CHAPTER 103b*

MUNICIPAL RESOURCE RECOVERY AUTHORITIES

*Cited. 20 CA 474.

Table of Contents


Note: Readers should refer to the 2024 Supplement, revised to January 1, 2024, for updated versions of statutes amended, repealed or added during the 2023 legislative sessions.


Sec. 7-273aa. Municipal resource recovery authority. Definitions. Designation. Regional authorities. Withdrawal.

Sec. 7-273bb. Powers.

Sec. 7-273cc. Bonds and notes.

Sec. 7-273dd. Sale of bonds or notes. Use of proceeds.

Sec. 7-273ee. Security of bonds of municipality and of authority. Contracts and agreements. Payments.

Sec. 7-273ff. Signatures of officers on date of execution binding.

Sec. 7-273gg. Form. Maturity. Investment of proceeds.

Sec. 7-273hh. Temporary notes.

Sec. 7-273ii. Revenue or guaranteed bonds not included in debt limitation.

Sec. 7-273jj. Agreement with bondholders.

Sec. 7-273kk. Use of funds.

Sec. 7-273ll. Special fund.

Sec. 7-273mm. Exemptions from taxes. Payments in lieu of taxes.

Sec. 7-273nn. Anticipation notes.

Sec. 7-273oo. Power to be additional.

Sec. 7-273pp. Investment in bonds. Negotiability. Liens.


Sec. 7-273aa. Municipal resource recovery authority. Definitions. Designation. Regional authorities. Withdrawal. (a) As used in sections 7-273aa to 7-273oo, inclusive, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings unless the context indicates another meaning or intent:

(1) “Authority” means a municipal or regional resource recovery authority created under the provisions of sections 7-273aa to 7-273oo, inclusive, or, if any such authority is abolished, the board, body or commission succeeding to the principal functions thereof or to whom the powers given by said sections to such authority shall be given by law.

(2) “Municipality” or “municipalities” means any town, city, borough, consolidated town and city or consolidated town and borough.

(3) “Project” or “projects” or “facility” means any one or more of the following: Any solid waste disposal and resource recovery area, plant, works, system, facility or component of a facility, equipment, machinery or other element of a facility, or a recycling facility which the authority is authorized to plan, design, finance, construct, manage, operate or maintain under the provisions of this chapter, including real estate and improvements thereto and the extension or provision of utilities and other appurtenant facilities deemed necessary by the authority for the operation of a project or portion of a project, including all property rights, easements and interests required.

(4) “Solid waste” or “solid waste facility” or “resource recovery facility” or “recycling facility” shall have the respective meanings ascribed thereto in section 22a-260.

(5) “Cost” or “costs” as applied to any project shall include the cost of acquisition or construction, the cost of any subsequent additions thereto or expansion thereof, the cost of the acquisition of all land, rights-of-way, property rights, easements and interests acquired by the authority for such construction, additions or expansion, the cost of demolishing or removing any building or structure on land so acquired, including the cost of acquiring any lands to which such building or structures may be moved, the cost of dredging and filling underwater areas, the cost of all equipment, financing charges, insurance, interest prior to and during such construction, and during the construction of any addition or expansion, and, if deemed advisable by the authority, for a period not exceeding one year after completion of such construction, addition or expansion, the cost of surveys, engineering and architectural services, legal expenses, administrative expenses and such other costs or expenses of the authority, including administrative and operating costs, research and development, and operating capital as may be necessary or incident to the construction of the project, and of such subsequent additions thereto or expansion thereof, and the cost of financing such construction, additions, or expansion and placing the project and such additions or expansion in operation.

(6) “Bonds” means any bonds, bond anticipation notes, notes, interim certificates, debentures or other obligations issued by a municipality or authority pursuant to the provisions of the general statutes or of this chapter, and any bonds issued to refund such bonds pursuant to this chapter.

(b) Any municipality may, by charter or ordinance, and any two or more municipalities may, by concurrent ordinances of their legislative bodies, adopt the provisions of this chapter and designate any existing board, commission or agency, or create a new board, commission or regional authority to be designated as its municipal or regional resource recovery authority. Such ordinance shall contain a brief statement of the purpose of the authority and shall set forth the articles of incorporation of the authority as follows: (1) The name of the authority and address of its principal office and where applicable, a statement that the authority is constituted as a departmental unit of such municipality or that an existing municipal department is designated as such authority; (2) a statement that the authority is created as a municipal or regional resource recovery authority under sections 7-273aa to 7-273oo, inclusive; and (3) the names, addresses and terms of office of the first members of the authority, except in the case where the authority is constituted a departmental unit or an existing municipal department is designated as such authority, in which case the name of such department and its office address shall be given.

(c) If a new board or commission is created by a municipality, the municipality shall, by ordinance, determine the number of members thereof, their compensation, if any, the method of their appointment and removal and their terms of office, which shall be so arranged that not more than one-half of such terms shall expire within any one year. Such authority shall have all the powers and duties of a municipal authority pursuant to chapters 446d and 446e and shall have the powers described in section 7-273bb.

