Town Code & Ordinances Ordinance — Ordinance-20-06

ORDINAI\CE NO 20-06

Introduced by: Thomas B. Willis, Jr.

AI\ ORDINANCE OF THE TOWI\ OF QUEENSTOWN TO AMEND

SECTION 14.35 OF THE QUEENSTOWN CODE TO PROVIDE THAT

THE PROPERTY OWNER SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST

OF THE WATER METER AT THE TIME OF INSTALLATION

WHEREAS, Md. Code Ann. Environmental Article $ 9-705 and the Queenstown Town Charter $ 19-60 authorize the Town to construct, operate, modiff and maintain a water and sewerage system; and WHEREAS, Md. Code Ann. Environmental Article $ 9-723 through 9-726 and the Queenstown Town Charter $ 19-65 authorize the Town to establish rates, fees and charges for municipal water and sewer services; and WHEREAS, the Commissioners of Queenstown have determined that it is desirable and

in the public interest to amend Chapter 14 of the Queenstown Town Code, Section 14.35 to require the property owner to cover the cost of the water meter at the time of installation.

NOW THEREFORE, the Commissioners of Queenstown hereby ordain as follows:

Section 1. Section

14.35 is hereby amended as follows:

Section 14.35

Use of Water Meters.

A. Water meters. Water meters shall be installed for each dwelling unit or building connected to the Town's water system. Water meters shall also be installed:

l. Upon any new connection to the Town's water and/or sewerage system;

and

2. upon a sale, transfer or conveyance of an existing buildable lot of record

to a third Party.

B. All water meters will rernain under the ownership of, and will be maintained by; the Town as far as ordinary wear and tear are concerned. The property owner shall be responsible for any injury to, or loss of, the meter not caused bY Town.

C. Any meters installed pursuant to this section shall be of a type, size and specifications approved by the Town, or its agents, and shall be installed and inspected by the Town's agent or representative upon the payment of the refuired fei to ,or", all costs for the water connection including the cost of the Ordinance 20-06 Water Meter Installation Cost Paee I meter, unless the property owner obtains prior written permission from the Town

Commissioners and/or their duly authorized agent.

D.

It shall be unlawful for any person not specifically authorizedby the Town to interfere with, remove, replace or tamper with a meter or a meter seal.

E.

No connection shall be made to any water service pipe between the water main and the meter, except as installed by the Town or its agents. If such unlawful connection is found, the water service will be cut off until the unlawful connection is disconnected and abandoned. Any expense incurred by the Town due to an unlawful connection shall be paid for by the responsible property owner before water service is restored.

F. Where a water meter fails to register the total amount of water used, the property owner shall pay for such period an estimated amount based on consumption in a similar period. The property owner shall at once notiff the Town of any injury to, or any cessation in registration of, the water meter as soon as it comes to his knowledge. In the case of a disputed account involving the accgracy of a water meter, such meter shall be tested, upon the request of property

owner, in conformity with the provisions of the rules and regulations pertaining to water service utilities of the Public Service Commission of Maryland. In the event the water meter so tested is found to have an error in registration of 4%o or more, the bills will be increased or decreased accordingly as provided by the aforesaid rules.

Section 2.

Unless specifically amended as set forth above, all other provisions of the Town Code shall remain unchanged.

Queenstown

Section 3.

If any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance is, for any ."^ott, n"fd to be unconstitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the ronaining portions of this Ordinance. The Town Commissioners of Queenstown hereby declare that they would have passed this Ordinance, and each section, subsection, clause or phrase thereof, irrespective oi th" fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses and phrases

be declared unconstitutional.

ORDAINED, APPROVED, AND PASSED by the Town Commissioners for the Town of j$Auy of Queenstown on this bece"$tJ- , 2020.

WITNESS: TTOOWWNN CCOOMMMMIISSSSIIOONNEERRSS FFOORR TTHHEE

TOWN OF QUEENSTOWN:

Thomas B. Willis, Jr., Alton Hardee. Jr. Commissioner Ordinance 20-06 Water Meter Installation Cost Page2 Language sH€km indicates language deleted Language n bold and italicized indicates langu4ge added dinaoc€ 20-06 Water Meter Installation Cost Page 3