(Atlantic) The Atlantic City Council failed to act on the second reading amending the sewer system ordinance for residents having septic systems.
Atlantic City Administrator John Lund says while the City has the authority to require all property owners residing in city limits to pay for sanitary sewer, the city’s ordinance does not directly state this.
The Personnel and Finance Committee met in June to review an issue regarding sanitary sewer billings to homes with septic systems. For instance, a homeowner living in the 2400 block of Olive Street with their own septic system had been paying sanitary sewer charges even though they don’t use the service.
In August, the committee met again and came up with the conclusion that property owners with their own septic system should be rebated those charges. In addition to that; remove the subsection on gravity being an exemption to the connection to the sanitary system. And once a septic system within 500 feet of a sanitary sewer line fails, the property owner will be required to connect to the sanitary sewer system.
Lund says the issue in question is rather or not to include the wording once a property with a septic system is sold, should it be mandated (whether the septic system is working or not), to hook onto the City’s sewer system. “I don’t think this was agreed upon at the committee meeting,” said Lund. “That’s why I’m not comfortable with it.”
Lund advised the Council to let the resolution die for lack of a motion. The ordinance will be discussed again and voted on at a later date.
