When the public health or convenience shall require the construction of a common sewer or main drain in the Village of Derby Center and through the principal streets of the Village, the Trustees of the Village, upon application in writing of 20 or more freeholders and legal voters of the Village, are authorized and empowered to lay, make, and maintain the common sewer or main drain and repair the same when necessary, from time to time, and for that purpose may take the lands of any individuals or corporations; and the Trustees shall proceed in the same manner as is prescribed by law for a selectboard in taking lands for highways and in awarding damages; and the Trustees shall make a return of their doings to the office of the Clerk of the Village, who shall record the same in the records of the Village. Each person or corporation whose particular drain shall enter into the main drain or sewer, or who in the opinion of the Trustees shall receive benefit from the system for draining the premises of the person or corporation, shall be liable to contribute a just share toward the expense of laying and constructing and maintaining of the sewer or drain, and shall be assessed by the Trustees such share; and at least 10 days' notice of the time and place of the assessment for the contribution shall be given to the person or corporation, its agent, tenant, or lessee, and a certificate of the assessment shall be left with the Clerk of the Village, and recorded by the Clerk, and when so recorded the amount so assessed shall be and remain a lien, in the nature of a tax upon the lands and premises so assessed until the same shall be paid, and if the owner of the lands and premises shall neglect, for the space of six months after the final decision of the Trustees, or in case of appeal to the county court, to pay the Village Treasurer the amount of the assessment, the Trustees shall issue their warrant for the collection of the same, directed to the Village Tax Collector, who shall have authority to sell at public auction so much of the lands and premises as will satisfy the assessment and all legal fees, and who shall proceed in the same manner as collectors of town taxes are required by law to proceed in selling real estate at auction for the collection of town taxes.
24 Appendix V.S.A. § 215-301