[Adopted 4-20-1989 as Ord. No. 677-89]
[Amended 3-15-1990 by Ord. No. 715-90]
The Township of Middle hereby establishes a schedule of rates for the sewer system of the Township of Middle as more particularly set forth in Schedule A annexed hereto.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Schedule A is included at the end of this chapter.
[Added 6-15-1998 by Ord. No. 1016-98]
For purposes of this article, the term "structure" for residential properties shall be defined as a "dwelling unit." Any building which contains more than one dwelling unit shall pay an application fee, a connection fee, and for service for each individual dwelling unit contained therein.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Section 204-8, Establishment of certain rates by contract, was repealed 3-15-1990 by Ord. No. 715-90.
The sewer service charge established herein shall become effective and chargeable to the owner of each connection unit on the date designated by the Township, which date shall occur as soon as is practicable after connection.
[Amended 11-18-2013 by Ord. No. 1460-13]
The sewer charges established pursuant to the rate schedule set forth herein shall be payable quarterly in advance at the Township offices. Said charges shall draw interest at the rate of 1 1/2% per month from the time they become due and shall become a lien upon the premises connected. Such sewer charges are based upon estimated annual operation costs, annual amortization costs and other costs of the Township sewage system and may be changed from time to time as the need generated by such costs may require. Water consumption to an additional service line installed with a separate meter for water which will not be returned to the sanitary sewer collection system shall not be considered in determining the quarterly service charge.
[Amended 11-18-2013 by Ord. No. 1460-13]
Where premises or a building is occupied by more than one commercial or industrial establishment or by a combination of both types of establishments, the charge will be determined by applying the aforesaid rates to each commercial and industrial establishment located therein. All properties listed in the tax duplicate as commercial shall be billed as commercial entirely.
All billing will be made to the property owner, who will remain responsible regardless of any change in tenants or those in possession.
With respect to charges for properties which shall be connected for the first time with said sewage system from and after the date hereof, the charge for the first quarterly period shall be a percentage of the quarterly charge hereinabove, equal to the percentage of the quarterly period remaining after such connection.
Any requests for review of any bill must be submitted, in writing, and received by the Township within 30 days of the billing date.
[Amended 3-15-1990 by Ord. No. 715-90; 4-6-1995 by Ord. No. 921-95; 2-4-2002 by Ord. No. 1098-2002; 12-16-2002 by Ord. No. 1120-2002]
A. 
An application fee of $100 shall be charged to any structure connecting into the system which was in existence prior to the date of the enactment of this article. Any structure created subsequent to the date of enactment of this article shall be charged an application fee of $300.
B. 
The applicant shall establish an escrow account with the Township for the purpose of covering professional and legal costs associated with the review of applications for sewer extension where such requests include an extension to the Township sewer system which will then be turned over to the Township for ownership, operation, and maintenance. The escrow amount shall be $3,000 for developments with one to 85 equivalent units. Developments in excess of 85 equivalent units shall pay an additional $35 per unit. The applicant is required to pay the Township the actual cost and fees billed to the Township for the Township's professional services including engineering and legal work on the application that may be incurred by the Township in processing an application. The Township will notify the applicant if any additional deposits are required to be made by the applicant to cover the projected engineering or other costs that the Township will incur prior to or under the condition of the application being completed. Any excess deposit remaining in the applicant's escrow account at the completion of the Township's review shall be returned by the Township to the applicant.
C. 
For inspection fees please see § 204-22.1 of this chapter.
D. 
The fee for new or increased sewer service connections shall be in accordance with the present-day evaluation of debt service, which has been presently calculated to be $2,200 per equivalent domestic unit (EDU) which is specifically based upon a flow contribution of 225 gallons per day. Actual total cost for new or increased sewer connection(s) shall be in accordance with the matrix provided and based upon the number of EDUs the connection is calculated to contribute based upon the guidance provided by N.J.A.C. 7:14A-23.3, Projected flow criteria.[1]
[Amended 3-7-2005 by Ord. No. 1183-05; 4-8-2024 by Ord. No. 1694-24]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection C, which immediately followed this subsection and provided for connections to be made after installation costs are received, was repealed 3-15-1990 by Ord. No. 715-90.
[Amended 11-18-2013 by Ord. No. 1460-13]
The officers and agents of the Township shall have unrestricted access at reasonable hours to all premises served by the Township to inspect the collection system and to see that the requirements of the Township regarding the use of the customer's sewer connection are being observed.
[Added 11-18-2013 by Ord. No. 1460-13; amended 3-19-2018 by Ord. No. 1558-18; 12-16-2019 by Ord. No. 1603-19]
All commercial properties not serviced by a water utility or company shall install a flow meter to measure the water drawn from the property's well. Water meters shall be located on the exterior of the building and remain clear of all debris and obstacles allowing easy, unrestricted access by Township employees reading said meter. Property owners are prohibited from placing water meters in the interior of a building, in a confined space or placing locks or other restrictive instruments on water meters.
Any damage to pipes, manholes or any other property of the Township caused by the carelessness of or neglect by a customer must be paid for by the customer upon presentation of a bill therefor.
The names and addresses of the customers of the Township shall not be publicly available, except to the extent required by law, and no mailing lists shall be provided by this Township or by any of its officers or employees, which mailing lists are compiled from records of the Township.
[Added 5-2-1996 by Ord. No. 962-96]
A. 
Any sewer account which becomes more than six months delinquent shall be subject to termination.
B. 
Not less than 45 days prior to disconnection, the record owner whose name appears on the tax duplicate in the office of the Township Assessor shall be notified of the proposed disconnection by certified mail, return receipt requested and regular mail. Simultaneously, the Sewer Department shall provide the Township Clerk with a copy of the said notice. The Township Clerk shall provide a list of proposed disconnections to the Township Committee at the next subsequent Township Meeting.
C. 
Any person or entity suffering under a hardship may apply for a hardship exemption from disconnection by filing an application with the Middle Township Sewer Utility. Said application shall be referred to an independent review board to be designated by the Township Committee. The review board shall analyze the application in accordance with rules and regulations to be promulgated by the Township Committee of the Township of Middle by resolution.
D. 
If the outstanding arrearage is not satisfied within 45 days from the date of the notice, and if no hardship waiver has been granted, then the Middle Township Sewer Department may disconnect the delinquent sewer service.
E. 
Any sewer service which is disconnected pursuant to this chapter may be reconnected upon application of the record owner upon payment of the following:
(1) 
All outstanding real estate taxes and sewer delinquencies.
(2) 
A reconnection fee as follows:
(a) 
First offense - $300.
(b) 
Second and all subsequent offenses - $800.
F. 
The Middle Township Sewer Department shall notify the Cape May County Health Department, the Middle Township Board of Health, and the Middle Township Clerk of each and every disconnection which it effectuates.
G. 
The Sewer Review Board shall consist of the Public Affairs Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, and the Welfare Director.
[Added 10-3-1996 by Ord. No. 976-96]
[Added 10-17-2016 by Ord. No. 1535-16]
Commercial properties in the Township shall be permitted to install a separate water meter solely for measuring water used for irrigation. Water measured through this separate irrigation meter shall be exempt from sewer billing.