TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR ORDINANCE NO.: 02-05-25 WHEREAS, by virtue of the authority contained in Section 5-202, et seq. of the Local Goverment Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, and Section 5-1, et seq. of the Charter of the Town of New Windsor, the Mayor and Council have the authority to enact ordinances for the general well-being of the residents of the Town; and WHEREAS, the Town has experienced significant issues with collection of water and sewer usage charges, including but not limited to those levied on rented properties, resulting in large arrearages being owed to the Town; and WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council have determined that sending these charges to the property owners rather than the tenants will resolve some of these issues; and WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council held a public hearing on this amendment on the 5th. day of March, 2025. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF NEW WINDSOR: ARTICLE 1. That Chapter 205, Section 205-37 be amended to read as follows: A. The Mayor and Council shall from time to time establish by resolution a water connection charge, a sewer connection charge, water usage rates and sewer usage rates. Said resolution shall also impose penalties for delinquent payment of charges. B. Effective July 1, 2025, for all rental properties or any property not occupied by the owner, as defined in Chapter 148 hereof, all charges for water usage and sewer usage shall be the responsibility of the owner of the property. All invoices will be sent to the property owner, who shall also be responsible for any penalties for delinquent payments of charges. ARTICLE 2. SEVERABILITY If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this chapter is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct, and independent provision and such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of this chapter, it being the intent of the Town that this chapter shall stand, notwithstanding the invalidity of any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion thereof. ARTICLE 3. SECTION HEADINGS, CHAPTER HEADINGS, TITLES Section headings, chapter headings, titles, etc., are for the purpose of description or ease of use and do not form a part of the text of this Ordinance or any Code or test adopted hereby. ARTICLE 4. EXISTING LIABILITIES This Ordinance shall not discharge, impair or release any contract, obligation, duty, liability or penalty whatever existing on the date of its enactment. All suits and actions, both civil and criminal pending or which may hereafter be instituted for causes of action now existing or offenses already committed against any law or ordinance affected by the adoption of this Ordinance shall be instituted, proceeded with and prosecuted to final determination and judgment as if this Ordinance had not become effective. ARTICLE 5. EFFECTIVE DATE This Ordinance shall take effect on the 6th. day of March, 2025. Introduced this 5th. day of March, 2025. - DANAMAGNUS, Town Clerk Passed this 5th. day of March, 2025, by a vote of 5 members in favor and Council members opposed. boourr Dana Magnus, Town Clerk ATTÈST: / - CR Dana Magnus Neal C. Roop Town Clerk Mayor Effective this 5th day of March, 2025. Approved as to form and legal sufficiency this 5th. day of March, 2025. MARYIAND hle * By: Stoshe Michelle M. Ostrander NOTE: Matter in [brackets] is proposed for deletion from existing law. Matter underlined is new material proposed to be added to existing law.