[Adopted 6-26-1974]
The purpose of the article is to assess all private properties receiving benefit or advantages from public sanitary sewer construction in accordance with legislation enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island in May 1973, and approved by the electorate of the Town of Barrington on November 6, 1973.
For the purposes of this article, the following words shall be considered to have the following meanings:
BACK SEWER UNIT
A sewer unit without frontage on a street, right-of-way or easement containing a sewer main or trunk line or the rear portion of a large lot having said frontage and which is not directly served by public sanitary sewers at the time said improvement is provided.
COMMERCIAL USE
Premises designed or adapted for financial gain (other than a dwelling unit).
DIRECT BENEFIT FACILITIES
The sewer mains and property laterals to which service lines from individual abutting properties can be connected.
DWELLING UNIT
One or more rooms providing complete living facilities for one family, including equipment for cooking, or provisions for same, and including a room or rooms for living, sleeping and eating.
FORCE MAIN
A line without access from individual properties providing access from a pumping station or from a pumping station to trunk and sewer mains.
FRONT SEWER UNIT
A sewer unit abutting an existing or platted street, right-of-way or easement in which a sewer main or trunk line is located for the purpose of servicing said premises.
INDIRECT BENEFIT FACILITIES
Improvements such as pumping stations, trunk and force mains, lands, rights-of-way and easements which will serve the direct facilities.
MULTIFAMILY USE
Premises designed or adapted for two or more dwelling units.
PROPERTY LATERAL
Sewerage conduit from the street sewer main to the service line at the lot line of the property to be served.
PUMPING STATION
A facility used to lift collected sewage to a higher elevation from whence it flows by gravity.
SEMIPUBLIC USES
Premises designed or adapted for private, nonprofit organizations, such as schools, hospitals and religious or fraternal institutions.
SERVICE LINE
Sewerage conduit from a house to a property lateral.
SEWER MAIN
The line in the street serving as a conduit for sanitary sewage collected from the property laterals from each individual property.
SEWER UNIT
The basic assessment unit equivalent to a developed single-family residential lot, as permitted under Chapter 185, Zoning, in effect at the time of such assessment or as actually existing.
SUBJECT PROPERTY
All estates within the Town of Barrington not constitutionally exempt, including all real property of the Town of Barrington devoted to school and related athletic facilities, municipal and school offices, library, police, fire and other public safety uses, public works buildings, but no other Town property.
TRUNK LINE
The line serving as a conduit for sanitary sewage from a number of sewer mains and property laterals. Trunk mains shall be considered as those lines 12 inches and over in diameter and in some instances also serve as sewer mains.
UNIT METHOD
A means by which a portion of public sanitary sewer costs shall be equitably divided between the total number of existing and potential sewer units to be served after having determined the costs resulting from direct and indirect benefit facilities.
ZONING ORDINANCE
The Zoning Ordinance in effect in the Town of Barrington at the time each sewer betterment assessment is respectively levied.
[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 185, Zoning.
A. 
All subject properties to receive benefit or advantage from public sewer construction after the adoption of this article shall be assessed by the unit method of sewer betterment cost apportionment. The Town Council shall determine the percentage of the total sewer program costs that shall be financed by betterment assessments on front sewer units.
B. 
Each parcel of land in an improvement district shall be converted into front sewer units for the purpose of apportioning the construction costs to be paid by the betterment assessment. The Town Council may consider Town-wide planning for the purpose of determining sewer units and the division of costs. Excess land not so converted shall be converted into back sewer units and assessed as such by the Town Council.
C. 
For assessment purposes:
(1) 
A lot in a residential zone occupied by a single-family residence or a vacant lot or a farm lot in such zone shall be divided into as many front sewer units, including such residence, if any, and back sewer units as permitted by the Zoning Ordinance and platting regulations[1] of the Town of Barrington, giving consideration to the location on said lot of the principal structure.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 185, Zoning, and Ch. 200, Subdivision of Land.
(2) 
A lot in a residential zone devoted to uses other than single-family residence (other than semipublic) shall be assessed in accordance with the use or uses actually made of such lot, any area of such lot not so devoted and necessary for such use or uses to be divided into front and back sewer units in accordance with Subsection C(1) of this section.