(d) If a regional authority is created, the member municipalities shall, by concurrent ordinances, determine the number of members thereof, the number of votes to be cast by each member, the method of determining the members' compensation, if any, the method of their appointment and removal and their terms of office, which shall be so arranged that not more than one-half of such terms shall expire within any one year. Such authority shall have all the powers and duties of a regional authority pursuant to chapters 446d and 446e.

(e) Adoption of such charter or of such ordinance or ordinances by the legislative body or bodies shall constitute the authority created thereby a public body politic and corporate of the state, except where the authority is or becomes a departmental unit of such municipality as herein provided, and any such authority shall be a political subdivision of the state established and created for the performance of an essential public and governmental function. Such authority shall have all the powers and duties of a municipal authority or of a regional authority, as the case may be, pursuant to chapters 446d and 446e and shall have all the rights, powers, duties and obligations of a municipal or regional authority, as the case may be, pursuant to this chapter.

(f) Any municipality may become a member of an existing authority upon such terms and conditions as the authority may determine. Any municipality which is a member of an existing authority may by vote of its legislative body elect to withdraw from such authority. Such withdrawal shall be effective only upon such terms and conditions as the authority may require and after compliance with the terms and conditions contained in any contracts between such municipality and the authority or the holders of any bonds of the authority. No such withdrawal shall relieve such municipality of any liability, responsibility or obligation incurred by it as a member of the authority or as a user of any of its projects.

(P.A. 81-213, S. 3, 18; P.A. 82-79; P.A. 84-116, S. 1, 2; P.A. 85-478, S. 2, 10; P.A. 90-179, S. 1, 9.)

History: P.A. 82-79 designated provisions as Subsecs. (a) and (b), inserting provisions for regional, multimunicipality authorities and added Subsec. (c); P.A. 84-116 amended Subsec. (a) to authorize designation of existing agency as its municipal or regional resource recovery authority, amended Subsec. (c) to require member municipalities to determine number of votes to be cast by each member and added Subsec. (d) re withdrawal of a municipality from a regional authority; P.A. 85-478 inserted new Subsec. (a) containing definitions, relettering remaining Subsecs. accordingly, amended Subsec. (b) to require that ordinances enacted by municipalities to create an authority be concurrent and to specify content of ordinance, deleted former Subsec. (d) re withdrawal from regional authority and added new provisions designated as Subsecs. (e) and (f) re powers and duties of authorities and re municipalities' entrance into existing authorities or withdrawal from membership; P.A. 90-179 redefined “project” to include recycling facilities and added reference to such facilities in Subdiv. (4).

Cited. 210 C. 349.

Cited. 20 CA 474.

Sec. 7-273bb. Powers. (a) Any municipal or regional resource recovery authority created pursuant to this chapter shall have the power to:

(1) Employ a staff and to fix their duties;

(2) Establish offices where necessary in the municipality or the region;

(3) Retain by contract or employ counsel, auditors, engineers, private consultants and advisors;

(4) Sue and be sued;

(5) Have a seal and alter it at pleasure;

(6) Make and alter bylaws and rules and regulations with respect to the exercise of its own powers;

(7) Conduct such hearings, examinations and investigations as may be necessary and appropriate to the conduct of its operations and the fulfillment of its responsibilities;

(8) Obtain access to public records and apply for the process of subpoena if necessary to produce books, papers, records and other data;

(9) Charge reasonable fees for the services it performs and waive, suspend, reduce or otherwise modify such fees, provided such user fees shall apply uniformly within each municipality to all users who are provided with waste management services with respect to a given type or category of wastes, in accordance with criteria established by the authority, and provided further no change may be made in user fees without at least sixty days prior notice to the users affected thereby;

(10) Purchase, lease or rent such real and personal property as it may deem necessary, convenient or desirable;

(11) Appoint such advisory councils as it may from time to time deem advisable, including but not limited to, local councils on the continuation and utilization of source-separation and recycling efforts to benefit the people of the municipality or the region;

(12) Otherwise, do all things necessary for the performance of its duties, the fulfillment of its obligations, the conduct of its operations, the maintenance of its working relationships with the state, other municipalities, regions and persons, and the conduct of a comprehensive program for solid waste disposal and resources recovery, and for solid waste management services, in accordance with the provisions of the state-wide or local solid waste management plan, applicable statutes and regulations and the requirements of this chapter;

(13) Own, manage and use real property or any interest therein;

(14) Determine the location and character of any project to be developed under the provisions of this chapter, subject to applicable statutes and regulations and the requirements of the state-wide solid waste management plan;

(15) Purchase, receive by gift or otherwise, lease, exchange, or otherwise acquire and construct, reconstruct, improve, maintain, equip and furnish such waste management projects of the authority as are called for by the state-wide or local solid waste management plan;

(16) Sell or lease to any person, all or any portion of a project of the authority, for such consideration and upon such terms as the authority may determine to be reasonable;

(17) Mortgage or otherwise encumber all or any portion of a project of the authority whenever, in the opinion of the authority, such action is deemed to be in furtherance of the purposes of this chapter;

