[Added 5-16-1979 by Ord. No. 18-79]
A.
There is hereby established within the Township of
Jefferson a Department of Utilities. The Department shall, in its
operation, not incur any cost or expense which shall not be satisfied
from the anticipated fees and revenues to be generated from the services
rendered or from other anticipated income or funding.
B.
Within the Department of Utilities there shall be
a Director, who shall be the head of the Department and who shall
be qualified by training or experience, or a combination thereof,
for the duties of his office.
D.
The Business Administrator of the Township of Jefferson
may also serve as the Director of the Department of Utilities, if
he shall be so appointed thereto by the Mayor of the Township, with
the advice and consent of the Township Council. Said appointment thereto
may be upon such terms and conditions as so set forth in the appointment,
and any additional salary, if any, shall be set and determined by
the Council of the Township of Jefferson.
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
A.
AGENT
ATTORNEY or COUNSEL
COMMERCIAL CONCERN
DEPARTMENT
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND WELFARE
DEVELOPER
DIRECTOR
DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
HYDRANT
INDUSTRIAL CONCERN
INSPECTOR
INSTITUTE
LAND USE BOARD
MAIN (MAINS)
METER RATES
OWNER
PERSON
PRIVATE HYDRANT
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER
RULES AND REGULATIONS
SERVICE PIPE
SEWER
SEWER SYSTEM
SPRINKLER SYSTEM
STREET
TOWNSHIP
TOWNSHIP ENGINEER
WASTEWATER
WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT
WATER CONNECTION
WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM MASTER PLAN and WASTEWATER MASTER PLAN
For the purpose of this article or any rules or regulations
adopted in conjunction therewith and unless the context clearly indicates
otherwise, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
[Amended 6-25-1980 by Ord. No. 18-80]
In the absence of instructions to the contrary from the owner
of any property or premises or his duly authorized agent, the occupant
of any property or premises, insofar as the owner's relations to the
Township may be concerned with respect to water and any sanitary sewer
uses and existing services.
[Amended 1-20-1982 by Ord. No. 3-82]
The duly appointed Attorney for the Township.
Any concern engaged in service, trade, traffic or commerce
in general, including concerns which provide recreational and municipal
services. (Industrial concerns are excluded.)
The Department of Utilities.
The Jefferson Township Department of Health and Welfare.[1]
Any person, firm, association or corporation desiring to
construct an extension or an addition or a new water distribution
and/or wastewater system within the Township and shall include the
owner of the fee title, mortgage and other persons having an interest,
legal or equitable, in the property.
The duly appointed Director of the Department.
A system of pipes and their appurtenances by which a primary
water supply is distributed to consumers.
A device connected to a water main and provided with the
necessary valves and outlets to which a fire hose may be attached
for discharging water at a high rate for the purpose of extinguishing
fires, washing down streets or flushing out the water mains.
Any concern engaged primarily in a manufacturing or processing
operation or in research and development activities.
A duly designated person assigned by the Department of Utilities
to issue connection permits and/or check upon the construction of
house connections, sanitary sewers, water mains, service pipes and
such other duties as may be determined pursuant to this chapter or
duly promulgated rules and regulations of the Department.
Any charitable, hospital, relief, training, correctional,
reformatory or public institution.
The Jefferson Township Land Use Board.
[Amended 12-18-2019 by Ord. No. 19-28]
Shall be construed either in the singular or plural to mean
all pipes other than service pipes and used for conveying water to
or distributing water in the Township.
Rates or charges to be assessed for water based on the quantity
consumed as measured by an approved meter.
Any person, persons, firm, corporation or association actually
owning any property or premises, or his or their duly authorized agent,
which is or can be prospectively supplied with water or sanitary or
sewer services.
[Amended 1-20-1982 by Ord. No. 3-82]
Any individual, firm, company, association, society, corporation
or group.
A privately owned hydrant that is not owned by the Township
or other public agency.
A person licensed to practice professional engineering in
the State of New Jersey.
All those rules and regulations contained herein and as hereinafter
promulgated from time to time and any additions or changes thereto.
A pipe connected to the main and extending thence to and
including the curb cock or valve at the curbline of the street.
A pipe or conduit carrying or intended to carry wastewater.
[Added 1-20-1982 by Ord. No. 3-82]
All Township pipe, conduits, manholes, siphons, pumping and
ejecting facilities, force mains, treatment plant or plants and other
appurtenances installed in public roads or a part of a public property,
rights-of-way, easement or private property by consent of the owner
within the boundaries of the Township of Jefferson for the express
purpose of collecting wastewater and maintained by the Department
of Utilities or its authorized agents. It also includes any such system
installed by any private individual, firm, corporation, partnership
or public agency within the boundaries of the Township of Jefferson
where the provisions of this chapter are applicable by reason of the
valid consent of the owner or operator of said system or any such
system installed or maintained by the Township of Jefferson where
the provisions of this chapter are applicable by reasons of a valid
consent.
