2014 -- H 8283

========

LC005839

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2014

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO THE CITY OF WARWICK - SEWER AUTHORITY

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Ferri, Shekarchi, and Bennett

     Date Introduced: June 05, 2014

     Referred To: House Municipal Government

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

1

     SECTION 1. Chapter 254 of the 1962 Public Laws entitled "An Act to Create A Sewer

2

Authority for the City of Warwick and to Authorize Said City to Plan, Construct, Finance,

3

Operate and Maintain Sewage Works", as from time to time amended, is hereby further amended

4

to read as follows:

5

     Section 1. Authority to plan, etc., sewage works; definitions; bonding authorized;

6

sewer charge, assessment authorized.

7

     The city of Warwick is authorized and empowered, in accordance with the provisions of

8

this act, to plan, lay out, construct, finance, operate and maintain sewage works for a part or the

9

whole of its territory and for such purposes to take by eminent domain or otherwise any lands,

10

water rights, rights-of-way, or easements, public or private, in said city necessary for

11

accomplishing any purpose mentioned in this act. Such sewage works may include sewers and

12

sewer service connections, pumping stations, sewage treatment works, sewage disposal works,

13

and other works essential to the proper collection, treatment, and disposal of the sewage of said

14

city.

15

     As used in this act, unless the context otherwise requires:

16

     "Authority" means the sewer authority authorized by this act.

17

     "Cesspool" means any buried chamber other than an on-site wastewater treatment system

18

(OWTS), including, but not limited to, any metal tank, perforated concrete vault or covered

19

hollow or excavation, which receives discharges of sanitary sewage from a building for the

 

1

purpose of collecting solids and discharging liquids to the surrounding soil.

2

     "City" means the City of Warwick.

3

     "City Council" means the city council of the City of Warwick.

4

     "Common sewer" means a sewer in which all abutters have equal rights of entrance and

5

use.

6

     "Connect Capable" means any parcel containing an inhabitable dwelling located within

7

the authority's sewer service area, abutting a main sewer.

8

     "Cooling water'' shall include the clean waste-water from air conditioning, industrial

9

cooling, condensing and similar apparatus and from hydraulically powered equipment. In general,

10

cooling water will include only water which is sufficiently clean and unpolluted to admit of being

11

discharged, without treatment or purification, into any natural open stream or watercourse without

12

offense.

13

     "Force Main" means a sewer wherein sewage is moved by pressure.

14

     "Highways" means any state or other highway and any public street, alley, park, parkway,

15

driveway, bridge or public place.

16

     "Industrial wastes" shall include the liquid or water carried wastes of any industrial

17

process not clearly included within the definitions of sanitary sewage, storm water, cooling water

18

or seepage or subsoil drainage herein. In general waste-waters carrying any quantity of oils,

19

grease, fats, abrasives, chemicals, residues of manufacturing processes, wastes from commercial

20

food preserving or canning, from slaughter houses or meat processing plants, and similar

21

substances, whether dissolved, in suspension, or mechanically carried by water, shall be

22

considered as industrial wastes.

23

     "Land" means and includes any land, including building buildings and other

24

improvements thereon, estate, riparian or other right rights, easement easements, interest interests

25

or waterway waterways.

26

     "Lateral sewer" means a sewer which does not receive the sewage from any other

27

common sewer.

28

     "Main sewer'' means a sewer into which the sewage from two or more sub-main sewers is

29

discharged.

30

     "Mayor" means the mayor of the City of Warwick.

31

     "On-Site Wastewater Treatment System" (OWTS) means any system of piping, tanks,

32

dispersal areas, alternative toilets or other facilities designed to function as a unit to convey, store,

33

treat or disperse wastewater by means other than discharge into a public wastewater system.

34

     "Parcel" means a part, portion or tract of land and whatever is erected, attached, growing

 

LC005839 - Page 2 of 21

1

upon or affixed to the land.

2

     "Quorum" means a majority of the members of the authority.

3

     "Sewage" shall mean waste-water, water carried wastes, or a combination of them,

4

discharged into and conveyed by sewers or intended or customarily so discharged and conveyed.

5

Sewage may be further classified as sanitary or industrial follows:.

6

     "Sanitary sewage" shall mean the common waste-water and water carried wastes from

7

human dwellings and from toilet and lavatory fixtures, kitchen, laundries and similar facilities of

8

business and industrial buildings. In general, sanitary sewage shall not include storm water from

9

roofs, yards, streets or open spaces, water from land surfaces or brooks, clean waste or overflows

10

from springs, wells, or subsoil drainage, large volumes of clean water from air conditioning or

11

other cooling or condensing facilities, clean waste-water from hydraulically operated

12

contrivances and those wastes included within the definition of "industrial waste" next following.

13

     "Industrial wastes" shall include the liquid or \\'ater carried wastes of any industrial

14

process not clearly included within the definitions of sanitary sewage, storm water, cooling water-

15

or subsoil drainage herein. In general, waste waters carrying any quantity of oils, grease, fats,

16

abrasives, chemicals, residues-of manufacturing processes, wastes from commercial food

17

preserving or canning, from slaughter houses or meat processing plants, and similar substances,

18

whether dissolved, in- suspension;-or mechanically carried by water, shall be considered as-

19

industrial wastes.

20

     "Seepage" or "subsoil drainage" shall include water from the soil percolating into subsoil

21

drains and through foundation walls, basement floors, or underground pipes or from similar

22

sources.

23

     "Sewage works" means all constructions for collection, transportation, pumping,

24

treatment and final disposition of sewage.

