Water Supply System

V.S.A. tit. 24 Appendix, ch. 235, subch. 7

in effect

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 235, § 71 Taking of water for the Village

71. Taking of water for the Village The Village is authorized under any vote heretofore or hereafter had for that purpose, through its Board of Water Commissioners hereinbefore mentioned, to take the water of any fountains, springs, ponds, or streams for the purpose of supplying the inhabitants of said Village and Town of Ludlow with water for fire, domestic, and other purposes, provided the owner or other person having any interest in the same shall not be deprived of such portion of water as may be necessary for agricultural and domestic purposes.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 235, § 72 Construction of water supply system

72. Construction of water supply system Said Village is hereby authorized and empowered under any vote heretofore or hereafter had for that purpose, through said water commissioners to construct and complete an aqueduct with all necessary reservoirs and appurtenances, to conduct said water to and distribute the same through said Village and outside of said Village within the limits of the Town of Ludlow, and for this purpose may enter upon and use any land over or through which it may be necessary or desirable for said aqueduct to pass, and may thereon lay and construct such pipes, reservoirs, and appurtenances as may be necessary for the complete construction and repairing of the same, and it may also, for the purposes aforesaid, dig up or occupy any common, highway, street, or bridge, for the purpose of laying, constructing, or repairing such aqueduct and the appurtenances thereof.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 235, § 73 Bonding for construction of water supply system

73. Bonding for construction of water supply system Said Village, by a majority vote in a meeting legally warned for that purpose, is authorized to issue bonds, not exceeding $30,000.00 on such terms as said Village shall prescribe for the purpose of paying the debt incurred in constructing said water system and carrying into effect the foregoing provisions. And, in case said Village shall neglect to make reasonable provisions for the payment of the interest and the principal of said bonds, as the same shall become due, it shall be the duty of the Treasurer of the said Village to make out and deliver to the Collector of said Village a tax bill on the grand list of said Village, and he or she shall therewith issue to said Collector his or her warrant, substantially in form as now provided, to be issued for the collection of Town or other taxes, directing the collection and payment of said tax to said Treasurer within 60 days from the time of such delivery, in amount sufficient to promptly pay the interest or principal then past due and unpaid. And such tax shall be paid to said Treasurer within 60 days from the time of such delivery, in amount sufficient to promptly pay the interest or principal then past due and unpaid. And such tax shall be paid to said Treasurer and the money so collected shall be specially held and used for the payment of such interest and principal as is unpaid; and it is hereby made the duty of the Treasurer of said Village to promptly pay the interest and principal of such bonded indebtedness as the same shall become due without any vote thereupon of said Village, and such tax bill shall have all the force in every respect of a tax bill voted therefor by said Village.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 235, § 74 Contracting for construction of water supply system

74. Contracting for construction of water supply system The said Village of Ludlow is hereby authorized and empowered to contract with any aqueduct or reservoir company from time to time for supplying said Village with water for fire purposes, for watering the streets, and for other public purposes, for such length of time and upon such terms as the Village at its annual meeting or at any special meeting duly called for that purpose shall direct. All contracts made by said Village with said aqueduct or reservoir companies, as provided by the foregoing section shall be legal and binding on said Village, and said Village may vote, levy, and collect taxes for fulfilling such contract or contracts.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 235, § 75 Damages and compensation related to construction of water supply system

75. Damages and compensation related to construction of water supply system In any case where damage or compensation to owners of, and other persons interested in, the water so taken, or land as may be used for laying, extending, constructing, and maintaining the aqueduct, and for the reservoirs and appurtenances, is not adjusted by agreement, or if the owner thereof be a minor, a person who lacks capacity to protect his or her interests due to a mental condition or major psychiatric disability, or out of the State, or otherwise incapacitated to sell and convey, the same shall be fixed by the Board of Water Commissioners after hearing all parties interested, the hearing to be had upon written notice of the time and place thereof, given at least six days before the hearing, and the Water Commissioners shall, within ten days after the hearing, file their award in the Town Clerk’s office in the town or towns where the property in question is situated, and cause the same to be recorded in the land records of the town or towns. Amended 2013, No. 96 (Adj. Sess.), § 170.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 235, § 76 Appeal of damage and compensation determinations

76. Appeal of damage and compensation determinations When any person shall be dissatisfied with the award of the water commissioners so made, in any of the cases mentioned in section 75 of this charter, such person may petition the Windsor County Court for a reassessment and award of damages, and such proceeding shall be had in said Court on said petition as are provided by law for the assessment of damages for land taken for highways, except that the commissioners appointed by said Court shall notify one of said water commissioners of said Village, instead of one of the Selectboard members. Said petition shall be served on the Clerk of said Village within 60 days next after said award shall be filed in the Town Clerk’s office as aforesaid, and at least 12 days before the term of Court to which it is made returnable, but nothing in such proceedings shall prevent the water commissioners from entering on such land, and laying and constructing said aqueduct, reservoirs, and appurtenances, and using said water after their award shall have been made and the amount thereof tendered by them.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 235, § 77 Malicious disruption of water supply system

77. Malicious disruption of water supply system Any person who shall maliciously disturb or injure said aqueduct, reservoirs, springs, streams, pond, or fountains, or any of the connecting appurtenances, enclosures, or works thereof, or pollute the water of said aqueduct, reservoirs, springs, stream, pond or fountains, named or referred to in this charter, or swim or bathe in the waters of said reservoir, springs, streams, or fountains, shall be liable to be prosecuted therefor by the grand juror of the town or the State’s Attorney of the county wherein the offence shall be committed, by information, complaint, or indictment, and on conviction thereof shall be fined not less than five dollars nor more than $20.00 and costs of prosecution, and also shall be liable to said Village for all damages resulting to it by such disturbance, injury, or pollution, with full costs, and same to be recovered by said Village in an action on the case founded on this statute.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 235, § 78 Adoption of bylaws, regulations, and rates

78. Adoption of bylaws, regulations, and rates The Board of Water Commissioners, as aforesaid, may make and adopt such bylaws and regulations concerning the management and use of such aqueduct, reservoirs, and appurtenances, not inconsistent with law, as it may deem expedient, including the fixing and collecting of water rates subject, however to the approval of the Public Service Commission as to the amount of said rates outside the Village; and the said water rates so fixed shall, until paid, be and remain a lien upon the premises of the parties so furnished with water in like manner as real estate is by law held for other Village taxes.

Source: Vermont General Assembly (legislature.vermont.gov)URL: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/chapter/24APPENDIX/235Fetched: 10/21/2026