2.1 2.1
RESOLUTIONSTOCAL LAWSTNACTMENi Chapters 136 Sewers and 173 Water—Service and Charges—1 I-16-2020
RESOLUTION ADOPTING LOCAL LAW NO. _OF 2020 AMENDING
TOWN CODE PROVISIONS RELATING TO WATER AND SEWER
SERVICE AND CHARGES
RESOLUTION NO.: ,2020
INTRODUCED BY:
WHO MOVED ITS ADOPTION
SECONDED BY:
WHEREAS, the Queensbury Town Board is considering adoption of Local Law No.:_of
2020 to (A) eliminate the Wastewater's Department involvement in constructing sewer laterals
which would become the sole responsibility of the property owner (Code Sections 136-55 and
136-95); (B) allow the Wastewater Director to waive the requirement for separate building
sewers (Code Section 136-56); (C) provide that the Town Board may make changes to Sewer
Rents by Resolution upon five (5) days' Public Notice (Code Sections 136-137 and 136-137.2)
and (D) allow water service to be discontinued upon Resolution of the Town Board without a
hearing (Code Section 173-29), and
WHEREAS, the Town Board prepared proposed Local Law No. _ of 2020 which
provides such revisions, and
WHEREAS, the Town Board duly held a Public Hearing on the proposed Local Law on
Monday, November 16th, 2020 and heard all interested persons;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Board hereby adopts Local Law No. _of 2020, and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board hereby authorizes and directs the Town Clerk to file the
Local Law with the New York Secretary of State in accordance with the provisions of the
Municipal Home Rule Law and acknowledges that the Local Law will take effect immediately
upon filing by the Secretary of State.
Duly adopted this 16`"day of November, 2020, by the following vote:
AYES
NOES
ABSENT:
LOCAL LAWS1Chapters 136 and 173-Water and Sewer Service and Charges-November 16 2020
LOCAL LAW NO.: OF 2020
A LOCAL LAW AMENDING CHAPTERS 136 "SEWERS AND SEWAGE
DISPOSAL"AND 173 "WATER" OF QUEENSBURY TOWN CODE
BE IT ENACTED BY THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURYAS
FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Intent; Authority — The Town Board wishes to achieve greater flexibility in
establishing sewer rents, enforcing compliance requirements with Town water regulations and
other aspects of the Town's sewer and water services. This Local Law is adopted pursuant to
New York Municipal Home Rule Law.
Section 2. CHAPTER 136 of the Queensbury Town Code, entitled "Sewers and Sewage
Disposal" is hereby amended as follows:
A. Section 136-55, entitled "Installation of lateral", is amended to read as follows:
§ 136-55. Installation of lateral.
Where a new building is constructed and there is no Town service lateral from the main
to the property line, the installation of this lateral and the tapping of the main will be the
responsibility of the property owner. The cost of this work, including excavation, pipe
work, backfill, replacement of pavement, etc., will be paid by the property owner. The
property owner or contractor must provide plans and specifications to the Town
Wastewater Department for approval prior to any site disturbance. Once the plans are
approved, the property owner or contractor must obtain all required permits, including
any permits needed for construction within a public right-of-way or under a public road.
Construction must be scheduled in consultation with the Wastewater Department so that a
Town representative can be present during construction. No actual connection to the
Town's sewer system may be made until the Wastewater Director has issued a permit to
connect.
B. Section 136-56, entitled "Separate building sewers required", is amended to read
as follows:
§ 136-56. Separate building sewers required.
A separate and independent building sewer shall be provided for every building, except
that where one building stands at the rear of another on an interior lot and no private
sewer is available or can be constructed to the rear building through an adjoining alley,
easement, courtyard or driveway, the front building sewer may be extended to the rear
building and the whole considered as one building sewer. The Town does not, and will
not, assume any obligation or responsibility for damage caused by or resulting from the
use of any single connection aforementioned.
