NORWICH – The Town of Norwich will be holding a public hearing in hopes of creating a new water policy for delinquent users. The policy, if adopted, may result in shutting off accounts not settled within 90 days of notice.

“No one likes this kind of thing, but they’re taking money out of our accounts. That’s not good for anybody. We need a plan,” said Town of Norwich Supervisor David C. Law at Monday’s board meeting.

The board listened to financial reports involving two businesses, now closed, that owed substantial unpaid water bills. One business, which was leased, required the renter be tracked down. The other passed off the remainder of a prior bill onto a new, unknowing owner.

“They think there isn’t really a whole lot we can do about it, I guess,” said Law.

He suggested the board set a plan in motion that would allow the town to issue new letters in February to all overdue accounts. By late March, a fee and a second letter would be sent out and then after that, a final notice and fee would be issued in April. Law said he hoped this would prevent future abuses.