AUBURN -- After considering changes to a bylaw designed to give the city more teeth, the council may show more bark than bite.

The Auburn City Council directed Comptroller Lisa Green not to send out a second round of notices to people who are delinquent with their water bills until they can rethink a measure giving the city the power to shut off water.

Surprised by the number of debtors, council wondered during Thursday's meeting about the logistics of turning off water in 300 homes. The city sent 600 30-day notices and half the people called to either pay or make arrangements to settle the outstanding amount.

Green asked how to proceed with the remaining 300 residences. The 60-days-late notices state city crews will stop supplying water in 10 days unless the delinquent homeowners clear their debts. With 20 days to pay the original bill, the process allows a person three months before taking the last step.

In August, the council approved the measure granting the city authorization to shut off water to people who ignore two notices, besides the original bill, stating they owe money. The city previously added the debt to the homeowners' taxes.

City officials wanted to agree on a policy to enforce this so no one gets treated "unfairly," corporation counsel John Rossi said.

For more, read Friday's Citizen