§ 58:26-24 — Public hearing; ordinance; application

6. a. A public entity that intends to enter into a contract with a private firm for the provision of water supply services pursuant to P.L.1995, c.101 (C.58:26-19 et al.) shall conduct a public hearing on the proposed contract negotiated pursuant to section 5 of P.L.1995, c.101 (C.58:26-23). A public entity shall also conduct pursuant to this section a public hearing on revisions to a contract required by subsection b. of section 7 of P.L.1995, c.101 (C.58:26-25) or on substantial amendments to a contract as required by subsection g. of section 7 of P.L.1995, c.101 (C.58:26-25). b. The public entity shall provide at least 14 days' prior notice of the public hearing by publication in at least one newspaper of general circulation in the jurisdiction or service area of the public entity to be served under the terms of the proposed contract. The publication shall include notice of the date, time and place of the public hearing, notice of the place at which copies of the proposed contract will be available for public inspection, and the times during which such inspection will be permitted. The notice shall specifically state whether any concession fee or monetary benefit will be paid by a private firm to the public entity as a result of the contract for water supply services, the monetary amount of the fee or benefit and the potential impact of the fee or benefit on the charges, rates or fees which will be paid for the supply of water by water users in the jurisdiction or service area that will receive the water supply services pursuant to the terms of the contract. c. At the public hearing, the public entity shall explain the terms and conditions of the proposed contract and shall answer questions raised by prospective consumers and other interested parties. The public entity shall explain during the hearing the charges, rates or fees that will or may be charged by the public entity for the supply of water as a result of the proposed contract. In addition, the entity shall explain any concession fee or monetary benefit to be paid by a private firm to the public entity as a result of the contract for water supply services, the monetary amount of the fee or benefit and the potential impact of the fee or benefit on the charges, rates or fees which will be paid for the supply of water by water users in the jurisdiction or service area that will receive the water supply services pursuant to the terms of the contract. d. The public entity shall produce a verbatim record of the public hearing. The record of the public hearing shall be kept open for a period of seven days following the conclusion of the hearing, during which time interested parties may submit written statements to be included in the hearing report. The public entity shall prepare a written hearing report, which shall include a copy of the proposed contract, a copy of the statement setting forth the public entity's reasons for the selection of the proposal submitted by the private firm with which the entity has negotiated a contract, the verbatim record of the public hearing, written statements submitted by interested parties, a copy of the bond counsel's written opinion required pursuant to subsection g. of section 5 of P.L.1995, c.101 (C.58:26-23) and a statement prepared by the public entity summarizing the major issues raised at the public hearing and the public entity's specific responses to those issues. The public entity shall make copies of the hearing report available to interested parties upon request at a cost not to exceed the actual cost of printing or copying. e. The governing body of a public entity that has negotiated the proposed contract shall adopt an ordinance or a resolution, as appropriate, or parallel ordinances or resolutions, as the case may be, if there is more than one governing body involved, approving the proposed contract. The ordinance or resolution may be introduced at the first meeting of the governing body of the public entity held after the public hearing on the proposed contract, and shall acknowledge that the agreement needs to be approved pursuant to section 7 of P.L.1995, c.101 (C.58:26-25). f. Within 30 days after the close of a public hearing on a proposed contract held pursuant to subsection a. of this section and upon at least 10 days' prior written notice, the public entity shall submit pursuant to section 7 of P.L.1995, c.101 (C.58:26-25) an application for approval to the division and the board and shall submit the hearing report to the department for review. The board and division shall specify the form of the application to be submitted. L.1995,c.101,s.6.