City of Baltimore - File #: 07-0307R

• File #: 07-0307R
• Version: 0
• Name: Investigative Hearing - Department of Public Works Bureau of Water and Waste Water Utility Billing Division
• Type: City Council Resolution
• Status: Failed - End of Term
• File created: 6/11/2007
• In control: City Council
• Final action: 12/5/2007
• Title: Investigative Hearing - Department of Public Works Bureau of Water and Waste Water Utility Billing Division FOR the purpose of requesting the Director of Public Works, the Chief of the Bureau of Water and Waste Water Utility Billing Division, and the Director of the Treasury to report to the City Council on the number of complaints of incorrect billing or meter reading for water and sewer services provided to Baltimore City households, the number of homes that have been put up for tax sale as the result of debt accrued for unpaid water bills in the last fiscal year, and the general practices for billing of active accounts, suspended accounts, and disconnected water services.
• Sponsors: President Young, Edward Reisinger, Nicholas C. D'Adamo, James B. Kraft, Kenneth Harris, Belinda Conaway, Agnes Welch, Vernon E. Crider, Sharon Green Middleton, Keiffer Mitchell, Mary Pat Clarke
• Indexes: Resolution

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
7/16/2007	0	Judiciary and Legislative Investigations	Scheduled for a Public Hearing
6/14/2007	0	The City Council	Referred for a Report
6/14/2007	0	The City Council	Referred for a Report
6/11/2007	0	City Council	Introduced
6/11/2007	0	City Council	Assigned
6/11/2007	0	Judiciary and Legislative Investigations	Scheduled for a Public Hearing

* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*

CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)

Introduced by: Councilmembers Young, Reisinger

A RESOLUTION ENTITLED

A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
Investigative Hearing - Department of Public Works Bureau of Water and Waste Water Utility Billing Division

FOR the purpose of requesting the Director of Public Works, the Chief of the Bureau of Water and Waste Water Utility Billing Division, and the Director of the Treasury to report to the City Council on the number of complaints of incorrect billing or meter reading for water and sewer services provided to Baltimore City households, the number of homes that have been put up for tax sale as the result of debt accrued for unpaid water bills in the last fiscal year, and the general practices for billing of active accounts, suspended accounts, and disconnected water services.
Body
Recitals

On March 26, 2007, a majority of the City Council joined with the sponsor in the reintroduction of the legislation that will preclude the City from foreclosing on residential properties solely to satisfy a lien imposed for charges owed for either or both water service charges or sewer service charges.

The introduction of the legislation was prompted, in part, by reports that over the past 3 years, more than 400 city residents lost their homes to tax sales based on debts owed other than back property taxes. While some of these included unpaid charges for alley repaving and sidewalk repair, most stemmed from unpaid water and...