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Approved Minutes of the Meeting 10/16/14
Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board
201 Bedford Street
Lexington, MA 02420
Attendance:
Board Members: Loren Wood, Chairperson, Jim Osten, Member and Bill Ribich, Member. Staff: Bill Hadley, DPW
Director, Rob Addelson, Assistant Town Manager for Finance 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:
2Appeals
32Tobeheardtonight
10Tobeheardinthenearfuture
59Onholdforhistoryordocumentation
103Total
Appeals
423BedfordStreetΑThehomeownerrequestingtheappealdidnotcometothemeeting
10MunroeRoadΑ5:30pm
Mr.andMrs.Sweeneyspoketotheboardabouttheirleakbasedabatement.Theycontended
thattheirplumberfoundaslighttoiletleakbut,inhisopinion,theleakcouldnothaveaccounted
fortheamountofwaterconsumed.Mr.Woodtoldthecouplethatwerelyonourmetersto
accuratelyrecordusageandbecausetheTownhasalreadypaidforthatusage,thecostattier
appealwasdenied.
oneratesmustbepaidbythehomeowners.The
Abatement Requests for Consideration:
Leaks
12BedfordStreet
ThehomeownerfiledforanabatementonBill#785505.Heprovidedarepairreceiptforaleaking
toiletandaleakingsillcock.The1yearaveragespringusageis35thereforewerecalculatedall
waterusageattieroneratesanddeducted14units(onehalfoftheexcessusage)fromthesewer
chargetorecognizethatsomeoftheleakdidnotenterthesewersystem.Staffrecommendedan
abatementof$231.98.
118CedarStreet
Thehomeownerrespondedtoalettertoscheduleameterchange.Shestatedtheincreasein
usagelastfallwasduetoatoiletleak.Thetoilethasbeenturnedoffuntilshecanbringina
plumber.ShewasunawaretheTownofferedleakbasedabatements.The3yearaveragespring
usageis43thereforewerecalculatedallbut3unitsofuseattieronerates.Staffrecommended
anabatementof$188.79.
476ConcordAvenue
1
Approved Minutes of the Meeting 10/16/14
Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board
201 Bedford Street
Lexington, MA 02420
Thehomeownerappliedforanabatementonbill#788519.Herhotwatertankleakedlastfall
intothegroundbelowtheslab.Wewereunabletoobtainareadinginthefallandestimated
usagebasedonpastusage.Weomittedbill#690821whenestablishingtheaveragebecauseit
hadbeenabated.The3yearaveragespringusageis24thereforewerecalculatedallusageattier
onewaterratesandonly24unitsattieronesewerrates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof
$892.52
558ConcordAvenue
Thehomeownerappliedforanabatementonbill#788543.PipesfrozeinFebruarycausingmajor
damagetotheinsideofthehouse.Aplumber'sinvoiceforrepairwassubmitted.The3year
averagespringusageis38thereforewerecalculatedallwaterusageattieroneratesand
becausetheleakdidnotenterthesewersystem,onlytheaverageusagehasbeencharged
sewer.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$7,795.59.
3CurveStreet
Thehomeowner'ssonfiledanapplicationonbill#771239.Hehadaleakrepairedbyaplumber
andprovidedareceipt.However,anotherleakcontinuedanditwasrepairedinJune;areceipt
wasprovided.Theboardpreviouslyapprovedaleakbasedabatementonbill#757327.Wedid
notusebill#733876intheaveragebecausewesuspectthatiswhentheleakstarted.The
averagespringusageis22hcfthereforewerecalculatedallusageattieronerates.Wehavealso
30%discountbecausetheownersareeligibleforthelowincomeratesubsidy.Staff
applieda
recommendedanabatementof$119.36.
15DrummerBoyWay
Afterreceivingbill#786519thehomeownersidentifiedaleakintheundergroundpipesunder
theslab.Theyprovidedaninvoiceforrepairwhichstatestheyfoundtheleakundergroundandit
didnotenterthesewersystem.The3yearspringaverageusageis20thereforewerecalculated
allwaterusageattieroneratesandonly20unitsatsewerrates.Staffrecommendedan
abatementof$1,412.95.
136EastStreet
Thehomeownersfiledanapplicationforabatementonbill#764140.Theyprovidedarepair
invoicefromaplumber.Bill#726930waspreviouslyabatedforleakssoitwasnotusedin
establishingaverageusage.Bill#667685ishighaswellbutthehomeownersdidnotseekan
abatementandpaidthebillpromptly.Theaverage3yearusageisactuallyhigherthanbill
#764140thereforestaffrecommendedabatementofinterestonly.
