§ 407-10. System development fees.

A. 

System development fees are payable in full prior to service connection to the municipal water system. In general, there shall be a policy of no waivers of system development fees.

B. 

Financial hardship. In case of financial hardship of an individual homeowner, and upon application to the Groton Water Department, the Board of Water Commissioners may, at its discretion, permit connection to the municipal water system, prior to full payment. If a payment plan is arranged and adhered to, there will be no interest charged. If the full fee, or any portion thereof, becomes a lien upon the property, said fee shall be subject to interest at the same rate as a tax lien. The homeowner shall be required to provide documentation that a financial hardship exists prior to the deferment of payment.

C. 

Well water health hazards. In the case where individual wells pose a documented health hazard and one or more homeowners petition the Board of Water Commissioners to connect their premises with the municipal water system, the Water Commissioners shall meet with the homeowners and determine whether any state or federal money might be available for construction of the necessary mains and services. If sufficient government funds are not available, the homeowners may select whether to do the project themselves at their cost or to request that the Water Department construct the mains and services under a betterment system which would charge the cost back to the homeowner. The Board of Water Commissioners, at its discretion, may elect to be cosponsors of a Warrant Article asking the Town and the taxpayers to bear all or part of the cost of construction of mains and services and/or the system development fees. In general, the Board of Water Commissioners in circumstances of well water hazard shall treat the system development fee as under financial hardship and may, in its discretion, consider deferral of full payment prior to connection.

D. 

Unusual circumstances. The Board of Water Commissioners, at its discretion, may consider credit toward system development fees for a homeowner and/or developer where the distribution system is substantially improved. The Water Commissioners shall determine if a credit for the system development fee, or a portion thereof, will be in the best interests of the Groton water system. The applicant shall be required to provide the following information at his/her expense:

(1) 

Notice of public hearing to be published in Groton two weeks prior to hearing date.

(2) 

The applicant shall be required to submit the following:

(a) 

A report outlining needs of the proposed project and the impact (both current and future) on the Groton water system.

(b) 

Proposed buildout of the project.

(c) 

Cost analysis for the proposed water distribution system, including but not limited to proposed length of water mains and the number of service connections and appurtenances, as required by the Groton Water Department in accordance with the state bidding requirements set forth by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

E. 

System development fees established.

(1) 

This fee is a one-time assessment for connecting to the municipal water system. It does not cover the actual cost of tapping into the system, but reflects the capital cost of eventual expansion of the water system.

	Effective 11-1-2004
	Type of Connection	Fee
	Tap Size (inches)
	1" metered connection	$3,750
	1 1/2" metered connection	$5,000
	2" metered connection	$7,500
	3" metered connection	$10,000
	4" metered connection	$15,000
	6" metered connection	$25,000
	8" to 12" connection	$35,000*
	4" fire sprinkler connection (unmetered)	$15,000
	6" fire sprinkler connection (unmetered)	$25,000
	8" to -12" minimum	$35,000*

		NOTES:
	*	Minimum plus negotiations with the Board of Water Commissioners
		The system development fee shall apply to domestic service lines and fire suppression water lines separately based on the size of the water main.

(2) 

Unless other arrangements are made, the connection fee must be prepaid before installation of water service is begun or at the time a building permit is obtained. System development fees are calculated at the time a building permit is obtained and may not be prepaid in advance unless approved by the Board of Water Commissioners.

(3) 

If an existing service has been discontinued, that service may be used for a new building, with no additional system development charge. If a larger service is requested, the customer will pay the difference between the amount charged for the original service and the cost of the new service requested.

(4) 

Separate water service connections to the main are required for fire service and domestic service. If there has been a prior hook-up, the system development fee for that will be credited toward the new hook-up.