The Cape Elizabeth Town Ccuncil voted unanimously Monday to pass along new charges from the Portland Water District for submeter programs to participants through a $1 monthly bill increase, but only until the end of 2009.

Submeters allow residents to measure the output as well as input of water into public lines, so they can avoid sewer charges for water that goes into lawns or pools instead of down drains.

Portland Water District is overhauling water meters throughout its coverage area to be outfitted with automated meter-reading technology, allowing a passing vehicle to read the meters via a radio frequency.

Since no one will be physically checking meters, existing submeters will have to also be outfitted with radio transmitters. The council agreed to continue with the submeter program and pay for the additional $17,640 cost to cover the price of upgrading about 735 submeters in Cape Elizabeth. The new $1 charge is designed to cover those costs.

“Is the fee going to expire?” asked Herb Dennison, a Spurwink Avenue resident, regarding the new submeter charge.

Dennison asked the council if he could buy his transmitter outright, rather than continue to pay $1 a month for an unknown number of years. He argued the transmitters would be paid off in a few years, but customers would still be getting charged.

Despite being the only resident to speak up against the increase, Dennison’s logic was effective.

After a brief discussion, the council decided to charge the additional $1 fee to submeter users, but only through December 2009, when costs for the new program would be recovered. The decision passed unanimously.

In other news, the council voted unanimously to approve a contract the Cape Elizabeth Police Benevolent Association agreed to on Oct. 26. The new contract has been in negotiation since it expired in June of 2005 and lasts until June of 2008. It includes retroactive pay and increased retirement benefits. The police, however, were not able to join the Maine State Retirement System as they had hoped.

Also, the council postponed a hearing on traffic regulation amendments for the high school access road to Dec. 11. The amendments are merely technical adjustments to catch up with construction already completed on the road, said McGovern last week.

The council was the last for councilors Michael Mowles and Carol Fritz. Mowles has served one, three-year term and Fritz has served three, three-year terms.