HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-07-26-WSAB-min(`OJ51 MOgryi'Y Minutes
g o y r7s c Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board
w 201 Bedford Street
3 x Lexington, MA 02420
APRIL 1 9'"
INGT July 26, 2012
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APPROVED 9/13/12
Attendance:
Board Members: Loren Wood, Chair and Maria Constantinides, Member.
Staff: Rob Addelson, Assistant Town Manager for Finance, Bill Hadley, DPW Director, Erik
Gitschier, Water /Sewer Superintendent, Elizabeth Tucker and Robin Fullford, Utility Billing
Chair Loren Wood called the meeting to order at 4:32 pm.
The order of business was conducted as follows:
Status Report
Ms. Fullford provided a status report as follows:
44 To be heard tonight
2 Appeals
49 Pending
95 Total
APPEALS DISCUSSIONS:
2 Hayes Lane — VFW — Abatement discussion
Mr. Addelson presented his recommendation to further abate this account $1,150.35 plus the interest associated
with the bill due to a double payment on a liened water bill. Although members of the association dispute the
possibility that the VFW would have used the amount of water for which they were billed from 2002 -2007, the
Town takes the position that the meter accurately recorded their usage.
It was moved by Ms. Constantinides, seconded by Mr. Wood and voted unanimously to approve the
recommendation to further abate $1,150.35 plus associated interest as presented
8 April Lane
Members of the board reviewed the calculation presented. Ms. Fullford stated that no mitigating circumstances
arose that would warrant a further abatement. The board reaffirmed its original decision.
Appeals:
2 Hayes Lane
Mr. Addelson summarized his new calculation to Mr. Donald Martin, representative of the VFW. Mr. Addelson
explained how he arrived at the recommendation to further abate this account $1,150.35 plus interest. Mr. Martin
stated he personally is satisfied and thanked the Town for its efforts but also stated that other members of his
organization intend to take their appeal to the Board of selectmen.
8 April Lane
The homeowners did not attend the meeting. The WSAB approved abatement of - $2641.04 will be recommended
to the selectmen
Approval of minutes:
It was moved by Ms. Constantinides, seconded by Mr. Wood and voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the
June 28, 2012 meeting as presented.
Disposition of Abatement Requests:
(`OJ51 MOgryi'Y Minutes
g o y r7s c Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board
w 201 Bedford Street
3 x Lexington, MA 02420
APRIL 1 9'"
INGT July 26, 2012
��
Domestic Leaks
15 April Lane (Revisit)
The homeowners filed for an abatement on bill #694896, an estimate of 100 hcf. We had estimated the usage
since 2008 when the homeowners installed a deck over the pad so that we were unable to obtain readings. The
meter was changed on 6/6/12 with an outread of 1080 indicating that we had grossly under estimated the usage.
Staff had made several attempts to gain access to change the meter, run a new wire, and install an accessible pad.
No postcard reads were returned by the homeowner. A staff visit on 6/6/12 revealed a toilet with new components
that the homeowners said they repaired last fall. The redistribution evenly apportions the total usage but cannot
show spiked usage from a leak. In view of that, we recalculated 694898 and 681148 at tier one rates to
acknowledge the leak. Staff recommends an abatement of - $6,200.73.
67 Baker Avenue
The homeowners applied for an abatement after receiving bill #707392. This account was previously granted a
leak based abatement on bill #693497 in the amount of - $86.85. The homeowner had had a toilet repaired and
provided a receipt. However, it is clear that the leak continued into the spring billing period. We established the
average spring usage at 31 and recalculated all usage at tier one rates. Staff recommends an abatement of
- $150.54
17 Carol Lane
The former homeowners applied for an abatement on Final bill #719374. A staff visit revealed a leaking toilet in
need of a fluid master. We established the average spring usage at 22 and recalculated all usage at tier one rates.
