MASSENA -- The village is looking at revising the village code to allow them to issue refunds in an event similar to what happened late last year when several hundred customers received their statements late.

They are also allowing fewer days for spring cleanup refuse to be at the curbside, changing recycling guidelines to keep up with what the DPW is currently enforcing and requiring sidewalks to be kept clear of snow and other debris.

Under the proposed water bill law, the village board would have the discretion to give a late fee waiver or credit in the event “that a billing or payment issue impacts a large number of customers.”

In December, more than 300 November water bills went from Massena to a post office in Kingston where they sat for weeks. The customers were all stuck with a penalty.

Board members had said state law precluded them from issuing any type of refund, but in February they voted to credit the affected customers whose accounts were in good standing.

For spring cleanup days, people will be allowed to put their junk to the curb three days before the pickup date. The current regulation is seven days.

The recycling code changes the requirement that recyclables be placed in blue boxes to any container separate from non-recyclables. It also says people no longer have to remove labels from metal cans.

The change to the sidewalk code would require property owners to remove “snow, dirt, ice, brush, limbs, grass and any other material considered a hazard by the superintendent of public works.”