The Water-Sewerage Board shall have and exercise all of the powers and authority conferred upon municipalities by the laws of the State of West Virginia now in effect or which shall hereinafter be enacted for the construction, operation, management, financing and maintenance of the municipally owned water and sewerage systems which without limitation shall include the following:
(a) Fix, regulate and change rates and charges for water and sewerage service supplied to all consumers, and adopt and prescribe reasonable rules and regulations which shall be observed and obeyed by all consumers in reference to the use and consumption of water taken from the City mains; the terms, charges and conditions upon which connections to the said water mains and sewer shall be permitted, and the place and manner of making the same; fix penalties by way of additional charges for failure to pay water or sewer rents promptly, and to this end may discontinue the supply of water to any consumer who fails to pay for either as required; require all users of water for temporary purposes to pay for the privilege in advance.
(b) The powers of the Water-Sewerage Board to fix and charge rates for water and sewerage services contained in subsection (a) hereof shall be subject to such supervision, regulation and control by the Public Service Commission of the State as that body is now or shall hereafter be authorized by the laws of the State to exercise over municipally owned public utilities or municipal officers operating the same.
(c) The Board shall have power from time to time to repair, extend and amplify the water works or sewerage plant and system and to make such additions to the pumping station, filtration plant, disposal plant, sewer and water mains and lines as may at any time and from time to time be deemed necessary for the proper operation of these systems.
(d) The Board shall employ such supervisory, clerical and other personnel as in its discretion may be necessary for the proper operation of said systems and establish the salaries of each. The Board shall be further empowered to contract for the services of an engineer, legal counsel and other professional services as may in its discretion be advisable.
(Passed 5-17-61.)