Notices of radio-read meter to be distributed

The approximately 1,500 Fairfield residents and businesses with Neptune radio-read water meters will soon be getting notification about the meters in their city water bills.

At Monday night?s Environmental and Franchise Utilities Committee, a resident asked if the city had informed homeowners when old water meters were replaced with radio frequency meters.

City administrator Kevin Flanagan said no formal notification had taken place.

?There?s a lot of people who don?t even know the radio meter is in their home,? said the resident. ?Some of them may not want it there.?

Flanagan said the city would cross reference the list of the new water meter installations and insert a letter in the customers? monthly statement.

?If people are going to opt out [and choose a touch pad meter] they?ll need to know what they have,? said Flanagan. ?We can get that done in the upcoming weeks.?

The RF meters have a two-inch, ?little black antenna? attached to the device, according to city councilman Michael Halley.

The city council is scheduled to vote Monday on the third and final reading of the water meter opt-out amendment.

The Environmental and Franchise Utilities Committee decided Monday to recommend the city drop the $100 meter replacement fee for residents choosing not to keep the RF meters. The concerned residents have cited health risks associated with the meters.

The opt-out program fees to be voted on Monday include a $75 per hour installation cost with a minimum half-hour charge and a $10 monthly service charge.

City Water Superintendent Carl Chandler said the installation of the new meters had been suspended pending the council?s decision on the opt-out amendment.