise dealing
in franchises shall be exercised by the council.
The town shall have the power to buy, exchange, lease, own,
and control water rights.
The council shall by ordinance establish rates for services
provided by municipality-owned utilities. All newly annexed territory
shall be served by municipal utilities, if any, within a reasonable
period of time after annexation. If the council desires to extend
the municipal utilities beyond town boundaries, it shall do so by
ordinance.
No franchise shall be granted that exceeds twenty (20) years.
Each franchise granted under the provisions of this Charter
shall include a section specifying a periodic review of said franchise.
The council shall cause to be kept in the office of the town
clerk an indexed franchise record in which shall be transcribed copies
of all franchises heretofore and hereafter granted. The index shall
give the name of the grantee and any assignees. The record, a complete
history of all such franchises, shall include a comprehensive and
convenient reference to all actions at law affecting the same, and
copies of all annual reports and such other matters of information
and public interest as the council may from time to time require.
All franchise ordinances of the town in effect at the time that
this Charter is adopted shall remain in full force and effect according
to their provisions and terms until the expiration date provided in
such ordinance or until modified by another franchise.
