HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-07-31-WSAB-min
Approved 9/18/14
Minutes of the Meeting
Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board
201 Bedford Street
Lexington, MA 02420
July 31, 2014
Attendance:
Board Members: Loren Wood, Chairperson, Jim Osten, Member. Staff: Bill Hadley, DPW Director and Robin
Fullford, Utility Billing.
Loren Wood called the meeting to order at 4:32 pm.
The order of business was conducted as follows:
Status Report of Abatement Requests
Ms. Fullford presented the following status report:
41 To be heard tonight
14 To be heard in the future
51 On hold for history
106 Total
Approval of Minutes of the Meeting
It was moved by Mr. Osten, seconded by Mr. Wood and approved unanimously to approve the Minutes of the May
31, 2014 subject to verification of “Attendance”.
Abatement Requests for Consideration:
Added at the meeting:
20PelhamStreet
Theownersappliedforanabatementonbill#779766citinganinsideleak.WSABandtheBOSapprovedan
abatementof$1,388.75butwhilepostingtheadjustmentstafffoundanerrorintheamountofsewerchargedin
thecalculation.Thisrecommendationcorrectsthesewerchargeandcalculatestheamountofadjustmentyetto
make.Staffrecommendedafurtherabatementof$1,287.50.
ItwasmovedbyMr.Osten,secondedbyMr.Woodandvotedunanimouslytoacceptstaffrecommendation.
178ConcordAvenue
Staffinformedmembersoftheboardthattheownerof178ConcordAvenueisseekingreimbursementforsewer
chargesgoingbacktohispurchaseofthepropertyin1983towhenitwasdiscoveredthatthepropertyisnot
connectedtosewer.Theownerisalsoaskingforinterestonallthepaymentsmadeoverthe30years.His
calculationsbeyond1995arebasedonhisownformulausingaverageusageandpercentofincreaseinrates.The
boardagreedthatprecedenthasbeensetofgoingbackasfarasrecordedhistoryallows.Staffwillpresentthat
informationatthenextmeeting.
Leaks
42BakerAvenue
Thehomeownersfiledforanabatementonbill#s772435and758504.Whentheysawtheconsumptionreport
theyaskedthatweincludebill#735061inthecalculation.Theythoughttheyhadfixedatoiletleakbutthehigh
usagecontinued.Theyprovidedareceiptforrepairpartsdated5/19/14.The3yearaveragefallandspringusages
areunder40thereforewerecalculatedallusageattieronerates.Theboardreviewedthisrecommendationon
6/26/14andaskedwhytheleakcontinuedthrough3billingcycles.Staffrecommendedanabatementof
$196.64.
1
Approved 9/18/14
Minutes of the Meeting
Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board
201 Bedford Street
Lexington, MA 02420
July 31, 2014
66BedfordStreet
ThisisacommercialaccountforwhichanabatementwasfiledonBill#785514.Whenwereadthemeterforthe
springbillingwesawthattheusagewashighandspoketothemanager.Themanagementcompanyprovideda
repairreceiptforaleakingtoilet.The3yearaveragespringusageis234andwerecalculatetheexcessusageat
tieronerates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$8,660.41.
423BedfordStreet
Thehomeownerappliedforanabatementonbill#785715.Shedidnotfindaleaknordidstaffandtheusagehas
gonebackdown.Staffrecommendeddenialofanabatement.
5BruceStreet
Thehomeownerappliedforanabatementonbill#772572.Hesubmittedreceiptsforrepairpartsafterrepairing
atoilet.The1yearaveragespringusageis30thereforewerecalculatedallusageattieronerates.Staff
recommendedanabatementof$1,309.94.
33DrummerBoyWay
Thehomeownersfiledforanabatementonbill#753760.Stafffoundtwoleakingtoiletson6/14/2013that
resultedinBill#753760.Despitestaff'srequestsforrepairreceipts,thehomeownerdidnotresponduntil
5/29/2014whenhemailedacopyofaninvoiceforthereplacementofhishotwaterheaterandrepairoftwo
toiletsdated5/27/2014.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$552.07.