25

     "Sewer assessment" means the rate or charge for the construction of the sewers and sewer

26

systems set by a method(s) adopted by the authority that bears a reasonable relation to the costs of

27

construction to the city and authority of the service rendered to the users, including, but not

28

limited to, costs related to engineering, inspections, land purchases, paving, and financing.

29

     "Sewer service connection" means a pipe and any associated appurtenances to convey

30

sewage and wastes from the property line of a parcel a building to a common sewer.

31

     "Storm water'' shall include the runoff or discharge of rain and melted snow or other

32

clean water from roofs, surfaces of public or private lands parcels or elsewhere. For most

33

purposes within the scope of this ordinance, storm water shall not include the flow of any natural

34

brook, rivulet or stream even if the source of such water is storm runoff from land parcels, land or

 

LC005839 - Page 3 of 21

1

other property once that runoff has entered the channel of such brook or natural watercourse. In

2

general, storm water shall include only water which is sufficiently clean and unpolluted to admit

3

of being discharged, without treatment or purification, into any natural open stream or

4

watercourse without offense.

5

     "Sub-main sewer'' means a sewer into which the sewage from two or more lateral sewers

6

is discharged.

7

     "Undeveloped" means any parcel of land which has not been built upon or otherwise

8

lacks inhabitable buildings or structures.

9

     "User charges" means rates, charges and/or fees levied on the users of the wastewater

10

collection and treatment system related to the costs of operation, maintenance, repair and

11

replacement of the wastewater collection and treatment system.

12

     The City of Warwick may provide for the construction of sewers and for other sewage

13

works for said city and may raise funds therefor by borrowing or otherwise, and for that purpose

14

may issue bonds or notes for the city in accordance with the provisions hereinafter stated or under

15

other authority.

16

     The sewer authority shall provide that annual charges shall be made upon the owners of

17

the lands parcels using the sewer sewage works and that sewer assessments shall be made upon

18

the owners of lands parcels for which the use of sewage works is available. The sewer authority

19

may further provide that connect capable charges shall be made upon property parcel owners

20

whose property parcel is abutting on that portion of any highway in which a common sewer is

21

laid, while said parcel property remains unconnected to the city's sewage works system. The

22

receipts from annual charges, sewer assessments and connect capable charges shall be

23

appropriated for and applied to the payment of the charges and expenses incident to the planning,

24

construction, financing, operation, maintenance, repair, renewal and replacement costs of the

25

sewage works, and to the payment of principal and interest costs for any bonds or notes issued or

26

outstanding for the sewage works, and any deficiency of said receipts in any year for said

27

purposes shall be made by the city tax pending the authority in the next fiscal year eliminating

28

said deficiency and reimbursing the city for any moneys advanced through the increasing of the

29

rates established for annual charges and/or connect capable charges.

30

     Section 2. Sewer authority.

31

     There shall be a bi-partisan sewer authority for the city consisting of five (5) qualified

32

electors of the city, not more than three (3) of whom shall be members of the same political party,

33

to be appointed by the mayor subject to confirmation by the city council. It shall be the purpose

34

of the sewer authority to provide wastewater collection and treatment services to the city of

 

LC005839 - Page 4 of 21

1

Warwick in a cost effective and environmentally sound manner. Upon passage of this act,The

2

mayor, within eighty (80) days thereafter, shall appoint the five (5) members of the authority, two

3

(2) of each from lists of not less than three (3) ten (10) names submitted by the respective

4

chairman of the city political committees and one (1) member without party designation; one (1)

5

member to hold office until one (1) year from the first day of February preceding said

6

appointment, one (1) member to hold office until two (2) years from the first day of February

7

preceding said appointment, one (1) member to hold office until three (3) years from the first day

8

of February preceding said appointment, one (1) member to hold office until four (4) years from

9

the first day of February preceding said appointment, and one (1) member to hold office until five

10

(5) years from the first day of February preceding said appointment, and Iin in the month of

11

January preceding the expiration of the term of each of said the authority's members, the mayor

12

shall appoint one (1) member to succeed the member whose term will next expire to hold office

13

for the term of five (5) years from the first day of February next after his appointment and until

14

his successor is appointed and qualified in the same manner as provided in the original

15

appointment for such term. In case any person appointed as a member of said authority shall

16

decline to serve or neglect to qualify within ten (10) days after his appointment, or a vacancy

17

shall occur in said authority for any other cause, the mayor, within thirty (30) days, shall appoint

18

some person to fill such vacancy for the unexpired term in the same manner as provided in the

19

original appointment for such term. A person holding any other office of emolument or profit

20

under the government of the city shall not be eligible to membership on the authority and if any

21

member of said authority shall accept any such office or shall remove from the city, his place on

22

the authority shall immediately become vacant. The members of the authority shall be severally

23

sworn to the faithful performance of their duties under this act. They shall elect from among their

24

members a chairman and a secretary at the first meeting after the organization and upon the

25

appointment of any new member for a full term and shall fill any vacancy that may occur in either

26

office from any cause. A majority of the members of the authority shall constitute a quorum for

27

the transaction of business. The mayor may remove any member of the authority from office for

28

cause shown after a hearing before the city council of which such member shall be given seven

29

(7) days' notice in writing.

30

     The mayor, with the advice and consent of the city council, shall fix the compensation of

31

the members of the authority and shall annually appropriate a sum sufficient to pay the same

32

together with a sum sufficient for office expenses.

33

     The authority may adopt by-laws governing the transaction of business by an affirmative

34

vote of at least four (4) members, but no such by-laws shall authorize any action by the authority

 

LC005839 - Page 5 of 21

1

except by the affirmative a majority vote of at least three (3) members thereof and with the advice

2

and consent of the mayor.