(3) 
A lot in a commercial or industrial zone devoted to any such commercial or industrial use shall be divided into as many front sewer units as there shall be uses on such lot or into as many front and back sewer units as would be permitted for single-family residential use in such zone whichever shall yield the greater assessment.
(4) 
A lot devoted to semipublic uses regardless of zone shall be divided into as many front and back sewer units as may be devoted to single-family residences in the zone giving consideration to the principal structures existing on such lot, each such structure designed for habitation, occupation or assembly by persons to be deemed a front sewer unit.
(5) 
A lot in a commercial or industrial zone devoted to farming uses or vacant or devoted to purposes other than commercial or industrial (other than a semipublic use) shall be divided into as many front and back sewer units as would be permitted for single-family residential use in such zone, giving consideration to the location on said lot of the principal structures.
(6) 
Back sewer units developed for residential, commercial, industrial or semipublic use or designed or adapted to serve a commercial or industrial use shall be assessed as front sewer units.
D. 
Residential structures existing at the time the betterment assessment roll is established, which are classified as multifamily uses, shall be counted for sewer unit purposes on the following basis:
Number of Dwelling Units
Sewer Units
2
1
3
1 1/2
4
2
5
2 1/2
6
3
7
3 1/2
8
4
9
4 1/2
10
5
E. 
For each additional unit, 1/2 of a sewer unit shall be added. In the case of any lot devoted to commercial or industrial uses, each area designed for or actually devoted to a separate use or tenant shall be deemed a separate use.
F. 
If any structure or parcel of land is converted to a more intensive use subsequent to establishment of the betterment assessment roll by conversion, new construction, zoning changes or variance of the Zoning Board, resulting in an increment in sewerage benefit to the structure or parcel greater than that established at the time of the original assessment, those having an interest in said changes shall be assessed for the more intensive use in accordance with the assessment policies established herein. Collection of payments for said reassessments shall be made by the Town prior to issuance of permits or at the time authorizations for the same are granted and are effectively utilized by the benefitting property owner.
G. 
Where not in conflict with the foregoing, the following methodology is presented as a guide for apportioning the cost of sewerage construction using the unit method:
(1) 
The cost of the direct and the indirect benefit facilities shall be determined. The cost of direct benefit facilities shall be divided evenly by front sewer units and back sewer units assessed as front sewer units.
(2) 
Front sewer units shall be determined by the policies contained herein and shall be included on the betterment assessment roll as subject to becoming due and payable as hereinafter provided.
(3) 
Back sewer units shall be determined by the policies contained herein and shall be placed on the betterment assessment roll subject to becoming due and payable as hereinafter provided.
(4) 
Reassessment of undeveloped properties shall occur at the time they are developed. The number of sewer units shall be established upon the actual division of the parcel and in accordance with policies herein established.
(5) 
All sanitary sewer costs related to developments subsequent to the confirmation of the betterment assessment roll, up to and including connection to the nearest existing public sanitary sewer main or trunk line, shall be the responsibility of the developer.
(6) 
The value of a sewer unit for both front and back units as established by the Town Council shall be applicable for all betterment assessment rolls confirmed attributable to the initial Town-wide sanitary sewer improvement program.
(7) 
The front sewer unit costs shall include the cost of one property lateral. The Council shall establish the cost related to providing a second lateral at the time of construction for those requesting the same, which cost shall be added to the betterment assessment roll for said property owners. The cost to provide a property lateral after construction shall be determined, payment for which shall be made prior to installation.
(8) 
Mixed commercial and dwelling uses in the same building shall be assessed for one sewer unit for each commercial use and in accordance with the before-mentioned schedule for the dwelling uses.
(9) 
Lots with frontage on two different streets (exclusive of corner lots) shall be assessed the appropriate number of sewer units applicable to each street if such lot shall be capable of being subdivided.
(10) 
Undeveloped property not fronting on a platted street and any excess property based upon the minimum zoning requirements to the rear of platted front lots or to the rear of lots which have been established for betterment assessment purposes shall be divided into back sewer units conforming to single-family residential use for the zone in which situated after a portion of said area is deducted for future street dedication purposes consistent with Chapter 200, Subdivision of Land.
