MARGATE – The city will hold a public hearing March 6 on an ordinance raising water and sewer service charges.
The ordinance is being introduced a second time to correct errors made when it was first introduced Nov. 21, 2024, and adopted on Dec. 4, 2024, without proper notification to rate payers, which is in violation of the state’s Sunshine Laws.
The portion of the ordinance reciting the increase in rates for water and sewer services effective Jan. 1 was inadvertently omitted from the advertised ordinance. Ratepayers discovered the rate increase when they received their bills in January.
Annual water and sewer service rates for ¾- to 1-inch lines increased to $300 from $230 for 120,000 gallons of water usage; 1 ½-inch lines increased to $448 from $345 for 180,000 gallons; 2-inch lines increased to $598 from $460 for 240,000 gallons; 3- to 4-inch lines increased to $897 from $690 for 360,000 gallons; and 6-inch lines increased to $1,794 from $1,380 for 720,000 gallons.
The ordinance also recites 1-inch mandatory sewer line replacement at the curbline for new construction and house raisings, and states the water meters, pits and curb stops must be located in the governor’s strip and away from sidewalks and driveway aprons, or in some cases on the homeowner’s side of the sidewalk.
City officials said the rate increases were necessary to ensure the utility remains self-liquidating. The last time rates increased was five years ago.
Mayor Michael Collins said the city considered adjusting rates incrementally over the next five years but opted for one larger increase to cover operating and capital expenditures, such as repairs and painting water towers, installing new water meters, replacing lead and galvanized steel water lines, and delivering clean water to residents. He said although the rates were raised, they are still the lowest rates charged in the vicinity.
Administrator Patrick Moran said costs increased about 36% over the last five years but there was a zero percent increase in the bills.
“You can’t sustain that kind of increase without increasing your (rates),” he said.
Resident Dennis Gorniowski said the ordinance was done illegally, noting that only section one of the ordinance was advertised and the rate increases outlined in section two was added later, voted on and passed without giving the public a chance to comment.
“Who’s responsible for that?” he said, asking why city employees were not in attendance at commission meetings. “How do you get questions answered?”
Moran accepted the ultimate responsibility for the error, noting that he is available to discuss issues with the public on the phone and in person at the Municipal Building.
Gorniowski also questioned the commissioners’ support for a bill being considered in the Legislature that would allow municipalities to forego advertising in the newspaper for a fee in favor of advertising on their own municipal websites.
“Our website is not that good,” he said. “You can put it on the website, but if it’s not updated immediately…that’s my concern.”
The city apologized for the advertising error and agreed to readvertise the ordinance for a public hearing, which will be held 5 p.m. Thursday, March 6 at Historic City Hall, 1 S. Washington Ave.
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