1. Whenever it shall determine it to be in the public interest, after a public hearing as hereinafter provided, the town board may acquire or construct on behalf of a water, water storage and distribution, ambulance, sewer, sewage disposal or drainage district additional facilities therefor and appurtenances thereto, other than the construction of a lateral sewer, drain or water main authorized to be constructed pursuant to section one hundred ninety-nine, and including additional lands or interests in lands, or may improve or reconstruct existing facilities and appurtenances. The town board shall cause a map and plan of the proposed improvement together with an estimate of the cost to be prepared by a competent engineer duly licensed by the state of New York. When the map and plan and estimate of cost has been completed, the town board shall call a public hearing thereon and cause a notice thereof to be published and posted in the manner prescribed in section one hundred ninety-three. Such notice shall describe in general terms the proposed improvement or the location of the lands to be acquired, shall specify the estimated expense thereof and state the time when and place where the board will meet to hear all persons interested in the subject matter thereof. If the town board shall decide, after such hearing and upon the evidence given thereat, that it is in the public interest to acquire or construct the proposed improvement, the board shall direct the engineer to prepare definite plans and specifications, and to make a careful estimate of the expense, and, with the assistance of the town attorney or an attorney employed for that purpose, to prepare a proposed contract for the execution of the work. Thereupon the said board shall examine such definite plans, specifications, estimate and the proposed contract, and may reject the same or make such modifications and changes therein as shall seem necessary and desirable, and adopt the same and cause the improvement to be constructed or acquired all in the same manner as hereinbefore provided for the construction of trunk sewers, drains and water systems. In case the purchase of lands only is involved, the town board, if it is determined to be in the public interest, may proceed to purchase such lands. In like manner, the town board may, after a public hearing held upon due notice, replace obsolete, inadequate, damaged, destroyed or worn-out apparatus and equipment or acquire additional apparatus and equipment. Any cost or expense incurred pursuant to the authority granted by this section shall be a charge against the district and assessed, levied and collected in the same manner as other charges against the particular district. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to prevent the financing of such cost or expense pursuant to the provisions of the local finance law.