There shall be a sealer of weights and measures in each municipality of not less than seventy-five thousand population, according to the most recent figures certified to the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management by the Commissioner of Public Health pursuant to § 19a-2a, to be appointed by the chief executive officer of such municipality. A sealer of weights and measures may be appointed for municipalities having less than seventy-five thousand population by the chief executive officer or board of selectmen of such municipality. Whenever any municipality required by this section to appoint a sealer of weights and measures fails to do so or when a municipal sealer appointed under the provisions of this section fails or neglects to perform his duties, the Commissioner of Weights and Measures may direct his inspectors to perform the duties of the municipal sealer. The clerk or comptroller of each municipality required by this section to appoint a sealer shall, upon notification and request by the Commissioner of Weights and Measures, reimburse the state for the cost of such services rendered. Municipal sealers of weights and measures shall perform the same duties and have the same powers within their jurisdiction as are vested in the Commissioner of Weights and Measures for the state except those powers and duties exempted and reserved to the Commissioner of Weights and Measures by regulation promulgated under the provisions of § 43-3. In those municipalities in which no sealer is required by or appointed under the provisions of this section, the Commissioner of Weights and Measures or his inspectors shall perform these duties and have these powers. Nothing in the foregoing provisions shall be so construed as to prevent any contiguous municipalities from combining the whole or any part of their respective territories, as may be agreed upon, with one sealer, subject to the written approval of the Commissioner of Weights and Measures. A sealer appointed in pursuance of any agreement for such combination shall, subject to the terms of his appointment, have the same jurisdiction and duties as if he had been appointed by each of the authorities who are parties to the agreement.