(18) Grant options to purchase, or to renew a lease for, any project of the authority on such terms as the authority may determine to be reasonable;

(19) Acquire, by purchase, gift, transfer, or by condemnation for public purposes, and manage and operate, hold and dispose of real property and, subject to agreements with lessors or lessees, develop or alter such property by making improvements and betterments with the purpose of enhancing the value and usefulness of such property, except that a municipal authority may not acquire any privately owned solid waste disposal area by condemnation;

(20) Make plans, surveys, studies and investigations necessary or desirable, in conformity with the state and local plan and with due consideration for regional plans, to carry out authority functions with respect to the acquisition, use and development of real property and the design and construction of systems and facilities;

(21) Make short and long-range plans, for the processing and transportation of solid wastes and recovered resources by facilities owned, operated or financed by the authority;

(22) Design or provide for the design of projects of the authority, including design for the alteration, reconstruction, improvement, enlargement or extension of existing facilities;

(23) Construct, erect, build, acquire, alter, reconstruct, improve, enlarge or extend projects of the authority including provision for the inspection and supervision thereof and the engineering, architectural, legal, fiscal and economic investigations and studies, surveys, designs, plans, working drawings, specifications, procedures and any other actions incidental thereto;

(24) Own, operate and maintain projects of the authority and make provision for their management and for the manufacturing, processing and transportation operations necessary to derive recovered resources from solid waste, and contracting for the sale of such;

(25) Enter upon lands and waters, as may be necessary, to make surveys, soundings, borings and examinations in order to accomplish the purposes of this chapter;

(26) Contract with municipalities, municipal, state and regional authorities, and state and federal agencies to provide waste management and resource recovery services in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and to plan, design, construct, manage, operate and maintain facilities on their behalf;

(27) Design and construct improvements or alterations on properties which it owns or which it operates by contract on behalf of other municipal or regional authorities, state agencies or municipalities, including the restoration of terminated dumps and landfills to beneficial public or private use;

(28) Contract for services in the performance of architectural and engineering design, the supervision of design and construction, system management and facility management, for such professional or technical services as are specified in this section and for such other professional or technical services as may require either prequalification of a contractor or the submission by any individual, firm or consortium or association of individuals or firms of a proposal in response to an official request for proposal or similar written communication of such authority, whenever such services are, in the discretion of such authority, deemed necessary, desirable or convenient in carrying out the purposes of such authority;

(29) Contract for the construction of projects of the authority with private persons or firms, or consortia of such persons or firms, pursuant to applicable provisions of this chapter, the requirements of applicable regulations and the state and local plan and in accordance with such specifications, terms and conditions as the authority may deem necessary or advisable;

(30) Accept gifts, grants or loans of funds, property or service from any source, public or private, and comply, subject to the provisions of this chapter, with the terms and conditions thereof;

(31) Receive funds from the sale of the authority's bonds and of its real and personal properties;

(32) Contract for, and receive funds or revenues from the sale of products, materials, fuels and energy in any form derived from the processing of solid waste by systems, facilities and equipment under its jurisdiction, and receive revenues in the form of rents, fees and charges paid by units or agencies of state and local government, and by private persons and organizations, to compensate the authority for the use of its facilities or the performance of its services;

(33) Accept from a federal agency loans or grants for use in carrying out its purposes and enter into agreements with such agency respecting any such loans or grants;

(34) Make loans of the proceeds of its bonds or of its other funds, to any person, including any municipality, municipal authority, state authority, regional authority or private entity, for the planning, design, acquisition, construction, reconstruction, improvement, equipping and furnishing of a project of the authority, which loans may be secured by loan agreements, contracts or any other instruments or agreements containing such terms and conditions as the authority shall determine necessary or desirable, including provisions for the establishment and maintenance of reserve funds, and for the construction, use, operation and maintenance and the payment of operating and other costs of a project. In connection with the making of such loans, the authority may purchase, acquire and take assignments of the notes and bonds of any municipality, municipal, state or regional authorities and persons and receive other forms of security and evidences of indebtedness, and in furtherance of the purposes of this chapter and to assure the payment of the principal of and interest on such loans, and in order to assure the payment of the principal of and interest on bonds of the authority issued to provide funding for such loans, may attach, seize, purchase, acquire, accept or take title to any project by conveyance, and may sell, lease or rent any project for a use specified in this chapter;

(35) Indemnify and hold harmless any person in connection with the financing of a project or facility;

(36) In connection with the sale, purchase, receipt, lease, exchange, other disposition or acquisition of a project of the authority or of real property, indemnify and hold harmless any person including, without limitation, indemnification against taxation by the federal or state governments respecting any state or local property taxes and any realization of tax benefits or incentives associated with ownership of a project or of real property.

(b) It is the intention of this chapter that the authorities shall be granted all powers necessary to fulfill the purposes of this chapter and to carry out their assigned responsibilities and that the provisions of this chapter are to be construed liberally in furtherance of this intention.

