COLLINS - Residents in the town will be paying more for turning their water back on once it has been shut off. The town board approved new water service connection fees.
The former fees to turn on water were $5 and $5 to turn off water. The new fees will be $50 for shutting off and turning back on water. Water will only be shut off if a resident is late in paying their bill.
"If (the bill) is 60 days late then there is a 15-day period they can grieve it with the town board," Councilman Ken Martin said.
The resolution passed unanimously.
In an unrelated matter, the board has authorized a request for speed reduction on Aldrich Street. At a previous board meeting, Gowanda Board of Education member Joseph DeCarlo approached the town board. DeCarlo asked if the town could reduce the speed limit near the Gowanda Elementary School, which does not have a sign with the words "school zone." The sign is a silhouette of a mother and child that is supposed to represent a school zone.
"We've all driven by there how many times and noticed the school zone signs were there?" DeCarlo said at a meeting in May.
Currently, the speed limit is 35 mph and DeCarlo would like to see it reduced to 25 mph. The board did approach the Erie County Department of Public Works and County Legislator John Mills and advised the town to request a reduction from the county.
By resolution, Supervisor David Tessmer will submit a letter to Erie County for reduction from 35 mph to 25 mph during school hours on Aldrich street and for the proper signs to be installed.
In other business:
The public comment period for the Vail Road permit has been extended to Aug. 17.
The town's website has been changed to www.townofcollins.com.
The town discussed an employee evaluation procedure to be completed annually. The board will re-visit the issue at a later meeting.
Comments on this article may be sent to smcdonnell@observertoday.com.