104EastEmersonRoad
2
Approved Minutes of the Meeting 10/16/14
Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board
201 Bedford Street
Lexington, MA 02420
ThehomeownerfiledforanabatementonBill#s783853and746305.Heprovidedtworepair
receiptsforaleaks.However,the2yearaveragespringusageis89sotheresidentisineligiblefor
anabatement.Staffrecommendedabatementofinterestonly.
5HarringtonRoad
anabatementonbill#780539.Theirirrigationlinetotheirbarn
Thehomeownerappliedfor
frozeandburstoverthewinterandtheydidnotknowituntiltheyreceivedtheirspringbill.They
submittedaplumber'srepairinvoice.Their2yearaveragespringusageis1thereforewe
recalculatedallbutoneunitattieronewaterrates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof
$301.32.
43HillcrestAvenue
Thispropertywaspurchasedbyadeveloperforrehabandresale.Littlewaterwasusedduring
constructionbutafterreceivingtheirspringbilltheyrealizedthetoiletwasleaking.Theirplumber
wastherethreetimesbeforethetoiletwasfixedsotheleakcontinuedintothespringbilling
period.Typicallythisdeveloperusesverylittlewaterduringconstruction.Attachedarethree
otherhousestheyhaveconstructedandtheirwaterusage.Theiraverageusageis1hcftherefore
werecalculatedallusageattieronerates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$66.99.
223LowellStreetWithdrawn
Thehomeownerfiledforanabatementonbill#771560andprovidedaplumbersreceiptfor
repair.The3yearaveragespringusageis41thereforeallbut1unitisrecalculatedattierone
rates.Theboardapprovedstaffrecommendationofanabatementintheamountof$73.08but
stafffoundanerrorandwillmakeacorrectedrecommendationatthenextmeeting.
337MassachusettsAvenue
Thehomeownersfiledforanabatementonbill#770782.Thisisatwofamilywitha2year
averagespringusageof66hcf.Theownersfoundandrepairedatoiletleakandsubmitteda
receiptforparts.Becausethe3yearaveragespringusageisunder80units,werecalculatedall
usageattieronerates.Anerrorwasfoundon7/31/14andthiscalculationwaswithdrawn.Itwas
anabatementof$1,640.00.
correctedandstaffrecommended
65ProspectHillRoad
ThehomeownerfiledforanabatementonBill#787919.Heprovidedarepairreceiptforaleaking
toilet.The3yearaveragespringusageis44thereforewerecalculatedallbut4unitsofuseattier
onerates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$164.43.
55SchoolStreet
3
Approved Minutes of the Meeting 10/16/14
Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board
201 Bedford Street
Lexington, MA 02420
Thehomeownerappliedforanabatementonbill#766124.Inthespringwhentheyopenedup
theirirrigationsystemleakswerefoundandrepaired.Arepairinvoicewassubmitted.The3year
averagefallusageis27thereforewerecalculatedtheexcessusageattieronerates.Staff
recommendedanabatementof$748.44.
11SpringdaleRoad
ThehomeownerfiledforanabatementonBill#785041.Whilethehousewasemptylastwinter
17pipesfrozeanddidconsiderableinteriordamage.The3yearaveragespringusageis25
thereforewerecalculatedallwaterusageattieroneratesandonlycharged25unitsforsewerto
recognizethattheleakdidnotenterthesewersystem.Staffrecommendedanabatementof
$576.24.
3UticaStreet
Thehomeownerappliedforaleakbasedabatementonbill#781909.Thisisatwofamily,owner
occupiedpropertyandthefirst80unitsarebilledattieronerates.Theownerwasunawareof
thetenant'sbathtubleakuntilherkitchenceilingtookonwater.Theaveragespringusageis47
thereforewerecalculatedallusageattieronewaterratesandtheexcessusageonlyattierone
sewerrates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$126.00.
498WalthamStreet
Thehomeownersfiledforandreceivedaleakbasedabatementonbill#s759663and736221.
Whentheysawtheconsumptionreporttheyaskedthatwealsoabatebill#722478inthe
calculation.Theythoughttheyhadfixedatoiletleakbutthehighusagecontinued.Theyprovided
areceiptforrepairpartsdated5/19/14.The3yearaveragefallusageis60;werecalculatedthe
excessusageattieronerates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$42.00.
19WoodlandRoad
ThehomeownersfiledforanabatementonBill#783357.Heprovidedarepairreceiptfora
leakingtoiletandfaucet.The3yearaveragespringusageis28;werecalculatedallusageattier
onerates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$140.07.