(11) 
A sewer unit shall not be assessed against properties deemed to be undevelopable due to any state or local law or regulation.
(12) 
The Town Council may deviate from the standard betterment assessment policies when to do is in the interest of equity to prevent demonstrated hardship due to unusual circumstances or when such decision is deemed to be generally in the best interest of the Town.
The Town Council shall determine the amount of money to be raised by betterment assessment on front sewer units and shall consider in making such determination the cost of both direct and indirect benefit facilities. That portion of assessments relating to back sewer units shall be determined by apportioning to such back sewer units the same proportion of the cost of indirect benefit facilities as are borne by front sewer units.
Prior to construction of public sanitary sewer improvements within the Town, the Town Manager, with the assistance of other Town officials or consultants, shall:
A. 
Define the limits of the improvement districts.
B. 
Establish a betterment assessment roll listing the sewer units within said district by applying the policies established herein.
C. 
Present the betterment roll to the Town Council for its review and action.
That portion of any assessment relating to front sewer units shall become due and payable commencing the first day of July following the placing in operation of the sewer project in the sewer project area in which such front sewer unit may be located, provided that assessments with respect to front sewer units consisting of undeveloped nonconforming platted lots shall be due and payable as set forth in the following sentence. That portion of any assessment relating to back sewer units shall become due and payable (except as otherwise provided in this article) on the first day of July following the first of the following to occur:
A. 
Subdivision of such so as to permit the development of said back sewer unit or a portion thereof.
B. 
The transfer of a portion of said lot so as to permit the development of a back sewer unit or a portion thereof.
C. 
The establishment of a road or right-of-way to service said back sewer unit or portion thereof.
D. 
The connection of a sewer line from a structure or facility located on a back sewer unit or portion thereof to a property lateral or sewer main.
A. 
After receiving a betterment assessment roll and determining its accuracy, a public hearing shall be held before the Council, which hearing shall be held not less than 10 days after notice of the time and place thereof has been sent by the Town Clerk by first class mail to all property owners in the proposed improvement district as shown on the betterment assessment roll. A similar legal notice shall also be published in a newspaper of general local circulation not less than 10 days prior to said public hearing.
B. 
At the time and place specified in such notices for the public hearing, the Council shall meet and hear any person to be affected by the proposed public improvement. Any person deeming themselves aggrieved by the assessment roll may file their objections thereto in writing with the Town Council prior to the close of said hearing, which written objections shall specify in what respect they deem themselves aggrieved.
C. 
The Council shall meet and review said betterment assessment roll at the time and place appointed for the public hearing, or at an adjourned date therefor, and shall consider any written objections thereto.
D. 
The Council may correct said roll as to any assessment or description of any lot or parcel of land or other errors appearing therein. Any changes made in such roll shall be noted in the Council's minutes.
E. 
After such hearing and review, the Council may confirm such betterment assessment roll with such corrections as it may have made, if any, or may refer it back to the Town Manager for revision. The Town Clerk shall endorse the date of confirmation upon each such assessment roll. Upon confirmation of the roll by the Town Council, the roll shall be final and conclusive.
A. 
At the direction of the Town Council, the Town Manager shall prepare, or cause to be prepared, engineering plans, specifications and cost estimates consistent with the Town-wide sanitary sewer improvement program and shall, upon completion, present the same to the Town Council for its review and action.
B. 
The Town Manager shall recommend to the Council the number of contracts into which each improvement program should be divided and the time, place and method of receiving competitive bids on the construction contracts. The Manager shall receive and analyze all competitive bids and present the results of the bidding process to the Town Council along with their recommendations relative to the best bid to consider. The Town Council shall authorize the award of all construction bids for the public sanitary sewer construction work.
A. 