3

     The authority appointed by the provisions of this section, until the remaining sections of

4

this act take effect upon acceptance by referendum as further provided herein, shall have the

5

following interim powers and duties:

6

     The authority shall review the sewer survey (Facilities Plan) in order to develop

7

procedures for the implementation of the general sewer program and to conduct preliminary

8

studies in order to execute the administrative details contained in this act.

9

     Such activities may include:

10

     (a) The planning and programming of the various phases of the sewer project, and

11

     (b) A review of the procedures of various financing programs in terms of charges and

12

assessments to be instituted upon the commencement of the construction of sewers, and

13

     (c) An establishment and exercise of a public information program. The members of the

14

authority and their duly authorized agents may enter upon any premises within the city to

15

examine, inspect or survey the same, whenever necessary for the performance of their duties

16

under this act.

17

     Section 3. Preparation of plans; public hearing; reports; specifications; estimates.

18

Without in any way limiting the authority of said the city to provide sewers anywhere within the

19

territorial limits of the city, the sewer authority, with the advice and consent of the mayor, may

20

authorize the construction, maintenance, and operation of sewage works from time to time in

21

different areas or sections of the city. The authority shall proceed to prepare construction plans,

22

specifications and cost estimates of sewage works for the city, or any portion thereof, allowing

23

the streets and highways in which the sewers will be placed and the location of other sewage

24

works to be placed outside of the street and highway limits. The authority shall also prepare, or

25

have prepared, a report describing the proposed sewage works and a complete estimate of costs

26

therefor.

27

     When such plans, specifications, report and estimates are completed or at other times in

28

the development stages, they-the authority shall cause to be held a public hearing pursuant to the

29

authority's rules and procedures. Notice of the hearing shall be published in a public newspaper

30

having circulation in the City of Warwick at least five (5) days prior to the hearing.

31

     The finance director, with the consent of the mayor and a requisition approved signed by

32

a majority of the authority and signed by the authority's chairman, shall appropriate a sum

33

sufficient to pay the cost of preparing the plans, specifications, report and estimates provided for

34

in this section, to be expended by the authority, and to be paid by the city treasurer upon vouchers

 

LC005839 - Page 6 of 21

1

approved by the mayor and a majority of the authority and the finance director, and the city

2

treasurer shall repay the treasury any sums so expended whenever sewer bonds or notes are

3

issued as hereinafter provided.

4

     In the preparation of plans, specifications, reports and estimates provided in this section,

5

the authority may, with the consent of the mayor, from time to time employ and fix the

6

compensation of such consulting engineers, legal advisers, and other professional experts, and

7

such other employees as it may find necessary and may discontinue the employment of any or all

8

such employees.

9

     Section 4. Construction of works; contracts; operation and maintenance of works;

10

employment of professionals; records; minutes.

11

     Upon the completion of a public hearing of the plans, specifications, reports and

12

estimates as provided in section 3 hereof, the sewer authority, with the advice and consent of the

13

mayor, shall proceed as soon as may be practicable to carry out construction work contemplated

14

by the plans aforesaid. The authority, with the advice and consent of the mayor, shall be vested

15

with full authority to construct sewage works for said the city and to make for and on behalf of

16

the city all necessary contracts for construction and for the purchase of property., The authority

17

may purchase any Supplies supplies and equipment for the construction, operation and

18

maintenance of any sewage works. All work, supplies, materials and equipment required by the

19

authority in connection with the construction of the sewage works shall be procured by contract

20

made pursuant to and in manner required by the provisions hereof. For all contracts involving

21

more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), except in the case of legal services, the services of

22

consulting engineers and other professional services, said the authority shall not issue purchase

23

orders without obtaining the prior consent of the mayor and thereafter filing a monthly report of

24

such contracts and purchase orders with the mayor and city council. The operation, maintenance

25

and reparation repair of said the sewage works shall be vested in the authority.

26

     The authority, with the advice and consent of the mayor, may from time to time employ

27

and fix the compensation of such professional engineers, legal advisors, surveyors, draftsmen,

28

clerks, and other employees as it may find necessary for the construction, operation, maintenance

29

and repair of said the sewage works, and may at any time discontinue the employment of any or

30

all such employees subject to compliance with the rules and regulations of the city's personnel

31

administration. The authority shall cause to be kept a record of all its accounts and proceedings

32

and an accurate account of all its transactions, and shall annually, and at such other times as

33

directed by the mayor or the city council, report to the mayor and city council its doings and

34

make a report in detail of its financial accounts. The authority shall keep minutes of all its

 

LC005839 - Page 7 of 21

1

proceedings showing the vote of each member upon each question or if such member be absent or

2

fails to vote, indicating such fact; and shall keep records of its examinations and of other official

3

actions, all of which shall be filed and shall be a public record.

4

     Section 5. Reserved.

5

     Section 6. Reserved.

6

     Section 7. Reserved.

7

     Section 8. Custody and accounting of funds raised by bonding or notes.

8

     The proceeds arising from the sale of any bonds or notes issued under authority of this act

9

shall be delivered to the city treasurer and shall be kept by him in separate accounts and shall be

10

expended only for the purposes and in the manner prescribed by this act, provided that the

11

proceeds of the sale of any issue of serial bonds or notes shall first be applied to the payment of

12

such temporary notes as may have been issued in anticipation of such issue, and provided further

13

that any premium received over the par value of the serial bonds or notes of any issue, less the

14

cost of preparing, issuing and marketing such serial bonds or notes shall be applied to the

15

payment of the principal of the first bonds or notes of such issue first to mature.

16

     Section 9. Apportionment of costs; sewer assessments and charges; enforcement of

17

charges and assessments.