131WorthenRoad
Thehomeownerappliedforanabatementonbill#736000duetoaleakandheprovideda
receiptforrepairparts.Theabatementhasbeenonholdtoestablishaveragespringusage.The1
yearaveragespringusageis33thereforewerecalculatedallusageattieronerates.
Staffrecommendedanabatementof$661.64.
4
Approved Minutes of the Meeting 10/16/14
Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board
201 Bedford Street
Lexington, MA 02420
It was moved by Mr. Osten, seconded by Mr. Ribich and voted unanimously to approve the leak-
based abatement recommendations as presented including the recommendation to abate interest
only on 136 East Street and 104 East Emerson Street.
Over Estimated
16CurveStreet
Thehomeownersfiledforanabatementonbill#771250.Themeterwasreplacedon7/30/14
withanoutreadof5401indicatingwehadoverestimatedtheirusage.Wewentbacktothelast
Postcardreading,establishedADUandderivedusageforbill#'s771250and757338.The
replacedusageof25unitswillbecapturedinthefallbilling.Staffrecommendedanabatementof
$923.58.
25FairlawnLane
Wehadmadeseveralrequeststothehomeownertoscheduleameterreplacementand
ateardown.On
installationofaradioread.Hecalledandtoldstaffhishouseisgoingtobe
7/29/14wegotaninsidereadof1202indicatingwehaveoverestimatedusage.Wewentbackto
thelastManualreadon3/13/13,establishedADUandderivedusage.Thereplacedusageof23
unitswillbecapturedinthefallbilling.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$1,201.95.
4FarmRoad
Staffsuspectedthemeteratthispropertyhadfailedwhenthehomeownerdidnotrespondto
inquiries.Weestimatedusageonbill#774750at40hcf.Thehomeownerfiledforanabatement
toaprohibited
statingshehadawellandonlyoccasionallyusedTownwater.Thatalertedstaff
connectiontobothawellandTownwater.MGLstatesthattwosuchconnectionscannotcoexist
duetothethreatofcrosscontaminationofthepublicwatersupply.Thehomeowner
disconnectedherwell;theplumbinginspectorapprovedtheworkdone.Staffrecommends
abatingbill#774750entirely.Ifapprovedtheabatementwouldbearefundtotheformerowner
whopaidthebillatclosing.However,itwasmovedbyMr.Osten,secondedbyMr.Ribichand
approvedunanimoustodenytheabatementbecausethehomeownerwasneverchargedaflat
feefortheuseofTownsewer.
46HancockStreet
Thehomeownersfiledforanabatementonbill#763003whichwasestimatedafteryearsof
postcardreads.Beforethemetercouldbechanged,thehomeownerhadtoinstallanewservice
andshutoffvalve.Themeterwasreplaced8/1/14withanoutreadof309indicatingwehad
overestimated.WeestablishedADUandderivedusageof50hcfovertwobillingperiods.The
excess17unitswillbecapturedinthefallbilling.Aradioreaddevicehasbeeninstalled.Staff
recommendedanabatementof$1,253.50.
15HickoryStreet
5
Approved Minutes of the Meeting 10/16/14
Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board
201 Bedford Street
Lexington, MA 02420
Thisisastaffgeneratedabatementforanincorrectreading.Themeterwasremovedon3/14/14
forateardownwithanoutreadof1018.Staffincorrectlyenteredtheoutreadas1026resulting
inanoverbillingof8units.Thiscalculationcorrectlychargesfor2units.Staffrecommendedan
abatementof$82.48.
60TaftAvenue
Wewereunabletoreadthismeter.Themeterchangewasdelayeduntilthehomeowner'sson
replacedtheshutoffvalveafterhemovedtoassistedliving.Thepostcardreadindicatedwehad
overestimatedusage.Wewentbacktothepreviouspostcardreadon9/15/2011,established
ADUandderivedusage.Thehouseisnowempty.Staffpresentedthisrecommendationtothe
boardon7/31/14butitwaswithdrawnbecauseanerrorwasfound.Theerrorwascorrectedand
staffrecommendedanabatementof$1,122.97.
22TurningMillRoadWithdrawn
19UticaStreetWithdrawn
217WalthamStreet
Wedidnotknowifthemeterhadfailedat340orifthepropertywasempty.Weputnotesonthe
billsandrecentlymailedalettertowhichthehomeownersresponded.Themeterhadfailedat
andrevisedthefourbillsaccordingly.
340.Weestablished3yearaveragespringandfallusages
Staffrecommendedanabatementof$614.45
It was moved by Mr. Osten, seconded by Mr. Ribich and voted unanimously to accept staff
recommendations for abatements based on overestimated bills with the exception of 4 Farm
Road which was denied and 22 Turning Mill Road and 19 Utica Street which were withdrawn.