Staff recommends an abatement of - $1,970.23
53 Cary Lane
This is a rental unit. The tenant applied for an abatement on bill #717752. A staff visit revealed a leaking toilet for
which the homeowner provided a plumber's invoice. Also, the meter outread of 672 confirmed that we had over
estimated the usage. We established ADU and derived the usage for bill #717752 at 25. Staff recommends an
abatement of - $412.03
11 Cider Mill Lane
The homeowners applied for an abatement after receiving bill #719092. A staff visit revealed 2 leaking toilet; the
homeowners provided a plumber's receipt for repair. We established the average spring usage at 49 and
recalculated all but 9 units at tier one rates. Staff recommends an abatement of - $836.61
30 Estabrook Road
The homeowners applied for an abatement after receiving bill #714725. A staff visit revealed a leaking toilet and
the homeowners provided a Home Depot receipt. We established the average spring usage at 30 and recalculated
all usage at tier one rates. Staff recommends an abatement of - $98.43
46 Fifer Lane
The homeowner filed an abatement application after receiving bill #715409. Staff found a toilet leaking and
confirmed the reading with an outread of 816. The homeowner had the toilet repaired and provided a receipt. The
three year spring average usage is 33; therefore we recalculated all usage at tier one rates. Staff recommends an
abatement of - $368.50
20 Flintlock Road
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(`OJ51 MOgryi'Y Minutes
g o y r7s c Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board
w 201 Bedford Street
3 x Lexington, MA 02420
APRIL 19'"
INGT July 26, 2012
The tenant applied for an abatement on bill #711777. Staff adjusted two toilets leaking in overflow. The 3 year
spring average usage is 23; therefore we recalculated all usage at tier one rates. Staff recommends an abatement
of - $75.27
31 Fletcher Avenue - Rejected
At 31 Fletcher Avenue there are several living units. Units 10 and 11 were both owned by Jefferson Union Realty
Trust. We recorded high usage at #11 and urged the owners to pursue a leak. Ultimately, Jefferson was awarded a
leak -based abatement on Bill #s 700412, 686634 and 669055. It turned out that the meters for Units 10 and 11
were reversed and the leaks were actually in Unit 10 and had not been fixed as illustrated in bill #714330. It took
several months to gain access to all of the units and to ascertain what meters were actually installed in each unit.
This involved running water in each unit and observing which meter responded. Unit 11 has since been sold and
the correct reading was used for the final but we did not include Bill #714330 as we now knew it was actually the
usage for Unit 10 which had changed ownership on 11/29/11. It seems unfair to charge the new owner of #10
with Bill #714330. It is impossible to know how the meter mix up happened in the first place or who is responsible.
Regardless, staff feels that because we were unable to alert Jefferson to the leak at Unit 10, we share some
responsibility. Staff recommends abating Bill #714330 entirely
15 Frances Road
The homeowner applied for an abatement after receiving bill #716560. A staff visit revealed a leak and confirmed
the postcard reading. The leak was repaired and the homeowner provided a receipt. The three year spring average
usage is 23 hcf; therefore all usage was recalculated at tier one rates. Staff recommends an abatement of - $368.50
This recommendation was subsequently withdrawn when staff identified an error. It will be corrected at the next
meeting
23 Greenwood Street
When the meter was replaced on 5/18/09 the new meter was installed backwards. On 6/25/12 the new meter was replaced
with an outread of 9928. The total amount used is 10000 - 9928 = 72 units the account should have billed. This calculation
redistributes the correct usage of 72 since the initial meter change. Staff recommends an abatement of - $179.49
360 Lowell Street
The homeowner filed an abatement application after receiving bill #706675. Staff performed a leak inspection in
June and found a toilet leaking. The homeowners fixed the toilet themselves and provided a receipt for the parts.
Their 3 year average spring usage was established at 49 so all but 9 hcf were recalculated at tier one rates. Staff
recommends an abatement of - $275.32
121 Marrett Road
The homeowners daughter applied for an abatement after taking over his expenses. A staff visit revealed a leaking
toilet and the homeowner identified a leak in the irrigation system. The homeowners do not have a second meter
for irrigation. They provided a statement from Eastern Brothers Irrigation that a leak had been repaired in the fall
of 2011. We established the 3 year average spring and fall usages at 45 and 114 respectively. On bill #708192 all
but 5 hcf were recalculated at tier one rates. On bill #694298 we recalculated the excess usage of 100 hcf tier
one rates no sewer. On bill #662976 we recalculated the excess at tier one rates. Staff recommends an abatement
of - $3,451.33
282 Marrett Road
The homeowner applied for an abatement because he believed his meter had stopped working. A manual read of
864 had been obtained from the visual for the spring billing. A staff visit on 6/5/2012 did not reveal any leaks. The
meter and visual reader were replaced: the outread was 865. While we do suspect there had been a leak, none
(`OJ51 MOgryi'Y Minutes
g o y r7s c Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board
w 201 Bedford Street
3 x Lexington, MA 02420
APRIL 1 9'"
INGT July 26, 2012
��
were found during a staff visit nor has the homeowner provided evidence of a leak. Staff recommends waiving any
interest associated with bill # 708235.
1433 Massachusetts Avenue
The homeowners applied for an abatement after receiving bill #719306. A staff visit revealed two toilets leaking
in overflow and they were adjusted. We established the average spring usage at 39 and recalculated all usage at
tier one rates. Staff recommends an abatement of - $28.95
371 North Emerson Road
The homeowners applied for an abatement on bill #714002. A staff visit revealed new parts in a toilet and the
homeowner provided a receipt. The 3 year spring average usage is 45; therefore we recalculated all but 5 units at
tier one rates. This customer receives a $50.00 discount from each billing for participating in lead & copper testing.
