(a) Generally. The construction, operation, maintenance and repair of such sewerage works shall be vested in the town council.
(b) Examination and inspection. The members of the town council and their duly authorized agents may enter upon any premises within the town to examine, inspect or survey the same, whenever necessary for the performance of their duties under this chapter [this article].
(c) Contracts. The town council shall have authority to make for and in behalf of the town all necessary contracts for the purchase of property, materials, supplies and equipment and for the construction of the sewerage works. All work, supplies, materials and equipment required by the town in connection with the construction of the sewerage works shall be procured by contract made pursuant to and in the manner required by the provisions hereof; provided, however, that if authorized by vote of a majority of the electors present, entitled to vote and voting on the question at an annual or special financial town meeting, the town council may direct the construction of lateral sewers, including sewer service connections and any other appurtenances thereto, by employees of the town under the direction of the commissioner of public works, or other person designated by the town council, and may obtain on a rental basis any equipment required in said constructions, if the total cost of each project authorized by said electors for the work, material and rental of equipment as estimated by the town council will not exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00). In all contracts involving more than one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), the town council shall advertise for bids based upon proper specifications to be prepared by the town council and shall let such contract or contracts to such lowest responsible bidder or bidders who will give security satisfactory to the town council for the performance of their contract, after considering the relative competency and responsibility of the bidders and the amounts of their respective bids. No member of the town council nor any employee whose duties relate to such contracts shall have any interest directly or indirectly for personal gain or profit in any such contracts and any and all such contracts made in violation hereof shall be utterly void as to the town at the option of the electors.
(d) Employees, professional advisers, etc. The town council may from time to time employ and fix the compensation of such engineers, legal advisors, surveyors, draftsmen, clerks and other employees as it may find necessary for the construction, operation, maintenance and repair of the sewerage works and may at any time discontinue the employment of any or all such employees. (P.L. 1958, ch. 138, § 1; P.L. 1964, ch. 72, § 1.)