(c) Any contracts authorized by this chapter to be entered into by an authority may be entered into on either a negotiated or an open-bid basis, and the authority in its discretion may select the type of contract it deems most prudent to utilize, considering the scope of work, the management complexities associated therewith, the extent of current and future technological development requirements and the best interests of the municipality or the region. The terms and conditions of such contracts, and the fees or other compensation to be paid to any contracting persons pursuant to such contracts shall be determined by the authority.

(P.A. 81-213, S. 4, 18; 81-443, S. 6, 7; P.A. 85-478, S. 3, 10; P.A. 14-94, S. 80, 81.)

History: P.A. 81-443 amended Subdiv. (19) to prohibit a municipal resource recovery authority from acquiring a private solid waste disposal area by condemnation; P.A. 85-478 applied provisions of section to regional authorities, amended Subdiv. (26) to authorize contracts with municipal and state authorities and federal agencies and to expand nature of contracts to include waste management services, expanded powers in new Subdivs. (34) to (36) and added Subsecs. (b) and (c) re construction of chapter and re types of contracts authorized; P.A. 14-94 amended Subsec. (a)(12) and (15) by changing reference from state solid waste management plan to state-wide solid waste management plan, effective June 6, 2014.

Sec. 7-273cc. Bonds and notes. (a) Whenever a municipality has adopted the provisions of this chapter, it may issue bonds which are secured as to both principal and interest by (1) the full faith and credit of the municipality, (2) a pledge of revenues to be derived from the operation of a facility or (3) a pledge of revenues to be derived from the operation of a facility and also by the full faith and credit of the municipality. The body having power to authorize such bonds shall determine the maximum authorized amount of such bonds and may determine or may authorize an officer or board or commission of the municipality to determine the form of such bonds, their date, the dates of principal and interest payments, the manner of issuing such bonds and by whom such bonds shall be signed or countersigned and, as otherwise provided herein, all other particulars thereof. Such body may determine the rate or rates of interest for each issue of bonds or the manner of determining such rate or rates. Bonds may be issued in coupon, registered or book-entry form. If coupon bonds, they may be registrable as to principal only or as to both principal and interest. Bonds may be sold at such prices as the issuer shall determine.

(b) An authority created pursuant to this chapter may issue bonds from time to time and use the proceeds thereof for the purposes and powers of the authority and to accomplish the purposes of this chapter, or for the purpose of refunding such bonds, including providing for payment of the costs of any project of the authority, providing for payment of any and all costs of the authority incident to and otherwise necessary to the construction of the project, including administrative, legal and financing expenses, and providing for the establishment and maintenance of reserves, sinking funds and any other funds and accounts for such bonds. The authority shall secure such bonds as to both principal and interest by any or all of the following: (1) From its revenues generally; (2) a pledge of the revenues to be derived from the operation of a facility; (3) a mortgage covering all or any part of the facility from which the revenues so pledged may be derived; or (4) a pledge of any lease of such facility or of the payments on any loan of the proceeds of such bonds. Prior to the issuance of any bonds the municipality designating or creating the authority, or each of the respective municipalities designating or creating the regional authority, shall have approved by resolution or by concurrent resolutions of the legislative bodies thereof, the issuance by the authority of such bonds. Each such resolution shall specify the maximum authorized amount of such bonds and shall authorize the authority to determine the form of such bonds, including provisions as to registration thereof, their date, the dates of principal and interest payments, the rate or rates of interest for each issue of bonds or the manner of determining such rate or rates, the manner of issuance and sale of such bonds and by whom such bonds shall be signed or countersigned, and, except as otherwise provided in this chapter, all other particulars thereof. Prior to the preparation of definitive bonds, the authority may authorize the issuance of interim receipts or temporary bonds, exchangeable for definitive bonds when such bonds have been executed and are available for delivery. If any of the officers whose signatures appear on the bonds cease to be officers before the delivery of any such bonds, such signatures shall, nevertheless, be valid and sufficient for all purposes, the same as if such officers had remained in office until delivery. Nothing herein shall prevent any series of bonds issued under this chapter from being issued in coupon form, in which case references to the bonds herein also shall refer to the coupons attached thereto where appropriate, and references to owners of bonds shall include holders of such bonds where appropriate.

(c) An authority is authorized to provide for the issuance of its bonds for the purpose of refunding any bonds of the authority then outstanding, including the payment of any redemption premium thereon and any interest accrued or to accrue to the earliest or any subsequent date of redemption, purchase or maturity of such bonds, and, if deemed advisable by the authority, for the additional purpose of paying all or any part of the cost of a project or any portion thereof. The proceeds of any such bonds issued for the purpose of refunding outstanding bonds, may, in the discretion of the authority, be applied to the purchase or retirement at maturity or redemption of such outstanding bonds either on their earliest or any subsequent redemption date, and may, pending such application, be placed in escrow to be applied to such purchase or retirement at maturity or redemption on such date as may be determined by the authority.

