Department of Public Works

V.S.A. tit. 24 Appendix, ch. 9, subch. 24

in effect

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 9, § 24.1 Appointment of Commissioner

24.1. Appointment of Commissioner The Commissioner of Public Works shall be appointed by the Mayor for a term of two years. He or she shall be experienced in areas of administration and management. The Commissioner shall be entitled to salary as fixed by the Board of Aldermen.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 9, § 24.2 Powers and duties of Commissioner

24.2. Powers and duties of Commissioner The Commissioner of Public Works shall be the Superintendent of Streets, Superintendent of Sewage and Disposal, Superintendent of Water Works, and City Tree Warden. Together with the City Engineer, the Commissioner shall be responsible for making all public surveys of public streets, water courses, bridges and culverts, sewers, and ground of said City and all plans and specifications for the construction, improvement, and repair thereof. In carrying out these duties the Commissioner shall consider long range planning for the development of the City and keep proper records of all matters relative to the office. It shall be the duty of the Commissioner to perform such additional duties as may be required by the Board of Aldermen.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 9, § 24.3 Staff and employees

24.3. Staff and employees The Commissioner of Public Works shall employ a registered professional civil engineer who shall be the City Engineer. The Commissioner shall have the power to employ such staff assistants, supervisors, forepersons, agents, employees, and laborers as he or she may deem necessary for the management, maintenance, and operation of the Department of Public Works. The Commissioner may discharge, suspend, or remove any such City Engineer and staff assistant, supervisors, forepersons, agents, employees, and laborers at any time by proceedings set forth in other sections of this charter and as established or adopted by the Board of Aldermen.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 9, § 24.4 Commissioner; control of water supply

24.4. Commissioner; control of water supply (a) The Commissioner of Public Works shall have the exclusive general management and supervision of the City water works and may make and enforce regulations regarding the use and control of water. He or she shall have authority to enforce beyond the limits of the City such regulations as may be necessary for the care, protection, preservation, management, and control of the City water works and water supply, in the same manner and to the same extent as within the City. (b) The Commissioner of Public Works shall have the exclusive general management and control, and the immediate and practical supervision of the City streets, bridges, culverts, curbs, sidewalks, and sewers, and the work done thereon, and shall see that the same are properly constructed and kept in repair. He or she shall have the same powers in respect to repairs of streets, highways, bridges, and culverts as road commissioners and selectboards in towns and shall, when the public good requires, cause all streets and highways to be worked and graded the entire width thereof and made in such a manner as will in his or her judgment best accommodate the public. (c) The Commissioner of Public Works shall have power to compel any person, acting under authority from him or her, to restore any sidewalk, street, pavement, highway, alley, lane, court, or public ground in said City that he or she shall dig up or disturb to a condition that shall be satisfactory to the Commissioner of Public Works. If the person fails to make such restoration or repair as requested by the Commissioner of Public Works, the work may be done by the City of Rutland and the City of Rutland may recover the amount it has expended for such work in an action under this section.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 9, § 24.5 Water rates

24.5. Water rates (a) The Board of Aldermen shall establish rates to be paid for the use of water supplied by the City water works, which shall be called “service rates.” Such service rates shall be a lien in the nature of a tax upon the real estate so supplied with water and shall be collected and enforced under such regulations and ordinances as the Board of Aldermen shall prescribe. Water may be furnished outside the City upon such terms and conditions as shall be prescribed by the Board of Aldermen and furnished solely at the discretion of said Board of Aldermen. (b) All monies received in any way on account of the City water works shall be paid into the City Treasury. The City Treasury shall keep accounts, showing fully all receipts and payments had and made in any manner on account of the water works, separately from all other receipts and payments.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 9, § 24.6 Sewers

24.6. Sewers The Board of Aldermen is authorized and empowered to establish, construct, and maintain public sewers in said City, and may establish, construct, and maintain public sewers in and through the lands of individuals and corporations, on making compensation therefor in the same manner as provided by law in the laying out and establishing highways in towns, and the same proceedings shall be had and the same right of appeal shall exist as in the case of laying out and establishing highways. Public sewers may be furnished outside the City upon such terms and conditions as shall be prescribed by the Board of Aldermen, and furnished solely at the discretion of said Board of Aldermen. All monies received in any way on account of the City sewerage disposal works shall be paid into the City Treasury. The City Treasurer shall keep accounts, showing fully all receipts and payments had and made in any manner on account of the sewerage disposal works, separately from all other receipts and payments.

24 App. V.S.A. ch. 9, § 24.7 City Engineer

24.7. City Engineer The City Engineer shall be appointed by the Commissioner of Public Works for an indefinite period. The Engineer shall be a professional civil engineer licensed in the State of Vermont whose duties shall include: (1) responsibility for all public surveys of the public streets, water courses, water works, bridges and culverts, sewers, and grounds of said City and all plans and specifications for the construction, improvement, and repair thereof; (2) consideration of long-range planning commensurate with said duties; (3) consulting engineer for all boards and officers created or authorized by this charter; (4) traffic engineer for the City.

Source: Vermont General Assembly (legislature.vermont.gov)URL: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/chapter/24APPENDIX/009Fetched: 10/21/2026