18

     The authority, with the advice and consent of the mayor, shall prescribe just and equitable

19

sewer assessment rates on account of the construction costs, to be levied against owners of

20

property parcels abutting on that portion of any highway in which a common sewer is laid under

21

this act and also rates of annual and connect capable charges on account of operation and

22

maintenance costs renewal and replacement funding and the cost of principal and interest for any

23

bonds or notes issued for sewage works, to be levied against owners of property-parcels which is

24

are or could be connected to a common sewer.

25

     Such assessments, annual and connect capable charges herein referred to shall be paid by

26

every property parcel owner or institution-whose parcel property is or can be connected to the

27

city sewage works, in a manner prescribed by the authority, with the approval of the mayor and

28

the finance director.

29

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, the authority shall have discretion to may defer sewer

30

assessments against parcels of land that are undeveloped or not developed to the extent

31

permissible by city zoning ordinances provided that such parcel parcels remain subject to

32

assessment upon the earlier to occur of either, (i) development or redevelopment of such parcel

33

parcels in accordance with the authority's rules and regulations, of land; or (ii) twenty (20) years

34

from the date of initial assessment. Similarly, the The authority shall have discretion to may defer

 

LC005839 - Page 8 of 21

1

sewer assessments against any parcels, of-land if the owner of such a parcel, within seven (7)

2

years of the date of the sewer assessment, has installed a new OWTS septic system within twenty

3

(20) years of sewer service initially becoming operational, provided that such parcel shall remain

4

subject to assessment and shall begin paying such assessment at twenty (20) least seven (7) years

5

from the date of the installation of the OWTS or upon connection to the sewer system, whichever

6

occurs first initial assessment.

7

     The sewer assessments may-shall be determined by a method(s) adopted by the sewer

8

authority that assesses charges for use of the sewers and sewer systems in an amount that bears a

9

reasonable relation to the cost of construction to the city and authority of the service rendered to

10

the users, which method(s) may include, but is not limited to, . according to the frontage along the

11

highway of each parcel of land abutting on a common sewer, or according to the area of such land

12

within a fixed depth from the highway, or according other alternative methods-to both such

13

frontage and area. The sewer authority with the advice and consent of the mayor may, from time

14

to time, redetermine the rates fixed for sewer assessments, if construction costs warrants, and may

15

redetermine rates for annual and connect capable charges if costs so warrant.

16

     The sewer assessments herein referred to shall be paid by every property parcel owner or

17

institution whose property-parcel is abutting on that portion of any highway in which a common

18

sewer is laid under this act or is connected to the city's sewage works. In the case of property

19

connected to the City's sewage works where that property is not-abutting on any highway in

20

which a common sewer is laid, the property will be assessed in the same manner as if the

21

common sewer-were-abutting the highway to which the property is-connected in a manner

22

consistent with this Act.

23

     Sewer assessments levied hereunder may be paid in as many as twenty (20) thirty (30)

24

annual installments in accordance with the terms of the loan secured for sewer construction, upon

25

application by the property parcel owner and approval of the sewer authority. In the case of

26

installment payments, interest at a rate not to exceed four percent (4%) per annum for assessment

27

in effect prior to June 30, 1998, and for assessments established thereafter a maximum rate of

28

1.25% above the average interest rate the authority is charged on the loan that is not to exceed

29

nine percent (9%) per annum reasonably related to the interest rate charged to the city or sewer

30

authority to borrow money-used to fund the construction of the sewers service rendered to the

31

users shall be charged annually on the unpaid balance of the total sewer assessment. Such annual

32

installment payments may be paid on a quarterly basis.

33

     Sewer assessments shall be levied at a uniform rate based upon the final estimated cost of

34

constructing all sewers, sewer service connections and other sewage works belonging to the city.

 

LC005839 - Page 9 of 21

1

Sewer assessment revenues shall be used for the payment of the principal and interest costs for

2

any bonds or notes issued for sewage works.

3

     Annual charges shall be levied upon every property parcel owner or institution whose

4

property parcel is connected to the city's sewage system. The change charge will be computed

5

based upon water consumption or other factors deemed equitable by the sewer authority. The

6

annual charge shall should be set at a level sufficient to support operation and maintenance costs

7

of the sewer system and the wastewater treatment plant, the renewal and replacement fund and

8

the principal and interest for any bonds or notes issued for sewage works. The revenues to be

9

raised by annual charges will be reduced by revenues generated by sewer assessments and

10

connect capable fees.

11

     Connect capable charges may be levied in lieu of annual charges upon every parcel

12

property owner or institution whose property parcel is abutting on that portion of any highway in

13

which a common sewer is laid while said property parcel is not connected to the aforementioned

14

sewerage sewer system, but is capable of doing so. Connect capable charges shall be established

15

by regulation. The charge will be established at a level determined by the sewer authority to

16

recover an equitable portion of the principal and interest for any bonds or notes issued for

17

sewerage sewage works and renewal and replacement funding, and shall be subject to consent by

18

the mayor and the Warwick city council.

