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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-09-05-WSAB-min Minutes Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 September 5, 2013 APPROVED 12/19/2013 Attendance: Board Members: Loren Wood, Chair, and Jim Osten, Member. Staff: Elizabeth Tucker and Robin Fullford, Utility Billing. Chair Loren Wood called the meeting to order at 4:27 pm. The order of business was conducted as follows: Status Report of Abatement Requests Ms. Fullford provided a status report as follows: 34 To be heard tonight 49 To be heard in the future 83 Total Review for approval Minutes of the July 18, 2013 meeting It was moved by Mr. Osten, seconded by Mr. Wood and voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the July 18, 2013 meeting as presented. Disposition of Abatement Requests Leaks 12 Appletree Lane The homeowners applied for an abatement on bill # 734507. Staff identified leaking toilets and the homeowners provided a receipt for the repair parts. The three year average fall usage is 44 therefore staff recalculated all but 4 units at tier one rates. Staff recommended an abatement in the amount of $120.00. 4 Dewey Road The homeowners applied for an abatement on bill # 730905 and provided a receipt for repair of a leak in the irrigation system. The 3 year average usage is 27; therefore we recalculated the excess usage of 50 hcf at tier one rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $156.50. 10 Fairbanks Road The homeowners applied for an abatement on bill #s 754511 and 731369. The average spring usage is 14 and the average fall usage is 35 therefore we recalculated all usage at tier one water rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $2,440.98. 57 Harding Road 1 Minutes Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 September 5, 2013 APPROVED 12/19/2013 The homeowners applied for an abatement on bill # 743416 citing a leak that has been repaired. The three year average fall usage is 67 therefore we recalculated all but 27 units at tier one rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $760.08. 5 Jonas Stone Circle The homeowners applied for an abatement on bill # 746354. They provided a receipt for the repair of leaking toilets and faucets. The three year average fall usage is 53 therefore we recalculated all but 13 units at tier one rates. The applicants sold the property and paid the entire bill at closing. This is a refund to the former owners. Staff recommended an abatement of $204.63. 659 Marrett Road This property was purchased by a builder as a tear down. The builder states that all water was used for irrigation and that leaks were found in the irrigation system. He provided a receipt for repair of the leaks. A porta-potty on site supports the builder's claim. Staff recalculated all usage at irrigation rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $875.49. 859 Massachusetts Avenue The homeowners applied for an abatement on bill # 733490. They provided a receipt for toilet repair parts. The three year average fall usage is 55 therefore we recalculated all but 15 units at tier one rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $1,201.54. 31 Patterson Road The homeowners applied for an abatement on bill # 752329. They provided a receipt for the repair of a toilet. The three year average fall usage is 51 therefore we recalculated all but 11 units at tier one rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $259.26. 7 Rumford Road The homeowners applied for an abatement on bill # 744565. Staff found a leaking toilet and the homeowner provided a receipt for the repair parts. The three year average fall usage is 37 therefore we recalculated all usage at tier one rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $36.00. 47 Solomon Pierce Road The homeowners applied for an abatement on bill # 737339. They provided a receipt for the repair of leaking pipe in a bathroom wall. The three year average fall usage is 39 therefore we recalculated all usage at tier one rates. Because the leak did not enter the sewer system, only the average usage was charged sewer. Staff recommended an abatement of $162.22. 20 Village Circle The homeowners called after receiving bill # 734117. They provided an invoice from Kirkland & Shaw for work to repair a leak below the slab. The three year average spring usage is 30 hcf therefore we recalculated all water usage at tier one rates. Because the leak was under the slab and did not enter the sewer system, we charged for 30 hcf of sewer only. Staff recommended an abatement of $3,209.60. 17 Utica Street The homeowners applied for an abatement on bill #s 744428 and 726161. They were not aware that Lexington allows separate meters for irrigation. Last summer they filled a new 25k pool and halfway through the season they found a leak in the liner and had to refill the pool. They also installed a new lawn. More recently they repaired a toilet but did not save the receipt as they did not know about abatements. We recalculated 70% of the excess usage on each bill at irrigation rates and the balance of the usage at tier one water rates to acknowledge the leak. Staff recommended an abatement of $1,794.46. 14 Wellington Lane Avenue 2 Minutes Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 September 5, 2013 APPROVED 12/19/2013 The homeowners filed for an abatement on bill #736351. Staff found a toilet leak and the homeowners provided a receipt for repair. The average spring usage is 45 therefore we recalculated all but 5 units at tier one rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $114.00. 13 White Pine Lane The homeowners applied for an abatement on bill # 737125. Staff found 2 toilets leaking in overflow and the homeowner provided a receipt for the repair of the toilets. The three year average fall usage is 29 therefore we recalculated all usage at tier one rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $54.00. 20 Wilson Road The homeowners applied for an abatement on bill # 752089. The homeowner provided a receipt for the repair of a toilet. The two year average spring usage is 52 therefore we recalculated all but 12 units at tier one rates. The customer requested we not use the usage from bill #656069 because they had tried unsuccessfully that year to install a new lawn. Staff recommended an abatement of $144.00. 20 Winthrop Road The homeowners applied for an abatement on bill # 742555. They found 2 toilets leaking and provided a receipt for the repair of the toilets. The three year average fall usage is 35 therefore we recalculated all usage at tier one rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $102.00. 142 Wood Street The homeowners filed for an abatement on bill #752169. They identified a leak and provided proof of repair. We used a 2 year average usage because Bill #656146 was abated due to a leak. The 2 year average spring usage is 79 therefore we recalculated all but 39 units at tier one rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $403.88. It was moved by Mr. Osten, seconded by Mr. Wood and voted unanimously to approve all staff recommendations for leak based abatements as presented. Over Estimated 26 Cary Avenue The homeowners filed for an abatement on bill #754848. The meter was replaced with an outread of 2230 indicating we had over estimated their usage. We established ADU and derived usage of 31 hcf. Staff recommended an abatement of $1,223.86. 