[Ord. 2002-325, 1/13/2002, § 12.01; as amended
by Ord. 2011-416, 8/4/2011, § 32]
All bills for water and sewage services will be rendered at
the end of the service period, residential billing normally to be
on a quarterly basis. Bills for commercial, industrial, public and
other such services may be rendered on a monthly basis, at the option
of the Township.
[Ord. 2002-325, 1/13/2002, § 12.02; as amended
by Ord. 2011-416, 8/4/2011, § 33]
Bills may be paid in person at the Township office during regular
business hours or by mail, automatic debit payment or online.
[Ord. 2002-325, 1/13/2002, § 12.03]
The Township will make regular meter readings monthly or quarterly,
at its option. Bills will be rendered as soon as practicable after
the reading of the respective meters.
[Ord. 2002-325, 1/13/2002, § 12.04; as amended
by Ord. 2011-416, 8/4/2011, § 34]
Quarterly bills shall be due and payable 35 days after the date
of presentation and, if not paid within 35 days, a penalty of 10%
will be added to such bills. Acceptance or remittance of bills on
the last day of this thirty-five-day period shall be determined as
evidenced by the postmark of the United States Postal Service. Monthly
bills shall be due and payable 21 days after the date of presentation,
and if not paid within 21 days after that date a penalty of 10% will
be added to such bills. Acceptance or remittance of bills on the last
day of this twenty-one-day period shall be determined as evidenced
by the postmark of the United States Postal Service.
[Ord. 2002-325, 1/13/2002, § 12.05; as amended
by Ord. 2011-416, 8/4/2011, § 35]
1.
Except in cases where the customer or ratepayer is a landlord, the
following procedures will apply to the termination of service for
the nonpayment of any delinquent bill for sewage and/or water service:
A.
Within 10 days after a quarterly bill shall have become delinquent,
a delinquent notice shall be mailed to the customer demanding payment
and stating that failure to pay the delinquent bill may result in
the termination of service. Within 10 days after a monthly bill shall
have become delinquent, the balance, including the 10% penalty, will
be brought forward to the next monthly bill as past due balance to
be paid.
B.
If the monthly bill remains unpaid after 30 days from the due date
on the initial presentation of the bill, a termination notice shall
be sent to the customer at least 10 days prior to the scheduled shutoff
date. The shutoff notice is effective for a period of 60 days, unless
payment or arrangements for payment have been made. The termination
notice shall contain the following information:
(1)
The date on which the notice is rendered.
(2)
The earliest date on which service will be discontinued, which
date shall not be earlier than 10 days after the date of such notice.
(3)
If the customer wishes to protest or otherwise challenge the
charges or the termination of service a brief statement that the customer
is entitled to have a conference with the Customer Relations Officer
of the Township before service is terminated by writing or telephoning
the Township.
(4)
The address and telephone number of the Township.
(5)
The customer must pay by cash, certified check, or money order.
C.
At least three days before service is shut off, the Township will
attempt to call the customer in regards to the pending shutoff.
D.
If the customer shall fail to pay the delinquent bill within the
time specified in the termination notice and unless the dispute is
resolved as a consequence of the protest procedure, the Township shall
shut off the supply of water to the customer’s property. If
service is shut off, a notice will be placed on the customer’s
door as a notice that water has been shut off for nonpayment and the
procedures the customer needs to fulfill to have service reinstated.
E.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, nothing
contained herein shall result in the shutoff or denial of water service
to any lessee of a property because of a previous lessee's failure
to pay charges for water or sewage service.
[Ord. 2002-325, 1/13/2002, § 12.06]
Where the customer or ratepayer is a landlord, service shall
be discontinued only in accordance with the provisions of the Utility
Service Tenants Rights Act, 68 P.S. § 399.1 et seq.
[Ord. 2002-325, 1/13/2002, § 12.07; as amended
by Ord. 2011-416, 8/4/2011, § 36]
If service is discontinued, it will not be restored until all
unpaid bills and charges, including the reconnection charges, deposits,
minimum and such other charges, are paid, or satisfactory arrangements
made for payment. The amounts of the turn-off charges, including turn-off
charges not set forth herein, shall be as set forth in the current
fee schedule governing furnishing of water and sewage services.
[Ord. 2002-325, 1/13/2002, § 12.08]
Notwithstanding the definition of the "owner," "tenant," and
"customer," as set forth in Part 1B hereof, and notwithstanding that
the customer, applicant or contractor entering into an agreement with
the Township for the use of water or sewage services, was not the
owner of the premises served by the Township, the owner of the premises
shall be liable in personam and in rem for all water or sewage services
rendered to said premises. The Township may discontinue service as
previously set forth, and in addition thereto, file suit in assumpsit
against the owner, tenant and customer, severally or jointly, and
may use any other remedy provided by law for the collection of delinquent
bills, and in addition, file a municipal claim against the said property.
The Township may use any or all of the remedies so provided by law
and the use of any one remedy shall not preclude the use of the Township's
other rights and remedies.
[Ord. 2002-325, 1/13/2002, § 12.09; as amended
by Ord. 2005-362, 12/15/2005; and by Ord. 2011-416, 8/4/2011, § 37]
No adjustments on meter bills will be made for any reason other
than incorrect registering of the meter. Bills for sewer service will
be adjusted, however, for Township permitted swimming pool fillings,
newly constructed lawns and water leaks that do not enter the sewer
system, in such amounts as shall be established in the current Fee
Resolution.
[Ord. 2002-325, 1/13/2002, § 12.10]
The water service will be terminated for nonpayment of sewage
service bills in premises receiving both water and sewage service
even though the bills for water services are paid, the premises being
subject to minimum charges regardless of such termination.