[Added 1-20-1982 by Ord. No. 3-82]
In fire protection, a network of overhead piping provided
with systematically spaced sprinkler heads and connected to a suitable
water supply, arranged so that the actuation of fusible elements in
the heads or other heat-sensitive devices cause the system to discharge
water over a fire starting at any point.
Any and all streets, avenues, highways and roads, whether
or not publicly used, dedicated or accepted by the municipality.
Jefferson Township, in the County of Morris, State of New
Jersey.
The duly appointed Township Engineer, consulting engineer
or other engineer duly employed by the Township.
A combination of water-carried waste from residences, commercial
buildings, institutions, industrial establishments and other buildings
or places.
[Added 1-20-1982 by Ord. No. 3-82]
Any arrangement of devices or structures used for the treating
of wastewater in and/or outside of the Township.
[Added 1-20-1982 by Ord. No. 3-82]
The extension of the service pipe from the curb cock to the
meter on the premises of the property owner.
The plans for the water supply system and wastewater of the
Township prepared by the Township Engineer or the Township Consulting
Engineer, together with any supplements, amendments, alterations or
additions thereto as hereafter in existence as adopted by the Township
of Jefferson.
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
The fees for the water services to be rendered
by the Jefferson Township Department of Utilities shall be consistent
with the provisions of this article. The Department is hereby specifically
authorized to prepare schedules of such water rates for posting, publication
and/or distribution as it deems appropriate.
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
A.
There shall be established by the Township Council
rules and regulations for the operation of the Department which shall
set forth the means for the public to make application for and use
of water and sewers within the Township of Jefferson and to provide
for the standard of construction, maintenance and operation of the
water supply, its distribution system and sewer system or any additions
thereto.
[Amended 1-20-1982 by Ord. No. 3-82]
B.
Standards for construction of extensions and alterations.
The construction of all extensions and alterations to the Township
water system shall be in accordance with the standards which shall
be set forth in the rules and regulations of the Department and which
shall be subject to inspection and approval by the Township Engineer,
his representative or any superior governmental agency having jurisdiction.
[Added 9-5-2001 by Ord. No. 24-01]
There is hereby established in the Township
of Jefferson a Water Supply Master Plan entitled "Water Supply Master
Plan 2000-2010," dated January 2001, prepared by Elam Associates,
which Water Supply Master Plan is on file with the Municipal Clerk
of the Township and may be examined during regular business hours.
The Water Supply Master Plan hereby establishes policies for the Township
of Jefferson as to its water system and sets forth anticipated improvements
and extensions of the water service within the Township of Jefferson
through the year 2010.
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
A.
Agreement with Township. No permit shall be issued
for the construction or installation of any main by a private individual,
firm or corporation unless there is an enforceable agreement on the
part of the person, firm or corporation constructing said main, upon
completion of said main, to turn the same over to the Township to
become part of the Township water system and unless such agreement
also grants to the Township a permanent easement of at least 15 feet
in width for the purpose of maintaining, operating, repairing and
restoring said main in a form approved by the Township Attorney.
B.
Supervision by the Township Engineer. All mains and service lines to be constructed within the Township of Jefferson shall be constructed under the supervision of the Township Engineer or his representative. The design, materials and workmanship shall be the same as those set forth under § 7-112 herein. The Township Engineer shall be provided not less than 24 hours' notice for any required supervision or inspection.
C.
Approval of plans and specifications; approval of
construction. No work shall be started upon the construction of any
mains or service lines designed to become part of the Township water
system until complete plans, specifications and profiles for the same
have been submitted to and approved by the Department of Utilities.
Upon completion and before acceptance by the Township of Jefferson
of the new construction, the Department must be furnished with an
as-built map of all water improvements, including mains, hydrants,
valves, curb box and stops and services. All appurtenances to the
water system shall be referenced to a permanent structure, and all
measurements shall be certified by a licensed land surveyor.
D.
Inspection; fee. All mains and service lines shall be constructed under the supervision of the Township Engineer or a properly appointed representative. This supervision shall be continuous during the course of the construction. An inspection fee, as set forth in § 7-124, shall be paid to the Department during construction to offset the cost of said supervision and inspection.
E.
Tests. All mains, service lines and house connections shall be tested in accordance with provisions of § 7-112 herein.
G.
Mandatory connections required for new construction.
[Added 9-5-2001 by Ord. No. 24-01]
(1)
Obligation to connect.
