Aug 20, 2003 By Amanda Clegg 2 min read

SMITHFIELD – Councilman Dan Swaney said the borough passed a resolution Tuesday to begin procedures to enforce collection of overdue sewer bills. The borough will send a notice first, Swaney said. Residents have 30 days from the notice to respond. If they do not respond within the 30 days, a notice will be posted on their door and they will have 24 hours to pay before their water is shut off. Billing for the new sewer system began in October 2002, Jamie Hoone, council secretary, said.

The procedure for collecting the unpaid sewer bills also applies to another resolution the borough council passed at their regular meeting. Residents who have not separated downspouts on their homes from sanitary sewer drains will receive a letter from the borough, Swaney said, adding that after 30 days and after a second inspection if residents still do not comply their water will be shut off.

In other matters, Swaney said a street drain on Water Street is “completely closed off.”

“Anytime we get rain water it overflows,” he said, adding that the borough had the drain inspected and Engineer John Over will investigate the matter further.

The council also conducted the following business:

– Agreed to contact government agencies to request a grant to put a sewer line in on Church Street Ext. Hoone said seven houses would be connected to the sewer line.

– Plan to recognize a resident who has been cleaning up Main Street and around local businesses in the area with a letter.

– Agreed to lease their Defibrillator to the Smithfield Fire Department.

– Passed a vote to advertise for a part-time police officer for the borough.