The collection process for Utility Accounts shall normally be conducted as follows:
(a) Notice of a Deficiency in the Account (the "Deficiency Letter") shall normally be issued on or about the 24th of each month to accounts with an unpaid balance of $200 or more;
(b) The Deficiency Letter shall specify that the Final Due Date for payment is the first Monday of the following calendar month (provided that this shall be deferred to Tuesday if Monday is a Village holiday);
(c) The Deficiency Letter shall specify that utility service will be disconnected on a specific date (the "Disconnect Date"), which will be the Wednesday (Thursday, if a holiday delays the Final Due Date) following the Final Due Date;
(d) The Deficiency Letter shall state a date and time prior to the Disconnect Date for a pretermination hearing before the Village Manager (or his designee) at which time the account holder may appear and dispute the deficiency asserted by the Village. The sole issue at the time of this hearing shall be afford the account holder to demonstrate that the account is not in arrears, and shall not be to provide additional time or delay in making payment in full of the account. Unless the account holder demonstrates to the Village Manager that the account is not in arrears, the disconnect process shall continue.
(e) An account holder may avoid disconnection of service by taking one of the following actions, in person, by 8:00 a.m. on the day before the Disconnect Date:
(1) Pay the entire outstanding account balance in full by credit card, cash, or certified check; or
(2) Provide medical certification from a licensed health care provider, certifying that a resident of the premises has a specific health condition which would be placed at risk by proceeding with the disconnection. Such certification shall be deemed valid for a period of thirty (30) days only; and no more than three such certifications shall be honored in a 12-month period.
(f) An account holder may avoid disconnection of service by taking the following action, in person or by telephone, by 8:00 a.m. on the Disconnect Date: payment in full of the entire outstanding balance on the account by credit card, cash, or certified check. (An online payment is not adequate to avoid disconnection unless the account holder has also contacted the Village in person or by telephone.)
(g) Disconnection shall proceed as scheduled on the Disconnect Date unless cancelled as a result of the procedures in sections (d), (e), or (f) above; and a disconnect service charge of $75.00 shall be assessed against the account. Personnel physically performing the disconnect shall not accept funds from the account holder. The Finance Director shall attempt to notify the property's owner when she has notice that the account holder is a tenant.
(h) If, at 8:00 a.m. on the Disconnect Date (or the continued Disconnect Date), the National Weather Service predicts for the Wellington area that a temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower will occur at any time during the next 24 hours, the Disconnect Date shall be continued to the next business day.
(i) Service will not be reconnected for an account unless and until payment in full by credit card, cash, or certified check has been made for: the outstanding balance, any interest or penalties on that balance, the disconnect charge, a reconnect charge of $75.00, and the security deposit on file is fully funded.
(Ord. 2015-42. Passed 11-2-15.)