The Commissioner of Public Works shall establish the prices
or rentals for use of water, subject to the approval of the City Council.
He may make abatements for water charges if in his judgment
it is reasonable and proper to do so. Whenever a bill is abated or
changed, a certificate of such abatement or change and the reason
therefor, signed by the commissioner, shall be delivered to the City
Treasurer and shall become his voucher for the amount therein stated,
a duplicate thereof to be delivered simultaneously to the City Auditor.
[Ord. of 7-13-2010]
The Commissioner of Public Works shall establish the prices
or rentals for sewer use, subject to the approval of the City Council.
He may make abatements for sewer charges if in his judgment
it is reasonable and proper to do so. Whenever a bill is abated or
changed, a certificate of such abatement or change and the reason
therefor, signed by the Commissioner, shall be delivered to the City
Treasurer and shall become his voucher for the amount therein stated,
a duplicate thereof to be delivered simultaneously to the City Auditor.
[Ord. of 7-26-1988; Ord. of 4-10-2001]
The City shall install some standard make of meter to all house
services and to all other services supplying water for any and all
purposes.
A charge of $100 will be assessed by the City for meters installed
with a line less than one inch in diameter in newly constructed buildings
or those buildings under renovation which require the installation
of a new meter. All meters, with a less than one inch in diameter
line, shall be maintained and repaired at the cost of the city, except
any meter damaged through the negligence of a water taker, which shall
be repaired or replaced at the expense of the water taker.
Those water takers who require lines one inch in diameter or
greater will be required to purchase and pay the cost of meter installation
and maintain such meter at their own expense. If the Commissioner
of Public Services determines that a meter is not working properly,
he shall order the water taker to repair the meter within 21 days.
If the meter is not repaired within 21 days of the order of the Commissioner
of Public Services, the meter may be repaired by the City and the
water taker shall be assessed the actual cost for said repair, plus
accrued interest at the rate of 10% per annum. Where the full amount
due the City is not paid by such water taker within 30 days after
such repairs, as provided for in this section, then the City may cause
to be recorded in the Northern Berkshire Registry of Deeds, a sworn
statement showing the cost and expense for repairs and the location
of the property on which said repairs were done. The recording of
such sworn statement shall constitute a lien on the property, and
shall remain in full force and effect for the amount due in principal,
interest, plus cost for collection, if any. Said costs and expenses
shall be collected in the manner fixed by law for the collection of
taxes. Such lien may be dissolved by filing with said registry of
deeds such a certificate by the collection of taxes that the debt
for which the lien attached, together with interest and costs thereon,
has been paid or abated.
No meter shall be moved, disturbed or repaired except under
the direction of the Commissioner of Public Services. Water Department
employees shall have the right to enter the premises of any water
taker to install, repair or read meters, or examine pipes and fixtures
used and the manner of use.
No person shall injure or in any manner interfere with any public
reservoir, or any water pipe connected with the City waterworks, or
break or enter the premises appurtenant to or bordering upon any public
reservoir or public water supply, or bathe or fish in any public reservoir
or commit any nuisance in or near the same.
No person shall place in or pour into any brook, stream, or
other body of water any substance which might kill the fish therein
or create offensive smells therefrom. Nor shall any person throw garbage,
rubbish of any kind, wood, stones or any other substance into any
river, brook, stream or other body of water.
No person shall be in, on or over the Hoosic River Flood Control
Chute and stilling basins in the Hoosic River excluding, however,
bridges that span such river chute. This section shall not apply:
(a)
To persons who perform work or official duty therein either as an
officer or employee of the local, county, state or federal government.
(b)
To private corporations, their agents, servants, employees or independent
contractors or individuals rightfully therein by agreement or operation
of law.
(c)
To persons or corporations granted permission by the mayor, or head
of the public works, police or fire department.
(d)
To persons involved in an emergency rescue of life.
