Politics & Government

Township: The Sewer Bill Change Was Advertised

The township responds to concerns about paying the entire sewer bill in one month.

Residents have been expressing their concerns about receiving their with only three weeks to pay almost $400—but the township said notice was given.

The concern was made public by resident Leslie Thompson at the May 12 meeting, and councilman Matthew Moench said Monday that he has received e-mails from residents upset about the change.

In March, the township council approved an ordinance to change the sewer billing cycle, reducing the number of payments from three—in April, June and September—to only one, due June 1.

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“The new system is a single payment of $399 for a single family home due June 1,” said township engineer Thomas Forsythe. “Under the old system, two thirds of the bill, $266 for a single family home, would be paid on or before June 1.”

“Therefore, the additional amount due on June 1 is the September payment of $133 for a single family home,” he added.

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Prior to the change in the ordinance, Forsythe said, residents were required to pay for the bill in three installments of $133 each.

Many residents have said they did not know about the change, but Forsythe said it was published.

First, Forsythe said, the ordinance was advertised as part of the March 7 council meeting agenda, when it was introduced, then subsequently advertised for a public hearing, before being approved on March 21 after allowing for public comment.

In addition, Forsythe said, the ordinance has been published in the “Courier News”, and posted on the municipal bulletin board in the municipal building.

“The change was posted on the tax collector’s web page on March 23,” he said. “A letter was enclosed with a bill, which was mailed to residents the beginning of May.”

Since then, Forsythe said, the tax collector has received calls from residents who are concerned that they will be unable to make the entire $399 payment in one month’s time.

Forsythe said the township has determined that anyone believing he or she has a legitimate financial hardship can submit a letter for consideration with the partial payment.


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