Date: Fri 11-Sep-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

ordinance-sewer

Full Text:

Ordinance Panel Works On Sewer Rules

The Ordinance Committee of the Legislative Council has spent the past two

weeks preparing a draft ordinance to empower the Water Pollution Control

Authority to be the town's sewer authority.

The ordinance essentially echoes the town's 35 pages of sewer regulations.

They will become part of a town ordinance when and if they are approved by the

Legislative Council.

For the time being, however, the ordinance committee has decided to deal only

with the parts of the regulations dealing with money -- those rules that give

the WPCA authority to collect unpaid bills, charge interest, set fines, etc.

The rest of the regulations need closer study, according to the committee.

Legislative Council member Melissa Pilchard has expressed her concern over the

amount of discretion the WPCA has in its ability to dictate usage orders and

restrictions on usage. And while there is an appeal system for residents

opposing fines and assessments, there is no appeal procedure for usage.

"There is no appeal process for residents, except for assessments," Mrs

Pilchard said. "The regulations still say the public works director can go on

to your property and into your property at virtually any time. Even the police

need a warrant from a judge to do that."

The WPCA was established by a town ordinance, which gave it all powers under

state statutes to create and operate the municipal sewer system. However, it

did not give it financial authority.