19

The authority shall annually certify to the finance director and to the mayor all the

20

charges and sewer assessments made by it under the authority of this act. Each charge or

21

assessment made by said the authority pursuant to this act shall be a lien upon the parcels, lands,

22

buildings and improvements upon which it is made in the same way and manner as taxes assessed

23

on real estate, but such liens shall not expire until the charge or assessment with all interest, costs

24

and penalties thereon is paid in full, and, if the charge or assessment is not paid as required, it

25

shall be collected In the same manner that taxes assessed on real estate are by law collected. The

26

finance director, after receiving a list of charges or assessments under this act, shall forthwith, at

27

the expense of the authority, send to each person assessed or charged notice of the amount of his

28

assessment or charge. The notice shall substantially identify the person assessed, state the amount

29

of the assessment or charge and refer to the remedy available under section 19 of this act. The

30

notice shall be mailed postpaid and directed to the last known address of the person assessed. If

31

there are persons whose addresses are unknown, a similar notice covering the assessments against

32

such persons shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in the city and such

33

published notice may be a single collective notice for all such persons. No irregularity in the

34

notice required by this section shall excuse the nonpayment of the assessment or charge or affect

 

LC005839 - Page 10 of 21

1

its validity or any proceedings for the collection thereof as long as there is substantial compliance

2

with the provision hereof. No deficiency in the notice to the person assessed shall excuse the

3

nonpayment by others of the assessment or charges assessed against them or affect the validity

4

thereof or any proceedings for the collection thereof. The finance director shall without further

5

warrant collect such charges and assessments in the same manner as the regular taxes of the city

6

may be payable. Interest at the rate per annum fixed for nonpayment of city taxes shall be charged

7

and collected upon all overdue charges and assessments from the date they become payable until

8

paid, provided however, that the total overdue charge for nonpayment of installment of sewer

9

assessments shall be applied to past due installments and not the total assessment; and provided

10

further, that there shall be no penalty on installment assessments deferred by reason of income

11

subject to rules and regulations that the Warwick city council may prescribe by ordinance.

12

     The authority with the advice and consent of the mayor may at any time cancel modify in

13

whole or in part any charge or assessment to the extent the authority determines such charge or

14

assessment to have been improperly imposed.

15

     Section 9.1 Renewal and replacement account.

16

     The city finance director shall establish in a separate account for renewal and

17

replacement. The purpose of the account is to provide for the future renewal or replacement of the

18

current and future physical assets of the wastewater treatment plant whose cost is in excess of ten

19

thousand dollars ($10,000) with an economic life of at least five (5) years. The renewal and

20

replacement account will be funded annually through annual charges and connect capable fees, as

21

determined by the sewer authority, in an amount equal to total gross depreciation expense as

22

computed under generally accepted accounting principals, including the amortization of local and

23

nonlocal contributed capital or an alternative amount based on industry standards. Interest earned

24

on monies deposited in the renewal and replacement fund will be credited to the account.

25

Withdrawals from the account, subject to the aforementioned limitations of cost and economic

26

life, must be approved by the sewer authority.

27

     Section 10. Receipts from annual charges and assessments.

28

     The receipts from annual charges, sewer assessments and connect capable charges, as

29

provided for in section 9 of this act, should be separately accounted for by the finance director; at

30

the close of each fiscal year the city treasurer shall transfer from such funds to the treasury a sum

31

sufficient to repay the sums appropriated and paid from the treasury during the fiscal year then

32

close on account of the principal and interest of all borrowing for the purpose of this act and for

33

the payment of charges and expenses incident to the operation, maintenance, renewal and

34

replacement fund and repair of said sewage works or to the extension thereof. At the end of a

 

LC005839 - Page 11 of 21

1

fiscal year, if the finance director determines that the revenues referred to above as well as prior

2

year fund balances were not sufficient to cover operation and maintenance costs, renewal and

3

replacement funding and principal and interest for any bonds or notes issued for sewage works,

4

thereby creating insufficient end of year balances, charge shall be adjusted in the next fiscal year

5

to assure sufficient balances in the sewer fund. If the receipts from said charges and assessments

6

amount in any year to more than will be required for the aforesaid purposes, the surplus shall be

7

added to the receipts of the next succeeding year.

8

     Section 11. Recovery of assessment charge by joint tenant, tenant in common, etc.,

9

from other tenant.

10

     Whenever a tenant by the entirety, or a joint tenant, or a tenant in common of any land

11

parcel subject to a sewer charge or assessment under this act, shall pay the whole amount of such

12

sewer charge or assessment, such tenant he may recover from the other joint tenant or tenant in

13

common, as the case may be, such proportional part of such charge or assessment as the value of

14

the latter's interest in the land parcel bears to the aggregate value of such parcel land, by

15

proceedings in the superior court for the county of Kent in the nature of an action of account as

16

provided in G.L. 1956, § 10-2-1 et seq., and in any acts in amendment thereof or in addition

17

thereto, and such action is hereby made available for the purposes of this section. The same shall

18

apply as between a tenant for life or years and the owner of the fee with respect to construction

19

assessments. Whenever the owner of the fee shall pay an annual charge, such owner he may

20

recover the amount so paid from the tenant in a similar action to the extent [it] is attributable to

21

the period of the tenancy. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to impair any other

22

right of action which the party paying such charge or assessment may have at law or in equity to

23

secure a contribution from the other parties having an interest in the parcel land subject to such

24

charge or assessment.

25

     Section 12. Appeal of assessment of irregularly, unusual land; assessment of lots at

26

intersections of roads.

27

     The owner of a lot of land irregular in shape or which is unduly above or below grade or

28

which for any reason is deemed to be inequitable assessed under this act, in the event such an

29

assessment is made , may appeal to the sewer board of review as hereinafter provided in section

30

[2-19] of this act. The authority, with the advice and consent of the mayor, may notwithstanding

31

an appeal, omits own initiative, adjust the sewer assessment on such a lot or exempt such a lot

32

from assessment.

33

     Where a lot is located at the intersection of two streets or highways in which sewers have

34

been constructed, the sewer assessment on such lot shall be made only for the sewer in the street

 

LC005839 - Page 12 of 21

1

or highway in which the assessment would be greater.

2

     (P.L 1962, ch. 254, § 12; P.L. 1991, ch. 86, § 12)

3

     Section 13. Assessments for land parcels held by religious corporations, cemeteries.

