(A) Billing cycle. Water meters shall be read monthly on or about the twenty-fifth day of each month, and bills for water used shall be issued by the town on or about the last day of each month for payment on or before the twenty-fifth day of the following month.
(B) Party responsible for payment.
(1) The owner of the property shall be responsible to pay bills for services provided to the premises. Bills may be put in a renter’s name with the signed approval of the property owner, but the owner is ultimately responsible.
(2) Service that has been disconnected will not be restored until delinquent charges have been paid in full. Delinquent charges stay with the property, not with the individual.
(C) Notice of delinquent water bills.
(1) Past due notices are sent by mail on or about the middle of the month after an account is more than 30 days past due. The owner of a rental that is delinquent is notified by mail at that time as well. The notice will state a disconnection date (normally between one and a half to two weeks’ notice). If payment is not received, a certified letter will be sent with a final warning of disconnect in two to four days, depending on how the weekend falls. The cost of the certified letter (between $5 and $6) will be added to the delinquent account.
(2) If no payment or arrangements are made, the service will be disconnected and will not be reconnected until all delinquent charges and a reconnection fee, as specified in the fee schedule appendix on file in the Town Office and in Ch. 32 of this code, is paid in full. The owner of a rental will have the opportunity to pay the renter’s delinquent charges before disconnection is made and avoid the reconnection fee.
(D) Council authority to defer payment. The Town Council shall have the authority to continue providing water service and to defer the payment of delinquent water bills after notice of delinquency is sent as herein provided if, in the Council’s judgment, good cause exists for such deferment.
(E) Hearing to dispute bill.
(1) (a) It is the policy of the town to discontinue utility service to customers by reason of nonpayment of bills only after notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard on disputed bills.
(b) The town’s form for application for utility service and all bills shall contain, in addition to the title, address room number and telephone number of the official in charge of billing, clearly visible and easily readable provisions to the effect:
1. That all bills are due and payable on or before the date set forth on the bill;
2. That if any bill is not paid by or before that date, a second bill will be mailed containing a cutoff notice that if the bill is not paid within ten days of the mailing of the second bill, service will be discontinued for nonpayment; and
3. That any customer disputing the correctness of his or her bill shall have a right to a hearing, at which time, he or she may be represented in person and by counsel, or by any other person of his or her choosing, and may present orally or in writing his or her complaint and contentions to the town official in charge of utility billing. This official shall be authorized to order that the customer’s service not be discontinued and shall have the authority to make a final determination of the customer’s complaint.
(2) Requests for delays or waiver of payment will not be entertained; only questions of proper and correct billing will be considered. In the absence of payment of the bill rendered or resort to the hearing procedure provided herein, service will be discontinued at the time specified, but in no event until the charges have been due and unpaid for at least 30 days.
(3) When it becomes necessary for the town to discontinue utility service to a customer for nonpayment of bills, service will be reinstated only after all bills for service then due have been paid, along with a turn-on charge in the sum of $20.
(Ord. passed - -)