[Adopted 2-27-1984 by L.L. No. 1-1984]
[Amended 7-15-2013 by L.L. No. 2-2013]
As used in this Part 3, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Properties that are either currently connected to the Village's
sewer service, or receive a benefit from the construction of adjacent
or proximate sewer-related improvements, such as, but not limited
to, laterals, lines, pipes and street improvements.
The way in which a property is used or is classified to be
used.
The annual charges imposed or levied by the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson
for the use of, or the availability of use of, the sewer system or
any part or parts thereof. The rent shall include two components,
an operation and maintenance rent (OMR) based upon usage, and a capital
improvement rent (CIR) based upon weighted benefits.
The weighted benefit aligned with the use or classification
of the use of the property.
See § 126-1A.
[Amended 6-20-1988 by L.L. No. 1-1988; 8-19-1991 by L.L. No.
7-1991; 4-15-1996 by L.L. No. 1-1996; 3-16-1998 by L.L. No.
2-1998; 4-5-1999 by L.L. No. 3-1999; 7-15-2013 by L.L. No. 2-2013]
The Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson does hereby establish and
impose sewer-use rents for services rendered by the sewer system to
the real property within the corporate limits of the Village as follows:
A.Â
Operation and maintenance rent (OMR).
(1)Â
If a water rent is levied or charged against any real property within
the corporate limits of the Village or against the owners or occupants
of such real property and such real property is served by the sewer
system, the sewer-use rent shall be based on the consumption of water
on the premises and levied or charged against such real property or
the owners or occupants of such property and in such amounts as may
be determined by resolution of the Board of Trustees.
(2)Â
In the case of metered consumers of water supplied by the Village
who contribute to the sewer system an amount of sewage substantially
less than or substantially greater than the amount of water supplied
to such metered consumer by the Village, or in case of owners or occupants
of real property within the Village who are not users of Village-supplied
water but are connected to the sewer system, the Board of Trustees
shall fix and determine the sewer rent applicable to such real property
upon such other equitable basis as shall be determined by the Board.
The Board may require the installation of metering devices on private
wells at the expense of the property owner.
B.Â
Capital improvement rent (CIR).
(1)Â
Capital improvement rent shall be paid by all benefitted properties
within the Village, for any capital improvement costs deemed a system-wide
improvement by the Board of Trustees. Such capital improvement costs
shall also include any expenses incurred by the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson
associated with capital improvements made or to be made at the Town
of Cornwall's Shore Road Wastewater Treatment Plant. Owners of
properties that are not connected to the Village's sewer service
and/or that are not proximate to sewer-related improvements may request
an exemption from capital improvement rent.
(2)Â
Property classifications and unit values.
(a)Â
The Board of Trustees, in collaboration with the Cornwall-on-Hudson
Building Department, will confirm property classifications and does
hereby establish a Schedule of Property Classifications and Number
of Unit Values for properties and/or uses within the Village:
Schedule of Property Classifications and Number of Unit
Values
| |
---|---|
Property Classification
|
Number of Unit Values
|
Vacant lot (per acre or any part thereof)
|
5
|
Single-family dwelling
|
10
|
Two-family dwelling
|
20
|
Multifamily dwelling (per dwelling unit)
|
10
|
Dwelling with office or home occupation
|
15
|
Commercial establishments (unless specifically listed elsewhere
in this schedule)
|
25
|
Restaurant: no more than 20 seats
|
20
|
Restaurant: 21 to 50 seats
|
35
|
Restaurant: 51 to 80 seats
|
50
|
(b)Â
For properties with more than one property classification, the
number of unit values shall be determined by adding together the unit
values of each of the property's property classifications.
(c)Â
Any commercial or other nonresidential use that has a sewer-flow
discharge generation deemed proportionally excessive in flow from
uses consistent with the classifications above shall be evaluated
by the Board of Trustees, which shall establish a unit value consistent
with a proportional amount based on the New York State Department
of Environmental Conservation flow standards and the specific use
connected to the Village sewer system.
(3)Â
Calculation of capital improvement rent. A property's capital
improvement rent shall be determined as follows:
(a)Â
Step 1. Determine the capital sewer improvement unit value (CUV)
by dividing the Village's annual capital sewer improvement budget
by the total number of capital sewer improvement unit values within
the Village (NUV).
(b)Â
Step 2. Determine the capital improvement rent by multiplying
the capital sewer unit value by the number of the property owner's
unit values.
