[Ord. No. 1226, § I, 6-23-2020]
A sewer service charge shall be levied against the owners of all properties where users discharge wastewater into the public sewers of the City.
[Ord. No. 1226, § I, 6-23-2020; Ord. No. 1278, § I, 6-11-2024]
Rates for sewer service shall be established by the Commissioner. Such rates shall be adjusted by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers for Water and Sewer for the month of February, as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics or its successor agency, plus an operational sustainability factor (OSF). If necessary, the OSF shall be calculated and established by the Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities, or their designee, with approval by the City Council, considering the need to invest in infrastructure improvements, technology updates, and other capital projects. Notwithstanding the calculated OSF, it shall not exceed 8%.
[Ord. No. 1226, § I, 6-23-2020]
Where a user receives metered water service from the City, said user will be assessed a sewer service charge based on their metered water use times a rate determined pursuant to Section 19-44. Where the user does not have metered water service, said user will be assessed a sewer service charge using a methodology that estimates the discharge to the building sewer. Persons wishing to discharge septage to the wastewater plant shall pay a fee equal to the cost of treating the septage.
[Ord. No. 1226, § I, 6-23-2020]
Users discharging large volumes of industrial wastes that are, in the opinion of the Commissioner, substantially different from the normal domestic wastewater may contract with the City for a special method of billing for sewer service. Any special methods of billing under this section shall in all ways comply with applicable user charge requirements.
[Ord. No. 1226, § I, 6-23-2020]
Any user discharging wastewater that exceeds the strength of normal domestic wastewater shall pay a sewer service surcharge for the pollutants that exceed those in normal domestic wastewater in addition to the sewer charge in Section 19-45.
A. 
Surcharge rates for BOD, suspended solids, phosphorous and ammonia nitrogen shall be determined by the Commissioner and approved by the City Council based on the average cost of analyzing and treating each type of pollutant.
B. 
Any user discharging any toxic pollutant to the wastewater works which causes an increase in the cost of managing the wastewater treatment plant effluent or the sludge generated by the wastewater treatment plant shall pay for such increased costs.
[Ord. No. 1226, § I, 6-23-2020]
A. 
Periodically, approximately 30 days before sewer service charges become due, the Commissioner shall mail a statement to each owner of premises charged with sewer service rates. The statement shall contain the following information (in addition to any information deemed necessary or appropriate by the Commissioner):
(1) 
The address of the owner;
(2) 
The location of the property;
(3) 
The amount of the sewer service charge based upon either a per-fixture charge or metered rate; and
(4) 
The date upon which the payment of the sewer service charge is due.
B. 
On or before the mailing of the aforementioned sewer service statements, the Commissioner shall deliver to the Collector of Taxes bills for all sewer service charges, together with a list of such bills. The bills to the Collector of Taxes shall contain the same information as that hereinbefore mentioned as necessary to be given by the Commissioner to the owner. The Commissioner shall make true returns to the auditor of the amount of sewer service charges contained in such lists.
C. 
On receipt of such bills the Collector of Taxes shall proceed to collect the same and shall have authority to bring suit therefor in the name of the City in any court of competent jurisdiction. The Collector of Taxes shall give the Commissioner a list of all sewer service charges unpaid 30 days after they have been committed to them for collection and the Commissioner shall thereupon proceed to enforce payment thereof. In the event the sewer service charges remain unpaid for 60 days, the Commissioner shall cause to be filed in the proper registry of deeds a statement to that effect in full compliance with MGL c. 40, § 42B, for the purpose of perfecting a lien for such charges.
[Ord. No. 1226, § I, 6-23-2020]
The funds of the Sewer Department shall be kept separate from other funds of the City, and disbursement of Sewer Department funds shall be made so that the City and the Sewer Commission are always aware of the Department's financial condition. Money received by the City for sewer rates and other charges shall be received by the Collector of Taxes and paid to the City Treasurer. The money paid into the City treasury from sewer rates and charges shall be appropriated by the City Council for the necessary repairs, extension and improvements of the sewer works system; for operating and managing expenses; for the payment of the employees and agents of the Sewer Department; and for the payment of interest on sewer indebtedness and all payments of principal of such indebtedness and the costs and expenses incurred by special appropriations of the City Council. The balance, if any, after the payments for the aforesaid purposes may be appropriated for such other Sewer Department purposes as the Mayor and the City Council may from time to time determine.