Appendix 4.3. An Act Relative to Sewerage Systems in the Cities of Concord, Laconia and Portsmouth.

Section 1. Sewerage System. For the defraying of the cost of construction, management, maintenance, operation, reconstruction, replacement, and repair of City sewers and sewer systems, including treatment and disposal works, and for the payment of interest and principal on any debt incurred to pay such costs, the Mayor and Aldermen may establish a scale of rents, to be called sewer rents, which shall be paid by the owner or owners of real estate connected by sewage drains with City sewers and sewer systems, or whose real estate receives special benefit therefrom in anyway. The Mayor and Aldermen may prescribe the manner in which and the time at which such rents are to be paid and collected and may change the scale of rents from time to time as may be deemed advisable. Such rents may be based on the metered consumption of water on the premises connected with the sewer system, the number and kind of plumbing fixtures connected with the sewer system, the number of persons served by the sewer system or upon any other equitable basis. Funds raised from sewer rents shall be used only for the purposes prescribed in this section.

Section 2. Notice. Notice of the charges for sewer rents shall be given to the owner or owners of real estate chargeable therefor in such manner as the Mayor and Aldermen shall prescribe. The procedure for the abatement of sewer rents and for appeals in case of neglect or refusal to abate shall be as prescribed by Section 8, 9 and 10, Chapter 95, Public Laws.

Section 3. Lien. All charges for sewer rents shall become a lien upon the real estate served by the City sewer system or the real estate on account of which they are charged. Such lien shall continue for one year from the last item charged in said sewer rents and may be enforced by suit in behalf of the City against the owner or owners of such real estate. In case an appeal has been taken and the charges sustained in whole or in part, such lien shall continue until the expiration of one year from such decision. The record of the charge for sewer rents made by the City shall be sufficient notice to maintain suit upon such lien against subsequent purchasers or attaching creditors of such real estate.

Section 4. Rules and Regulations. The Mayor and Aldermen may adopt rules and regulations pertaining to the use of sewerage system and other regulations relating to the system as in their judgment the sewerage system, pumping station, treatment plant, or other structure demands for proper maintenance or operation. Any person willfully violating such regulations shall be fined not more than ten dollars for each day of neglect or refusal after written notice has been given.

Section 5. Application. This act shall apply only to the cities of Concord, Laconia and Portsmouth; and Section 5, 5a, 5b, 6, 7 and 11, Chapter 95, Public Laws, as amended by Chapter 98, Laws of 1933 (Sections 5 to 9 inclusive, and 13, Chapter 111, Commissioners' Report), shall not apply to said cities.

Section 6. Repeal. Section 6 of Chapter 241 of the Laws of 1893, relative to the City of Laconia, is hereby repealed so far as the same is inconsistent herewith.

Section 7. Takes Effect. This act shall take effect upon its passage.

(Laws 1941, 168)