Water and Sewer Board sends tapping-fee code amendment to Common Council for public hearing

The Glens Falls City Water and Sewer Board voted Dec. 1 to recommend a city code amendment clarifying tapping and lateral-installation fees and the circumstances under which the city will provide those services.

Speaker 4 explained the proposed insertion to Code No. 177-37 would allow the city to provide lateral/tapping services "in accordance with the scheduling of rates, fees, and changes, and from having resources available to perform the work," and otherwise require customers to pay permitting and inspection fees and hire contractors.

The board directed the city attorney to draft the local law and to set a public hearing before the Common Council. Speaker 7 advised the procedural steps: local law must be presented to the Common Council at least five days prior to a hearing; a resolution will be needed to set the hearing and then the council will vote after public comment.

Board members said the change aligns the written code with the department’s existing fee schedule and staffing realities. The amendment had been discussed previously but not advanced to the council; the board voted to forward the revised language.

Next steps: the city attorney will prepare the local law and the board will appear before the Common Council for the public hearing and council vote.