4

     All lands parcels in said the city held by religious corporations, and on which are located

5

buildings used solely for the purpose of holding religious services therein, and all lands parcels in

6

said the city held by cemetery corporations and used solely for cemetery purposes, shall be

7

exempt from the payment of any and all sewer assessments for the construction of sewage works

8

made in pursuance of the provisions of this act and according to the sewer authority's rules and

9

regulations, so long as such lands parcels shall be held and used solely for such purposes;

10

provided, that all such assessments made on such lands parcels for the construction of sewage

11

works under the provisions of this act shall be and remain for thirty (30) years a lien on said the

12

lands parcels and the improvements thereon without interest, and the said city may enforce for

13

collection of said the assessments whenever said the lands parcels or any portion thereof shall be

14

abandoned for from said the above-listed purposes, in the same manner as other sewer

15

assessments under this act are collected or enforced; and provided, further, that any such

16

assessment may be adjusted in the manner and for any of the reasons prescribed in section 12-of

17

this act.

18

     Section 14. Procedure for taking of land.

19

     The sewer authority with the advice and consent of the mayor on behalf of the city may

20

acquire by agreement, purchase or condemnation such· land or right or easement in land as may

21

be necessary for the purposes of this act. Whenever the authority desires to take any such land or

22

right or easement in land by condemnation, it shall file with the city clerk a plat, description, and

23

statement of such land or right or easement in land to be taken and a statement that such land or

24

right or easement In land is taken pursuant to the provisions of this act.

25

     Upon the recording of said plat, description and statement in the office of the city clerk,

26

the land or right or easement in land defined in such plat, description and statement to the extent

27

and according to the nature of the interest therein taken, shall vest in the city and shall be subject

28

to the use of the authority for the purposes of this act, and said authority may thereupon enter

29

upon and enjoy the rights, interests and easements taken as aforesaid; and after the filing of such

30

plat, description and statement, notice of such taking shall be served upon the owners of and

31

persons having an estate in and interested in such land by any police officer of the City of

32

Warwick leaving a true and attested copy of such description and statement with each of such

33

persons personally, or at their land and usual place of abode in this state with some person living

34

there, and, in case any of such persons are absent from the state and have no last and usual place

 

LC005839 - Page 13 of 21

1

of abode therein occupied by any person, such copy shall be left with the persons, if any, in

2

charge of or having possession of such land of such absent persons, and another copy thereof

3

shall be mailed to the address of such absent persons if the same is known to said officer; and

4

after the filing of such description and statement, the city clerk of said city shall cause a copy of

5

such description and statement to be published in some newspaper or newspapers published or

6

circulated in said city at least twice a week for three successive weeks; and if any party shall

7

agree with said authority for the price of the rights, interests or easement so taken, the same shall

8

be paid to him forthwith by said authority.

9

     The authority with the advice and consent of the mayor shall have general authority to

10

represent the city and to make any agreements for said city under the authority of this section and

11

to do, with the advice and consent of the mayor, any acts or things necessary or incidental to

12

executing settlements and agreements, and shall have authority to agree with the owner for the

13

price of land so taken and the same shall be paid by the city treasurer out of the proceeds of bonds

14

or notes issued hereunder or other funds made available for the purpose, upon vouchers approved

15

by the majority of the authority and the finance director.

16

     Any owner of or person entitled to any estate in or interested in any part of the land in

17

which such fee, rights, interests or easements are so taken who cannot agree with said city or

18

authority for the price of such fee, rights, interests or easements so taken in which he/she is

19

interested as aforesaid, may, within one year from the filing of the plat, description and statement

20

referred to in this section of this act, apply by petition to the superior court in and for the county

21

of Kent, setting forth the taking of such fee, rights, interests or easements in his land and praying

22

for an assessment of damages by a jury. Upon the filing of said petition the said court shall cause

23

twenty days' notice of the pendency thereof to be given to said city by serving the mayor of said

24

city with a certified copy thereof, and may proceed after such notice to the trial thereof; and such

25

trial shall determine all questions of fact relating to the value of such fee, rights, interests or

26

easements and the amount thereof, and judgment shall be entered upon the verdict of such jury

27

and execution shall be issued therefor.

28

     In case any owner of or person having an estate in or interested in such land shall fail to

29

receive personal notice of the taking as aforesaid, and shall fail to file the petition as provided in

30

this section, said court in its discretion may permit the filing of such petition subsequent to said

31

period of one year from the filing of such description and statement; provided, such person shall

32

have no actual knowledge of the taking of such fee, right, interest or easement in season to file

33

such petition.

34

     If any lands, or any fee, rights, interests or easements therein, in which any infant or other

 

LC005839 - Page 14 of 21

1

person not capable in law to act in his own behalf is interested, are taken by said authority under

2

the provisions of this act, said superior court, upon the filing therein of any such petition by or in

3

behalf of such infant or other person, may appoint a guardian ad litem for such infant or other

4

person, and such guardian may appear and be heard in behalf of such in fact infant or other

5

person; and such guardian may also, with the advice and consent of said superior court, may

6

prescribe, release to said city or authority all claims for damages for the fee, rights, interests or

7

easements in the lands of such infant or other person. Any lawfully appointed, qualified and

8

acting guardian of the estate of any such infant or other person, with the approval of the court of

9

probate within this state having jurisdiction to authorize the sale of lands within this state of any

10

such infant or person, may, before the filing of any such petition, agree with said authority upon

11

the amount of damages suffered by such infant or other person by any such taking and may, upon

12

receiving such amount, release to said city or authority all claims of damages of such infant or

13

other person for such taking.

