The water and sewer functions and services, including maintenance
of the water supply and distribution, sewers and sewerage systems
shall be performed by the department of public works.
1.1. The department
of public works shall have and exercise all the powers vested in the
town by the general laws or special acts pertaining to the water and
sewer systems. The town manager or his designee may appoint such officers,
agents and assistants as shall be necessary to accomplish the administration
of the water works and sewerage systems.
1.2. The town manager shall, on or before each July 31st, present to the select board a report on the condition of the town’s water works and of the lands and other property connected therewith, as specified in Chapter
3, Section 3.6(a) of these bylaws.
1.3. The department
shall cause to be read all meters used for the purpose of measuring
water supplied by the town at least twice in each year, and at more
frequent intervals if so directed by the town manager. It shall, whenever
water service is discontinued at the request of the owner of any premises
or for nonpayment of water rates, or for any other reason, forthwith
read or cause to be read, the meter of the water taker. The town manager
or his designee shall assess all charges for water supplied by the
town in accordance with the rates as established from time to time,
and the same shall be committed to the collector, who shall, after
notice to the persons to whom they are assessed, collect the same
and pay the proceeds to the town treasurer. All charges for water
shall be due and payable to the collector at the time when he shall
mail or deliver to the water takers notice of commitment of the same
to him.
1.4. The select
board shall have the authority and the duty to adopt, issue and administer
rules and regulations for the administration and operations of the
water and sewer functions and services, water usage and all subjects
related to the functioning of the water works and sewerage system.
Water rates shall be set by the town meeting after a public
hearing and recommendations by the select board.
3.1. If a meter
fails to register, the consumer shall be charged upon the basis of
the average consumption for a corresponding period as shown by the
meter when in order.
3.2. No charge
shall be made for water used through fixtures which are installed
solely for protection against fire.
3.3. The charge
for turning on water shall be set by the select board within such
limits as may be established by law.
3.4. The town
manager or his designee may make adjustments in the water charges
to a consumer to correct an error in billing or usage.
A system of sewer use charges together with suitable procedures
for monitoring and enforcing compliance with sewer use regulations
shall be set by the town meeting after a public hearing and recommendations
by the select board.
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Whoever violates the provision of any section of this chapter
or any rule or regulation adopted hereunder shall be liable to the
town in the amount of fifty dollars ($50) for the first violation
and one hundred dollars ($100) for each subsequent violation. Fines
shall be recovered on complaint before the district court, or by noncriminal
disposition in accordance with Section 21D of Chapter 40 of the General
Laws. Each day of violation shall constitute a separate offense.