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recognition of the shared water bodies, estuaries, surface and groundwater resources and wastewater treatment .
<br /> needs of the surrounding towns of Barnstable, Falmouth and Sandwich and of Barnstable county generally, the
<br /> district shall not be constrained or limited to ownership of real or personal property solely within the territorial limits
<br /> of the town of Mashpee and it shall not be constrained to service customers only within the territorial limits of the
<br /> town of Mashpee but may engage in the joint operation of public activities or participate in such regional provision of
<br /> water and wastewater treatment works as the board of water and sewer commissioners shall deem appropriate.
<br /> (b) consistent with the constitution and laws of the commonwealth, the district shall have such other powers,
<br /> including all powers pertaining to a waterworks system and a sewer works system held by a municipality and not
<br /> inconsistent with this act as.may be necessary for or incident to carrying out the foregoing powers and the
<br /> accomplishment of the purposes of this act; provided, however, that nothing in this act shall impose a duty on the
<br /> district to maintain groundwater levels within or without the boundaries of the district.
<br /> (c) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the district shall not engage in the treatment or
<br /> disposal of stormwater or engage in stormwater discharge remediation but shall exercise its powers only with
<br /> respect to the treatment and disposal of wastewater or groundwater and the provision of waterworks for the
<br /> extinguishment of fires and for domestic and other purposes as set forth in this act,
<br /> Section 3. The district shall elect by ballot, in an election held contemporaneously with the annual election in the
<br /> town of Mashpee, 3 persons, who shall be inhabitants of and voters in the district, to hold office for 3 years each, to
<br /> constitute a board of water and sewer commissioners. The terms of the commissioners shall be staggered and the
<br /> duly elected board of water commissioners of the Mashpee water district holding office on the effective date of the
<br /> establishment of the Mashpee water and sewer district-shall serve as water and sewer commissioners until their
<br /> respective terms shall be complete. All authority granted to the district by this act and by the.General Laws, except
<br /> as provided in sections 4 and 6 and not otherwise specifically provided for, shall be vested in the board of water.and
<br /> sewer commissioners, who shall be subject to such instructions and bylaws as the district may impose by vote. The
<br /> district, acting through the board,shall appoint, for such term as it may determine, a district clerk and a district
<br /> treasurer and such other officers and employees not specifically provided for in this act as it may deem necessary
<br /> and proper and shall fix their compensation. The district treasurer shall not be a member of the board and shall give
<br /> bond to the district in such amount as may be approved by the board with a surety company authorized to transact
<br /> business in the commonwealth as a surety. A majority of commissioners shall constitute a quorum for the
<br /> transaction of business. A vacancy occurring on the board from any cause may be filled for the remainder of its
<br /> unexpired term by the district at any legal meeting called for such purpose or by a vote of the remaining
<br /> commissioners. No money shall be drawn from the district on account of its water or wastewater works except upon
<br /> a written order of a majority of the commissioners. Any personal property or real estate taken, purchased or
<br /> acquired by the Mashpee water district shall be managed, improved and controlled by the board established in this
<br /> section in such a-manner as it deems in the best interest of the district.
<br /> Section 4. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the district, for the purpose of paying other
<br /> necessary expenses�and liabilities incurred under this act, other than expenses of maintenance and operation, may
<br /> borrow.from time to time such additional sums as may be necessary not exceeding, in the aggregate, $500,000,000
<br /> and may issue bonds or notes therefor which shall bear on their face the words Mashpee Water and Sewer District
<br /> Loan Act of 2014 and such other distinguishing designation as may be determined by the board and each
<br /> authorized issue shall constitute a separate loan and each such loan shall be payable not more than 40 years from
<br /> its date of issuance. .
<br /> The district may borrow from time to time such sums as may be necessary for the purposes of this act in
<br /> anticipation of revenue. 'Indebtedness incurred under this act shall, except as otherwise provided herein, be subject
<br /> to chapter 44 of the General Laws. Each such borrowing and each issue of bonds or notes shall constitute a
<br /> separate loan, shall be authorized by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of those present at an annual or
<br /> special meeting of the district and shall be upon the full faith and credit of the district. All bonds or notes issued
<br /> pursuant to this act shall be obligatory upon the district and its inhabitants and the property within the limits of the
<br /> district. The district shall, at the time of authorizing any such loan, provide for the payment thereof as authorized
<br /> hereunder. When a vote to this effect has been passed, a sum which, with available income derived from water
<br /> rates, shall be sufficient to pay the annual expense of operating its water and wastewater works and the interest as
<br /> it accrues on the bonds or notes issued as aforesaid by the district and to-make such payments on the principal as
<br /> may be required under this act, shall, without further vote, be assessed upon the district by the district assessors
<br /> annually thereafter until the debt incurred by any such loan is extinguished.
<br /> Section 5. The district, acting by and through the board shall fix just and equitable prices, charges, fees and
<br /> rates for the use of water, determined by the cost of producing the same, and shall prescribe the time and manner of
<br /> payment. The income of the waterworks shall be available for appropriation to defray all operating expenses,
<br /> interest charges and payments on principal of any loan, as accruing upon any bonds or notes issued pursuant to
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