Billing/Meter Issues
178ConcordAvenue
On9/9/2013staffrespondedtoanapparentsewerbackupatthispropertyandfoundthatthe
houseisnotconnectedtoTownsewer.Theownerpurchasedthepropertyin1983andhadbeen
toldhewasonTownsewer.Staffreviewedarchivalrecordsofpaymentsbuttherecordsonlygo
backasfaras1995.Thehomeownersubmittedarequesttoestimateusagegoingbackto1982
andrequestedinterest.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$9,126.38whichrepresentsthe
knownpaymentsmadeforsewer.
43GoldenAvenueDomestic
Bill#728402wasabatedforirrigationonadomesticmeterandalreadygotthebenefitof77
unitsatirrigationrates.Thereforewedidnotadjustit.Bill#669104wasnotchargedsewerso
6
Approved Minutes of the Meeting 10/16/14
Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board
201 Bedford Street
Lexington, MA 02420
thesewerchargeof10unitsisreflectedintherevisedbill.Bill#s20325,3640and82170were
alsonotchargedforsewerandsewerchargeshavebeenaddedtotherevisedbill.Onlyfallbills
arereflectedinthiscalculationofdomesticlessirrigationusage.Staffrecommendedan
abatementof$1,228.32.
43GoldenAvenueIrrigation
Staffdiscoveredon7/14/14thatbecauseofanimpropersetupallthewateratthisaddresswas
goingthroughthedomesticmeter.Themeterreadontheirrigationmeterwas461on7/14/14.
Forunknownreasonsstaffhadstoppedreadingtheirrigationmeterin2004at204andstopped
billingtheaccount.BelowarethechargestheirrigationwouldhavereceivedbasedontheADU
andderivedusageonthemeter.Onlyfallbillshavebeeninserted.Nowthedomesticaccount
needstobeadjustedforthesewerthatwaschargedonirrigationwaterlessaonetimeirrigation
ondomesticmeterabatementgivenon77unitsin2013.Staffrecommendedapositive
adjustmentof$704.83.
6GroveStreetDomestic
Staffconfirmedthatthedomesticandirrigationmeterswerereversedatthislocation.Inthis
calculation,domesticrateshavebeenappliedtocorrectdomesticusage.Staffrecommendeda
positiveadjustmentof$36.41.
6GroveStreet
Staffconfirmedthatthedomesticandirrigationmeterswerereversedatthislocation.Inthis
calculation,domesticrateshavebeenappliedtocorrectdomesticusage.Staffrecommendedan
abatementof$67.70.
41PleasantStreet
Itwasdiscoveredthatthisaccounthasnotbeenchargedforseweralthoughitistiedin.The
accountwasinactivatedyearsagowhenitwasverifiedtheyhaveawellfordrinkingwater.A
servicefor"SewerOnly"shouldhavebeenactivated.Thiscalculationgoesbackthreeyearsand
adjustment.Staffrecommendedappositiveadjustmentof$282.72.
resultsinapositive
38SaddleClubRoad
ThehomeownerfiledforanabatementonBill#782645.Shestatedtheyhadfilledaskatingrink
lastwinterandaskedforaonetimeirrigationonadomesticmeterabatementtogetreliefonthe
sewerportionofthebill.However,staffquestionedwhytheywouldfillanoutdoorrinkthrough
thedomesticmeterwhentheyhaveaseparateirrigationmeter.Thehomeownerhadmadean
assumptionthattheoutsidefaucetswerenottiedintotheirrigationmeterbutitwasdetermined
7
Approved Minutes of the Meeting 10/16/14
Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board
201 Bedford Street
Lexington, MA 02420
thattheyare.Thespringbillontheirrigationmeterreflectstheusageduringthewinterforthe
rink.TheStaffrecommendedabatementofinterestonly.
It was moved by Mr. Wood, seconded by Mr. Ribich and voted unanimously to accept staff
recommendations for abatements based on Billing/Meter Issues
Irrigation on a Domestic Meter
3PlainfieldStreet
Thehomeownersfiledanapplicationforabatementonbill#759119forirrigationonadomestic
meter.Theyinstalledextensivelandscapinglastsummeranddidnotknowthetownoffereda
onetimeabatementforirrigationonadomesticmeter.Theiraveragefallusageis46and70%of
theexcessusageof108hcf(76)isrecalculatedatirrigationrates.Anirrigationmeterhasbeen
installed.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$1,364.28.
Schedule future meeting times
TheboardwillnextmetNovember20,2014.
Adjourn
It was moved by Mr. Wood, seconded by Mr. Ribich and voted unanimously to adjourn the
meeting at 6:11 pm.
8