Town Code & Ordinances Code — Resolution-23-101

RBSOLUTION 23.IOI

A RESOLUTION OF THE COMMTSSTONERS OF QUEENSTOWN TO

AMEND THE DISCONNECTION POLICY FOR DELINQUENT WATER

AND SEWER ACCOUNTS TO INCREASE THE LATE FEE FROM $5.00

TO $10.00

WHEREAS, Md. Code Ann. Environmental Article $ 9-705 and the Queenstown Town Charter $ 19-60 authorize the Town to construct, operate, modifu 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 Town has adopted Section I 4 of the Town Code which addresses the

Town's policies and regulations concerning its water and sewer system, including the payment of water and sewer charges; and WHEREAS, by Resolution 17-102, the Commissioners of Queenstown adopted a Water/Sewer Disconnection Policy to address delinquent accounts; and WHEREAS, in accordance with Section 14.51 of the Queenstown Town Code, the Commissioners of Queenstown have determined that it is desirable and in the public interest to

increase the late fee within the Water/Sewer Disconnection Policy to address delinquent accounts.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVBD by the Commissioners of Queenstown that the following revised policy is hereby ADOPTED.

Town of Queenstown Water/Sewer Disconnection Policy The Town of Queenstown establishes the followin g waterlsewer disconnection policy to be followed when a waterlsewer account is delinquent.

The Town of Queenstown mails out water/sewer bills monthly with a due date for the following month. If a payment is not received in the office on or before the due date, a $ 10.00 late fee will be assessed at 8:00 a.m. on the following business day.

In addition to the assessment of a late fee, if payment is not received by the close of business on the due date, then 10 days after the due date, a disconnect letter will be mailed to all past due property owners. In addition to the disconnect letter being mailed to the property owner, in the case of a rental property, a notice will also be placed on the door of all past due rentals. The disconnect letter will give the owner and/or tenant an additional 14 days to have their water/sewer

bill paid in tull.

Resoluti on 2023 Water/Sewer Disconnect Policy Page I If payment in full is not received by the close of the business on the l4th day following the disconnect letter, the water will be disconnected the following business day at 8:00 a.m. and a disconnect fee of $35.00 will be assessed to the account immediately. An account is considered disconnected when the address is given to the water department for disconnection, and not when

the water is physically disconnected. To have the water reconnected, the entire past due bill, along with the $35.00 disconnect fee and a $35.00 reconnect fee, must be received by the Town Office.

Payment must be received in the Town Office by 3:00 p.m. in order to have water reconnected the same day.

Example of Town's Billing, Notices and Disconnect Policy*:

Water bill mailed January 3 1" Water bill due 30 days after mailing (March 2nd) Late fee assessed on the 30th day after mailing (March 2'd) Water disconnect letter mailed 10 days after due date (March lztn) if payment still not received Water bill must be paid by close of business 14 days after the past-due notice (March 25tn) to avoid disconnection on the following day (March 27tn) (*The dates set forth above are for illustration purposes only. The actual billing date may vary)

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution shall become effective on I \a 1..1\ ,2023.

WITNESS: TOWN COMMISSIONERS FOR THE

TOWN OF QUEENSTOWN:

- -"/ President Thomas B. Willis, Jr., Commi Resolution2023 Water/Sewer Disconnect Policy Page 2