Sec. 7-233c. Municipal electric energy cooperative membership. Board representatives, appointment, term, removal. Officers. Meetings. Staff. Apportionment of expenses. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 7-233c. Municipal electric energy cooperative membership. Board representatives, appointment, term, removal. Officers. Meetings. Staff. Apportionment of expenses. (a) Any two or more municipal electric utilities may, by concurrent resolutions, duly adopted by the governing bodies of each of such municipal electric utilities, create and become members of a municipal electric energy cooperative under the name and style of "the .... municipal electric energy cooperative", with some identifying phrase inserted. The managing body of the municipal electric energy cooperative shall be a cooperative utility board which shall be charged with carrying out the corporate purposes and powers of the municipal electric energy cooperative. The number of representatives to be appointed at any time for full terms of office by the governing bodies of such municipal electric utilities shall be such uniform numbers as may be mutually agreed upon in said resolutions which number shall be not less than two nor more than six for each member. After the taking effect of the said resolutions of all such municipal electric utilities and after the filing of certified copies thereof pursuant to subsection (a) of section 7-233d, the agreed number of representatives shall be appointed to the cooperative utility board by the governing body of each municipal electric utility. The qualification, terms of office for the original representatives and their successors and compensation, if any, of such representatives shall be prescribed by each such governing body; provided, each representative shall be an official of such municipal electric utility. In addition to paying such compensation as may be prescribed pursuant to section 7-233p, a member may reimburse its representatives for expenses for travel, both within and without the state, incurred by them in connection with services as a designated representative on such board. Before such municipal cooperative can be validly and legally formed each of the municipalities represented by a municipal electric utility joining together to form the municipal cooperative must, by proper proceedings duly adopted, consent and agree to such formation of the municipal cooperative.

      (b) After the creation of a municipal cooperative under subsection (a) of this section, any other municipal electric utility may become a member of the municipal cooperative if (1) the municipal electric utility files with the municipal cooperative (A) a resolution, duly adopted by its governing body, requesting membership in such cooperative and (B) a certified copy of the proper proceedings, duly adopted by the municipality represented by the municipal electric utility, consenting and agreeing to such membership and (2) after the municipal cooperative receives such filing, the governing body of each municipal electric utility which is a member of the municipal cooperative at the time of such filing duly adopts a resolution approving membership of such municipal electric utility in the municipal cooperative. After the filing of certified copies of all such resolutions with the Secretary of the State pursuant to subsection (b) of section 7-233d, the governing body of the municipal electric utility being added to the municipal cooperative shall appoint representatives to the cooperative utility board of the municipal cooperative. The number of such appointed representatives shall be the same as the number mutually agreed upon by the other members of the municipal cooperative pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. The provisions of said subsection (a) concerning the qualification and terms of office of, and reimbursement of travel expenses for, representatives of the existing members of the municipal cooperative shall apply to representatives of such municipal electric utility.

      (c) A municipal electric utility which is a member of a municipal cooperative may withdraw from the municipal cooperative if: (1) Such municipal cooperative has no outstanding debt or obligations for which such municipal electric utility has entered into a contract with respect to or otherwise become legally obligated to provide payment for, (2) the municipal electric utility files with the municipal cooperative a resolution, duly adopted by its governing body, approving the withdrawal, (3) the municipality represented by the municipal electric utility does not disapprove of such withdrawal, by vote of the municipality's legislative body, within thirty days after the adoption of such a resolution and (4) the governing body of each other municipal electric utility which is a continuing member of the municipal cooperative at the time of the filing of such resolution duly adopts a resolution approving such withdrawal.

      (d) Upon appointment of its representatives by the members of the municipal cooperative the cooperative utility board shall organize, select its chairman and vice-chairman from among said board and proceed to consider those matters which have been recommended to it by the several members of the municipal cooperative. The cooperative utility board may hold such meetings and public hearings as it deems desirable and the powers of the municipal cooperative shall be vested in the representatives thereof in office from time to time. A majority of the entire authorized number of representatives of the municipal cooperative shall constitute a quorum at any meeting thereof. Action may be taken, motions voted and resolutions adopted by the municipal cooperative at any meeting of the cooperative utility board by vote of a majority of the representatives present, unless in any case the bylaws of a municipal cooperative shall require a larger number for adoption or any representative of the cooperative utility board requests that the vote be based on megawatt-hour purchases. If such a request is made, (1) each representative shall have a number of votes equal to the total number of megawatt-hours purchased by the representative's member municipal electric utility from the municipal cooperative during the preceding completed calendar year, provided, if the municipal cooperative includes a new member municipal electric utility which purchased part or all of its power and energy from a supplier or suppliers other than the municipal cooperative during such year, each representative of such new member municipal electric utility shall have a number of votes equal to the total megawatt-hours purchased by such new member from such other suppliers during such year plus the total number of megawatt-hours purchased from the municipal cooperative during such year and (2) any action, motion or resolution taken, voted or adopted by the municipal cooperative at such meeting shall be by a favorable vote of sixty-seven per cent or more of the total of such votes of the representatives who are present at the meeting and who vote. Notwithstanding any provision of this subsection to the contrary, a unanimous vote of all of the representatives of the municipal cooperative shall be required before said municipal cooperative can exercise the power of condemnation or eminent domain provided in this chapter. The cooperative utility board may appoint and employ a treasurer, a secretary, an executive director, a chief engineer and a general counsel and such other special counsel, consulting engineer, accountants, legal, financial and construction experts, and other agents and employees as it may deem necessary, and the cooperative utility board shall determine their qualifications, terms of office, duties and compensation.

      (e) Organizational expenses incurred by a municipal cooperative shall be paid ratably by each member in the same proportion as the population or area of operation serviced by each such member bears to the total population or area of operation serviced by all members or by such other method as determined to be fair and equitable by the cooperative utility board. Such payments shall be made by each member whether or not that member utilizes the electric power or energy made available or furnished to such member.

      (f) Each representative of a municipal electric energy cooperative shall hold office for the term for which he was appointed and until his successor has been appointed and has qualified. A representative of a municipal electric energy cooperative may be removed only by the cooperative utility board for inefficiency or neglect of duty or misconduct in office and after he shall have been given a copy of the charges against him and, not sooner than ten days thereafter, had opportunity in person or by counsel to be heard thereon by such governing body. A member may remove one or more of its representatives with or without cause at any time.

      (P.A. 75-634, S. 3, 24; P.A. 76-237, S. 3, 9; P.A. 86-354, S. 2, 6.)

      History: P.A. 76-237 amended Subsec. (a) to clarify the number of representatives for each member, to require that representatives be officials of utilities and to require consent of municipalities involved for legal formation of cooperative, amended Subsec. (c) to substitute "area of operation" for "geographic area" and amended Subsec. (d) to include provision concerning removal of representatives; P.A. 86-354 inserted new Subsecs. (b) and (c), authorizing a municipal electric utility to become a member of an existing municipal electric energy cooperative or to withdraw from a cooperative, relettered the remaining Subsecs. accordingly, and amended Subsec. (d) to authorize voting based on megawatt-hour purchases.