Oswego Council OKs One Local Law, Sets Hearing For Another

by Steve Yablonski | September 26, 2017 5:55 pm

OSWEGO – At its meeting Monday night, the Common Council, councilors approved Local Law No. 5 of the Year 2017 – A local law adding Section C13-11 to the Charter of the City of Oswego With respect to the Department of Water.

It gives the property owner a manner in which they can challenge their water or sewer bill.

The new section reads:

“In the event that all or any portion a water or sewer bill shall remain unpaid after the 30th calendar day from the date of billing, the City Chamberlain is authorized to send notice by regular mail or personal service to the property owner stating that the water service will be terminated unless the unpaid balance of the water or sewer bill, plus penalty, interest and administrative fees as provided herein, is paid in full on or before the 10th day from the date of notice. The notice to the property owner shall state the property owner is entitled to an administrative hearing before the City Chamberlain or the Chamberlain’s designee, and the Audit, Finance and Budget Committee of the Common Council for the purpose of challenging the amount of the water or sewer charges alleged to be due, penalties, interest and administrative fees, provided that the written notice of the request for such administrative hearing is received by the City Chamberlain on or before the 10th day from the date of the notice. Upon completion of the administrative hearing, the Audit, Finance and Budget Committee, by majority vote, shall issue a determination in regards to the challenge of the property owner.”

The resolution passed unanimously.

However, Seventh Ward Councilor Robert Corradino did express some reservations.

There are other issues, that if addressed, there wouldn’t such a need for challenges, he said.

“I think if we take a hard look at how things are done, from A to Z, we could get rid of some of the issues that we’ve had in the past,” he said.

He would like city officials to sit down and try to come up with a plan to alleviate some of the issues residents are facing.

The council also scheduled a public hearing for proposed Local Law No. 6 of the Year 2017.

Local Law No. 6 would amend Chapter 224, Taxation, of the Code of the City of Oswego. Currently, the period of redemption of residential and farm property expires four years after the lien date. That would be reduced to two years under the proposed local law.

The public hearing will be at 7:10 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 10, in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 13 W. Oneida St.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/news/oswego/oswego-council-oks-one-local-law-sets-hearing-for-another/

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