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Mayor pauses capital-connection billing pending 90-day review after residents receive large fees
Summary
The mayor's administration announced a temporary pause on billing capital-connection charges tied to decades-old applications and said it will review the matter within 90 days; some residents reported receiving bills for tens of thousands of dollars.
The mayor’s administration announced it will temporarily pause billing for recently issued capital-connection charges tied to applications submitted more than two decades earlier and will complete a review within 90 days. A public notice read by the town administrator said water and sewer services will not be interrupted during the review and that the pause on billing will remain in effect until April 30, 2025 while staff evaluate appropriate next steps.
Residents who received capital-connection notices spoke at the work session. A representative of Manage Horizons on the Bay said one common-area tap received a bill showing a $70,000 balance that included water/sewer use plus capital-connection fees, penalties and late charges; she asked the town to separate the current water/sewer charges from the disputed capital-connection fees so residents could pay utility use while the town resolves connection-charge liability. Another resident said she received a $30,000 notice and said she had records showing she did not owe such a charge when her account was reviewed in the past; she demanded immediate removal or threatened legal action.
Staff told the council that, to their knowledge, the large capital-connection amounts that appeared on recent bills had not yet been paid and that they have record of at least six disputed notices brought to the town's attention. The town administrator said staff will coordinate with legal counsel and the town clerk to identify all outstanding PIA (public information access) requests and disputed connection notices and will provide a timeline and further public engagement opportunities during the review period.
Council instructed staff to compile the outstanding cases and to provide clear separation on bills so customers who wish to pay usage charges can do so while connection-charge disputes are resolved. Staff planned to meet the following day with the resident who requested adjustments and said they would follow up via email.