14

     Any damages assessed as the result of petition to the superior court shall be paid by the

15

city treasurer from the proceeds of bonds or notes issued hereunder or other funds made available

16

for the purpose upon vouchers approved by the mayor and the majority of the authority and

17

finance director, provided, however, that nothing in this act shall authorize the authority to

18

condemn any portion of the land or right-of-way of any railroad, street, railway or other public

19

service company, except for the purpose of crossing the same below grade and of building and

20

maintaining necessary manholes at such crossing in such manner as not to render unsafe, or to

21

impair the usefulness of such land or right-of-way for railroad or street railway purposes or the

22

purposes of such other public service company. If said authority and such railroad, street, railway

23

or other public service company are unable to agree as to the method of the construction and

24

maintenance of such sewer and manholes at any such crossing, either party may apply to the

25

division of public utilities for a determination thereof, and, after hearing, such sewer and

26

manholes shall be constructed and maintained in such method and manner as may be ordered by

27

said division. Either party aggrieved by such order of said division may appeal to the supreme

28

court.

29

     Prior to any taking hereunder, the authority shall provide specific funds for payment of

30

compensation, the use of such funds for such purpose shall be a fixed obligation of the city, and,

31

notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the full faith and credit of the city shall be

32

deemed pledged to pay such compensation.

33

     Section 15. Contracts with other municipalities, the state.

34

     The city, acting by its sewer authority and the mayor. is further authorized to contract

 

LC005839 - Page 15 of 21

1

with any other city, or town or municipal agency in this state or with the State of Rhode Island,

2

[and any other city or town in this state and the State of Rhode Island or any quasi-public agency

3

in this state] is authorized to contract with the City of Warwick authority with the advice and

4

consent of the mayor, on such terms as may be mutually agreed upon between them with

5

reference to the construction, maintenance, operation and the utilization of sewage works

6

belonging to the city and authority or any other city or town or municipal agency in this state and

7

the State of Rhode Island or any quasi-public agency in this state; and the authority, with advice

8

and consent of the mayor, city may likewise contract with any other city or town or municipal

9

agency or the State of Rhode Island or any quasi-public agency in this state with regard to the

10

disposition of sewage from sewage works belonging to any of said cities or towns or municipal

11

agency or the State of Rhode Island. or any quasi-public agency in this state.

12

     Section 16. Authority to prescribe rules and regulations governing construction, use,

13

discharge of substances, and connections, and sewer assessments.

14

     The sewer authority, after notice and a public hearing, and the advice and consent of the

15

mayor, is authorized from time to time to prescribe rules and regulations, subject to ratification by

16

the city council, relative to the regulation of, construction of, use of, discharge of substances into

17

and connections to the sewage works, and assessment of properties abutting a sewer line,

18

determining the method of sewer assessments and the rate of interest for sewer assessment

19

installment payments. These rules and regulations shall cover the restriction of storm waters,

20

wastes which may or may not be discharged into the sewer system, the requirement for the

21

property parcel owner or sewer user to provide protective devices prior to discharge, sampling

22

wells to determine strength of wastes, flow measuring devices, pretreatment facilities and any

23

other requirement to provide proper protection and control of the use of the sewage sewer system

24

and sewage- treatment facilities. Such rules or regulations adopted after a public hearing shall be

25

filed with the city clerk. Any person violating any rule or regulation prescribed by the authority

26

under the authority of this act shall be fined not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each

27

violation, and not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000) for each additional day that any such

28

violation shall continue, as may be prescribed by the authority, and shall also be liable in an

29

action of the case for all damages caused to the city or to any person by any such violation.

30

     Section 17. Authority to order connection to sewer; ordering cesspool, etc. to be

31

filled up, etc.

32

     (a) The sewer authority with the advice and consent of the mayor in the interest of public

33

health and safety is authorized to order any abutting owner or occupant of land any parcel

34

whereupon there is a cesspool, privy vault, drain or other arrangement that has failed by Rhode

 

LC005839 - Page 16 of 21

1

Island department of environment management definition upon any street in which there is a

2

sewer or in which a sewer may hereafter be constructed, to connect the sewage of such premises

3

with such sewer, and to order any owner or occupant to fill up and destroy any cesspool, privy

4

vault, drain or other arrangement on such land parcel for the reception of sewage. Upon the

5

service of any such order, or copy thereof, upon any such owner or occupant, to connect the

6

sewage as aforesaid, or to fill up or destroy any cesspool, privy vault, drain or other arrangement

7

for the reception of sewage, such owner or occupant shall comply therewith within thirty (30)

8

days from the time of service of such order. In case the owner or occupant to whom any such

9

order is directed shall neglect or refuse to comply therewith within thirty (30) days after the

10

service thereof upon him/her, he/she shall be fined not less than one hundred dollars ($100) nor

11

more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each subsequent twenty-four (24) hours during

12

which he/she shall neglect or refuse to comply therewith and in case such neglect or refusal shall

13

continue for sixty (60) days after the service of such an order, the authority may cause such

14

cesspool, privy vault, drain or other arrangement for the reception of sewage which is the subject

15

of such order to be filled up and destroyed and the sewage from such parcel land to be connected

16

with a common sewer. The pendency of any appeal from any such order shall not affect the

17

power of the authority, after the expiration of said period of sixty (60) days, to cause such

18

cesspool, privy vault, or other arrangement for the reception of sewage to be forthwith filled up

19

and destroyed.

