Ch. 811

LAWS OF MARYLAND

(I)   RECEIVE A COPY OF AND REVIEW, ANY WRITTEN
CLAIM FILED WITH THE WSSC AS PROVIDED IN § 6-111(A) OF THIS
SUBTITLE;

(II]   INVESTIGATE THE MERITS OF THE CLAIM;

(III) ATTEND ANY HEARING HELD AS PROVIDED IN §
6-111(B)(3) OF THIS SUBTITLE AND PRESENT ANY FINDINGS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE MERITS OF THE CLAIM DURING THE HEARING;

AND

(IV) PREPARE A WRITTEN STATEMENT OF FINDINGS
AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE CLAIM AND PROVIDE COPIES OF THE
STATEMENT TO THE WSSC AND THE CLAIMANT; AND

(2) MAY REPRESENT THE RESIDENT IN ANY APPEAL PROCESS.

(E) NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS ARTICLE, AS
TO PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS, IF ALL
UNDISPUTED BILLS FOR WATER AND SEWER USAGE CHARGES ARE PAID WHEN
DUE, WSSC MAY NOT INTERRUPT SERVICE DURING THE PENDENCY OF A
WRITTEN CLAIM FILED FOR A REDUCTION IN AN EXCESSIVE BILL FOR
WATER AND SEWER USAGE CHARGES.

(A)(1) THERE IS AN OFFICE OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY OMBUDSMAN
WITHIN THE WSSC.

(2) THE OMBUDSMAN MAY REPRESENT THE INTEREST OF ANY
MONTGOMERY COUNTY RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL CUSTOMER WHO FILES A
WRITTEN CLAIM WITH THE WSSC FOR:----------------------------------

(I) A REFUND OF A PAYMENT ON AN EXCESSIVE BILL
FOR WATER AND SEWER USAGE CHARGES; OR

(II) A REDUCTION IN AN EXCESS BILL, THAT HAS
NOT YET BEEN PAID, FOR WATER AND SEWER USAGE CHARGES.------------

(B) THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY EXECUTIVE, WITH THE APPROVAL OF
THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY COUNCIL, SHALL APPOINT AN OMBUDSMAN.

(C) (1) THE WSSC SHALL PAY THE OMBUDSMAN'S SALARY AND ANY
FRINGE BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO OTHER EMPLOYEES OF THE WSSC AND
SHALL PROVIDE FUNDING FOR THE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN.------------

(2) THE SALARY OF THE OMBUDSMAN SHALL BE DETERMINED
BY THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY COUNCIL.---------------------------------

(3) WHILE HOLDING OFFICE, THE OMBUDSMAN MAY
PARTICIPATE IN ANY WSSC PROGRAM OF GROUP HEALTH, LIFE, OR
DISABILITY INSURANCE, TO THE SAME EXTENT AND UNDER THE SAME TERMS
AS OTHER WSSC OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES.-----------------------------

- 4400 -

6-113.