In taking lands for the purpose of establishing and maintaining reservoirs, aqueducts, water pipes, hydrants, or any other apparatus necessary for such purposes, the City Council shall proceed in the same manner in which selectmen of towns are authorized to proceed in the taking of lands for highways, and in performing all acts and doing all business in taking such lands the Mayor shall preside over said City Council and shall vote as other members thereof. Any person owning or interested in such lands who is dissatisfied with the decision of the City Council taking such lands or in awarding him or her damages therefor, may have the same proceedings in respect thereto which shall be conducted in the same manner and have the same effect, as if such lands were taken by selectmen in any town in the State for the purpose of laying out, altering, or resurveying a highway in said town; but if such proceedings are instituted only in respect to the appraisal of damages for land so taken by the City Council, such proceedings shall not prevent said City from establishing and maintaining reservoirs, aqueducts, water pipes, hydrants, and other apparatus necessary for such purposes upon the lands so taken, as if no such proceedings had been instituted.