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Council extends delinquency period before water shutoff in first reading vote
Summary
The council passed first reading on an ordinance lengthening the delinquency period before water service shutoff (the code had allowed shutoff after 10 days delinquent); members said the change to two quarters is intended to be fairer to residents facing financial hardship.
Councilors voted to advance Ordinance 2394-26, which amends the borough code for water-bill delinquency and the period before shutoff. Council members said a prior code provision that allowed shutoff after 10 days was unduly aggressive and that the amendment moves the delinquency standard to a more forgiving multi-quarter period.
During discussion, council members asked what the ordinance would change in practice. Staff explained the revision gives residents more time to resolve financial or medical problems before service termination, and noted the borough retains other collection tools such as placing water liens on property or pursuing tax liens when bills remain unpaid. Councilors said the revised timeframe was intended to be humane while providing the borough a mechanism to collect long-delinquent accounts.
The ordinance passed first reading by roll call and will be considered for final passage at the meeting date noted in the ordinance notice; specific enforcement procedures and thresholds will be governed by the ordinance language when published.