Staff recommends an abatement of - $69.48
52 North Hancock Street
This is an irrigation account. Last fall the homeowners applied for an abatement on bill #697205. Staff told them
that if in the spring they could demonstrate that there had been a leak in their irrigation system we would process
their application. In May they provided an invoice for the repair of a leak in the system. We established their three
year average usage at 35 hcf and recalculated the excess of 97 hcf at tier one rates. Staff recommends an
abatement of - $294.88
48 Outlook Drive
This is a house that has been empty for 5 years. The trustee called after receiving bill #718091. A staff visit
revealed two leaking toilets for which a repair receipt was received. The average usage is zero so we recalculated
167 hcf at tier one rates. Staff recommends an abatement of - $1,422.63
75 Outlook Drive - Withdrawn
The homeowners applied for an abatement after receiving bill #718104. A staff visit revealed a leaking toilet. A
plumber turned off the water to the toilet. He has ordered parts because the toilet is old. We established the
average spring usage at 60 and recalculated all but 20 hcf at tier one rates. Withdrawn until the repairs are done
27 Partridge Road
The homeowners applied for an abatement after receiving bill #717126. The homeowners identified and repaired a
toilet leak. They provided a picture of the repair parts but were unable to produce a receipt. They also provided
data that suggests their usage is back down to pre -leak levels. We established the average spring usage at 67 and
recalculated all but 27 units at tier one rates. Staff recommends an abatement of - $1,102.02
18 Patterson Road
The homeowner filed an abatement application after receiving bill #715232. Staff performed a leak inspection in
June and found a toilet leaking and in need of a fluid master. The homeowner had the toilet repaired and provided
a Home Depot receipt. The usage indicated the toilet may have been leaking for some time so we went back to
2010, 2009, and 2008 to establish average usage at 49. In this calculation, all but 9 hcf are recalculated at tier one
rates. Staff recommends an abatement of - $63.69
16 Percy Road
The homeowners applied for an abatement after receiving bill #710149. A staff visit revealed a leaking toilet and
the homeowner provided a receipt for its repair. The 3 year spring average usage is 23; therefore we recalculated
all usage at tier one rates. Staff recommends an abatement of - $69.48
E
(`OJ51 MOgryi'Y Minutes
g o y r7s c Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board
w 201 Bedford Street
3 x Lexington, MA 02420
APRIL 1 9'"
INGT July 26, 2012
��
5 Pheasant Lane
The homeowners applied for an abatement after receiving bill #717289. A staff visit revealed a toilet in need of a
fluid master. The homeowners provided a receipt for repair parts. We established the average spring usage at 24
and recalculated all usage at tier one rates. Staff recommends an abatement of -$5.79
8 Saddle Club Road
The homeowners applied for an abatement after receiving bill #712857. A staff visit revealed 3 leaking toilets.
The homeowners provided a plumber's receipt for repairs to the toilets. We established the average spring usage
at 83 and recalculated the excess usage at tier one rates. Staff recommends an abatement of - $451.77
86 Spring Street
The homeowners applied for an abatement after receiving bill #718478. A staff visit revealed a toilet leaking in
overflow; it was adjusted and no longer leaking. They also observed a toilet with a new fluid master. We
established the average spring usage at 51 and recalculated all but 11 units at tier one rates. Staff recommends an
abatement of - $400.64
17 Webster Road
The homeowner applied for an abatement on bill # 709134. He typically uses very little, if any water during the
winter and in fact he lives in Medford. He provided a receipt for the parts to repair a toilet. Since the average
spring usage is zero, we recalculated all usage at tier one rates. Staff recommends an abatement of - $162.12
16 Williams Road
The homeowners received a leak -based abatement on bill #697303 for 64 hcf for $110.01. The leak continued into
the next billing period and the homeowner filed for a second abatement on bill # 711207. The average spring
usage is 45 hcf therefore we recalculated all but 5 units at tier one rates. Staff recommends an abatement of
- $110.01
It was moved by Ms. Constantinides, seconded by Mr. Wood and voted unanimously to approve these
leak based abatements as presented with the exception of 31 Fletcher Lane and 75 Outlook Drive
Redistributions
134 Bedford Street
This account had been estimated since a postcard reading in 2002. The meter outread was 4769 indicating we had
over estimated. We established ADU and derived usage to recalculate the charges. Staff recommends an
abatement of - $2,133.34
18 Greenwood Street
When the meter was replaced on 5/18/09 the new meter was installed backwards. On 6/25/12 the new meter was
replaced with an outread of 9928. The total amount used is 10000 - 9928 = 72 units the account should have
