The text
Footnotes:
--- (5) --- State Law reference— Authority to levy charges, unpaid charges create lien, G.L. 1956, § 45-14-1.
Sec. 78-281. - User charges.#
(a)
Established.
(1)
The sewer user charge rates are established and are on file in the town clerk's office.
(2)
The assessment of sewer use charges for all properties shall begin on the date that the actual building sewer is connected to the main sewer, regardless of the occupancy or condition of the property being served. Such assessment of charges shall continue uninterrupted until the actual building sewer is physically disconnected from the main sewer.
(b)
Annual review. The rates of sewer use charges shall be reviewed annually for the purpose of adjusting such rates. In conjunction with preparation of the annual budget, the town manager shall propose changes in rate structure for the financing of proposed expenditures. The adjusted rates shall be designed to ensure that each recipient of wastewater treatment service will pay his proportionate share of the cost of operation, maintenance and replacement of treatment works.
(c)
Surcharges. The town reserves the right to develop and implement a surcharge system for the purpose of assessing users subject to wastewater discharge permits under division 6 of this article their proportionate share of operation, maintenance, replacement, and/or capital improvement costs.
(Code 1986, §§ 20-241—20-243)
Sec. 78-282. - Assessments.#
The assessment for sanitary sewer installation shall be as is provided for in state law, or as otherwise approved or adopted by the town council.
(Code 1986, § 20-244)
Sec. 78-283. - Sewer fee schedule.#
(1)
Sewer user charge rate as provided for in section 78-283 (a) of the Code of Ordinances shall be as follows:
a. Minimum charge per unit year $484.00 (FY24)
$585.64 (FY25)
$603.24 (FY26)
$621.32 (FY27)
$639.96 (FY28)
b. Usage Block Allowed Per Year for Minimum Charge 8,000 cubic feet of water consumption
c. Excess Rate: 8,001—20,000 cubic feet of water consumption RATE/100 cubic feet of water consumption $3.33 (FY24)
$4.03 (FY25)
$4.15 (FY26)
$4.27 (FY27)
$4.40 (FY28)
d. Excess Rate 20,001—30,000 cubic feet of water consumption RATE/100cubic feet of water consumption $3.93 (FY24)
$4.76 (FY25)
$4.90 (FY26)
$5.05 (FY27)
$5.20 (FY28)
e. Excess Rate: over 30,001 cubic feet of water consumption RATE/100 cubic feet of water consumption $3.33 (FY24)
$4.03 (FY25)
$4.15 (FY26)
$4.27 (FY27)
$4.40 (FY28)
(b)
The minimum charge per unit will be billed on a quarterly basis, with the bills being sent in the months of July, October, January, and April. Payment on each quarter's bill will be due on or before September 1, December 1, March 1 and June 1, respectively. Any payment not made in a timely manner shall bear interest at the rate of 18 percent per annum on the unpaid balance. The excess rates per usage blocks will be billed on a quarterly basis as such excess usage is accrued. A prior year (FY 1992—1993) minimum charge of $324.00 per unit, which would have been billed in July 1993, will be billed over a three-year period, by quarter, beginning in July 1993. The amount due each quarter should be $27.00. Any payment not made in a timely manner shall bear interest at the rate of 18 percent per annum on the unpaid balance.
(c)
A charge of BODs in excess of 250 mg/l shall be assessed at $0.43 per pound of BODs.
(d)
A charge for total suspended solids in excess of 250 mg/l shall be assessed at $0.91 per pound of total suspended solids.
(Code 1986, § 20-245; Ch. 963, § 1, 6-18-2012; Ch. 1114, § 1, 9-18-2023)
Sec. 78-284. - Annual permit fees; permit application fees; annual monitoring fees for commercial/industrial users.#
(a)
Categories of commercial/industrial users are as follows:
(1)
Category 1. Commercial/industrial users discharging or having the potential of discharging conventional (BOD 5 and TSS) pollutant concentrations in excess of 250 mg/l.
(2)
Category 2. Commercial/industrial users discharging production processing wastewater or using solvents, toxic chemicals and/or hazardous chemicals that could potentially be discharged into the sewers.
(3)
Category 3. Commercial/industrial users discharging or having the potential to discharge concentrations of oil and grease and other solids which may cause interference with the collection system or at the treatment facility.
(3A)
Category 3A: Commercial/industrial users discharging or having the potential to discharge any wastewater generated through the practice of dentistry that may contain dental amalgam.
(4)
Category 4. Commercial/industrial users with only sanitary wastes and/or nontoxic discharges.
(b)
The following fee schedule, which shall be kept on file in the office of the town clerk, shall apply:
(1)
Annual permit fees.
a.
Category 1—$3,000.00.
b.
Category 2—$500.00.
c.
Category 3—$300.00.
d.
Category 4—No charge.
e.
Category 3A—$100.00
(2)
Permit application fees.
a.
Category 1—$300.00.
b.
Category 2—$300.00.
c.
Category 3—$300.00.
d.
Category 4—$300.00.
e.
Category 3A—$100.00
(3)
Annual monitoring fees.
a.
Category 1—$3,780.00.
b.
Category 2—No charge.
c.
Category 3—No charge.
d.
Category 4—No charge.
e.
Category 3A—No charge.
(Code 1986, § 20-246; Ch. 1066, §§ 2, 3, 6-3-2019)