City of Norwich to rethink 'catastrophic loss' policy for water bills
NORWICH – At the City of Norwich joint committees meeting on Tuesday night, committee members voted in favor of developing a new policy in regards to the relief of sewer charges after two properties in the city experienced 'catastrophic losses' in the last few months resulting in excessive water bills.
Committee members voted unanimously to develop a new policy to be considered at the April 17 council meeting, after two water incidents in the last few months. One at Benedict Corporation, and one at a St. Bartholomew Church property were deemed catastrophic losses, resulting in excessive water flow that did not go into the drainage system.
Both Benedict Corporation and St. Bart's asked the city for relief after pipes bursting resulted in over three and a half times the properties' normal water usage.
The Common Council authorized relief to the Benedict Corporation at its March meeting, adjusting its bill by a total amount of $2,747.19 after determining the water from the pipes bursting did not go into the sewer, and that the amount lost compared to the property's normal water usage could be considered a catastrophic loss. The authorization was passed by a vote of 5-1, with Alderman Ward 2 Brian Doliver voting nay as he asserted at the time of the incident and presently, the city does not have a policy to offer relief.
The issue came to fruition again at Tuesday's joint committees meeting as members of St. Bart's contacted the city about a similar situation where a pipe malfunction led to one of its vacant property's basement being flooded. As a result of the flooding, the sewer bill reflected over a $4,000 difference in what was normally billed to the property.
Department of Public Works Assistant Superintendent George Carnrike suggested the city adopt a policy for a one-time per property relief of sewer charges in the event that a catastrophic loss occurs and the property owner can prove the water in question did not go into the sewer system.
"The whole purpose of this thing is it has to be a catastrophic loss, and it has to be a one time deal, because you're telling people, 'Look, you've got to manage your property,' and again, these wouldn't be so large if we had monthly billing," said Carnrike, noting that the city bills its property owners quarterly.
Alderman Ward 3 John Deierlein said that the city should have a set definition for 'catastrophic,' as it could vary from property owner to property owner.
Doliver said that one person on the Water Commission had served for 12 years without seeing an instance like this, but now that there have now been two in the last three months, that person suggested the city adopt a policy.
"Now if we decide to do that, we have 2,500 customers, two have already gotten a deal, so we have 2,498 customers that could get a deal in the future, so, we got to be careful going down this road," said Doliver.
Doliver asked if there were currently people paying for a past catastrophic loss in the city. City Clerk/Director of Finance Dee DuFour said there are currently residents paying for toilet leaks, but none currently who fit the definition of 'catastrophic loss.' She noted that there have been people in the past however who did pay for catastrophic losses.
Deierlein subsequently made the motion to develop a policy alongside Carnrike to be considered at the next Common Council meeting. Doliver suggested the Department of Finance be involved in the process, and Alderman Ward 1 Matthew Caldwell seconded the motion, approved by all.
Committee members voted unanimously to develop a new policy to be considered at the April 17 council meeting, after two water incidents in the last few months. One at Benedict Corporation, and one at a St. Bartholomew Church property were deemed catastrophic losses, resulting in excessive water flow that did not go into the drainage system.
Both Benedict Corporation and St. Bart's asked the city for relief after pipes bursting resulted in over three and a half times the properties' normal water usage.
The Common Council authorized relief to the Benedict Corporation at its March meeting, adjusting its bill by a total amount of $2,747.19 after determining the water from the pipes bursting did not go into the sewer, and that the amount lost compared to the property's normal water usage could be considered a catastrophic loss. The authorization was passed by a vote of 5-1, with Alderman Ward 2 Brian Doliver voting nay as he asserted at the time of the incident and presently, the city does not have a policy to offer relief.
The issue came to fruition again at Tuesday's joint committees meeting as members of St. Bart's contacted the city about a similar situation where a pipe malfunction led to one of its vacant property's basement being flooded. As a result of the flooding, the sewer bill reflected over a $4,000 difference in what was normally billed to the property.
Department of Public Works Assistant Superintendent George Carnrike suggested the city adopt a policy for a one-time per property relief of sewer charges in the event that a catastrophic loss occurs and the property owner can prove the water in question did not go into the sewer system.
"The whole purpose of this thing is it has to be a catastrophic loss, and it has to be a one time deal, because you're telling people, 'Look, you've got to manage your property,' and again, these wouldn't be so large if we had monthly billing," said Carnrike, noting that the city bills its property owners quarterly.
Alderman Ward 3 John Deierlein said that the city should have a set definition for 'catastrophic,' as it could vary from property owner to property owner.
Doliver said that one person on the Water Commission had served for 12 years without seeing an instance like this, but now that there have now been two in the last three months, that person suggested the city adopt a policy.
"Now if we decide to do that, we have 2,500 customers, two have already gotten a deal, so we have 2,498 customers that could get a deal in the future, so, we got to be careful going down this road," said Doliver.
Doliver asked if there were currently people paying for a past catastrophic loss in the city. City Clerk/Director of Finance Dee DuFour said there are currently residents paying for toilet leaks, but none currently who fit the definition of 'catastrophic loss.' She noted that there have been people in the past however who did pay for catastrophic losses.
Deierlein subsequently made the motion to develop a policy alongside Carnrike to be considered at the next Common Council meeting. Doliver suggested the Department of Finance be involved in the process, and Alderman Ward 1 Matthew Caldwell seconded the motion, approved by all.
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