(a)
Whenever there shall be new construction consisting
of residential or nonresidential construction, whether or not said
construction is incidental to a site plan and/or subdivision approval,
the new development shall be connected to the Township water supply,
if the water supply is available, at the time of actual need for the
water service within the distance set forth below measured from the
nearest property line upon which the new construction is erected or,
in the case of a development, from the nearest property line of the
entire tract. Said measurements shall be based upon the number of
dwelling units or equivalent dwelling units (EDU's) of the construction
or development as set forth in the Township ordinances.
|
Number of Units
|
Distance
(feet)
| |
|---|---|---|
|
1
|
200
| |
|
2
|
400
| |
|
3
|
600
| |
|
4
|
800
| |
|
5
|
1,000
| |
|
6 to 10
|
2,000
| |
|
11 to 15
|
3,000
| |
|
16 to 20
|
4,000
| |
|
21 to 25
|
5,000
|
(b)
For developments in excess of 25 units/EDU's
which are located more than 5,000 feet from the water supply, the
obligation to connect shall be determined on a case by case basis,
taking into consideration the density of the development, costs and
water availability.
(c)
The developer of the property shall be responsible
for the full cost of making the connection to the Township's water
supply system or shall reimburse the Township for the reasonable cost
of said connection should the Township decide to construct the actual
connection.
(d)
The obligation to connect hereunder shall only
apply to totally new construction and shall not apply to additions
or remodeling.
(2)
If any development falls outside the range stated in Subsection G(1) above, then the Township, in its sole discretion, may elect to extend the water supply system to the distances set forth in the chart provided in Subsection G(1), which would then require the developer to connect to the water supply system at its own cost.
(3)
If a public water supply system is not available as defined in Subsection G(1) above and the Township does not elect to make it available at the time the development is built, but a source will be provided to the area within a six-year period, as indicated in the Township Water Master Plan, the installation of a capped system (dry lines with service hookups) will be required for the development at the sole cost of the developer.
(4)
[1]
Editor's Note: Appendix A is included at the end of this chapter.
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
A.
Approval for house connection; application for water service. Before any house connection may be connected to the service line, the main and such service line shall have been approved and accepted by the Township. In addition the owner or his authorized representative shall make application to the Department in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Department, and such application shall be accompanied by fees required in § 7-124.
B.
Water service connection required.
(1)
The owners of all houses, buildings, public buildings
or properties used for human occupancy, employment, recreation or
other purposes, not having an available supply of potable water and
requiring potable water, and situated within the Township and abutting
on or having a permanent right-of-way access to any street, alley
or right-of-way in which there is now located or may in the future
be located a public water main, are hereby required, at their expense,
to connect all facilities for potable water directly with the public
water main in accordance with the provisions of this chapter within
60 days after date of official notice from the Township of Jefferson
to do so, provided that said public water main is within 100 feet
of any property line or right-of-way access.
(2)
Said owners may maintain a separate, private water
supply system, unconnectable to the potable water system, for nonpotable
water requirements, such as lawn sprinkling systems, industrial machinery
and other uses involving a closed system of distribution not available
for drinking purposes, and provided further that a written notice
of the construction or existence of the same is promptly supplied
to the Department of Utilities and a review of the proposed system
or inspection of the completed system is conducted by an inspector.
C.
Application must be made by the owner of the subdivision to the Department for each water service to be installed in said subdivision. A service fee, as set forth in § 7-124B, must be paid to the Department for each service, and all service connections and meter installations must be approved by the Department. No service, other than as provided for with a temporary permit, shall be permitted to be turned on prior to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy by the Township.
D.
Meters and meter fees. Not more than one building shall be supplied from the same house service line, except by special permission and under such restrictions as may be imposed by the Department. If more than one meter is to be installed on any house service line, such meter or meters will be installed and maintained by the Department in the location or locations provided by the owner. Meters shall be installed in any new building before a permanent certificate of occupancy can be obtained. Meter fees shall be as set forth in § 7-124.
E.
Temporary permits. A temporary permit for the use of water taken from Township mains for construction purposes will be provided only upon written application by the contractor or owner to the Department, accompanied by a temporary service charge as set forth in § 7-124B(1). The temporary permit for use of water hereinabove provided may be revoked at any time if it is determined by the Department that water is being wasted or used unnecessarily. Fire hydrants may not be used by anyone, other than authorized Township personnel, as a temporary source of water for construction or other purposes without the written approval of the Department.
F.
Defects in house connection. The owner of any premises
shall be responsible for all repairs to any house connections and
shall be liable for all loss of water and damage resulting from any
defect in a house connection. From the time any defect is discovered
until the repair or replacement work is completed, the Department
may shut off the water with or without notice, if necessary, and for
as long as it may be deemed necessary. Leaks or damage in or to the
house connection shall be promptly reported to the Department and
repaired within a reasonable time. The Department shall determine
the amount of water lost as a result of a leak in or damage to the
house connections, using as a guide the size of the pipe and the pressure
per square inch at the point of such leak and such other factors as
may be applicable. The owner or consumer shall be charged for this
loss at the prevailing rate for water consumed.
G.
Installation of water meters. All water meters shall
be installed by the Department or by a plumber licensed by the Township
and shall be inspected and tested only by employees of the Department.
