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HomeMy WebLinkAbout56-89 RESOLUTIONC RESOLUTION NO. 56-89 A RESOLUTION APPROVING A PENALTY WAIVER PROGRAM FOR ELDERLY OR HANDICAPPED CITY UTILITY CUSTOMERS. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS: Section 1. The Board of Directors hereby approves the penalty waiver program for elderly or handicapped city utility customers attached hereto marked Exhibit "A" and made a part hereof. PASSED AND APPROVED this 5th day of July , 1989. APPROVED By: (eLzejyrtl/ Mayor • FAYETTEVI LLE THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS TO: Fayetteville City Board of Directors THRU: James L. Pennington, City Manager FROM: Scott C. Linebaugh, Assistant City Manager DATE: May 24, 1989 RE: ESTABLISHMENT OF A PENALTY WAIVER PROGRAM FOR ELDERLY AND/OR HANDICAPPED CITY UTILITY CUSTOMERS For a variety of reasons, certain "elderly" and "handicapped" residential customers have a problem of paying their utility bills by the due date. Most of these type customers only receive an income check once per month and may not receive it until after a penalty has already been assessed to their account. Currently, all residential customers have 20 days to pay their bill before a penalty is applied and a total of 28 days from date of billing before service is disconnected for non-payment. In recognition of this problem, the staff would like to recommend for approval of a program which would waive the penalty applied to utility bills for customers in accordance with the following requirements: 1. This program is intended for those "elderly" and "handicapped" residential customers whose financial situation causes a hardship in paying their City utility bill by the due date. 2. An "elderly" customer must be a residential customer at least 62 years of age with a total gross annual income of less than $12,000. Acceptable proof of age can be a Social Security check, a driver's license, a birth certificate or other positive proof of age. 3. A "handicapped" customer is a residential customer having A permanent severe physical or mental impairment which limits their ability to pay their City utility bill. Proof of handicapped classification may be a certification by a physician, licensed psychologist, Veteran's Administration, Social Security, State Department of Human Services, Arkansas State Hospital, or regional mental health center. 4. To be eligible, customers interested in this program must present themselves in person or have an acceptable representative appear at the City of Fayetteville Business Office and complete an application form. EXHIBIT A 113 WEST MOUNTAIN 72701 501 521-7700 5 An eligible customer may elect to make application for the penalty waiver regardless of date of application. This would include making application beyond the due date of a current bill and not be required to pay any penalty provided there is no delinquent bill due. 6 Persons eligible for the program will not be required to pay a penalty for bill payment after the due date. 7. Customers eligible under this program would still be subject to service termination for non-payment 28 days from date of billing. 8. Continued delinquency over an extended period of time (over 60 days) will subject the customer to the penalty charge and removal from the plan. 9. Providing false information to the City of Fayetteville for the purpose of obtaining eligibility will subject the customer for prior penalty charges and removal from the plan. 10. Any questions regarding this program may be referred to the Business Office in the City of Fayetteville Administration Building. Other local utility companies provide these services to their residential customers essentially following the provisions outlined above. Attached are the rules and regulations that are set forth by Southwestern Power Company and Arkansas Western Gas Company regarding their penalty waiver programs. SCL/sgl