(d) Whenever the issuance of bonds has been authorized pursuant to this chapter, an authority may, pending the issuance thereof, and, subject to any applicable terms or provisions of the proceedings authorizing such issuance, issue bonds in the form of bond anticipation notes and any renewals thereof. The principal of and interest on any bonds issued as bond anticipation notes pursuant to this subsection may be repaid from pledged revenues or other pledged receipts, funds or moneys, to the extent not paid from the proceeds of renewals thereof or of bonds. Upon the sale of bonds, the proceeds thereof, to the extent required, shall be applied forthwith to the payment of the principal of and interest on any bonds issued as bond anticipation notes or shall be deposited in trust for such purpose. The date or dates of such bond anticipation notes, the maturities, denominations, form, details and other particulars of such bond anticipation notes, including the method, terms and conditions for the issue and sale thereof, shall be determined by the authority.

(e) Bonds issued pursuant to this chapter may be issued pursuant to a resolution or indenture, which resolution or indenture may contain any agreements and the provisions deemed necessary or appropriate by the municipality or the authority in connection with the issuance of such bonds and to provide for the terms and security thereof, including any or all of the following: (1) Provisions respecting the fixing and collection of all revenues from any facility or facilities covered by such indenture; (2) provisions respecting custody of the proceeds from the sale of such bonds, including any requirements that such proceeds be held separate from or not to be commingled with other funds of the municipality or the authority; (3) provisions for the investment and reinvestment of bond proceeds until used to pay costs of a project and for the disposition of any excess bond proceeds or investment earnings thereon; (4) provisions for the execution of reimbursement agreements or similar agreements in connection with credit facilities, including, but not limited to, letters of credit or policies of bond insurance, remarketing agreements and agreements for the purpose of moderating interest rate fluctuations; (5) provisions for the collection, custody, investment, reinvestment and use of revenues or other receipts, funds or moneys pledged therefor as provided in this chapter; (6) provisions regarding the establishment and maintenance of reserves, sinking funds and any other funds and accounts as shall be approved by the municipality or the authority in such amounts as the municipality or the authority may establish and the regulation and disposition thereof, including requirements that any such funds and accounts be held separate from or not be commingled with other funds of the municipality or the authority; (7) covenants for the establishment of pledged revenue coverage requirements for such bonds; (8) covenants for the establishment of maintenance and insurance requirements with respect to a facility or facilities; (9) provision for the issuance of additional bonds on a parity with bonds theretofore issued, including establishment of coverage requirements with respect thereto as herein provided; (10) the terms to be incorporated in any loan of the proceeds of such bonds, and in any lease of a facility or facilities; (11) the creation and maintenance of special funds from the revenues of a facility or facilities; and (12) the rights and remedies available in event of default to the bondowners or to the trustee under an indenture, all as the municipality or the authority shall deem advisable and as shall not be in conflict with the provisions of this chapter and the general statutes.

(P.A. 81-213, S. 5, 18; P.A. 85-478, S. 4, 10.)

History: P.A. 85-478 deleted detailed provision re determination of interest rates, substituting provision authorizing authority to determine rates or manner of determination, authorized issuance of bonds in book-entry form, deleted prior provisions re discounted bonds and added Subsecs. (b) to (e), inclusive, detailing authorities' powers re issuance of bonds.

Sec. 7-273dd. Sale of bonds or notes. Use of proceeds. Bonds issued under authority of this chapter shall be sold by the municipality or the authority, at public or private sale at a price determined by the issuer thereof. The bonds may bear a single or variable rate of interest and may bear different rates of interest for different maturities. The proceeds arising from the sale of any bonds issued under the authority of this chapter by a municipality or authority shall be kept in accounts separate from other funds of the municipality or the authority. Said proceeds shall be expended only for the purposes and subject to the provisions of this chapter, provided the proceeds from the issuance and sale of any bonds shall first be applied to the payment of such bonds as have been issued in anticipation of such issue.

(P.A. 81-213, S. 6, 18; P.A. 83-519, S. 19, 23; P.A. 85-478, S. 5, 10.)

History: P.A. 83-519 eliminated requirements related to public sale of bonds or notes issued under chapter 103b to conform with more commonly adopted provisions authorizing municipalities to sell bonds, additionally such change is necessary if bonds issued under chapter 103b are to be consolidated with other types of bonds for sale as a single issue in accordance with Sec. 42b-15; P.A. 85-478 authorized public or private sale of bonds and a variable rate of interest and made technical changes.

See Sec. 42b-1 for definitions re registered public obligations.

See Sec. 42b-11 re effect of chapter 748 with respect to registered public obligations issued on or after July 7, 1983.

See Sec. 42b-12 for requirement that this section and chapter 748 be construed in conjunction with the Uniform Commercial Code.

See Sec. 42b-14 re severability of provisions relating to registered public obligations.

