(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 § 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 § 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.