287EmersonRoad
Thehomeownersappliedforanabatementonbill#782798.Theystatethattheirhotwatertankleakedand
causeddamageinthebasement.Theysubmittedareceiptforworkdonetodisconnectandremovethetank.
Their3yearaveragespringusageis43thereforewerecalculatedallbut3unitsattieronerates.Staff
recommendedanabatementof$170.17.
6FairfieldDrive
Thehomeownersappliedforanabatementonbill#782698.Theyreplacedtheflappersontwotoiletsand
submittedareceipt.Their3yearsaveragespringusageis44thereforewerecalculatedallbut4unitsattierone
rates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$103.53.
8FrostRoad
ThehomeownerfiledforanabatementonBill#782398.Heprovidedareceiptforthereplacementofaleaking
toilet.The3yearaveragespringusageis31thereforewerecalculatedallwaterusageattier1rates.Staff
recommendedanabatementof$85.26.
337MassachusettsAvenueWithdrawn
2142MassachusettsAvenue
Thehomeownerappliedforanabatementonbill#751585.ShesubmittedastatementfromHatfieldAssociates
thatstatesthatseveralpipesfrozeandleakedinsidethehouseinFebruary2013.The1yearaveragefallusageis
37thereforewerecalculatedallusageattieronewaterratesandjust37unitsattieronesewerrates.This
applicationwasonholdtoestablishhistory.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$357.26.
2407MassachusettsAvenue
2
Approved 9/18/14
Minutes of the Meeting
Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board
201 Bedford Street
Lexington, MA 02420
July 31, 2014
Thehomeownersappliedforanabatementonbill#784366.Theyhad2leaksrepairedandsubmittedreceipt.
Their3yearsaveragespringusageis43thereforewerecalculatedallbut3unitsofusageattieronerates.Staff
recommendedanabatementof$355.02.
10MunroeRoad
Thehomeownerappliedforanabatementonbill#788323.Shestatesaplumberdetectedandrepairedatoilet
leakandsheprovidedareceipt.The3yearaveragefallusageis50thereforewerecalculatedallbut10unitattier
onerates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$2,099.23.
106PleasantStreet
Thehomeownerappliedforanabatementonbill#773932.Thehousewasemptythiswinterbutfor18daysand
inFebruarytheentirehousewasfloodedafterthefurnacefailedandpipesburst.Theaveragefallusageis42and
thederivedausageforthe18daystheownerswerehomeis4hcf.Theremainingusagewasrecalculatedattier
onerates,wateronlybecausetheleakdidnotenterthesewer.Thiswasoriginallypresentedtotheboardusing
theaveragefallusagebutstaffwasaskedtoascertainhowmanydaysthehousewasoccupiedandrecalculate
accordingly.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$4,158.38.
28RawsonAvenue
Thehomeownersfiledforanabatementonbill#771052.Theyprovidedreceiptsforthereplacementoftheirhot
waterheaterandrepairoftheirsteamboiler,bothofwhichwereleaking.Theiraveragespringusageis7hcf
thereforewerecalculatedallusageattieronewaterratesandonly7unitsattieronesewerratesbecausethe
leaksdidnotenterthesewersystem.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$244.09.
6RussellRoad
Thehomeownersappliedforanabatementonbill#720897buttheirirrigationsystemwasshutdownforthe
winterandcouldnotbetestedforleaks.Thehomeownerfoundandrepairedleaksinthespringof2013.Lastfall
theusagewas146thereforewerecalculatedtheexcessusageof93hcfattieronerates.Staffrecommendedan
abatementof$291.09.
12SummerStreet
Thehomeownersappliedforanabatementonbill#774533.Theyhad2leakingtoiletsandsubmittedreceiptsfor
repairparts.Their2yearaveragespringusageis38thereforewerecalculatedallusageattieronerates.Bill#s
709448and737152werenotusedtocalculateaverageusage.Bill#709448waspreviouslyabatedforaleakand
bill#737152appearstohavebeeninfluencedbyaleakaswell.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$188.79.