20

     Whenever the authority shall cause any cesspool, privy vault, or other arrangement for

21

the reception of sewage to be filled up and destroyed, or the sewage of any land parcel to be

22

connected with a common sewer, it shall keep careful account of the cost of such work and of any

23

expense caused the city or authority by reason of the neglect or refusal of the owner or occupant

24

of such land parcel to comply with the order of the authority issued as aforesaid, and upon the

25

completion of such work the authority shall file statement of such cost and expense with the

26

director of finance and thereupon the amount of such cost and expense shall be a lien upon the

27

land parcel, including improvements thereon, for which such cost and expense was incurred and

28

the same shall be collected in the same manner as other assessments and charges are collected

29

under this act.

30

     (b) Mandatory connection to sewer prior to sale or transfer. Any abutting owner or

31

occupant of land any parcel upon any street in which there is a sewer must connect the sewage of

32

such premises with such sewer and fill up and destroy any cesspool, privy vault, drain or other

33

arrangement on such land parcel for the reception of sewage, excluding any Rhode Island

34

department of environmental management OWTS ISDS approved system, prior to the one year

 

LC005839 - Page 17 of 21

1

anniversary of the sale or transfer in ownership. If such abutting owner or occupant of land any

2

parcel who is required to connect to the sewage system fails to do so in the prescribed time

3

period, then such abutting owner or occupant of and shall be required to pay usage fees as if such

4

abutting owner or occupant of land were connected to the sewage system.

5

     If such owner or occupant of any parcel who is required to connect to the sewage system

6

fails to do so in the prescribed time period, then such abutting owner or occupant of the parcel

7

shall be required to pay usage fees as if such owner or occupant of the parcel were ·connected to

8

the sewer system.

9

     (c) Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, rule, regulation or agreement to the

10

contrary, an abutting owner or occupant of land any parcel upon any street in which there is a

11

common sewer shall not be required to connect to the sewage system, except as provided under

12

subsections (a) or (b) or (c)(b) of this section.

13

     (d) The authority shall establish rules and regulations to allow for temporary hardship

14

waivers from these requirements to connect to the sewer system for those parcel owners that

15

demonstrate undue hardship (as defined in the WSA regulations). Any waiver granted shall expire

16

upon transfer or sale of the land or easement upon which the cesspool or OWTS is located. The

17

authority shall also establish an incentive program for connecting to the sewer system prior to the

18

deadlines set forth in subsection (b) of this section. The city council may, at any time, appropriate

19

funds to support these programs.

20

     Section 18. Plat of sewer declared public record for assessment purposes.

21

     Whenever a common sewer is constructed under the provisions of this act, the sewer

22

authority shall cause a plat of the layout of the same and of the estates abutting upon that portion

23

of the highway in which the sewer is laid to be filed in the office of the city clerk, which the said

24

plats are hereby declared to be public records for the determination of the description of the estate

25

assessed for construction of sewage works.

26

     Section 19. Sewer board of review; appeals; record of proceeding; organization and

27

procedure.

28

     There shall be a sewer board of review which shall consist of three (3) members

29

appointed by the Mayor with approval of the city council. The members first appointed shall

30

serve for terms of 1, 2 and 3 years respectively and thereafter one member shall be appointed in

31

each year for a term of three years.

32

     Within 60 days after mailing of notice of an assessment or charge under section 9 or

33

within 30 days after giving or mailing of notice of an order under section 2.17, any person

34

aggrieved by such assessment, charge or order may appeal to the sewer board of review.

 

LC005839 - Page 18 of 21

1

     The sewer board of review shall keep an accurate record of its proceedings which shall be

2

available for public inspection.

3

     The board shall review the authority's decision to ensure that the authority's decision

4

complies with the provisions of this act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. If

5

the board determines that such an assessment charge or order is unwarranted was made in

6

violation of the express provisions of this act, either in whole or in part, it shall annul or modify

7

the same and make such order as justice may require. Otherwise it shall affirm the same. Within

8

30 days after the decision of the sewer board of review, any party aggrieved, which may include

9

including the sewer authority, may appeal to the superior court. which shall have the same

10

powers-to annul, modify, enter further orders or affirm as the sewer board of review.

11

     The city council shall provide by ordinance for the organization of procedure of the sewer

12

board of review. and for the manner of receiving, considering and disposing of appeals.

13

     Section 20. Reserved Public Hearings.

14

     The authority shall be required to hold public hearings for various reasons including, but

15

not limited to, proposed annual budgets, rate increases, and for the adoption of rules and

16

regulations. The authority shall develop regulations for public hearings to include notice

17

requirements, distribution of associated documents and response to substantive and relevant

18

comments from the public.

19

     Section 21. Reserved.

20

     Section 22. Use of federal, other aid.

21

     The sewer authority of said the city by the vote of a majority of its members may vote to

22

accept and use in connection with the construction of the sewage works authorized by this act any

23

funds from the United States of America or aid in any form under any and all acts and joint

24

resolutions of congress already enacted or which may be enacted, and upon such terms and

25

conditions as may be required by the proper federal authorities.

26

     Section 23. Severability.

27

     If any part, clause, division or section of this act shall be declared unconstitutional, the

28

validity of its remaining provisions shall not be affected thereby.

29

     Section 24. Effect on power of city to incur indebtedness.

30

     This act shall not affect any other power which the city may have under any other

31

provisions of law to incur indebtedness.

32

     Section 25. Reserved.

33

     Section 26. Effective date. This legislation shall become effective upon passage. The

34

WSA shall adopt rules and regulations within one year thereafter in accordance with this act.

 

LC005839 - Page 19 of 21

1

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC005839

========

 

LC005839 - Page 20 of 21

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO THE CITY OF WARWICK - SEWER AUTHORITY

***

1

     This act would make a number of changes to the enabling act for the Warwick Sewer

2

Authority.

3

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC005839

========

 

LC005839 - Page 21 of 21