All water meters shall be the property of the Department when installed,
whether paid for by the Department or owner. Only an authorized representative
of the Department shall be permitted to open, adjust, connect, disconnect
or in any other way service any water meter.
H.
Curb box maintenance. Curb boxes shall be kept in accessible condition by the owner of the premises. If it becomes necessary to reset, repair or replace any curb box, such work shall be done by and at the expense of the Department, unless such work is necessitated by construction or by other than natural damage, in which case the fee, as set forth in § 7-124B(2), shall be paid to the Department.
I.
In the event that there is any defect in a house connection
and the Township, in order to determine the nature and extent of any
defect, must disturb any sidewalks, curbing or other Township improvements,
and it is determined that the defect is in that portion of the waterline
owned and maintained by the property owner, then the property owner
shall be responsible to repair any curb and sidewalk or other Township
improvements disturbed by the Township in order to make said repair
or determine the source of any defect under the supervision of the
Township Department of Public Works and within the time period set
forth by said Department. In the alternative, any property owner may
elect to pay the Township the reasonable cost of said repairs.
[Added 8-11-1999 by Ord. No. 26-99]
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
A.
Obstructions not permitted. Temporary or permanent
obstructions which would prevent free access to any meter, curb box,
valve or hydrant or other fixture required for the control or public
use of water, in any of the streets, easements or other rights-of-way
of the Township, are not permitted.
B.
Free access to the Department. No person shall at
any time obstruct or prevent free access to any meter, main, service
line or house connection by any authorized employee or employees of
the Department for the purpose of reading, testing, repairing or inspecting
such meter, main, service line or house connections.
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
A.
Curb stop shutoffs and turn-ons. The curb stop shall
not be shut off or turned on except as authorized by the Department.
B.
Fire hydrant operation. No person, other than members
of the Department or Fire Department in cases of emergency, shall
be permitted to open any fire hydrant. Only standard hydrant wrenches
shall be used in opening or closing of fire hydrants.
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
A.
Water bills; inaccessible meters.
(1)
Charges for the use or consumption of water by the
owner or occupier of any house, building, lot or premises, water rent
or charges for work done or services provided shall be billed to the
owner of the real estate quarterly each year.
(2)
If after reasonable effort an authorized employee
or official of the Department is unable to gain access to a meter
in order to obtain a reading for billing purposes, he shall leave
a form at the premises in which the meter is located. The owner or
occupant then shall be responsible for entering the meter reading
and other appropriate information on the form provided by the Department
and for returning the same to the Department within five days of the
date on which the form was left at the premises. If the form is not
returned within this period, the owner shall be billed an estimated
amount based on the amount of water used or consumed during the same
quarter of the previous year or by averaging the amounts previously
used in accordance with a formula promulgated by the Department.
B.
Payments; penalties for nonpayment.
(1)
Each user shall be billed quarterly. The Department
shall have the right and authority to establish the quarterly period
for each user, without regard to a calendar year, so as to provide
a system of staggered billing procedure for the total number of users
within the Department's system.
(3)
Unless the applicant for water service specifies otherwise,
the bills will be mailed or delivered to the premises where water
service is furnished. If the applicant desires, the Department will
mail or deliver the bills to the business or home address of the applicant
or his agent. Failure to receive bills or notices shall be no excuse
of nonpayment of a water bill.
(4)
All bills for water rendered shall be due within 30
days of the first day of the quarter and shall bear interest from
the time they become due at the rate set by the Township Council for
the first $1,000 of delinquent taxes.
(5)
If any bill for water charges or rents or for work done or services provided shall be and remain unpaid for a period of 15 days from the due date thereof, the Department shall send a notice to the owner of the premises addressed to his dwelling house or usual place of abode, by ordinary mail, informing him that if the bill is not paid within 15 days of the date of the notice, the water supply to the premises, with respect to which the bill has been rendered, will be discontinued and a shutoff fee, as provided in § 7-118C, charged to the owner. If the bill remains unpaid for 15 days from the date of the notice mailed to the owner, as provided herein, the Department shall turn off the water supply to the premises to which the bill relates and charge a shutoff fee to the owner.
(6)
If the water supply to any premises has been discontinued under the provisions of this section, the Department shall not turn on and restore the water supply until the owner pays in full the bill and all accrued interest and penalties, together with the shutoff fee charged in accordance with this section and a turn-on fee, as provided in § 7-124B(3), for restoration of service.
(7)
Unpaid water charges or rents and other costs, expenses,
penalties and interest thereon shall be a lien upon the house, building,
lot or premises to which they relate. If any bill for the consumption
of water, water rent or charge for work done or services provided
shall remain in arrears after the 11th day of the 11th month in the
fiscal year when the same became in arrears, the water charges or
rent shall become a lien upon the real estate in the municipality
and shall be collected and enforced by the same officers and in the
same manner as liens for taxes. When beginning the annual tax sale
process, the Tax Collector shall ask the officer or employee of the
Department charged with the duty of collection to file with the Tax
Collector a statement showing the arrearages to be included in the
tax sale.
