The water facility shall be self-sustaining
and therefore the Council shall establish, and provide for its collection,
such charges, rentals, rates and fees as it deems necessary and proper
and such procedures to enforce its rules and regulations.
A.
Records. The Tax Collector of the City of Bridgeton
shall have charge of the books and records of the water facility and
collection of the water rents, fees and charges and shall deposit
all monies received in the manner required by law. Water rents shall
be payable quarterly.
B.
Delinquent water bills and charges. If any water rent
or charge or fee shall remain unpaid for a period of 30 days, the
Tax Collector may notify the Division of Water and Sewer of the delinquency
for a determination whether water service should be discontinued.
If any rate, rental, fee or charge remains unpaid for a period of
30 days, interest shall accrue at the rate of interest as allowed
by law.
[Amended 11-21-2006 by Ord. No. 06-12; 12-1-2009 by Ord. No.
09-04]
C.
Rates, rentals, connection fees or other charges as
lien on real property. Rates, rentals, connection fees or other charges
levied in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:31-1 et seq. shall be a first
lien or charge against the property benefitted therefrom. Liens levied
in accordance with this section shall be enforceable in the manner
provided for real property tax liens in Chapter 5 of Title 54 of the
Revised Statutes.
D.
Service discontinued. The City may discontinue water
service to any property for the failure to pay any amount owing within
60 days after the date the amount is due and payable. Written notice
of the proposed discontinuance of service under this section and the
reasons therefor shall be given within at least 10 days prior to the
discontinuance; said notice may be served personally on the owner
of record and all persons in possession of the property. Notice may
be given by mail, with the notice requirements being satisfied if
the mailing is made to the last known address of the owner of record
and all persons in possession of the property and is postmarked at
least 10 days prior to the date of discontinuance.
E.
Service resumed. In all cases where water has been
turned off, it shall not be turned on again until all expenses for
turning off and tuning on, together with any rent, fine, penalties
or other charges, have been paid.
F.
Violations. In addition to the imposition of penalties
for the violation of any City ordinance, the City may initiate appropriate
legal proceedings to collect any rents, fees or charges in any court
having jurisdiction thereof or may prosecute any appropriate action
for legal and/or equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction.
Any complaint filed for these purposes shall include a claim for costs
of such action, including reasonable attorney fees and expenses.
All rates, rents, charges, fees, connection
fees, tapping fees, meter charges, repair costs or any other fees
and costs associated with the operation of the City's water system
shall be established by ordinance.
[Amended 6-19-2000 by Ord. No. 99-21]
In the event an owner or occupant of a property
supplied with a water meter shall fail to grant the City access to
the property or to return the meter reading card or to provide the
meter reading by oral communication, then the owner of the property
shall pay a charge of $50 in addition to the estimated charge for
the billing period for which the charge goes into effect and for each
successive billing period until access is given or the information
is supplied. The charge shall be collectible in the same manner as
is the minimum charge. Before the charge shall go into effect, the
City shall by regular mail advise the owner of the property for two
successive billing periods in writing of the failure to provide access
or information. The charge shall go into effect 15 days after the
second notice.
A.
Turn off. In the event that it is necessary for the City to turn off any water service, there shall be charged to the property owner a water service turnoff fee, which shall be payable in advance; and, if for some reason the fee is not paid in advance, it shall be a lien on the real estate as if it were a charge for water service. The fee is set forth in Chapter 149, Fees, Article II, Schedule of Fees.
C.
Additional charges. The fee as established pursuant to Subsections A and B shall apply only in the case where the curb box is plainly visible and is not filled with debris. If the Division of Water and Sewer is required to replace the curb box, or perform any other service, the fee shall include costs of labor and the actual costs of material and equipment.
[Amended 11-21-2006 by Ord. No. 06-12; 12-1-2009 by Ord. No.
09-04]
[Amended 11-21-2006 Ord. No. 06-12; 2-19-2008 by Ord. No.
07-32; 12-1-2009 by Ord. No. 09-04]
A.
Connection costs. The costs of physically connecting
or reconnecting a property to the water supply system by the installation
of a water line from the public water supply main to the curb shall
be a separate charge.
(1)
Connection to one inch. The Division of Water and Sewer shall provide the connection for a one-inch copper water service connection at cost as set forth in Chapter 149, Fees, Article II, Schedule of Fees. This cost includes charges for breaking the street, opening the street and cost of furnishing and installing all pipes and connections to and including the furnishing of curb stop and curb box, and making permanent repairs to the street. This subsection shall not apply to any new housing development, consisting of three or more residential units, whether attached or detached residences. In the case of the connection for any unit of such a housing development, the owner and/or developer of the property shall be solely responsible for any connection fees as each property is connected to the City system.
(2)
Connection over one inch. The costs of physically connecting or reconnecting a property to the water supply system with a water line over one inch shall be the responsibility of the owner or occupant of the property. The installation shall be made by an approved independent contractor at the expense of the owner or occupant. The contractor shall be responsible for installation of the water line and the opening and closing of the street. The Division of Water and Sewer shall oversee and inspect the work of the contractor at a charge as set forth in Chapter 149, Fees, Article II, Schedule of Fees.
B.
A state permit shall be required and obtained from
the Division if the street is a state highway.
[Amended 11-21-2006 by Ord. No. 06-12; 6-19-2007 by Ord. No.
6-39 2-19-2008 by Ord. No. 07-32]
A.
Installation charges (new or replacement of defective
meter).
(1)
Standard installation to single-family home, five-eighths-inch
meter. City bears the cost. This provision shall not apply to installation
in of meters to any housing development consisting of three or more
residential units, whether attached or detached residences.
(2)
Nonstandard installation: prevailing cost of meter
shall be paid for by owner and the City shall bear no responsibility
for costs of such meter.
B.
Outdoor meter boxes or vaults or pits with attachments.
(1)
Cost.
|
Size
(inches)
|
Cost
| |
|---|---|---|
|
5/8
|
Prevailing cost of box or vault or pit and attachments
| |
|
3/4
| ||
|
1.0
| ||
|
1.5
| ||
|
2.0
|
(2)
Over two-inch is installed only on special arrangement
with the Division of Water and Sewer, and the applicant shall pay
the full and actual cost of the installation. Attachments include
lid and meter setter.
[Amended 12-1-2009 by Ord. No. 09-04]
(3)
Any owner of a one-inch meter or larger shall cause
the meter to be calibrated on a yearly basis and provide proof of
such to the Division of Water and Sewer. At the discretion of the
Director of the Division of Water and Sewer or his designee, any owner
of a meter smaller than one-inch may be required to calibrate the
meter no more than once per year. All calibrations shall be at the
cost of the owner and the City shall have no responsibility for such
costs.
[Amended 12-1-2009 by Ord. No. 09-04]
C.
Repair charges. Repair of meter due to tampering or injury from neglect, including replacement of a frozen water meter, shall be the actual cost of the meter or fixture, equipment, etc., in addition to the charges as set forth in Chapter 149, Fees, Article II, Schedule of Fees.
[Amended 12-1-2009 by Ord. No. 09-04; 6-2-2020 by Ord. No. 20-8]
D.
Upgrades/new installation. The Director of the Division
of Water and Sewer or his designee may require pit meters to be installed
on any new construction or upon the replacement of any meter covered
by this Code.
[Amended 12-1-2009 by Ord. No. 09-04]