A.Â
At the option of the owner of real property being served by the sewer
system, such owner may, at his own expense and subject at all times
to the approval of the Code Enforcement Officer and Superintendent
of Public Works, install, operate and maintain sewage meters, gauges
or other suitable devices for measuring the amount of sewage contributed
to the sewerage system. In such cases, the quantity of sewage shall
be determined by such metering device, and the operation and maintenance
rent (OMR) applicable therefor shall be the same as would be imposed
for a like quantity of water consumed on such premises.
[Amended 7-15-2013 by L.L. No. 2-2013]
B.Â
It shall be the duty of the Superintendent of Public Works to make
a survey annually or at such other times as may be required by the
Board of Trustees to determine whether there is being discharged into
the sewer system from any real property within the corporate limits
of the Village sewage or other waste which, in the opinion of such
Superintendent, contains unduly high concentration of solids or any
other substance adding to the operating costs of the sewer system.
Upon the completion of such survey, he shall file with the Board of
Trustees a report of his finding, indicating whether additional sewer
rent charges should be levied for such sewage or other waste, and,
if so, he shall set forth recommended charges for the same. The Board
of Trustees is authorized to fix and determine such additional sewer
use rent charge therefor as shall be equitable, in addition to the
sewer use rents provided for by the preceding subsections of this
section.
A.Â
Any meter installed pursuant to this Part 3 shall be first tested
and approved by the Village.
B.Â
Any meter so installed shall be located so as to be accessible at
all times for reading and inspection.
C.Â
Remote reading devices will be installed as an integral part of the
meter.
D.Â
The Superintendent or agent may, at any reasonable time, enter upon
the premises for the purpose of inspecting pipes, reading or checking
the meter.
A.Â
All sewer use rents shall be due and payable at the offices of the
Village Clerk quarter-annually.
B.Â
Bills will be sent out to all property owners by the Village. The
Village will not employ a collector, and the failure of any property
owner to receive a bill promptly shall not excuse nonpayment of the
same, and in the event that the property owner fails to receive a
bill promptly, he shall demand the same at the Village Clerk's
office.
C.Â
Terms of payment. Bills will be rendered at the net amount and will
be due when presented.
D.Â
If bills are not paid within 30 days from the date due, a penalty
of 10% will be added to the same.
E.Â
Sewer use rents shall constitute a lien upon the real property served
by the sewer system or such part or parts thereof for which sewer
use rents are hereby established and imposed. The lien shall be prior
to and superior to every other lien or claim except the lien of an
existing tax assessment or other lawful charge imposed by or for the
state or a political subdivision or district thereof.
F.Â
The Village Clerk shall annually certify the amounts of all unpaid
sewer use rents, including penalties, computed to the first day of
the month following the month in which the fiscal year commences,
with a description of the real property affected thereby and shall
present such certificate to the Board of Trustees and shall enter
the same or an abstract thereof in the minutes of the meeting. The
Board of Trustees shall levy such amounts against the real property
liable therefor as a part of the annual Village tax levy, setting
forth such amounts in separate columns in the annual tax roll. The
sewer use fund and sewerage facilities rents shall be credited with
the amount of all such unpaid sewer rents, including penalties, and
such amounts, when collected, shall be credited to the general fund.
The Village shall review the sewer rent charges not less often
than once every two years. The review shall consist of an analysis
of the total cost of operation and maintenance of the sewage treatment
facilities and the wastewater contribution of the users and user classes.
Based on that review, the Board of Trustees shall revise, if necessary,
the sewer rent charges to accomplish the following:
A.Â
Generate sufficient revenue to pay the total operation and maintenance
costs necessary to effect the proper operation and maintenance of
the treatment facilities.
B.Â
Maintain the proportionate distribution of operation and maintenance
costs among users and user classes as attributable to actual use.
C.Â
Determine the application of any excess revenue collected to either
the reductions of the next year's charges or the establishment
of a capital reserve fund to be used for contingencies, replacement
or necessary improvement.
A.Â
The cost of all flows not directly attributable to users shall be
distributed among all users of the sewer system in the same manner
that the costs of operation and maintenance are distributed among
all users of the sewer system for their actual use. Any increased
costs associated with the management of effluents and/or sludge and
any treatment works caused by the discharge of toxic pollutants shall
be paid for by those users discharging the toxic pollutants.
B.Â
Each user shall be notified annually, in conjunction with a regular
bill, of the rate and that portion of the user charges which are attributable
to wastewater treatment services.