BILLING POLICY FOR UN-BILLED SEWER CHARGES

 

For inquiries about the policy please email sewerbilling@natickma.org

 

To schedule a sewer test please call the Department of Public Works at 508-647-6550

 

At the meeting of May 24, 2004, the Board of Selectmen voted to adopt the following policy for properties that received sewer service but were not billed for the service.   All water and sewer users will be notified of the policy and there will be a 30 day window of acceptance from the date of notification.

 

1.               The Town shall calculate based on prior water usage, together with applicable rates then in effect, the amount of money owed for sewer services by the current owner of the property, back for a period not exceeding six years, i.e. if the current owner has received sewer service for two years then the amount shall be calculated back for two years, if the current owner has received service for six or more years the amount shall be calculated for six years.

 

Current owner shall include anyone who has been listed on the deed as an owner of the property during the applicable period.

 

If the prior water usage was not metered the town shall use one year’s usage after a meter was installed to calculate the water usage to be used to determine the cost of previous sewer service.

 

              The six year period is based upon the recommendation of town counsel.

 

2.               The town shall bill the current owner of the property in an amount equal to 75% of the sewer charges so calculated.

 

3.               Provided that the current owner of the property consents to the town having the right to place a lien on the property should the amount due be unpaid, then the town will agree that the current property owner may pay the amount due in equal quarterly installments for the same number of years going forward which were used to compute the amount due, i.e. if the town billed back for two years, the current owner would have two years going forward to pay the amount due; if the town billed back six years, the current owner would have six years going forward to pay the amount due.  No interest or penalties would be charged on the amount not previously billed.  The total amount outstanding would be due and payable on the transfer of ownership of the property.

 

4.               If the current owner will not consent to the town having a right to place a lien on the property should the amount due be unpaid, then the current owner shall be billed for the entire amount calculated for un-billed sewer services and said amount shall be due and payable in 30 days. 

 

5.               A letter shall be sent with the next water bill to each user detailing the town’s proposal regarding calculation and payment of un-billed sewer charges.  The letter shall inform the user that if the user is receiving sewer service and is not being billed then the user has 30 days to so inform the Town and have the opportunity to be treated the same as the property owners we have already discovered.  However, after the expiration of thirty days, if the town discovers that a property owner is receiving sewer service and is not being billed then the town will collect payment in full without discount or limitation of time.

 

6.               Due to the fact that the town failed to bill for these charges, the town may not charge interest or penalties for the un-billed sewer service.

 

7.               The town and its various departments shall continue to investigate whether other properties are receiving sewer service without being billed.  Any such property discovered shall be brought to the immediate attention of the Board of Selectmen.

 

                                                                        __________________________

                                                                        John Ciccariello, Chairman

                                                           

                                                                        __________________________

                                                                        Jay H. Ball, Vice-Chairman

 

                                                                        __________________________

                                                                        Charles M. Hughes, Clerk

 

                                                                        __________________________

                                                                        Paul R. McKinley

 

                                                                        __________________________

                                                                        John Connolly

Adopted:  May 24, 2004