[Added by L.L. No. 2-1952]
[Amended by L.L. No. 3-1960; L.L. No. 3-1990]
1.
There is hereby created a Department of Water in and for the City of Rensselaer; the head of the Department of Water shall be the Commissioner of Water, who shall be appointed by the Mayor at an annual salary of not less than $18,000, to be fixed and determined by the Common Council, and whose term of office shall be the same as other appointive officers of this city, as provided in Title II, § 18, herein.
2.
The Commissioner of Water may appoint to hold office
during his pleasure a Deputy Commissioner of Water. The Deputy Commissioner
of Water shall have such powers and perform such duties that may from
time to time be assigned to him by the Commissioner of Water. In case
of the absence or disability of the Commissioner of Water or of a
vacancy in the office, the Deputy Commissioner of Water shall discharge
the duties of the office until the Commissioner of Water returns,
his disability ceases or the vacancy is filled.
Pursuant to the provisions of this Act and under
the direction of the Mayor, the Commissioner of the Department of
Water shall be the head of the Department of Water and shall have
direction and control of the employees of said Department; he shall
have direction, control and management of the operation of the waterworks
plants of the said city, including water mains, pipelines, machinery
and apparatus connected therewith and appurtenant thereof, as well
as the management of the operation of any portion of said waterworks
plant and system, the installation of water meters, the making of
water connections for consumers, the reading of water meters and the
billing of water accounts and the carrying out and enforcement of
all things necessary and proper in and about the general management,
control and maintenance of said waterworks plant and system of the
City of Rensselaer, and he shall perform such other and further duties
as the Mayor shall from time to time direct or the Common Council
by ordinance prescribes. In addition to the powers and duties specifically
enumerated herein, the Commissioner of the Water Department shall
have the same duties prescribed by the Charter of the City of Rensselaer
and other provisions of law applicable to city officers generally.
Application for water shall be made to the Commissioner
of the Department of Water by the owner of the property upon which
the water is to be used; water shall be paid for at such time and
at such place as may be prescribed by rules and regulations adopted
by the Common Council. The Commissioner of the Department of Water
shall discontinue the supply of water to any person, firm, corporation
or property owner who has not paid in full for water consumption or
any other service furnished by the Water Department within 60 days
from the date of issuance of a bill for said service. Any service
discontinued on account of acreage shall not be reestablished until
said person, firm, corporation or property owner has paid all costs,
charges and expenses, if any, incurred by any previous discontinuance
of water service for the premises.
All moneys received from the sale of water and
from the sale of bonds in connection with the waterworks or distribution
system shall be received and collected by the City Treasurer and placed
by him to the credit of the Water Fund and shall only be used for
the purpose provided for in the City Charter or city ordinance.
In case of a change of ownership of any persons
receiving water service, it shall be the duty of the new owner to
notify forthwith the Commissioner of the Department of Water of such
change; all arrearages for water at the time of the making of the
next city tax roll shall be added to said tax roll and assessed against
the property whereon said water was used and collected in the same
manner subject to the same penalties and interest as other city taxes
levied against said premises.
The presenting of any application for water
to the Commissioner of the Department of Water and the granting thereof
by the city and the actual use of water pursuant to such grant to
or upon the premises of any person, firm or corporation shall render
such applicant and said user liable to said city for all water used
and for all sums due the city under the rules and regulations adopted
by the Common Council.
At the time of filing his monthly report with the Common Council, the City Treasurer shall include in said report a summary statement of the receipts and expenditures of the Department of Water in the same manner as required for other city departments pursuant to Title III, § 48, Subdivision 4, herein and at the time of filing his annual report with the Council. The City Treasurer shall include in said report a financial statement of the Water Department; the statement shall show the receipts and disbursements for the fiscal year ending July 31.
[Amended by L.L. No. 5-1956; L.L. No. 3-1990]
The City Treasurer shall keep in his office
accounts of all the receipts and expenditures connected with the Water
Department in proper books to be provided therefor in such manner
as at all times to show the exact amount of moneys received and expended.
Said accounts shall, at all reasonable hours on all days except Saturday,
Sunday and legal holidays, be open to the inspection of the Mayor,
Aldermen, City Treasurer, Corporation Counsel or any person designated
by the Common Council.
