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Homeowner challenges city code requiring owners to pay to replace water meters; council tables dispute
Summary
Homeowner Greg Hughes disputed a city code placing replacement costs for a malfunctioning water meter on homeowners and said he might retain an attorney; the council tabled the matter and asked public works to try a temporary fix.
Greg Hughes told the Boulder City Council on June 16 that he disagreed with the City Code provision assigning homeowners responsibility to replace malfunctioning water meters and questioned the ordinance's legality. Hughes said he would "put an attorney on retainer if needed," framing the issue as a matter of principle.
City Administrator Brian Bullock said his review found the City Code assigns replacement responsibility to the homeowner and that he could not approve city payment for the meter. City Engineer Elly Schmeltzer cautioned that practices vary: "in Helena where she lives it is the City's responsibility to maintain the meter, but if it needs to be replaced it is the homeowner's responsibility." Resident Rick Haasakker said the public had not been made aware that meter replacement costs would fall to homeowners when the meters were originally installed.
After discussion the council decided to table the item, noting the leak was not immediate and asking Public Works to attempt a temporary repair while the legal and policy questions are resolved. No change to the City Code was adopted at the meeting; the matter remains unresolved and may return for further review.
