State fees increase, local fees dropped

OTISFIELD — There will be a substantial increase in state plumbing inspection fees, Richard St. John, Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) and Licensed Plumbing Inspector (LPI) for Otisfield told the Board of Selectman March 2.

The board agreed to drop an inspection fee to help mitigate the added cost to residents.

Inspection fees for non-engineered systems under 2,000 gallons, previously priced at $100, will more than double, to $250, in Otisfield on April 1. Fees for individual fixtures will increase from $6 per fixture with a minimum fee of $24, to $10 per fixture with a $40 minimum.

The 2,000 gallon restriction does not rule out any private residences in Otisfield. St. John said that only organizations with a great deal of land and plumbing needs, such as Seeds of Peace summer camp, could possibly exceed that number.  In three years as LPI, he has never inspected a system over 2,000 gallons.

According to St. John, the fees were initially set by the state in January, but the increases are still reaching the towns.

The state will continue to receive 25 percent of the fees, while the town of Otisfield will collect the rest.

In light of the increase in fees, the selectmen saw fit to eliminate a $25 charge that the town had levied on all inspections. The fee was designed to pay for St. John's time, as the $18 previously collected for fixture inspections was simply too little to cover the time and driving distance required.

Selectman Lenny Adler made the motion to drop the fees, and the board was unanimous in its agreement.

"I would drop the $25 because [the state fees are] a hard enough hit on people as it is and we'll still come out ahead of where we were," said Adler.

"When we're looking at how much we will be collecting," added St. John, "that's, in my opinion, burden enough."