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Landlords bring concern over water bills to council by Holly Matthews Titusville City Council listened to concerns of the Titusville Landlords Association during a regular meeting Monday at City Hall and reviewed vacancies on local boards and commissions. Connie Phillips, president of the association, said she had received notice of a municipal lien from Crawford County against one of her properties. The lien was the result of unpaid water bills by a tenant. Phillips told council that 10 years ago, the association had hired an attorney and it had been proven that if a water bill remains delinquent 30 days after it is due, the city can discontinue service to the customer and shut off the service until the bill is paid and a charge paid for turning service back on. A 10-day notice to the customer and tenant is given. She said it was shown that landlords are responsible for a 30-day bill. �Then you are obligated to turn off the service and the consumer is liable for anything else if the service is not turned off.� Phillips said that the city has not been following this practice, partly because overdue customers will come to City Hall and make arrangements to pay. Some do not follow through, she indicated. She said the city has not routinely notified the landlords when the overdue bills continue. �You can�t come back on us,� she said. Richard Clickett of Titusville, also a landlord, said that through its current practice, the city is actually extending credit on the landlords� behalf. �That is not right,� he said. Mayor Brian Sanford noted that the city has had problems in the past with collections and receiving payments and is in the process of making improvements. Sanford said that the city has made some mistakes and the tenants have made some mistakes. City Manager Mary Ann Nau said that when she came to Titusville, there were approximately $300,000 in unpaid city services bills. Sanford said that is now down to $29,000. Nau said the city is involved in an education process for city services customers and provides a booklet of information to residents when they apply for services. Also discussed were turn on fees, a moving charge and a red tag charge. The red tags are placed on doors prior to shutting off service. Nau also indicated that handling of the overdue accounts is not always a cut and dried issue. She cited one problem in which several apartments are served on a single line and shutoff point. That makes it impossible to turn off service to just one apartment. The landlords asked council what would now happen to any liens against their properties incurred as a direct result of what they believe is city policy not being followed. The landlords were told to bring the lien letters to the city. Solicitor Rich Winkler said they would be reviewed and the cases will be investigated. �If we agree, we will take them (the liens) off,� he said. Sanford added that the city administration wants to be fair. �We are glad to take your input,� he said. �Just don�t extend credit on my behalf,� Clickett commented at the conclusion of the session. Also Monday, council approved a pay requisition, invoices and change orders related to Phase 11 of the mandated sewage system upgrade as follows: n Pay requisition to PennVEST in the amount of $269,932. n Pay request, Kranick Environmental Contractors, in the amount of $18,374. n Pay request, Enertech Electrical, Inc., in the amount of $143,694. nPay request, JR Contracting, LIC, in the amount of $98,438. n Change order, Kranick Environmental, in the amount of $4,296. n Change order, Kranick Environmental, in the amount of $1,077. Two resignations from local boards were accepted by council with regret. James Willshier is leaving the Titusville Leisure Services Board and Cathy Seybert has resigned from Titusville Planning Commission. Letters thanking them for their service will be sent by council. Add a comment  |
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