17TarbellAvenue
Thehomeownerappliedforanabatementonbill#772374.Heprovidedareceiptfortoiletrepairfromaplumber.
The3yearaveragespringusageis23thereforewerecalculatedallusageattieronerates.Staffrecommendedan
abatementof$863.23.
2ThoreauRoad
Thehomeownersappliedforaleakbasedabatementonbill#782804.Aheatingpipeleakedintotheslaband
wentunnoticeduntilwaterseepedthroughthewallintothehouse.Theysubmittedaninvoiceforrepairofthe
undergroundpiping.Theaveragefallusageis50thereforewerecalculatedallbut10unitsattieroneratesand
theexcessattieronewaterratesonly.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$799.49.
3
Approved 9/18/14
Minutes of the Meeting
Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board
201 Bedford Street
Lexington, MA 02420
July 31, 2014
3UticaStreetΑWithdrawnbystaff
15VolunteerWay
Thehomeowner'ssonappliedforanabatementonbill#767994.Hestatestherewasaconcealedleakinthe
irrigationinthereargardenathismother'sproperty.Hedisabledthesystemon11/1/2013.Their3yearaverage
fallusageis14thereforewerecalculatedallusageattieronerates.ThispropertyisnotconnectedtoTown
Sewer.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$908.80.
17WoodcliffeCircle
Thehomeownersappliedforanabatementontheirrigationaccountonbill#769614.Inthespringhoweverthey
didnotfindanyleaksintheirrigationsystem.Staffrecommendedwaivinginterestonly.
31WoodparkCircle
Thehomeownerappliedforandreceivedanabatementonbill#766400.Hefoundandrepairedatoiletleakand
providedareceiptforparts.Theleakcontinuedintothespringbillingperiodandheappliedforanabatementon
bill#784993.The3yearaveragespringusageis13,thereforewerecalculatedallusageattieronerates.Staff
recommendedanabatementof$42.63.
It was moved by Mr. Osten, seconded by Mr. Wood and voted unanimously to approve the leak-
based abatement recommendation as presented with the exception of 337 Massachusetts Avenue
Over Estimated
8CamillaPlace
Thehomeownersfiledforanabatementonbill#761988.Whenwewereunabletoobtainareadingweover
estimated.WeestablishedADUandredistributedtheusageovertwobillingperiods.Aradioreaddevicewas
installed.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$144.34.
14CottageStreet
Thehomeownersfiledforanabatementonbill#763325.Staffwasunabletochangethemeteruntilthe
homeownershadtheshutoffvalvereplaced.Themeterwasreplacedon5/16/14withanoutreadof952
indicatingwehadoverestimatedtheirusage.WewentbacktothelastPostcardreading,establishedADUand
derivedusageforbill#'s781990and763325.Thereplacedusageof7unitswillbecapturedinthefallbilling.Staff
recommendedanabatementof954.51.
22DemarRoad
Whenweobtainedareadingof29forthespringbilling,wesuspectedthemeterhadfailedandestimatedusage.
Thehomeownersstatedthehouseisemptyandonthemarketandthatnowaterhasbeenusedsincelastfall.
Thereadingremainsat29.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$1,068.40.
12ElenaRoad
Thehomeownersfiledforanabatementonbill#769002.Themeterwasreplacedon5292014withanoutread
of1034indicatingwehadoverestimatedtheirusage.WewentbacktothelastManualreading,establishedADU
andderivedusageforbill#'s787616,769002and754825.Thereplaced5unitswillbecapturedinthefallbilling.
Staffrecommendedanabatementof$1,118.79.
