Water rates will go up in Seven Fields next year, according to borough Manager Thomas B. Smith.

West View Water Authority will raise the rate from the current $4.80 per thousand gallons to $5.75 per thousand gallons in 2010, Mr. Smith said in an interview a few days after a recent borough council meeting.

The increase will provide no revenue to the borough, he said, but council is considering raising penalty fees for late water and sewer payments.

Council is scheduled to vote Dec. 14 on a proposal to increase the fees on water and sewer bills that are paid late from 1.5 percent to 10 percent quarterly, beginning in January.

"The current rate is so low, that basically, we're being taken advantage of," Mr. Smith said. "People are ... taking their good, old time in paying bills, due to the low rate. We need to end this."

Although water rates -- and the penalties for paying them late -- will increase, Seven Fields' residents will not see a tax increase in 2010. Borough council Nov. 9 unanimously approved its 2010 budget with no increase in the property tax rate.

Also at that meeting, council amended the domestic animals ordinance to eliminate a restriction on the number of domestic animals that residents may own. Council also removed rabbits from the list of exotic animals.

The original ordinance, passed in January, limited each resident to owning no more than two domestic pets, basically referring to cats and dogs. It also banned ownership of exotic animals. It was adopted after a resident in the borough was cited numerous times for raising llamas beneath the deck on her home. Residents had complained that the ordinance was too restrictive.

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