Sec. 7-273ee. Security of bonds of municipality and of authority. Contracts and agreements. Payments. (a) Bonds issued under the authority of this chapter by a municipality, except those which are secured only by a pledge of revenues to be derived from the operation of a facility, shall be obligatory upon the municipality and the inhabitants and property thereof according to the tenor and purport of the same and the full faith and credit of the municipality shall be pledged to the payment thereof, whether or not such pledge is stated in the bonds or in the vote authorizing their issuance, and thereafter the municipality shall appropriate in each year during which any such bonds are outstanding, and there shall be available on or before the date when the same are payable, an amount of money which, together with other revenue available for such purpose, shall be sufficient to pay the principal and interest on such bonds payable in that year, and there shall be included in the tax levy for each such year an amount which, together with other revenues available for such purpose, shall be sufficient to meet such appropriation.

(b) Bonds issued under the authority of this chapter by an authority shall be general obligations of the authority payable out of any revenues or other receipts, funds or moneys of the authority, subject only to any agreements with the holders of particular bonds pledging any particular revenues, receipts, funds or moneys; unless the authority shall otherwise expressly provide by resolution that such bonds shall be special obligations of the authority payable solely from any revenues or other receipts, funds or moneys of the authority pledged therefor, subject only to any agreements with the holders of particular bonds pledging any particular revenues, receipts, funds or moneys.

(c) Any municipality which has adopted the provisions of this chapter is hereby expressly empowered and authorized to enter into any agreement or agreements with an authority established under this chapter or with any person or persons to whom the proceeds of bonds issued pursuant to this chapter have been loaned, for such periods and containing such terms and conditions as the municipality shall determine to be necessary or convenient, to aid and cooperate in the planning, undertaking, construction, operation or financing of a project by the municipality or by an authority, including, but not limited to, the guarantee by the municipality of the punctual payment of all or some of the principal and interest on any bonds issued by an authority and the pledge of the full faith and credit of the municipality to the payment thereof. As part of the guarantee of the municipalities for payment of principal and interest on the bonds, the municipality may pledge to and agree with the owners of bonds issued under this chapter and with those persons who may enter into contracts with the municipality or the authority or any successor agency pursuant to the provisions of this chapter that it will not limit or alter the rights thereby vested in the bondowners, the authority or any contracting party until such bonds, together with the interest thereon are fully met and discharged and such contracts are fully performed on the part of the municipality or the authority, provided nothing contained herein shall preclude such limitation or alteration if and when adequate provision shall be made by law for the protection of the owners of such bonds of the municipality or the authority or those entering into such contracts with the municipality or the authority. The authority is authorized to include this pledge and undertaking for the municipality in such bonds or contracts. To the extent provided in such agreement or agreements, the obligations of the municipality thereunder shall be obligatory upon the municipality and the inhabitants and property thereof, and thereafter the municipality shall appropriate in each year during the term of such agreement, and there shall be available on or before the date when the same are payable, an amount of money which, together with other revenue available for such purpose, shall be sufficient to pay such principal and interest guaranteed by it and payable thereunder in that year, and there shall be included in the tax levy for each such year an amount which, together with other revenues available for such purpose, shall be sufficient to meet such appropriation. Any such agreement shall be valid, binding and enforceable against the municipality if approved by action of the legislative body of such municipality.

(d) Any municipality which has adopted the provisions of this chapter and any authority created pursuant to this chapter is hereby expressly empowered and authorized to enter into long-term contracts or agreements with an authority or any person or persons for solid waste disposal services whereby the municipality agrees to furnish municipal solid wastes for disposal and to make payments of fees or charges based on a percentage of actual or projected tonnage or such other formula as such contract or agreement shall provide. Any such contract or agreement may require the continuation of such payments by the municipality whether or not the agreed services are being provided but only until all bonds issued by any of the contracting parties for development and construction of solid waste facilities or resource recovery facilities have been paid or provided for and may require or permit one or more of the contracting municipalities to pay obligations of another contracting municipality in the event such other municipality fails to make such payments and to bring appropriate legal action against the defaulting municipality to recover the amounts so paid, together with the costs and expenses of such action. The obligation of a contracting municipality to make payments pursuant to any such agreement shall not be included in the aggregate indebtedness of the municipality for purposes of any state statutory provision limiting the aggregate indebtedness of the municipality. Any such agreement shall be valid, binding and enforceable against the municipality or the authority if approved by action of the legislative body of such municipality.

(e) All required payments of fees and charges, interest on loans, principal of loans and necessary fees and assessments related thereto required under any contract or agreement entered into pursuant to the provisions of this section, shall be considered expenditures for public purposes by a municipality and, notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, any necessary general or special taxes or cost sharing or other assessments authorized to be levied or assessed and collected by municipalities within the state may be levied or collected by said municipality without limitation as to rate or amount for the purpose of making such required payments.

(P.A. 81-213, S. 7, 18; P.A. 85-478, S. 6, 10.)

History: P.A. 85-478 provided that the existing section, now Subsec. (a), applied only to the issuance of bonds by municipalities and added Subsecs (b) to (e), inclusive.

Sec. 7-273ff. Signatures of officers on date of execution binding. Any bonds or notes issued under the authority of this chapter, if properly executed and signed by officers of a municipality in office on the date of execution, shall be valid and binding according to their terms notwithstanding that before the delivery thereof and payment therefor such officers have ceased to be officers of the municipality.

