By-laws, rules and regulations of the Wilkinsonville Water District of the town of Sutton established 1967, Sutton, Massachusetts
BY-LAWS
SECTION 1. The annual meeting of the District shall be held on the third Saturday of May of each year.
SECTION 2. The annual meeting of the District shall be called by a warrant from the Board of Water Commissioners directed to the Treasurer of the District, or some other person, who shall serve the warrant by posting attested copies thereof at two public locations within the District, at least 14 days before the day and hour of holding said meeting. Whenever possible, notification should also be made through the local access cable station and local newspaper.
SECTION 3. At the annual meeting, and at any other District meeting, the Clerk of the District, or in his/her absence, one of the Board of Water Commissioners, shall call the meeting to order and preside until the Moderator is chosen and qualified.
SECTION 4. At the annual meeting, the District shall elect the following: 1 Moderator, 1 Treasurer and 1 Clerk. The term of office shall be for 1 year and shall commence July 1st and end June 30th the following year. Also at the annual meeting, the District shall elect by ballot: 1 Commissioner. The term of office shall be for 3 years and shall commence July 1st. All Officers must be sworn into office by the Sutton Town Clerk.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
SECTION 5.
A) Application for the use of water shall be made at the District office, upon forms furnished for that purpose, stating truly and fully the various uses for which the water is to be applied and signed by the owner of the premises to be supplied with water or by his duly authorized agent. A fee, set by the Board of Water Commissioners, shall accompany the application. Where it is necessary to install service pipes, the District will furnish and lay the service pipes from the street main to and through the cellar or basement wall and provide on the end thereof a shut off valve, except by special agreement in certain cases, and the owner of the premises shall in all cases pay for that portion of the service pipe and all materials required as may be laid from the main in the street together with the expense of laying the same as well as for the shut off valve.
B) Any maintenance between the main and the curb box shall be the responsibility of the District, and any maintenance beyond the curb box shall be the responsibility of the water user.
C) Where connections to water main of the District already exist, permission to use water from such connection shall be confined by application made to and approved by the Board of Water Commissioners.
SECTION 6. In the event of a change in ownership, water service to existing property shall be terminated at the time of the Final Reading unless application and a transfer fee, set by the Board of Water Commissioners, are submitted to the District by the Buyer prior to termination date.
Arrangement for the Final Meter Reading is the responsibility of the Seller.
SECTION 7. The owners or occupants of the premises in which water is used must furnish internal pipe, connections and all fixtures beyond the service connections in the cellar, and keep them in good repair and protected from frost at his own expense and the District will not be liable for any damage resulting from failure to do so.
The water taker must also provide boxing, if necessary, for the meter or cellar piping, and protect it from frost.
Homeowners secondary pumps are not the responsibility of the District.
SECTION 8. The Board of Water Commissioners and their agents shall have access, at any reasonable time, to premises supplied with water to examine pipes and fixtures, to ascertain the quantity of water used, and to shut off the water for non-payment, or violation of these rules. Before terminating service, the District must, by mail notify the user, that the water service may be terminated. Before terminating service the District must also give 24- hour notice. If water is terminated for nonpayment of water charges, water will be turned on again after amount due and a turn off and turn on fee, set by the Board of Water Commissioners, is paid in full.
SECTION 9. No person shall be permitted to connect or cause to be connected or disconnected, any service pipe for conveying water from any of the main or distributing pipes to any house, or building, or manufactory or for any purpose whatever, without the written permission of the Board of Water Commissioners, nor shall any addition to, or alteration of, any water pipe be made without such written permission.
SECTION 10. The right is reserved to the Board of Water Commissioners to shut off water for the purpose of making alterations or repairs, and all other necessary purposes, and they shall shut it off from any taker for disregard of the rules and regulations or non-payment of rates (water) when due. When water has been shut off because of disregard of rules and regulations or non-payment of rates, it will be turned on again after corrective action has been taken and on the payment of a turn on fee, set by the Board of Water Commissioners.
When two or more parties take the water through one service pipe, the provision in regards to shutting off the water shall apply to whole supply though one or more parties using the line shall be innocent of any cause of offense.
No damage shall be allowed any taker for shutting off water for the purpose of doing ordinary repairs on pipes, gates, hydrants, or other fixtures, or for any work on the main pipe system, or for any other cause deemed necessary by the Commissioners; but a reasonable notice shall be given to all takers before their supply of water will be shut off, except in case of emergency.
