MetCom to Establish Hardship Waiver

ANNAPOLIS, MD – Delegate John Bohanan successfully shepherded emergency legislation through Maryland to adjust St. Mary’s water and sewer company’s collection of unpaid charges and water or sewer service charge exemptions.

The bill aimed at St. Mary’s County Metropolitan Commission is expected to be signed by the Governor.

Under the adoption of an emergency bill, MetCom is now required to establish a financial hardship waiver or extension of time procedure, including a method of appeal, relating to unpaid connection charges, service charges and system improvement charges.

The waiver is to be made available to for customer who has a demonstrated financial hardship and whose primary residence has unpaid connection charges. The procedure must include a method by which the owner of the home may appeal the decision of MetCom to the St. Mary’s County Commissioners or an entity designated by the county commissioners.

Additionally, the bill exempts property owned by a volunteer fire department and volunteer rescue squad and used for public purposes from the imposition of specified water or sewer service charges by MetCom.

Delegate Bohanan, commenting on the two MetCom bills, said, “This action by the legislature provides a clear process that offers a fair appeal for any homeowner who gets behind on their water/sewer payments.”

He added, “Also, HB1531 resulted from a conversation with a volunteer firefighter who talked to me after church one Sunday about their department’s rapidly increasing MetCom bill.”