4
Approved 9/18/14
Minutes of the Meeting
Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board
201 Bedford Street
Lexington, MA 02420
July 31, 2014
40HartwellAvenue
Thisisacommercialaccountthatuntilrecentlyhada2"Tridentmeterwithavisualreader.Thecompanyhadnot
respondedtoourrequeststochangethemeterwhichwebelievedwasfailing.Themeterwaschangedon6/5/14
withanoutreadof66397indicatingthatwehadoverestimatetheusage.Wealsolearnedthatthebuildingis
empty.WeestablishedADUandderivedusage.Thereplacedusageof2unitswillbecapturedinthefallbilling.
Staffrecommendedanabatementof$6,290.29.
165LincolnStreet
Thehomeownersappliedforanabatementonbill#787068.Wewereunabletoobtainareadingandestimated
usage.Whenwereplacedthepadon6/3/14thereadingwas39indicatingwehadoverestimated.The
homeownersstatedtheyhavebeenoutofstateformostofthebillingperiod.WeestablishedADUandderived
usage.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$114.31.
247MarrettRoad
Thehomeownersappliedforanabatementonbill#s773285and759348.Whenwereplacedthepadon6/10/14
thereadingwas426indicatingwehadoverestimated.WeestablishedADUandderivedusage.Thereplaced
usageof12unitswillbecapturedinthefallbilling.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$278.37.
4MilitiaDrive
Theownersfiledforanabatementonbill#784424.Themeterwasreadon6/15/2014at285indicatingwehad
overestimatedtheirusage.WeestablishedADUandderivedusageof53hcf.Thereplacedusageof16unitswill
becapturedinthefallbilling.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$937.20.
169NorthStreet
Thehomeownersfiledforanabatementonbill#765350.TheAreadweobtainedwaslowerthanthelastread
andbill#700200in2011indicatednousage.Staffsuspectedthemeterhadbeentamperedwithandoptedto
estimateusageat100hcf.Themeterwasreplaced11/4/2013at688indicatingwehadoverestimatedtheir
usage.WeestablishedADUandderivedusageof23hcf.The3replacedunitswillbecapturedinthefallbilling.
Staffrecommendedanabatementof$1,325.67.
8TaftAvenue
Thehomeownersfiledforanabatementonbill#758288.Thisabatementhasbeenonholduntilthehomeowners
hadtheirshutoffvalvereplaced.Themeterwasreplacedon5/12/2014withanoutreadof2170indicatingwe
hadoverestimatedtheirusage.WewentbacktothelastPostcardreading,establishedADUandderivedusagefor
bill#'s772214and758288.Thereplaced5unitswillbecapturedinfallthebilling.Staffrecommendedan
abatementof$1,387.53.
60TaftAvenueWithdrawn
8WestwoodRoad
Thedeveloperofthispropertyappliedforanabatementonbill#784221whichhepaidattheclosing.The
departmentbecameawarethathewasusingunmeteredwaterduringconstruction.Wemadeanassumptionthat
thespacious,sodlawnwasinstalledthepreviousfallandwouldhaverequiredcopiousamountsofwaterto
establishit.However,thedeveloperstatesthatheinstalledthesoddormantinlateNovemberanddidnotwater
itatall.WeverifiedthefeasibilityofhisstatementwiththeParksandGroundsSuperintendent.Wealsoreceived
aletterfromanirrigationcontractorstatingthatthesodwasinstalledafterThanksgivingandtheirrigation
5
Approved 9/18/14
Minutes of the Meeting
Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board
201 Bedford Street
Lexington, MA 02420
July 31, 2014
systemwasnotinstalleduntilMarch2014.Toacknowledgetheuseofsomewaterduringconstructionstaff
recommendsloweringtheusageto10unitswithnosewercharge.Staffrecommendedanabatementof
$1,554.42.
20WymanRoad
Thehomeownersfiledforanabatementonbill#781005.Thepadwasmissingandstaffestimatedtwobills.A
newpadwasinstalledon5/29/14andthemeterreadwas0343,indicatingwehadoverestimatedtheirusage.We
wentbacktothelastͻ!ͼreading,establishedADUandderivedusageforbill#'s781005and762448.The
replacedusageof7unitswillbecapturedinthefallbilling.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$298.03.