5 Downing Place The homeowner called filed for an abatement on bill #755137. Staff found no leaks. The homeowners stated their hot water tank ruptured and was replaced. However the usage was over 100 hcf above their average usage and represents 82,000 gallons. The homeowners say they did not experience a leak of that magnitude. Staff recommends denial of a leak based abatement. However, because the prior two bills were estimated we established ADU and derived the usage for the three billing periods. Staff recommended an abatement of $658.60. 3 Field Road The homeowners filed for an abatement on bill #755747. We were unaware that the house was empty while being rehabbed. The meter was replaced on 7/11/13 with an outread of 626 indicating that there had been no usage. Staff recommends abatement of bill # 755747 entirely. Staff recommended an abatement of $405.60. 107 Fifer Lane 3 Minutes Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 September 5, 2013 APPROVED 12/19/2013 The homeowner applied for an abatement on bill # 753725. The meter was replaced on 7/8/13 with an outread of 829 indicating we had over estimated the usage. We went back to the postcard read on 4/23/12, established ADU and derived usage. Staff recommended an abatement of $1,325.26. A radio read device was installed. 10 Pearl Street A new irrigation meter was installed in 2003. It was installed with a device that would allow for a remote "radio read". Since 2003 the read history has been populated with what appears to be a mix of system- generated and staff-generated reads. The property was recently sold and in anticipation of the sale, a final bill was requested, which required that meter reading staff gain access to the meter and read it directly. The final read resulted in billed usage of 1325 HCF which indicates that prior bills were grossly underestimated. Because of the large discrepancy, we had the meter tested and it was accurate within industry standards. Further investigation revealed that the radio read device had probably not worked since the meter was replaced in 2003. Adding further complication is that the 9/21/12 postcard read was likely taken from the domestic meter. Given all this, an average daily usage was calculated for the period 7/23/03 to 8/20/13, and that usage was applied to a three year look-back resulting in a proposed abatement of $5,892.03. It was noted that the resident wished to waive the 15 day appeal period and that this recommendation would be presented to the selectmen on 9/23/13. 12 Saddle Club Road Unable to obtain a reading, this account has been estimated for years. The postcard reads for bill #s 726824 and 712862 looked off so staff went back to the postcard read for bill #623063, established ADU and derived usage for three years. The extra 30 units of use have been captured for the fall billing. Staff recommended an abatement of $3,145.55. The meter has been replaced. 3 Turning Mill Road The homeowner filed for an abatement on bill #754103. On 6/10/13 a radio read device was installed and the meter reading was 0082 indicating we had over estimated usage. We established ADU from the Manual read of 0002 taken on 11/4/2011 and derived usage. Staff recommended an abatement of $821.84. 13A Turning Mill Road Unable to obtain a reading, this account has been estimated for years. The meter was replaced on 7/22/13 with an outread of 1154 indicating we had over estimated. This calculation goes back to the postcard read for bill #671588, establishes ADU and derives usage. The extra 19 units of use have been captured for the fall billing. Staff recommended an abatement of $4,448.88. The meter was replaced. It was moved by Mr. Osten, seconded by Mr. Wood and voted unanimously to approve all staff recommendations for over estimated abatements as presented. Billing/Meter Issues 28 Barberry Road A permit for sewer abandonment and sewer tie in was pulled on 5/28/13. However, Engineering verified that as of the final bill date on 8/5/13, the contractor had not completed the tie in. Staff recommends full abatement of the sewer charge. Staff recommended an abatement of $2,082.70. 4 Minutes Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 September 5, 2013 APPROVED 12/19/2013 66 School Street – Domestic – Withdrawn for further consideration 66 School Street – Irrigation - Withdrawn for further consideration 26 Suzanne Road This is a staff generated abatement recommendation. This account was billed twice for 25 units due to the date the spring bill run was started and the date of the final billing. We have taken steps to safeguard against this occurrence in the future. The former owners will be refunded upon approval. Staff recommended an abatement of $253.50. 3 Utica Street The homeowner applied for an abatement requesting 2 family status. It was confirmed with the assessor’s database that this is a 2 family. Staff recalculated the last three years and recommended an abatement of $158.01. It was moved by Mr. Osten, seconded by Mr. Wood and voted unanimously to approve all staff recommendations for billing/meter issues abatements as presented with the exceptions of 66 School Street, domestic and irrigation accounts. Interest Only 14 Banks Avenue The homeowners applied for an abatement after learning that bill # 707428, which they had never received, had been committed to lien. This was a result of a staff error in updating parcel id's that caused customer names to change. The homeowners never received bill #s 721369 and 707428. Staff recommended abatement of all interest associated with the two bills. 29 Volunteer Way The homeowners applied for an abatement on bill # 753828 citing a faulty meter. Staff observed the meter moving forward and backwards and changed the meter. The new meter also moved forward and backwards but the action stopped when the water was shut off before the meter indicating that the issue is within the plumbing and not coming from the street. The homeowners were advised to bring in the engineer who had worked on the house. Staff sought but did not find any leaks and in the absence of a leak, recommended abatement of interest only. 390 Woburn Street Interest was not removed from Bill #698326 which was abated due to a leak. Staff recommended reversing all interest that accrued during the abatement process. It was moved by Mr. Osten, seconded by Mr. Wood and voted unanimously to approve all staff recommendations for interest only abatements as presented Schedule next meeting The board will next meet on Thursday October 10, 2013 Adjourn It was moved by Mr. Osten, seconded by Mr. Wood and voted unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 5:37 PM. 5