WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor Ch. 811

(D) THE OMBUDSMAN:

(1) SHALL:

(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 MONTGOMERY COUNTY RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS, IF ALL UNDISPUTED
BILLS FOR WATER AND SEWER USAGE CHARGES ARE PAID WHEN DUE, THE
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.

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That Section 1 of this
Act may not be construed or interpreted to suggest the illegality
or inadequacy of the activities of, or the studies conducted by,
the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission before the effective
date of this Act.

SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That if any provision
of this Act or the application thereof to any person on
circumstance is held invalid for any reason in a court of
competent jurisdiction, the invalidity does not affect other
provisions or any other application of this Act which can be
given effect without the invalid provision or application, and
for this purpose the provisions of this Act are declared
severable.

SECTION 2 4 5. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act

shall take effect July 1, 1989.

Approved May 25, 1989.

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