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SANITARY SEWER ASSESSMENT POLICY 1 1. The abutting land owners shall prepare petitions requesting the proposed sewer construction on forms furnished by the City Clerk. 2. The petition, when properly filled out, shall be presented to the City Council for their consideration. 3. The City Council, upon receipt of the petition, shall request a recommendation on the proposed project from the Planning Board, and a report on the estimated cost and the estimated assessment from the Public Works Department. 4. The Public Works Department shall prepare a report as requested by the City Council and submit their findings to the City Council. 5. The City Council shall, if they deem the project feasible both from a construction and financial standpoint, request the City Administrator to submit a recommendation for financing. 6. The City Council, when in agreement with the proposed financing, shall request the Department of Public Works to prepare a list of the abutters to be benefitted, and to submit this list to the City Treasurer for mailing of the estimated assessment. The estimated assessment will be based upon 50 7. The City Council shall set the estimated annual simple interest rate to be charged on those assessments which are paid on a term basis. 8. The City Treasurer shall send notices of the estimated assessment and the interest rate to be charged on assessments paid over an extended period of time, to all abutters to be benefitted by the proposed project and report to the City Council as to the status of the advance commitments six weeks following the date of mailing. 9. The City Council, when 75 when 90 their estimated assessment in accordance with the Revised Code of Ordinances, Sections No. 23-101 thru 23-104 inc., will then authorize construction of the sewer. 10. The Public Works Department will have final plans and specifications prepared and determine whether the project should be constructed with City forces or by contract. (If by contract, the usual bidding procedure as administered by the Purchasing Agent will be followed.) 11. The Public Works Department will determine the actual construction costs as soon as practical after completion of the project. 12. The Department of Assessment will determine the name of the owners of property to be assessed. ---PAGE BREAK--- SANITARY SEWER ASSESSMENT POLICY 2 13. The Department of Public Works will then prepare an assessment list containing the property owners benefitted, the front footage to be assessed, and the cost per front foot. 14. The Public Works Department will prepare and mail the actual amount of the assessments to be made on each property. The assessment will be based upon 50 cost. 15. A public hearing will be held by the City Council at which time any abutters having grievances will be heard. The interest rate to be charged on those assessments which are paid on a term basis will be set and the actual assessments will be legally made. 16. Abutters may choose to pay their assessment in a lump sum or over an extended period of time not to exceed ten (10) years. The assessment shall be payable in four equal payments plus interest per year at the rate previously set by the City Council. 17. The Public Works Department shall require all abutters who choose to pay their assessment over an extended period of time to execute an agreement which shall be filed at the Androscoggin County Register of Deeds and the City Clerk's Office. 18. Any future sanitary sewer construction made by the developer where there are needs for easements and where the construction does not benefit any abutting owners, such easement costs will be borne by the developer. 19. The City Treasurer is hereby authorized to pay the prevailing rate of interest on funds deposited with his office pursuant to the sewer policy. 20. The provisions of Maine Revised Statutes Annotated, Title 30-A, Chapter 161, Subchapter III, Assessments and Fees, is hereby adopted.