Frequently
Asked Questions page
two Automatic Water/Sewer Bill Payment Comes To Somerset BoroughThe Borough of Somerset is offering a new way to pay water and sewer bills. Borough Council has entered into an agreement with Somerset Trust Company that enables Borough water and sewer customers to have the amount of their water/sewer bill automatically withdrawn from their checking or savings account. This service eliminates customers having to write a check and mailing it, or dropping it off at the Borough Building. You will save the cost of checks, stamps, and gasoline, plus you'll never have to pay late charges. Your bill will be paid on time even when your on vacation. Each month you will receive a notice at least 10 days before your bill is due, showing you when it will be paid by automatic deduction. You may participate in this program no matter where you bank. There is no charge for this service. To
find out more about this program, Click
here for more information and to print out the proper form. A limited number of "home water-saving kits" are available at Somerset
Borough's Water Office. These Kits can detect leaks in your bathroom toilet.
Toilet tank leaks are almost undetectable to the naked eye, but can add significantly
to your water bill. These kits include two dye tablets and information concerning
leak detection and water conservation. They are available at no charge to customers
of the Somerset Borough Water System. Stop in and ask for one, or pick one
up while paying your water bill. Because
grass fires can be easily caused by burning, The Borough of Somerset
has discontinued allowing leaves and yard waste to be burned. Permits our required to construct, enlarge, alter, or demolish a structure. They are needed when the occupancy of a building or structure changes or when sanitary facilities are added. Permits are required when a proposed change occurs in the use of a building, or when water or sewer service is requested, driveway construction planned, fencing erected, or streets excavated. Permit applications may be obtained at the Building Inspections Department in the Borough Building, 340 West Union Street. Applications can also be printed from our web site.(Click Here) The Building Inspector will review all applications for permits and determine whether the proposed work zoning, building plumbing, mechanical and subdivision conform to various Borough Codes and Ordinances. If these Codes and Ordinances are met, a permit will be issued. Web pages in our site: Larger projects may need additional time for review and many require other agency permits:
Those with such projects are urged to get in touch with the Borough as early as possible in the planning stage. For further details, call 445-5595
It would help our snow removal efforts if citizens would try to keep from parking along the roads during heavy snow. This way we will be able to keep roads clean more efficiently. The following
streets, although located within the Borough, are maintained by
the State Department of Transportation:
It is almost impossible for the equipment operators not to push some snow into driveways that are already plowed. If you must plow your driveway prior to completion of the street plowing, clear an area on the side of the driveway from which the truck will approach. This provides an area for snow to unload before it reaches the driveway. Snow
and Ice Removal from Sidewalks Customers who wish to have their water service shut off for the winter should
notify our water office two weeks prior to the day of shutoff. This allows
sufficient time to locate and check the shutoff valve at the curb. This
step is necessary to determine if the valve is functioning properly. A
malfunctioning shutoff valve could cause internal plumbing damage if not
taken care of before cold weather arrives. The Borough has a fact sheet
available which outlines the guidelines for disconnecting water/sewer services
during extended periods of absence. Please call 443-2661 if you would like
a copy, or stop in and pick one up while you are paying your water bill. During Winter Months, we asked that you take special care to protect your water meter from freezing. This will not only help us by not having to send an employee to repair the frozen meters, but is beneficial to you and the owner/tenant of the property are responsible for for paying for the frozen water meter and for the labor for replacing it. Some tips on preventing damage caused by frozen meters: Locate the meter in a place that is heated and out of the wind and weather (like a basement or crawl space). If the meter or water lines are not in a properly heated area, wrap your meter and water lines with insulation and/or heat tapes (Available at local hardware stores). In extreme cases of cold, let one of your faucets run very slowly. A slight increase in your water bill may be better than the costly task of replacing frozen meters, water pipes, or property damage. Leaf Collection and Grass Clippings As part of the Borough's Recycling Program, a site is being provided at the
Borough's Public Works Garage at 644 South Franklin Avenue for residents
of the Borough to drop off grass clippings. These clippings will be mixed
with the leaves that are collected each fall to enhance the Borough's composting
activities. Similar to leaf collection procedure, Borough residents can
obtain stickers at the municipal building for each bag of grass clippings
they want to dispose of. Each bag with a proper sticker may then be dropped
of at the Borough's Public Works Garage Monday through Friday between 7am
and 3:30 pm. Click here to learn more about our Leave Recycling Program. The Following procedures is to be followed to obtain a permit to remove trees between the sidewalk and curb. No trees in this location may be removed without a permit. Call the Borough Secretary's Office (443-2661) to make your request. If approved, a permit is issued which will tell how many trees are to be removed and whether they must be replanted, The permit will have an expiration date for completion of the work. All trees must be removed to ground level to avoid stumps lining the street. Residents are reminded: planting the Carolina Popular, Lombardy Popular and Willow tree is prohibited in the Borough by Ordinance No. 177, adopted June 22, 1911. The root of these trees infiltrate and eventually cause broken pipes in water and sewer lines. Questions may be directed to the Borough Secretary. 98-5. Removal
of feces required How high can a property owner in Somerset Borough let his grass grow? Borough Ordinance #1082 permits "grass not exceeding six inches in height. This does not apply to tended gardens containing vegetation which is edible ore planted for some useful or ornamental purpose which is not detrimental to the health, safety, and cleanliness of the inhabitants of the Borough. Ordinance
No. 1234 Section 1: The short title of this ordinance shall be " Coasting Vehicle Ordinance of the Borough of Somerset.Section 2: PURPOSE.It is the purpose of this ordinance to prohibit the use of all coasting vehicles on all public streets in the Borough of Somerset and on sidewalks, public parks and public parking lots in the Business District of the Borough of Somerset.Section 3: DEFINITIONS. For the purpose of this ordinance, the following terms shall have the meaning indicated:
Section 4: PROHIBITED PLACES OF OPERATION.
Section 5: OPERATION IN A RECKLESS MANNER PROHIBITED.
Section 6: VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES.
Section 7: EFFECTIVE DATE.
This is the Borough of Somerset guide lines to install a water meter set.
Please
Call the Somerset Borough Inspection Department Somerset Borough Sewer Lateral Requirements
Please
Call the Somerset Borough Inspection Department |
It
is the Borough's intention to keep all of its roads plowed and
salted this winter. It is our policy to plow and salt any hills
and main roads, then side streets and Borough Parking lots.