It was moved by Mr. Osten, seconded by Mr. Wood and voted unanimously to accept staff
recommendations for abatements based on overestimated bills.
Billing/Meter Issues
11CourtyardPlace
Thehomeownersappliedforanabatementonbill#783889.Thisisaresidentialaccountservicedbya2"meter.We
discoveredthemeterreadingallonsandreplacedtheregisteron3/10/2014withanoutreadof103698whichwe
convertedto138hcf.Thiscausedalargecatchupbillasallotherbillingshadbeentakenatfacevalue.We
redistributedtheusagebasedonconvertingeachreadingintohcf.Staffrecommendedapositiveadjustmentof
$9.31.
52LincolnStreet
ThisisanewMunicipalaccountthatwassetupwith100/200waterandsewerrates.Werecalculatedtheusageat
Municipalrates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$63.84.
311LincolnStreet
Thehomeownersfiledforanabatementonbill#787116.Themeterwasreplacedon3/3/2014withanoutreadof
1768.Thepreviousbill#768509hadbeenestimatedat20hcfwhenwewereunabletoobtainareading.That
causedacatchupbillonbill#787116.WeestablishedADUfromthefinalreadtobill#787116andderivedusage.
Weaddedthe18unitsonthenewmetertotheoutreadforeaseofcalculation.Staffrecommendedanabatement
of$130.64.
501MarrettRoad
ThisaRecreationDepartmentaccountthathasbeenindisputesince2010.Themeterreadingon11/22/2010
indicatesthat1152unitshadbeenused.On7/11/2013wetookpicturesofthemeterat2799.TheRecreation
Departmentmaintainedthatthismeterwasforfillingthereservoirandthathasnotbeendoneinyears.Wewent
backtothemanualreadbookanddiscoveredthatthereadingin1996was2799.Atsomepointanincorrect
readingwasobtainedthatcausedtheerrorinbilling.Staffrecommendsnegatingallbillingsandbringingthe
accounttozero.ThisisanewMunicipalaccountthatwassetupwith100/200waterandsewerrates.We
recalculatedtheusageatMunicipalrates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$2,310.74.
35MeriamStreet
Thehomeownersappliedforinteresttobewaivedonbillstheydidnotreceive.Staffmadeanerrorattheclosing
of31MeriamStreetandchangedtheownershipof35MeriamStreettotheformerownersof31Meriam.The
6
Approved 9/18/14
Minutes of the Meeting
Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board
201 Bedford Street
Lexington, MA 02420
July 31, 2014
RevenueOfficeputnotesontheaccountsthatthewaterbillswerereturnedtotheTownbythePostOfficeas
undeliverable.Bill#s783097,764520,764519and764520(twobillingsonbothaccounts)wenttolienandwere
paidthroughtaxesafterincurringinterestcharges.Staffrecommendedawaiverofallinterestchargesonbill#s
783097,764520,764519and764520.Thenameandaddresshavebeenchangedappropriately.
67WardStreet
Thisoldvisualreaderwasreadincorrectlyforbill#786141.Themeterwasremoved5/12/2014withanoutreadof
922indicatingwehadoverbilled.Wewentbacktothe"M"readingfrom10/23/2013,establishedADUandderived
usageof8forbill#786141.Thereplaced1unitwillbecapturedinthefallbillrun.Staffrecommendedan
abatementof$477.52.Note:Theentirefamilywasabroadforthreemonths.
It was moved by Mr. Osten, seconded by Mr. Wood and voted unanimously to accept staff
recommendations for abatements based on Billing/Meter Issues
.
Irrigation on a Domestic Meter
38SaddleClubRoadΑWithdrawnbystaff
Schedule future meeting times
TheboardwillnextmetOctober2,2014.
Adjourn
ItwasmovedbyMr.Osten,secondedbyMr.Woodandapprovedunanimouslytoadjournthemeetingat6:52pm.
7