[Amended 9-1-2004 by Ord. No. 28-04]
(8)
All charges, interest and fees shall be payable to
the Department of Utilities, Jefferson Township, by mail or in person
at the office of the Department. The Director of the Department shall
designate such persons within the Department or such other municipal
officials who shall be authorized to accept or give a receipt for
moneys due the Department.
C.
Turn-ons and shutoffs. Except in the case of the initial installation of water service and meter, no new consumer shall be served with water unless an application, on a form to be furnished by the Department, shall have been completed by the consumer and filed with the Department. Such application shall be accompanied by payment of a turn-on fee, as set forth in § 7-124B(3). An application signed by a tenant shall also be signed by the owner. Consumers changing their place of residence within the Township shall also be required to execute the application and file the same with the Department, but without payment of the fee. Water may be shut off by the Department on receipt of a written request by a consumer of the Department. A shutoff and turn-on charge, as set forth in § 7-124B(3), however, shall be made for each turning off and each restoration of the service. If a house is vacant, no deduction from the minimum charge, as set forth in § 7-124B(3), shall be made as long as the curb stop shall remain open. Where a curb stop is closed at the request of the owner or occupant, there shall be a standby charge, as set forth in § 7-124B(3)(b).
D.
Meter tests; adjustments. The consumer shall report promptly any meter thought to be defective or out of order. The Department will promptly comply with a request to test such meters. Should such test disclose that the meter is not defective or out of order, a charge, as set forth in § 7-124B(4), will be made for the test. Meters found to be defective or out of order during the course of such tests will be replaced or repaired, and the test fee will be waived. Water charges for the quarter in which the meter is found to be defective or out of order shall be based on the water consumed during the same quarter of the previous year or on an average of the meter readings for the four quarters preceding that in which the meter was found to be defective or out of order.
[Added 1-20-1982 by Ord. No. 3-82]
A.
Sewer bills. The provisions of § 7-118B, entitled "Payments; penalties for nonpayment," and more particularly Subsection B(1), (3), (4), (7) and (8) of the present Administrative Code of the Township of Jefferson are hereby adopted for application regarding the charges and penalties for nonpayment of sewer services.
B.
Sewer usage fees.
[Amended 1-22-1992 by Ord. No. 2-92; 12-2-1992 by Ord. No.
13-92; 11-28-1994 by Ord. No. 11-94; 4-14-1999 by Ord. No. 16-99; 6-14-2000 by Ord. No. 16-00; 5-18-2005 by Ord. No. 13-05; 5-5-2010 by Ord. No.
4-10; 8-1-2015 by Ord. No. 17-15]
(1)
Residential.
Commencing January 1, 2016, the annual sewer residential property
rate for sewer usage shall be $900 per annum, payable $225 per quarter.
The residential rate beginning January 1, 2018, shall be $945 per
annum, payable $236.25 per quarter, and the rate beginning January
1, 2020, and forward, shall be $990 per annum, payable $247.50 per
quarter.
(2)
Commercial.
Commencing January 1, 2016, the commercial property rate shall be
$9.70 per every 1,000 gallons of usage, payable quarterly, with a
minimum of not less than $1,072 per annum. Beginning January 1, 2018,
the rate shall be $10.15 per every 1,000 gallons of usage, payable
quarterly, with a minimum of not less than $1,125 per annum. Beginning
January 1, 2020, and forward, the rate shall be $10.60 per every 1,000
gallons of usage, payable quarterly, with a minimum of not less than
$1,175 per annum.
C.
Standby sewer charges. Whenever any user of the municipal sewerage system desires to discontinue service but not disconnect sewerage service, the user may do so by notifying the Township Municipal Utilities Department and by paying, in lieu of the fixed sewer use charge, a standby fee of $25 per quarter year, payable the same as the sewer service fee if the sewer was in operation. Failure to pay this fee may result in the user or any subsequent owner of the property paying a sewer hookup fee in accordance with § 7-124D of the Administrative Code.
[Added 4-3-1985 by Ord. No. 4-85]
D.
Notwithstanding
the above language, for any multifamily nonprofit government-subsidized
housing which is connected to any municipal sewer facility, the sewer
usage fee is $600 per annum for said use per dwelling unit, payable
quarterly.
[Added 9-20-2006 by Ord. No. 25-06]
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
A.
Emergency shutdown. The Department shall be diligent
and exercise all reasonable care to provide a continuous supply of
potable water. However, in the event of breakage, mechanical failure,
power failure, accident or shutting off for extension or repair or
whenever, in the judgment of the Department, an emergency exists,
the Department may, with or without notice, discontinue the supply
for as long as it may deem necessary to make repairs or correct the
difficulty. The Township shall not be liable to any consumer for any
damage or loss resulting from such temporary cessation of service.
