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Council updates water-rate ordinance to follow annual state pass-through
Summary
Westerly amended its water-rate ordinance so the town will pass through the state’s annual water-quality charge automatically, avoiding annual re-advertising. Manager said the town has been charging the correct amount but the ordinance wording lagged the state rate.
The Town Council amended the Town Code to make the water quality protection charge a pass-through that will reflect whatever the State of Rhode Island sets each year, eliminating the need to re-advertise an ordinance annually. Town staff told the council the town has been charging the correct state amount but the current ordinance specified a different fixed figure.
‘‘We’re charging the correct amount. So we are changing it in the ordinance to just reflect whatever the state amount is on an annual basis,’’ the town manager explained during the public hearing. No members of the public spoke against the proposal. After the manager’s explanation the council closed the hearing and voted to adopt the ordinance.
Councilors said the change is intended to reduce administrative burdens and ensure the local code aligns with state statutory adjustments. The ordinance cites the state statute the manager referenced during the hearing (R.I. Gen. Laws 46-15.3-5). The clerk recorded an affirmative vote and the ordinance was declared approved at the meeting.