All betterment assessments contained in any betterment assessment roll, including any part thereof deferred as to payment, shall from the date of confirmation of such roll, and upon delivery of the same to the Town Clerk, constitute a lien upon the respective lots or parcels of land assessed and until paid shall a be charge against the respective owners of the several lots and parcels of land and debt to the Town from the persons to whom they are assessed. Such lien shall be of the same character and effect as the lien created by the Town Charter for Town taxes, or by other relevant state and local laws and ordinances, and shall include accrued interest and penalties. No judgment or decree nor any act of the Council vacating a betterment assessment shall destroy or impair the lien of the Town upon the premises assessed for such amount of the assessment as may be equitably charged against the same or as by a regular mode of proceeding might be lawfully assessed thereon.
B. 
All betterment assessments shall become due upon July 1 subsequent to the confirmation of the betterment assessment roll or shall be payable in equal annual installments over not less than 10 nor more than 30 years, as determined by the Town Council, upon a date fixed by the Town Council and shall bear interest from the date notice of the assessment was delivered to the Town Clerk until paid at a rate to be fixed at or prior to the assessment by the Town Council, provided that the whole assessment against any owner or estate may be paid without interest at any time prior to the due date of the first installment thereof, and provided further that the whole unpaid balance of any such assessment, together with interest accrued thereon to the date of payment, may be paid at any time.
C. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the Town Council may provide for the payment of such assessments, together with such interest, in equal annual installments which include such assessments and such interest, provided that if any such assessment is paid in full before the expiration of the full term, there shall be an equitable adjustment of the interest charge so that interest will be paid on the unpaid balance of the assessment for the period up to such payment in full. The Town Council may provide for the payment of annual installments of assessments and interest hereunder in quarterly payments which may be combined with normal tax billings.
D. 
Prior to or forthwith after delivery to the Town Clerk of a copy of the betterment assessment roll, the Tax Collector shall cause notice to be sent to the owner of each estate assessed. The notice shall substantially identify the estate assessed, state the amount of the assessment and refer to the remedy available under this section. The notice shall mailed postpaid and directed to the last known address of the addressee. If there are owners whose addresses are unknown, a similar notice covering the assessments against their estates shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town, and such published notice may be a single collective notice for all such owners.
E. 
No irregularity in the notice, either to the assessed owner or in the newspaper, required by this section shall excuse the nonpayment of the assessment or affect its validity or any proceedings for the collection thereof as long as there is substantial compliance with the provision hereof.
F. 
Any person aggrieved by any such assessment may, within 90 days after the mailing or publication of notice to them, file a petition for relief against the Town in the Superior Court, and said petition shall be subject to the provisions of § 44-5-29 of the Rhode Island General Laws (as amended). If the Court finds such assessment invalid in whole or in part, it shall give judgment reducing the amount thereof or for a refund accordingly. The filing of such a petition shall not relieve the estate involved from the lien hereinabove provided for or prevent the assessment becoming due as provided in this section, but the final judgment of the Court reducing such assessment in whole or in part shall reduce such lien and the amount due accordingly. The remedy provided in this subsection shall be exclusive, and no action or proceeding questioning the validity of any assessment shall be begun after the expiration of said ninety-day period.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Town Council may, upon being presented by the Town Manager sufficient information relative to an inaccurate or inequitable betterment assessment, upon a three-fifths' vote of the Council, make such alteration or correction as it determines justifiable to the betterment assessment roll subsequent to the confirmation of the same. Such action shall be considered at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Town Council.
A. 
If, in the opinion of the Assessor, the Town Manager and the Council, any person holding property subject to a betterment assessment is unable to contribute towards the cost thereof by reason of poverty, payment of such special assessment or any part thereof may by resolution of the Council be deferred until such time as the Council deems appropriate under the circumstances. Such deferment shall cease at the time the person transfers any part or all of their interest in such property.
B. 
While payment of a betterment assessment is deferred, interest on the amount of said deferment shall accrue and be added to the principle amount of the betterment assessment.
C. 
Deferment of the payment of any betterment assessment shall not destroy or impair the lien of the Town on the premises so assessed from the date of confirmation of the betterment assessment roll as above provided.
D. 
In the event that the Council shall by resolution determine, after notice to the owner of the property for which payment was deferred, that there has been a material change in the circumstances on which the deferment was based or that the best interests of the Town so require, the deferment may be terminated, and all or part of the deferred payments and accrued interest, if any, shall then become due and payable.