(A) All monthly charges for water and/or sewer services shall become due on the first day of each month.
(B) In the event the water and/or sewer service charges are not paid by the 15th of the month, a service charge of 10% shall be charged to the total amount of the original bill. In the event that the charges are not paid by the 15th of the following month, the Clerk shall instruct the Superintendent to discontinue immediately the services to the delinquent patron, subject to division (C).
(Ord. 21.4, passed 1-5-54)
(C) (1) 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. The city’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:
(a) That all bills are due and payable on or before the date set forth on the bill; and
(b) 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 on or before the date set forth on the bill, service will be discontinued for nonpayment; and
(c) That any customer disputing the correctness of his bill shall have a right to a hearing at which time he may be represented in person and by counsel or any other person of his choosing and may present orally or in writing his complaint and contentions to the city 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 $55.
(D) A returned check fee of $25 will be collected on any check not honored by the customer’s financial institution. If two checks are returned within a 12 month time period, personal checks will not be accepted as payment for any accounts established by the customer.
(Am. Ord. passed 7-1-09; Am. Ord. passed - -; Am. Ord. passed - -; Am. Ord. passed - -)