B.
Restriction of water usage.
(1)
If, in the opinion of the Mayor of the Township of
Jefferson, restrictions should be placed upon the use of water for
the watering of lawns and/or filling of swimming pools during periods
of drought and/or low rainfall, the Mayor is hereby authorized to
adopt rules and regulations governing the time, place and amount of
lawn sprinkling or filling of swimming pools which can occur, in order
to conserve the water reserves of the Township of Jefferson.
(2)
Said rules and regulations, when adopted, shall be
published once in the legal newspaper of the Township of Jefferson
and shall be posted in at least three public places within the Township
at least three days prior to the effective date of said rules and
regulations.
(3)
Any person or persons violating said rules and regulations
shall be subject to a fine not exceeding $50.
(4)
The provisions of this chapter are applicable to the
public water system of the Township of Jefferson and all individual
sections thereof, as well as to all other water systems in the Township
of Jefferson which have been constructed pursuant to an approved major
subdivision to be a public improvement thereof and which water systems
have been completed and are serving three or more residences within
any such major subdivision, notwithstanding the fact that the Township
has not yet formally accepted said water systems. The exercise of
any of these regulations upon any water system which has not yet been
formally accepted by Jefferson Township shall not be deemed to represent,
directly or indirectly, the approval, acceptance or intention to accept
any such water system.
C.
Swimming pools. Before any tank or swimming pool having
a capacity in excess of 2,500 gallons is filled or refilled with water
drawn from the system, notice of filling or refilling such tank or
swimming pool shall first be furnished to the Department. The Department
shall consider the demand on the system and may, if necessary, limit
the time of day, the rate of flow and number of hours when such withdrawals
will be permitted. The Township shall not be liable to any consumer
for any damage or loss resulting from the denial or limitation of
service hereunder.
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
A.
Fire hydrants will be maintained by the Department.
Fire hydrants shall be tested at least once annually.
[Amended 12-6-2017 by Ord. No. 17-25]
B.
There is hereby adopted by the Township of Jefferson,
for the purpose of prescribing regulations governing the uniform marking
of fire hydrants, those recommendations known as the Uniform Marking
of Fire Hydrants recommended by the National Fire Protection Association,
being particularly the 1935 Edition thereof and the whole thereof,
of which recommendations not less than three copies have been and
now are filed in the office of the Clerk of the Township of Jefferson,
and the same are hereby adopted and incorporated as fully as if set
out at length herein, and from the date on which this chapter shall
take effect, the provisions thereof shall be controlling within the
limits of the Township of Jefferson.
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
No person shall do any plumbing work in connection
with the installation and maintenance of a house connection, unless
he is a plumber duly licensed in the Township or unless he is working
under the direction of a plumber so licensed.
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
A.
Compliance. All work done by or under the provisions
of this article shall comply with all rules and regulations of the
State Department of Health, the Township Division of Health and the
ordinances of the Township of Jefferson and shall be performed under
the supervision of the Department of Utilities.
B.
Report of violations. It shall be the duty of all
employees of the Township to report any violations of these regulations
to the Director of the Department. The Director shall report to the
office of the Mayor all violations of this article and all of the
rules and regulations of the Department which come to his knowledge
or attention and the action taken.
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80; amended 6-25-1980 by Ord. No.
18-80]
A.
Water rates.
[Amended 2-6-1985 by Ord. No. 1-85; 6-9-1993 by Ord. No.
10-93; 12-27-1995 by Ord. No. 20-95; 7-16-1997 by Ord. No. 13-97; 4-14-1999 by Ord. No. 15-99; 4-18-2001 by Ord. No. 12-01; 5-15-2002 by Ord. No.
19-02; 8-13-2003 by Ord. No. 25-03; 9-20-2006 by Ord. No. 24-06; 10-15-2008 by Ord. No. 16-08]
(1)
Metered service; consumers metered.
[Amended 3-7-2012 by Ord.
No. 4-12; 4-1-2015 by Ord. No. 10-15; 11-1-2017 by Ord. No. 17-23]
(a)
Consumers of water supplied by the Township water system whose
water consumption is measured by a meter shall be charged on a quarterly
basis, per quarter, for a minimum use of 10,000 gallons per quarter
as follows:
|
Upon passage
|
January 1, 2019
|
January 1, 2021
|
|---|---|---|
|
$91
|
$95.55
|
$100.33
|
(b)
There shall be an additional charge for each 1,000 gallons,
or any portion thereof, in excess of 10,000 gallons as follows:
|
Upon passage
|
January 1, 2019
|
January 1, 2021
|
|---|---|---|
|
$7
|
$7.35
|
$7.72
|
(2)
Unmetered service; residential customers who are unmetered. Said
customers shall be charged on a quarterly basis, per quarter, as follows:
[Amended 11-1-2017 by Ord. No. 17-23]
|
Upon passage
|
January 1, 2019
|
January 1, 2021
|
|---|---|---|
|
$157.50
|
$165.38
|
$173.64
|
(3)
Unmetered customers; readings cannot be obtained.
