[Adopted 4-20-1989 as Ord. No. 677-89]
[Amended 3-15-1990 by Ord. No. 715-90]
The Township of Middle hereby establishes a
schedule of rates for the sewer system of the Township of Middle as
more particularly set forth in Schedule A annexed hereto.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Schedule A is included at the end of this chapter.
[Added 6-15-1998 by Ord. No. 1016-98]
For purposes of this article, the term "structure"
for residential properties shall be defined as a "dwelling unit."
Any building which contains more than one dwelling unit shall pay
an application fee, a connection fee, and for service for each individual
dwelling unit contained therein.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Section 204-8, Establishment
of certain rates by contract, was repealed 3-15-1990 by Ord. No. 715-90.
The sewer service charge established herein
shall become effective and chargeable to the owner of each connection
unit on the date designated by the Township, which date shall occur
as soon as is practicable after connection.
[Amended 11-18-2013 by Ord. No. 1460-13]
The sewer charges established pursuant to the rate schedule
set forth herein shall be payable quarterly in advance at the Township
offices. Said charges shall draw interest at the rate of 1 1/2%
per month from the time they become due and shall become a lien upon
the premises connected. Such sewer charges are based upon estimated
annual operation costs, annual amortization costs and other costs
of the Township sewage system and may be changed from time to time
as the need generated by such costs may require. Water consumption
to an additional service line installed with a separate meter for
water which will not be returned to the sanitary sewer collection
system shall not be considered in determining the quarterly service
charge.
[Amended 11-18-2013 by Ord. No. 1460-13]
Where premises or a building is occupied by more than one commercial
or industrial establishment or by a combination of both types of establishments,
the charge will be determined by applying the aforesaid rates to each
commercial and industrial establishment located therein. All properties
listed in the tax duplicate as commercial shall be billed as commercial
entirely.
All billing will be made to the property owner,
who will remain responsible regardless of any change in tenants or
those in possession.
With respect to charges for properties which
shall be connected for the first time with said sewage system from
and after the date hereof, the charge for the first quarterly period
shall be a percentage of the quarterly charge hereinabove, equal to
the percentage of the quarterly period remaining after such connection.
Any requests for review of any bill must be
submitted, in writing, and received by the Township within 30 days
of the billing date.
[Amended 3-15-1990 by Ord. No. 715-90; 4-6-1995 by Ord. No. 921-95; 2-4-2002 by Ord. No. 1098-2002; 12-16-2002 by Ord. No. 1120-2002]
A.
An application fee of $100 shall be charged to any
structure connecting into the system which was in existence prior
to the date of the enactment of this article. Any structure created
subsequent to the date of enactment of this article shall be charged
an application fee of $300.
B.
The applicant shall establish an escrow account with
the Township for the purpose of covering professional and legal costs
associated with the review of applications for sewer extension where
such requests include an extension to the Township sewer system which
will then be turned over to the Township for ownership, operation,
and maintenance. The escrow amount shall be $3,000 for developments
with one to 85 equivalent units. Developments in excess of 85 equivalent
units shall pay an additional $35 per unit. The applicant is required
to pay the Township the actual cost and fees billed to the Township
for the Township's professional services including engineering and
legal work on the application that may be incurred by the Township
in processing an application. The Township will notify the applicant
if any additional deposits are required to be made by the applicant
to cover the projected engineering or other costs that the Township
will incur prior to or under the condition of the application being
completed. Any excess deposit remaining in the applicant's escrow
account at the completion of the Township's review shall be returned
by the Township to the applicant.
D.
For all structures not in existence on the date of
the passage of this article, a connection charge of $2,200 will be
assessed.[1]
[Amended 3-7-2005 by Ord. No. 1183-05]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Subsection C, which
immediately followed this subsection and provided for connections
to be made after installation costs are received, was repealed 3-15-1990
by Ord. No. 715-90.
[Amended 11-18-2013 by Ord. No. 1460-13]
The officers and agents of the Township shall have unrestricted
access at reasonable hours to all premises served by the Township
to inspect the collection system and to see that the requirements
of the Township regarding the use of the customer's sewer connection
are being observed.
[Added 11-18-2013 by Ord. No. 1460-13; amended 3-19-2018 by Ord. No. 1558-18; 12-16-2019 by Ord. No. 1603-19]
All commercial properties not serviced by a water utility or
company shall install a flow meter to measure the water drawn from
the property's well. Water meters shall be located on the exterior
of the building and remain clear of all debris and obstacles allowing
easy, unrestricted access by Township employees reading said meter.
Property owners are prohibited from placing water meters in the interior
of a building, in a confined space or placing locks or other restrictive
instruments on water meters.
Any damage to pipes, manholes or any other property
of the Township caused by the carelessness of or neglect by a customer
must be paid for by the customer upon presentation of a bill therefor.
The names and addresses of the customers of
the Township shall not be publicly available, except to the extent
required by law, and no mailing lists shall be provided by this Township
or by any of its officers or employees, which mailing lists are compiled
from records of the Township.
[Added 5-2-1996 by Ord. No. 962-96]
A.
Any sewer account which becomes more than six months
delinquent shall be subject to termination.
B.
Not less than 45 days prior to disconnection, the
record owner whose name appears on the tax duplicate in the office
of the Township Assessor shall be notified of the proposed disconnection
by certified mail, return receipt requested and regular mail. Simultaneously,
the Sewer Department shall provide the Township Clerk with a copy
of the said notice. The Township Clerk shall provide a list of proposed
disconnections to the Township Committee at the next subsequent Township
Meeting.
C.
Any person or entity suffering under a hardship may
apply for a hardship exemption from disconnection by filing an application
with the Middle Township Sewer Utility. Said application shall be
referred to an independent review board to be designated by the Township
Committee. The review board shall analyze the application in accordance
with rules and regulations to be promulgated by the Township Committee
of the Township of Middle by resolution.
D.
If the outstanding arrearage is not satisfied within
45 days from the date of the notice, and if no hardship waiver has
been granted, then the Middle Township Sewer Department may disconnect
the delinquent sewer service.
E.
Any sewer service which is disconnected pursuant to
this chapter may be reconnected upon application of the record owner
upon payment of the following:
F.
The Middle Township Sewer Department shall notify
the Cape May County Health Department, the Middle Township Board of
Health, and the Middle Township Clerk of each and every disconnection
which it effectuates.
G.
The Sewer Review Board shall consist of the Public
Affairs Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, and the Welfare Director.
[Added 10-3-1996 by Ord. No. 976-96]
[Added 10-17-2016 by Ord.
No. 1535-16]
Commercial properties in the Township shall be permitted to
install a separate water meter solely for measuring water used for
irrigation. Water measured through this separate irrigation meter
shall be exempt from sewer billing.