(P.A. 81-213, S. 8, 18.)

Sec. 7-273gg. Form. Maturity. Investment of proceeds. Bonds issued under the authority of this chapter shall be executed and delivered in such manner and at such times, may be in such form and denominations, bear such date or dates, be sold at such prices and mature at such time or times not exceeding thirty years from the date thereof as the body having power to authorize such bonds shall determine. The bonds may be issued as serial bonds or as term bonds or as a combination thereof. The bonds shall be in such denominations, be in such form, either bearer or registered as to principal and interest or as to principal alone or in book entry form, carry such exchange, transfer and registration privileges, be executed in such manner, be payable in such medium of payment, at such place or places whether within or without the state, and be subject to such terms of redemption as the body having power to authorize such bonds shall determine. The proceeds from the sale of the bonds may be invested and reinvested in such obligations, securities and other investments or deposited or redeposited in such bank or banks as the body having power to authorize such bonds shall determine.

(P.A. 81-213, S. 9, 18; P.A. 85-478, S. 7, 10.)

History: P.A. 85-478 struck previous section and inserted present provisions allowing issuing authority to determine the form and maturity of the bonds and inserted provisions regarding investment of proceeds.

Sec. 7-273hh. Temporary notes. Any municipality which has authorized the acquisition or construction of all or of any part of a resource recovery facility and which has made an appropriation therefor may borrow temporarily upon the credit of the municipality such sum or sums as may be necessary for such acquisition or construction and may issue temporary notes for any such loan, including temporary notes issued in anticipation of the sale of bonds to be secured by the full faith and credit of the municipality, by the pledge of revenues to be derived from the operation of a resource recovery facility or by both the full faith and credit of the municipality and the pledge of revenues to be derived from the operation of a resource recovery facility. Each issue of any such temporary notes shall constitute a separate loan and may be for a period of not more than two years, except that any temporary notes issued in anticipation of the sale of bonds to be secured solely by the pledge of revenues to be derived from the operation of a resource recovery facility may be for a period of not more than four years. Such temporary notes may be renewed from time to time by the issue of other temporary notes, provided the period from the date of issue of the original notes to the date of maturity of the last renewal notes shall not be more than two or four years, as the case may be. The interest or discount on such temporary notes, including renewals thereof, and the expense of preparing, issuing and marketing the same, may be included as a cost of the acquisition or construction of a resource recovery facility and may either be borrowed temporarily under the provisions of this section or funded by the issue of serial bonds or notes under the provisions of this chapter. Temporary notes may be issued under the authority of this section in anticipation of proceeds to be derived from the sale of bonds notwithstanding that, at the time of issuing such temporary notes, the municipality has not actually authorized the issue of such bonds.

(P.A. 81-213, S. 10, 18.)

Sec. 7-273ii. Revenue or guaranteed bonds not included in debt limitation. Bonds and notes issued pursuant to this chapter and (a) secured solely by a pledge of revenues to be derived from the operation of a resource facility or (b) guaranteed, in whole or in part, by state, federal or private grants of money shall not be subject to any statutory limitation, to the extent of such security or guarantee, on the indebtedness of the municipality and such bonds and notes when issued shall not be included in computing the aggregate indebtedness of the municipality in respect to and to the extent of any such limitation.

(P.A. 81-213, S. 11, 18.)

Sec. 7-273jj. Agreement with bondholders. In connection with any bonds or notes issued under the authority of this chapter, the municipality may, by resolution of the body having power to make appropriations for such municipality, covenant and agree with the holders thereof as to (a) the rates or charges to be imposed upon the users of such resource recovery facility, including the municipality, for connection with or the use of such facility, (b) the use and disposition of the revenue from such rates or charges, (c) the creation and maintenance of special funds and the management, use and disposition thereof, (d) the purposes for which the proceeds of the sale of such bonds or notes may be used, (e) the acts or conduct which shall constitute a default and the rights and liabilities of the holders arising upon such default, (f) the terms and conditions upon which bonds or notes issued under the authority of this chapter shall become or may be declared due before maturity and the terms and conditions upon which such declaration and its consequences may be waived, (g) the conditions upon which other or additional bonds or notes may be issued and secured by revenue from the operation of a resource recovery facility, (h) the insurance to be carried upon the facility, and the use and disposition of any insurance moneys, (i) the maintenance of books of account and the inspection and audit thereof.

(P.A. 81-213, S. 12, 18.)

Sec. 7-273kk. Use of funds. All revenues derived from the operation of a resource recovery facility, whether pledged for payment of bonds or notes or otherwise, shall be kept separate from other funds of the municipality and shall be used for the facility, including the payment of debt incurred for the facility and interest thereon, and for no other purpose.

(P.A. 81-213, S. 13, 18.)