billed. This calculation redistributes the correct usage of 72 since the initial meter change. Staff recommends an
abatement of - $109.89
384 Marrett Road
(`OJ51 MOgryi'Y Minutes
g o y r7s c Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board
w 201 Bedford Street
3 x Lexington, MA 02420
APRIL 1 9'"
INGT July 26, 2012
��
This account had been estimated since 2007 until we were able to change the meter on 10/26/11. The outread
caused a catch up bill for 122 hcf. We established ADU and redistributed the usage. Staff recommends an
abatement of - $337.79
20 Parker Street
The homeowners called after reading their meter and seeing that we had over estimated. A staff visit confirmed
the homeowner's reading. This calculation redistributes the usage since the last "A" read on 9/29/2008 at 902 to
the meter outread of 1231 on 6/18/2012. - $1,342.60
It was moved by Ms. Constantinides, seconded by Mr. Wood and voted unanimously to approve these
redistribution abatements as presented
Meter /Billing Issues
404 Concord Avenue
After several estimates bill #718557 was estimated high and the homeowner applied for an abatement. We
changed the meter and the outread of 1184 confirmed we over estimated. We established ADU and derived and
recalculated the usage of 43. Staff recommends an abatement of - $3,395.63
181 Follen Road
The homeowners applied for an abatement on bill #694208 due to an estimated bill. We believed the meter had
failed and estimated a usage of 40 hcf. The house has been empty since August 2010. This calculation abates bill
# 694208 entirely. Staff recommends an abatement of - $392.00
2377 Massachusetts Avenue
We had been unable to read this meter since 2004. The homeowner sent occasional postcard readings but had not
done so since 2010. A postcard mailed to us in May was received after the bill run was complete and the meter
outread indicated we had over estimated. We calculated ADU from the last postcard read to the 6/1/12 meter
outread of 572 and recalculated bill #s 714541, 700610, and 669159. The homeowner lives alone and often
travels. Staff recommends an abatement of - $1,735.15
80 Reed Street
This property was purchased by a builder as a tear down. We were not informed when the meter was pulled but
the builder did pay the $25.00 fee for water use during the tear down process. We would have inactivated the
account prior to the spring 2012 billing. At the time of the billing we assumed the outside pad was just missing and
because we observed a new lawn had been established, we estimated usage at 100 hcf. Staff recommends abating
bill # 716195 entirely in the amount of - $1,485.40 and all associated interest.
29 Shirley Street
The homeowners applied for an abatement upon discovering that their four family rental is eligible for multi -unit
rates. This was confirmed with the Assessor's data base. Because four family properties are billed at tier one rates
for the first 160 hcf, all usage was recalculated at tier one rates. The owners agreed to a three year refund. Staff
recommends an abatement of - $3,001.87
33 Shirley Street
The homeowners applied for an abatement upon discovering that their two family residence is eligible for the
multi - family rate. This was confirmed in the Assessor's data base. Because two family properties are charged tier
0
(`OJ51 MOgryi'Y Minutes
g o y r7s c Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board
w 201 Bedford Street
3 x Lexington, MA 02420
APRIL 19'"
INGT July 26, 2012
one rates for the first 80 hcf, we have recalculated all usage at tier one. The owners requested a refund for the
past three years. Staff recommends an abatement of - $844.37
12 Stedman Road
This is an irrigation account. The homeowners filed for an abatement on bill #694675. They believed they must
have had a leak in their irrigation system but had winterized it. In the spring they did not find any leaks and paid
the bill in full. Staff recommends abating all interest that accumulated on bill #694675.
49 Turning Mill Road
The homeowner misread the meter on a postcard read. On 6/11/12 we changed the meter with an outread of 1048. We
established ADU and derived a usage of 48 for the billing period. The unbilled 11 hcf will be captured in the fall 2012 billing.
Staff recommends an abatement of - $1,368.01
100 Wood Street
The homeowner filed an abatement application after receiving bill #718797. This is a case of a visual device not
keeping up with the actual meter. Accordingly, we established spring average usage at 25 hcf and recalculated Bill
# 718797 at 25 hcf. Staff recommends an abatement of - $1,099.46
It was moved by Ms. Constantinides, seconded by Mr. Wood and voted unanimously to approve these
Meter /Billing Issue abatements as presented
Schedule future meeting date:
The board will next meet on August 30, 2012.
Adjourn
It was moved by Ms. Constantinides, seconded by Mr. Wood and voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at
6:34 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Robin Fullford
Fund Manager
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