[Ord. of 5-5-2008]
The source of a portion of the revenues for retiring debt services,
for capital expenditures, operation and maintenance of the public
sewage works shall be a sewer service charge assigned to owners of
property within the limits of the City whose residence or place of
business is connected to the public sewer system.
[Ord. of 5-5-2008]
(a)
Sewer service charge rates shall be determined by the City Council
on a year-to-year basis based on one or more of the factors listed
in 30-A M.R.S.A. § 5405, Subsection 2, as amended.
(b)
The sewer service charge will be computed and billed at regular intervals
throughout each calendar year, as established by the City Council.
[Ord. of 5-5-2008]
The City Council reserves the right from time to time to change
sewer service charges, including the basis for determining said sewer
service charges, originally or previously assigned to any property
owner.
[Ord. of 5-5-2008]
A special sewer service charge shall be assigned to any industrial
firm or organization, the strength or other characteristic of whose
waste varies significantly from that of normal domestic sewage. In
general, such charges will be based on equitable prorating of costs
for conveying and treating such waste, taking into account, but not
necessarily limited to, the effect of volume, BOD, suspended solids,
settleable solids, chlorine demand, toxicity, and pH. Pretreatment
by the industry may also be a requirement if necessary to make the
waste compatible with flow in the sewer system. The City Council,
after appropriate study, and advice from the Superintendent, shall
assign a special sewer service charge to the industrial firm by separate
agreement with said firm. The applicable portions of the preceding
sections, as well as the equitable rights of the public, shall be
the basis for such an arrangement.
[Ord. of 5-5-2008]
All property owners outside the City limits who, by their own
request, are served by sanitary sewers must pay a sewer service charge
established by the City Council.
[Ord. of 5-5-2008]
For each sewer charge levied pursuant to this article, if the
same is not paid within 30 days after it shall be due and payable,
interest shall be added at the same rate approved by the City Council
for interest on unpaid real estate taxes. Any overdue sewer charge
shall be certified to the Treasurer of the City, who shall proceed
to collect said sewer charge, together with costs, interest and other
charges, in accordance with any provision of the laws of the State
of Maine granting municipalities authority to collect said sewer charges,
including, but not limited to, commencement of suit for collection
of said charges or filing of a lien notice and claim. Sewer liens
with respect to unpaid rates, fees or charges shall be perfected and
collected in accordance with 30-A M.R.S.A. § 5405, Subsection
2D, and 38 M.R.S.A. § 1208, as amended.
[Ord. of 5-5-2008]
The City reserves the right to develop and assess special charges
for items not in conformance with the requirements of this Part until
addressed, including, but not limited to, the discharge of unpolluted
wastewater (including sumps and sump pump discharges), the lack of
grease traps, or the lack of proper maintenance of grease traps.