Steam boilers or hot water tanks supplied directly with water should be supplied with proper safeguards against danger from collapsing, water hammer or back- pressure; however, the Board of Water Commissioners shall not be held responsible for damages to the premises in any event.
SECTION 11. Water mains will be installed, subject to the Rules and Regulations as laid down by the District and the Town of Sutton.
SECTION 12. The Fire Department will have control of the hydrants in case of fire and for necessary practice. In no other case will any person be allowed to handle hydrants or other water apparatus, without permission of the Board of Water Commissioners. Any unauthorized use of a hydrant is subject to a fine set by the Board of Water Commissioners.
SECTION 13. Rates for water shall be those fixed by the Board of Water Commissioners as provided by Section 10 of Chapter 179 of the Acts of 1937 as amended, and said Board of Water Commissioners shall promulgate the water rates established or reestablished by them as soon as may be upon determination of the costs of water service and the amounts voted to be raised by taxation.
In the event of non-payment of water charges within 30 days, a final notice shall be sent to which interest at the rate of 14% per annum will be added. If payment is not received, the District must, by mail notify the user, that the water service may be terminated. Before terminating service the District must also give 24-hour notice. If water is terminated for nonpayment of water charges, water will be turned on again after amount due and a turn off and turn on fee, set by the Board of Water Commissioners, is paid in full.
SECTION 14. Bills for the use of water will be made out and sent to the owners of the premises where water is used and not to the tenant unless special arrangements are made. However, in all cases, the owner will be held liable for payment of water charges.
All bills due to the District for water and service shall be paid at the office of the District Collector.
Checks shall be made payable to the Wilkinsonville Water District. The fees must be paid for in advance of any work to be done.
SECTION 15. Takes wishing to discontinue the use of water must notify the Board of Water Commissioners.
A discount of vacancies of not less than three months will be allowed, notice to given at the office of the Collector at the time of vacancy and re-occupation. There will be a fee for this service set by the Board of Water Commissioners.
SECTION 16. All meter shall be owned, installed, removed and maintained by the District and no person shall be allowed to disconnect, remove or interfere with any meter or its setting unless authorized by the District. Any repairs to a meter made necessary by the carelessness or willful conduct of the water taker shall be at the expense of the taker.
If a complaint is made concerning the operation of a water meter it will be removed and tested at the expense of the District. If the meter is found to be NOT DEFECTIVE, cost will be paid by the User.
SECTION 17. The District reserves the right, by vote, to alter or amend the By-Laws, Rules and Regulations at any meeting of the District called for that purpose. The District will post at two public locations within the District, at least 14 days before the day and hour of holding said meeting, a notice warning the members of the District of a public hearing pertaining to BY-LAW changes. A 2/3s majority vote of the members present is required to change BY-LAWS.
SECTION 18. The Board of Water Commissioners may in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 793 of the Acts of 1949 restrain the use of water in case of emergency. The person taking water shall not demand or recover any abatement, compensation or damages on account of the shutting off or the Maintenance of the use of water for any cause under the provision of this or other section of these regulations.
I hereby certify that the by-laws, rules and regulations were established by vote and accepted at the District Meeting held on September 10, 1970.
Attested to by, Evelyn M. Gendron, Clerk
Wilkinsonville Water District
AMENDMENTS
SECTION 1. - January 24, 1974
SECTION 1. - May 18, 1998
SECTION 2. - May 18, 1996
SECTION 3. - May 18, 1996
SECTION 4. - May 18, 1996
SECTION 5. - September 26, 1977
SECTION 5. - May 18, 1985
SECTION 5. - September 30, 1985
SECTION 5. - May 18, 1996
SECTION 6. - May 18, 1985
SECTION 6. - May 18, 1996
SECTION 7. - May 18, 1996
SECTION 8. - May 18, 1996
SECTION 8. - November 27, 1997
SECTION 10. - May 18, 1985
SECTION 10. - May 18, 1996
SECTION 11. - May 18, 1996
SECTION 12. - May 18, 1996
SECTION 13. - May 18, 1985
SECTION 13. - May 18, 1996
SECTION 13. - November 27, 1997
SECTION 14. - May 18, 1985
SECTION 14. - May 18, 1996
SECTION 15. - May 18, 1996
SECTION 16. - May 18, 1985
SECTION 16. - May 18, 1996
SECTION 17. - May 18, 1996