Ulysses board introduces local law to allow master water meters, schedules July 28 public hearing

The Ulysses Town Board on June 30 introduced a local law amending Chapter 200 of the town code to allow master meters for multi-unit properties and to clarify how user fees (including operations and maintenance) are assessed.

Under the proposal, a property owner would be billed for water measured at a single master meter for the parcel; owners may apply, at their own cost and subject to board/operator approval, to install additional submeters for individual dwelling units. The change is intended to simplify billing for the water operator, avoid town liability for private service-line leaks upstream of meters, and keep the town out of landlord-tenant disputes over intra-property allocations.

The board classified the proposed local law as a Type II action under SEQR (6 NYCRR Part 617) and scheduled a public hearing for July 28, 2026, at 7 p.m. Staff said the change would not automatically require physical construction; many master-meter locations already exist but the law would provide standard authority and procedure.

Board members and staff discussed practical details: who pays installation costs for submeters, how unpaid water bills are collected (including potential tax‑lien procedures), and exceptions for existing systems. The town attorney and staff will ready the local-law text and publish a link to the current code section so residents can compare proposed changes with existing law ahead of the hearing.

The introduction was approved by voice vote; the public will have the opportunity to comment at the July 28 hearing before the board takes final action.