[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the
Town of Rockland 10-17-1996 by L.L. No. 4-1996 (Ch. 48 of the 1984
Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
It is the intent of this chapter to provide
for a fairer, simpler and more consistent method of establishing fees
and billing methods for water and sewer service among the Livingston
Manor Water District, Livingston Manor Sewer District, Roscoe-Rockland
Water District and Roscoe Sewer District, while recognizing that each
district must necessarily have its own budget and meet its own needs.
Unless otherwise specifically stated, the following
provisions apply to the Roscoe Sewer District, Roscoe-Rockland Water
District, Livingston Manor Water District and Livingston Manor Sewer
District.
A.
On or before September 30 of each year following the
adoption of this chapter, the Town Board shall establish the budget
for each of the above special districts, estimating as closely as
possible the capital costs for each district, including debt reduction,
interest, anticipated capital improvements and similar capital expenditures
and the costs of operation and maintenance, including but not limited
to salaries and wages, payroll taxes, insurance, postage, office supplies
and such other items as are customarily included in the operating
and maintenance budget. Rates will be established from time to time
by resolution of the Town Board.
B.
For each separate district, capital costs shall be
apportioned among all taxable parcels in the district, in proportion
to the percentage of assessed value such lot bears to the total assessed
taxable value of the district. This ad valorem charge will be included
in the property tax bill.
A.
Water meters must be installed on all improved lots
in the Roscoe-Rockland Water District by January 1, 1997. A penalty
of $50 per month shall be applied to all improved parcels not metered,
for each and every month until a meter is properly installed and operating.
In addition, the usage portion of the water bill for such unmetered
parcels shall be equal to the highest usage for the type of structure
(commercial or residential) on the parcel.
B.
Meters must be installed in the Livingston Manor Water
District when current improvements are completed. A final date for
installation of meters shall be set by resolution of the Town Board.
If a meter is not installed on an improved lot within the district
by the date set in the resolution, then the same penalties and charges
shall be applied as are applied in the Roscoe-Rockland Water District.
C.
Until meters are required in the Livingston Manor
Water District, usage fees shall be based on a flat rate according
to the type (commercial or residential) and size (number of dwelling
units) of such structure. Said rates may be established and altered
from time to time, in order to meet budget requirements, by resolution
of the Town Board.
Fire districts shall be charged a flat rate,
including capital, operating and maintenance expenses, as may be determined
from time to time by resolution of the Town Board.
A.
No person, firm, corporation, partnership or other
entity shall withdraw water from any water hydrant without first obtaining
a permit from the superintendent of the district. The application
for such permit shall be submitted to the superintendent of the appropriate
water district at least three working days before any water is withdrawn.
The application for the permit shall specify the approximate amount
of water to be withdrawn. The rate for such water shall be established
from time to time by the Town Board. Upon approval of the application,
the superintendent shall install a meter on the hydrant or hydrants
to be used. The applicant shall be required to pay, at the time the
application is approved, the full amount that would be charged based
on the estimated amount to be used. The superintendent shall read
the meter every day that the hydrant(s) is in use, and if the amount
of water used exceeds 30% of the estimate, the applicant shall be
required to pay such additional sum as the superintendent, in his
discretion, determines is appropriate for the work remaining to be
done. No further use of the hydrant may be made until the additional
amount is paid in full.
B.
If the applicant uses less than the estimated amount
he shall be entitled to a refund of any overpayment. If the applicant
uses more than estimated, the balance must be paid within 10 days
of the date that a bill is sent to him, by ordinary mail. If payment
is not made within 10 days, interest shall be added to the outstanding
balance at the rate of 10% per year. No further permit shall be issued
to the applicant until all charges have been paid in full, including
any interest.
C.
Use of a hydrant, other than for fire fighting or
other emergency, without a permit, is a violation. Upon conviction
of a first offense, the violator is subject to a fine up to $500,
plus the estimated cost of the water used. For conviction of a second
offense, the violator may be fined up to $1,000, plus the estimated
cost of the water used.
Bills for water and sewer charges shall be sent
quarterly and must be paid within 30 days of the day they are sent.
Bills unpaid within 30 days are subject to a penalty of 10%, to be
added to the amount of the bill. The amount of any bills unpaid as
of September 30 in each year, including penalties, shall be assessed
and added to the real property tax bill.
If a water or sewer bill is not paid within
60 days, the owner or owners of the property shall be sent a notice,
by regular mail, at the address listed for mailing of the property
tax bills, stating that unless the bill is paid in full, including
penalties, within 15 days of the mailing of the notice, water and
sewer service will be terminated.
Improved parcels that are within a sewer district
but not a water district shall be charged a flat rate based on the
type of use of the structure. Said rates may be established from time
to time by resolution of the Town Board.