Notwithstanding the above, the Wastewater Director may waive the requirement for
separate building sewers upon application by the property owner and determination in the
Director's sole discretion that the Town's wastewater system will not be adversely
affected. Any application for waiver must include a formal agreement between the
parties proposing to use the shared sewer connection. The agreement must include
provisions relating to how responsibilities for the shared lines and costs will be allocated
between the parties. Any agreement related to allocation of costs will not affect the
Town Board's right to establish rates. Approval of the agreement must be received from
both Town Counsel and the Wastewater Director prior to any such waiver. Such
agreement must be recorded in the Warren County Clerk's Office referencing the entire
property(ies) and a copy provided to the Town Wastewater Department as the final
requirement for receiving a valid waiver.
C. Section 136-95, entitled"Sewer taps in streets", is amended to read as follows
§ 136-95. Sewer taps in streets.
Where it is necessary to tap the existing sanitary sewer in the street because no Town
service lateral has been previously installed, it will be necessary to make these
connections, excavations, backfillings, etc., in accordance with Town law or state or
County Public Works Department regulations, as jurisdiction may apply. Work done in
streets and other public rights-of-way shall be the responsibility of the property owner,
f
V
including the installation of the service lateral to the property line. All of this work,
including any permit fees or expenses, shall be paid for by the owner. See also §136-55.
D. The introductory paragraph of Section 136-137, entitled "Charges established", is
amended to read as follows:
§ 136-137. Charges established.
There is hereby established and imposed a scale of sewer rents for services rendered by
the sewer system to the real property within the limits of the following sewer districts as
set forth below. Subsequent changes to the rates of the sewer rent shall be made by
resolution of the Town Board after public hearing on five (5) days' notice.
E. Section 136-137.2, entitled "Properties not served by municipal water supply", is
amended to read as follows
§ 136-137.2 Properties not served by municipal water supply.
In all sewer districts, for all occupied residential properties which are not served by the
municipal water supply and therefore do not have water meter readings on which to base
sewer rents, charges pursuant to § 136-13 5 hereof shall be $440 per year for each
residential unit, billed on a quarterly basis at the rate of $110 per quarter. Subsequent
changes to the rates of the sewer rent shall be made by resolution of the Town Board after
public hearing on five (5) days' notice. For purposes of this section, a "residential unit" is
defined as a single unit providing complete, independent living facilities for one or more
persons, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and
sanitation.
Section 3. CHAPTER 173 of the Queensbury Town Code, entitled "Water" is hereby
amended as follows:
A. Paragraph A of Section 173-29, entitled "Penalties for offenses; discontinuance of
service", is amended to read as follows:
§ 173-29. Penalties for offenses; discontinuance of service.
A. The Town Board of the Town of Queensbury may discontinue water service and shut
off the supply from any premises, the owner or occupant of which has failed to
comply with the provisions of this article and the Town's Water Department current
Design and Construction Standards or any rules and regulations relating to the
character and construction and maintenance of pipes and connections and the use of
the water and payment of water bills. In the event of such a failure to comply, the
Town Board may adopt an order requiring that any overdue bill be paid or other
offense cured within thirty (30) days or water service to the premises may be shut off
and discontinued. The Water Superintendent shall then serve the Town Board order
on the property owner(s) and the occupant(s) of the premises by registered mail and
by regular mail to the address used to send real property taxes to the premises. If the
overdue bill is not paid or other offense cured within thirty (30) days after such
service by mail of the order, the Water Superintendent may shut off and discontinue
water service to the premises. Such service will not be resumed until the cause for
such discontinuance is removed and the expense of shutting off and turning on the
water is paid.. This remedy may be used alone or in conjunction with any other
remedies set forth herein.
Section 4. Severability — The invalidity of any clause, sentence, paragraph or provision
of this Local Law shall not invalidate any other clause, sentence, paragraph or part thereof.
Section 5. Repealer — All Local Laws or Ordinances or parts of Local Laws or
Ordinances in conflict with any part of this Local Law are hereby repealed. In particular, this
Local Law is specifically intended to supersede the amended provisions of the current Town of
Queensbury Code.
Section b. Effective Date—This Local Law shall take effect upon filing by the office of
the New York State Secretary of State or as otherwise provided by law.