Sec. 7-273ll. Special fund. Any municipality which has issued bonds or notes in accordance with this chapter may by ordinance establish a special fund for payment of all or any part of such bonds or notes or interest thereon, may make and revise necessary rules and regulations not contrary to this chapter for the management of such special fund and may provide for payments into such special fund of all or any part of any revenues from the operation of a resource recovery facility or funds from any other source. The municipality shall not withdraw any moneys from the fund except for such purpose and shall not alter any vote or agreement in respect to revenues to be paid into the fund until such bonds or notes have been paid in full or the special fund is sufficient to do so.

(P.A. 81-213, S. 14, 18.)

Sec. 7-273mm. Exemptions from taxes. Payments in lieu of taxes. (a) The exercise of the powers granted by this chapter shall constitute the performance of an essential governmental function and the authority shall not be required to pay any taxes or assessments upon or in respect to a project, or any property or moneys of the authority, levied by any municipality or political subdivision or special district having taxing powers of the state, nor shall the authority be required to pay state taxes of any kind, and the authority, its projects, property and money and the principal and interest of bonds issued under the provisions of this chapter, their transfer and the income therefrom, including revenues derived from the sale thereof, shall at all times be free from taxation, except for estate and gift taxes imposed by the state or any political subdivision thereof. Nothing herein shall prevent the authority from entering into agreements to make payments in lieu of taxes with respect to property acquired by it or by any person leasing a project from the authority or operating or managing a project on behalf of the authority and neither the authority nor its projects, properties, money or bonds shall be obligated, liable or subject to lien of any kind for the enforcement, collection or payment thereof. If and to the extent the proceedings under which the bonds authorized to be issued under the provisions of this chapter so provide, the authority may agree to cooperate with the lessee or operator of a project in connection with any administrative or judicial proceedings for determining the validity or amount of such payment and may agree to appoint or designate and reserve the right in and for such lessee or operators to take all action which the authority may lawfully take in respect of such payments and all matters relating thereto, providing such lessee or operator shall bear and pay all costs and expenses of the authority thereby incurred at the request of such lessee or operator or by reason of any such action taken by such lessee or operator on behalf of the authority. Any lessee or operator of a project which has paid the amounts in lieu of taxes permitted by this section to be paid shall not be required to pay any such taxes in which a payment in lieu thereof has been made to the state or to any such municipality or other political subdivision or special district having taxing powers, any other law to the contrary notwithstanding.

(b) Any real or personal property leased by the authority in connection with the operation of a project under the provisions of this chapter which would otherwise be subject to taxation under chapter 203 shall be exempt from the assessment of property taxes permitted and required under said chapter 203 if such real or personal property is the subject of an agreement to make payments in lieu of taxes with respect to such property between the authority or the lessee of such project and the municipality in which such project is located. Any lessee or operator of such project from such authority who has made any payment of taxes due under such agreement shall not be required to make any payment of taxes on which a payment in lieu thereof has been made to the municipality.

(P.A. 81-213, S. 15, 18; P.A. 85-478, S. 8, 10; P.A. 89-331, S. 5, 30.)

History: P.A. 85-478 struck previous language and inserted more specific language relating to exemptions from taxes and agreements for payments in lieu of taxes; P.A. 89-331 clarified the exemption from taxation of the principal and interest of the bonds.

Sec. 7-273nn. Anticipation notes. In addition to its other powers under this chapter any municipality operating a resource recovery facility may issue temporary notes to be paid from anticipated income from such facility and may renew such notes annually for not more than fifteen years.

(P.A. 81-213, S. 16, 18.)

Sec. 7-273oo. Power to be additional. Any power granted by this chapter shall be in addition to, and not in derogation of, any power granted to any municipality under the provisions of any special act or of any general statute.

(P.A. 81-213, S. 17, 18.)

Sec. 7-273pp. Investment in bonds. Negotiability. Liens. (a) Bonds issued by an authority under the provisions of this chapter are hereby made securities in which all public officers and public bodies of the state and its political subdivisions, all insurance companies, credit unions, building and loan associations, investment companies, banking associations, trust companies, executors, administrators, trustees and other fiduciaries and pension, profit-sharing and retirement funds may properly and legally invest funds, including capital in their control or belonging to them. Such bonds are hereby made securities which may properly and legally be deposited with and received by any state or municipal officer or any agency or political subdivision of the state for any purpose for which the deposit of bonds or obligations of the state is now or may hereafter be authorized by law.

(b) Whether or not the bonds of an authority created pursuant to this chapter are of such form and character as to be negotiable instruments under article 8 of title 42a, such bonds shall be and are hereby made negotiable instruments within the meaning of and for all the purposes of said article 8 of title 42a, subject only to the provisions of the bonds for registration.

(c) Any pledge made by a municipality or an authority pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be valid and binding from the time when the pledge is made, and any revenues or other receipts, funds or moneys so pledged and thereafter received by such municipality or authority shall be subject immediately to the lien of such pledge without any physical delivery thereof or further act. The lien of any such pledge shall be valid and binding as against all parties having claims of any kind in tort, contract, or otherwise against the municipality or the authority, irrespective of whether such parties have notice thereof. Neither the resolution nor any other instrument by which a pledge is created need be recorded.

(P.A. 85-478, S. 9, 10.)