If the Department of Utilities is unable to obtain a reading from
a residential customer because of lack of accessibility or failure
of the customer to inform the Department of its actual meter reading
for four consecutive quarters, then the unmetered rate for said customer
shall increase to $300 per quarter.
(4)
Seasonal or standby rate. In the event that a residential
customer does not require water service, but still remains connected
to the water service, a standby fee shall be paid of $40 per quarter
plus a $25 fee to the Utility Department for each turn-off and reconnection.
(5)
Multifamily subsidized government housing.
[Amended 11-1-2017 by Ord. No. 17-23]
(a)
Notwithstanding the above language, any multifamily government-subsidized
housing where water consumption is measured by a meter shall be charged
on a quarterly basis, per quarter, for a minimum use of 10,000 gallons
per dwelling unit as follows:
|
Upon passage
|
January 1, 2019
|
January 1, 2021
|
|---|---|---|
|
$40.70
|
$42.74
|
$44.87
|
(b)
There shall be an additional charge for each 1,000 gallons over
and above said minimum of $10,000 gallons, rounded to the next highest
1,000 as follows:
|
Upon passage
|
January 1, 2019
|
January 1, 2021
|
|---|---|---|
|
$4.75
|
$5.00
|
$5.25
|
B.
Service fees.
[Amended 2-6-1985 by Ord. No. 1-85; 8-21-1985 by Ord. No.
8-85; 6-9-1993 by Ord. No. 10-93; 9-3-1997 by Ord. No. 21-97; 4-18-2001 by Ord. No. 12-01; 5-15-2002 by Ord. No. 19-02]
(1)
Temporary service, as provided for in § 7-115E (labor, excavation and material shall be provided for by the applicant): $52.
(2)
Resetting, repairing or replacement of curb box, as provided for in § 7-115H herein: minimum of $125 or time and materials cost, whichever is greater (including all labor and materials).
(7)
Installation of new water meter for either existing
or new service: $200.
[Amended 10-15-2008 by Ord. No. 16-08; 2-1-2012 by Ord. No.
2-12]
(8)
Replacement of water meter due to customer negligence:
$175.
[Amended 10-15-2008 by Ord. No. 16-08]
(9)
After-hours service calls. During the regular workweek,
Monday through Friday, any service calls during the hours of 4:00
p.m. to 7:00 a.m. will be charged $125 per call. During a weekend
or holiday, service calls will be charged $125. Exception to this
service charge will be if it affects health or welfare under emergency
situations.
[Added 9-1-2004 by Ord. No. 28-04; amended 10-15-2008 by Ord. No.
16-08]
C.
Capacity charges.
[Amended 2-6-1985 by Ord. No. 1-85; 8-21-1985 by Ord. No.
8-85]
(1)
Residential uses.
(a)
Any new hookup to the Township water distribution
system for residential uses, whether the same is for a single-family
dwelling or a multifamily dwelling, which may or may not contain a
new source of water supply and storage constructed by the developer
and not presently connected to the municipal system and installed
at the developer's sole cost and expense, shall pay a capacity charge
of $2,400 for each dwelling unit.
[Amended 5-5-1993 by Ord. No. 7-93; 4-18-2001 by Ord. No.
12-01]
(b)
The capacity charges as set forth herein shall
also be charged to each housing unit that is on a central water system
not owned by the Township and the ownership and operation of which
is to be assumed by the Township, whether the same is by agreement
of the Township or by order of some governmental authority, unless
the capacity fee had been paid previously by any homeowners or any
developer for such units. In the event that there is such a charge
imposed by the Township under these conditions, each homeowner shall
be given the option to pay the full capacity charge within 60 days
of any Township takeover of a water system or to pay the same over
a period of five years with equal quarterly payments together with
interest at the rate permitted to be charged by the Township for interest
on portions of any unpaid assessment for benefits pursuant to the
statutes of the State of New Jersey. Any unpaid capacity charges shall
remain as a lien upon the property to the same extent that unpaid
taxes are a lien upon the property.
[Added 9-21-1994 by Ord. No. 14-93]
(c)
Notwithstanding any of the charges herein, any
new hookup to the Township water distribution for nonprofit, government-subsidized
housing shall be $2,400 for each building and not for each unit.
[Added 5-21-2003 by Ord. No. 15-03]
(2)
Nonresidential uses.
(a)
The capacity charges for all nonresidential
uses to connect to an existing waterline within the Township of Jefferson
shall be computed for each connection based on the charge for a single-family
dwelling multiplied by the equivalent number of single-family units
contributing the same flow rate to the system and in accordance with
the following standards:
[1]
The design flow rate for one single-family dwelling
is 350 gallons per day.
