[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Meeting of the Town of Suffield
as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 9-12-1990 by Ord. No. 90-03 (Ch. 18, Art. III, of the 1987 Code)]
In accordance with § 7-137c of the General Statutes
of Connecticut, Revision of 1958, as amended (the General Statutes),
each owner of property shall, pursuant to the provisions of this article,
reimburse the Town for the proportionate share of the cost to the
Town of the extension of any water main which abuts such property.
A.
The amount of such reimbursement shall be computed in such manner
as to leave the Town ultimately free of any of the cost of the extension
of the water main and expenses incidental thereto, except that, where
any portion of such water service is to be used for a municipal purpose,
the Town shall contribute a fair proportion of the expense representing
such proportionate municipal share. Such expenses shall include, but
are not limited to, any costs of materials, installation, pumping
stations, service connections, curb, sidewalk and highway repairs,
installation of gate valves and shutoffs, interest and professional
fees.
B.
If any of the property to be assessed hereunder is residential or
agricultural property or is property zoned for residential or agricultural
use, and such property abuts extensions of water mains to be used
for industrial or commercial purposes or partly for industrial or
commercial purposes, and said property is not being used for such
industrial or commercial purposes, the proportionate share of the
owners of such property shall be computed on a front-foot or other
equitable basis for a standard or minimum size main.
C.
In the case of land zoned for other than commercial or industrial
purposes or classified, pursuant to the provisions of the General
Statutes, as farm land, forest land or open space land on the last
completed grand list of the Town, which land exceeds by more than
100% the size of the smallest lot permitted in the lowest density
residential zone allowed under the zoning regulations of the Town,
the assessment of such excess land shall be deferred until such time
as such excess land shall be built upon or a building permit issued
therefor or until approval of a subdivision plan of such excess property,
whichever event occurs first. The Town Clerk shall place a caveat
on the land records in each instance where an assessment is deferred.
In the case of any assessment under this article, notice of
the time and place for a hearing upon such assessment shall be published
at least 10 days before the date thereof in a newspaper having a circulation
in the Town, and a copy of such notice, signed by the Town Clerk,
shall be mailed to the owner of any property to be affected thereby.
The owner of any property so assessed may appeal to the courts
from the valuation of his assessment in accordance with and subject
to the limitations of § 7-137c of the General Statutes.
The Water Pollution Control Authority shall determine the amount
of each assessment levied pursuant to this article and may adopt policies
concerning deferment of payment of assessments. In apportioning costs,
the Water Pollution Control Authority may give consideration to the
area, frontage, grand list valuation and to present or permitted use
or classification of abutting properties and to any other relevant
factors. Assessments may be paid in installments over a period not
exceeding 15 years as the Authority shall determine. The Authority
shall fix the rate of interest to be paid on the outstanding balance
of said installments. Any such assessment shall be a lien against
such property and the Water Pollution Control Authority shall cause
a certificate of lien for each such assessment to be lodged with the
Town Clerk as provided in § 7-137d of the General Statutes.
When the Water Pollution Control Authority has determined the
amount of the assessment to be levied, it shall file a copy thereof
in the office of the Town Clerk. Not later than five days after such
filing, it shall cause a copy of such assessment to be published in
a newspaper having a circulation in the municipality, and it shall
mail a copy of such assessment to the owner of any property affected
thereby.
Any installment payment due upon any such assessment and any
interest on the outstanding balance of such assessment which is not
paid when due shall bear interest, until paid, at the maximum rate,
from time to time, permitted by law for unpaid property taxes.
