BOLINAS COMMUNITY PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT

 Resolution No. 247

Water Service Termination Procedures


   

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE BOLINAS COMMUNITY PUBLIC UTILITIES DISTRICT HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

(1)    Water service, once established pursuant to application, shall be terminated only for the reasons and in the manner set forth herein.  However, anyone using district water other than through an established water service shall be subject to termination of such use forthwith and without notice.

(2)    The following shall be grounds for termination of water service:

(a)    Nonpayment of any deposit, use charge, base charge, or other sum due the district with respect to the service proposed to be terminated.

(b)    Failure to comply with any district condition, rule, or regulation with respect to  the service proposed to be terminated.

(3)    The procedure for termination of water service shall be as follows:  At least 15 days prior to termination of water service, the district shall send by first class mail to the consumer at the post office address furnished to the district a notice of termination setting forth the following:

(a)    The date on or after which water service will be terminated, or the date on or after which water service will be terminated if a specified payment is not made or compliance had with a specified district condition, rule, or regulation;

(b)    The reason for termination;

(c)    A statement that the consumer has a right to a hearing before termination if a written request therefor is received by the district at least 7 days before the termination date.

(4)    If the district receives a timely written request for a pretermination hearing, it shall set such a hearing not sooner than 5 nor more than 15 days after receipt of such

request.  Upon setting of the hearing, the district shall forthwith give written notice of the time and place thereof to the consumer by either first-class mail or personal delivery. Pending a decision by the hearing officer, water service shall not be terminated.

(5)         The pretermination hearing shall be held before a hearing officer who shall be the general manager, or his designee.  The consumer or his representative may present witnesses, documents or other evidence to show good cause why the water service should not be terminated.  The hearing shall include consideration of whether the consumer should be permitted to amortize any unpaid balance over a reasonable time period.  The hearing officer may also examine district records, documents, witnesses or other evidence tending to show that the water service should be terminated for one or more of the grounds stated above.

(6)    The hearing officer shall render a written decision whether service will be terminated and specifying the reasons for his decision.  The bearing officer may incorporate any reasonable conditions in his decision.  The hearing officer's decision shall be forthwith transmitted to the consumer by either first-class mail or personal delivery and shall include notification to the consumer of the right to appeal the hearing officer's decision to the board of directors as described in paragraph (7) below.  If the decision is to terminate service, the decision shall state the date on or after which the service will be terminated, which date shall be not earlier than 7 days  after mailing or delivery of the decision, nor earlier than the termination date specified in the original notice of termination.  If the decision is to permit continued service on condition that the consumer pay the unpaid balance pursuant to an installment schedule, then such consumer's service may not be terminated if he is in compliance with such schedule and is not delinquent in payment of any subsequent charges.  If the consumer fails to comply with such schedule, his service may be terminated without the right to further hearing upon at least 7 days' prior written notice sent by first class mail to the consumer at the post office address furnished to the District.

(7)    The consumer or any person may appeal the hearing officer's decision to the board of directors if a written appeal is delivered to the district within 7 days after the date the hearing officer's decision is mailed or delivered to the consumer.  No special form of appeal is required.  If the district receives a timely appeal, it shall set an appeal hearing before the board of directors at a regular or special meeting at least 5 days after receipt of the appeal.  Upon setting the appeal hearing, the district shall forthwith give written notice of the time and place thereof to the consumer by either first-class mail or
personal delivery.  Pending a decision by the board of directors, water service will not be terminated.

(8)    At the appeal hearing the board of directors shall consider the matter de novo.  The consumer or his representative may present witnesses, documents or other evidence to show good cause why the water service should not be terminated.  The hearing shall also include consideration of whether the consumer should be permitted to amortize any unpaid balance over a reasonable time period.  The board may also examine district records, documents, witnesses or other evidence tending to show that the water service should be terminated for one or more of the grounds stated above.

(9)    At the conclusion of the hearing the board shall render its decision by motion recorded in the district minutes.  The decision may incorporate any reasonable conditions and shall be forthwith transmitted to the consumer by either first-class mail or personal delivery.  If the decision is to terminate service, the decision shall state the date on or after which the service will be terminated, which date shall be not earlier than 72 hours after mailing or delivery of the decision, nor earlier than the termination date specified in the original notice of termination.  If the decision is to permit continued service on condition that the consumer pay the unpaid balance pursuant to an installment schedule, then such consumer's service may not be terminated if he is in compliance with such schedule and is not delinquent in payment of any subsequent charges.  If the consumer fails to comply with such schedule, his service may be terminated without the right to further hearing upon at least 7 days' prior written notice sent by first class mail to the consumer at the post office address furnished to the District.

(10)    A conditional expanded water service permit issued under paragraph 6 of Resolution No. 173 may be terminated following the procedures set forth in paragraphs (3) through (9) hereinabove, except that at least 60 days' initial termination notice, rather than 15 days, shall be given in accordance with Resolution No. 173.

(11)    Termination of water service may be made, after the prescribed notice, at any time when the district's business office is open to the public, but shall not be made on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday.

(12)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, emergency termination of any water service may be made at any time with or without notice if in the opinion of the district continued service would create or continue a condition hazardous to the health or safety of the consumer or the public.  Water service shall be restored after an emergency termination as soon as such hazardous condition or threat thereof is eliminated.

    PASSED AND ADOPTED this 29th day of February, 1984, by the following vote of the Board of Directors:

AYES:    Amoroso, Kayfetz, LeMieux, Martin, McClellan

NOES:       None

ABSENT:  None

ABSTAIN:  None