[3]
In any case where the design flow cannot be
reasonably established using Appendix A as a guide, the Township shall
determine the design flow by using the category as set forth on Appendix
A mostly related to the proposed use.
[4]
The minimum capacity charge for connection of
any nonresidential use shall be $2,400.
[Amended 5-5-1993 by Ord. No. 7-93; 4-18-2001 by Ord. No.
12-01]
(b)
Nonresidential uses shall include, but not be
limited to, the following uses: industrial, commercial, schools, public
facilities, churches, charitable institutions, motels, hotels, nursing
homes, lodging homes, restaurants.
(c)
The cost of making any connection, including
labor, material and inspection fees, shall be at the sole expense
of the owner or developer.
(d)
The Township Council, upon application, may
waive all or any portion of the capacity charge for any public institution
or charitable institution.
D.
Sewer hookup fees. Any owner of a single-family dwelling
or any apartment unit or commercial structure, preexisting or newly
constructed, who requests permission of the Township Utilities Authority
to connect to any municipally owned and operated sewer system, whether
the same was installed by the Township or by a developer, and such
permission is granted, shall, in addition to all other fees and costs,
pay to the Township the sum of $2,000 as a sewer hookup fee. In the
event that there is a multifamily dwelling, the hookup fee shall apply
to each unit in the dwelling, except for nonprofit, government-subsidized
housing the sewer hookup fee shall be $2,400 for each building and
not for each dwelling unit.
[Added 9-22-1982 by Ord. No. 15-82;
amended 5-5-1993 by Ord. No. 7-93; 5-21-2003 by Ord. No. 15-03]
E.
Miscellaneous fees and charges.
[Added 2-6-1985 by Ord. No. 1-85; amended 6-9-1993 by Ord. No.
10-93]
(1)
With reference to water and sewer service for the
transfer of the name of an account from one party to another party,
there shall be a fee of $12 paid by the party requesting the transfer.
(2)
Conversion from summer usage to all-year-round usage
is $180.
(3)
Location of service line or curb box fee is $20.
(4)
Filling of a swimming pool, unmetered service, is
$100.
F.
Meter tampering.
[Added 7-16-1997 by Ord. No. 13-97]
(1)
No person shall tamper with, interfere with or cause
any water meter owned by the Township of Jefferson and used to measure
the flow of water from the Township utility to not accurately measure
or record the full amount of water supplied to such customer. The
existence of a tampered meter shall be presumptive evidence that the
person or persons to whom water is supplied through that meter did
tamper or cause the tampering of said meter.
(2)
Any person violating this ordinance shall be fined
not more than $500 with reference to the first violation and not more
than $1,000 with reference to any subsequent violations.
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
If any article, section, subsection, paragraph,
phrase or sentence is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or
invalid, said article, section, subsection, paragraph, phrase or sentence
shall be deemed severable.
[Added 5-21-1980 by Ord. No. 8-80]
This article is deemed by the Municipal Council
of the Township of Jefferson to be an emergency measure and shall
therefore immediately become effective upon publication and final
passage by the Mayor.
[Added 3-6-1996 by Ord. No. 2-96]
A.
There is hereby created in the Township of Jefferson
a Utility Advisory Board, consisting of eight members, two of whom
shall be ex officio, and six members to be appointed by the Township
Council. The membership shall consist of the Director of Utilities
for the Township, the Township Administrator, a member of the Jefferson
Township Council appointed by it on a yearly basis, and five citizens
of the Township, at least three of whom are members of households
that are connected to either the Township water or sewer utility or
both. The Board shall elect a Chairman from its members, who shall
be one of the citizen members connected to one or both utility systems.
The ex officio members shall serve during the term of their office.
The citizen members shall be appointed for three-year terms. The existing
members shall continue until their existing terms expire, at which
time their positions shall be replaced. With reference to any vacant
citizen positions, said membership shall not be replaced unless the
total membership of the Board is less than eight members.
[Amended 12-20-2000 by Ord. No. 33-00; 2-18-2004 by Ord. No.
2-04; 12-7-2016 by Ord. No. 15-16]
B.
Purpose. The purpose of the Utility Advisory Board
shall be to advise and recommend to the Township Council and administration
on matters relating to the operation, planning and rate structures
of the utilities. In addition, the Board shall have the right to review
plans for any development, and comment upon the same, if it involves
the extension of municipal utilities. The Board shall have access
to the records of the administration and the Department of Utilities
dealing with the operation of the utility, the planning of the utility
and the rate structure. Prior to the adoption of any ordinances affecting
the operation, planning or rate structure of the Township utilities,
the Township Council may refer such ordinances or proposed ordinances
to the Board for its comment and the Board may issue written reports
to the Council and administration.
C.
Meetings. The Board shall hold a meeting quarterly,
as needed; but no less than once per year.
[Amended 12-7-2016 by Ord. No. 15-16]
