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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-03-12-WSAB-min Approved Minutes of the Meeting 3/12/15 Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 March 12, 2015 Attendance: Board Members: Loren Wood, Chairperson and Bill Ribich and Jim Osten, Members. Staff: Bill Hadley, DPW Director and Robin Fullford, Utility Billing. Loren Wood called the meeting to order at 4:30 pm. The order of business was conducted as follows: Status Report of Abatement Requests • 2 Appeals to be heard tonight • 7 To be heard tonight • 53 On hold for history or documentation 72 Total Calendar Year 2014 • 311 Abatements • 6 Appeals • 8 Meetings Review Minutes of the February 26, 2015 Meeting for approval It was moved by Mr. Ribich, seconded by Mr. Wood and approved unanimously to accept the minutes of the February 26, 2015 as presented. Appeals • 99 Hayden Avenue This appeal was postponed by the owners • 4 Milk Street Mrs. Savina Jaeger of 4 Milk Street met with the board to appeal their 2/26/15 decision as follows: The homeowners filed an abatement on bill #767195 which was estimated when staff realized the meter had failed at 67. After the meter was changed we waited to establish average usage on the new meter. This calculation establishes ADU and derives usage. Staff recommended a positive adjustment of $83.84. Mrs. Jaeger stated that her family consisted of 4 members during the period of redistribution and consisted of 6 members during the period of time we used to establish ADU. She also stated that they found and repaired leaks during that period and she challenged the assumption that the meter failed sometime during the usage period of Bill #715931 and asked that that bill be excluded from the calculation. The policy of using 15 units per person in the absence of actual usage was discussed. However that methodology would result in a much less favorable outcome for the homeowner and was dismissed. Mrs. Jaeger requested that we start the redistribution at 10/26/2012 rather that 4/26/2012 because we cannot know for sure when the meter failed. 1 Approved Minutes of the Meeting 3/12/15 Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 March 12, 2015 After much discussion the board requested that staff recalculate starting at 10/26/2012 and send the correction to the homeowner in the form of the 15 day letter. Staff made the correction subsequent to the meeting and recommended an abatement of$253.44. Abatement Requests for Consideration: Leaks 2407 Massachusetts Avenue The owners filed for an abatement on Bill #807057. They were granted a leak-based abatement on Bill #784366. However, the 2 year average fall usage is 53 which is more than the number of units used on Bill #807057. Staff recommended abating interest only. 102 Outlook Drive The homeowners applied for an abatement on Bill #810738. A pipe froze in the under slab hot wa- ter heating zone. The homeowners provided a plumber's repair bill to reroute the pipes. The 3 year average fall usage is 58. Staff recalculated the excess usage at tier one rates no sewer because the leak did not enter the sewer. Staff recommended an abatement of $1,310.46. 12 Summit Road The owners filed for an abatement on Bill #804985. The house sat empty last winter while the homeowners were out of state. A pipe burst causing considerable damage. Staff was unable to ob- tain a reading in the spring so the leak went unchecked for some time. The owners provided an in- voice for repairs. Because the house was empty and should have used no water staff recalculated all usage at tier one water rates no sewer and recommended an abatement of$2,189.29. However, staff subsequently found and corrected an error and resubmitted this calculation at the March meeting. Staff recommended an abatement of $2,524.72. It was moved by Mr. Ribich, seconded by Mr. Wood and approved unanimously to accept the leak based abatement recommendation as presented. Irrigation on Domestic Meter 150 Grove Street The homeowners applied for an abatement on the past 3 years billing because their property is be- ing used as a two-family. The post office sends mail to both 148 and 150 Grove Street but the As- sessor's database lists the property as a single family the homeowners also requested a onetime only irrigation on a domestic meter abatement on Bill #809466. 70% of the excess usage has been recalculated at irrigation rates. The homeowners intend to install a separate meter this spring. Op- tion 1 accepts the homeowners' assertion that it is a two-family and recommends an abatement of $3,018.97. Members of the board discussed the concept of accepting an accessory apartment as a 2 Approved Minutes of the Meeting 3/12/15 Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 March 12, 2015 2-family residence. They suggested Town Counsel be consulted and Mr. Hadley will discern if there is a tax advantage to having an accessory apartment. 150 Grove Street Option 2 Option 2 would be not to offer an abatement based on the property's status to 2-family until the Assessors have time to investigate but would abate based on irrigation on a domestic meter. Staff recommended and abatement of$2,194.52. 7 Oak Street The homeowners filed for an abatement on bill #804708 stating they had watered outside on their domestic meter. They understand this is a onetime only abatement of its type. 70% of the water used in excess of the spring is recalculated at irrigation rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $320.24. It was moved by Mr. Osten, seconded by Mr. Ribich and voted unanimously to accept Irrigation on Domestic abatement recommendation as presented, choosing Option 2 for 150 Grove Street with correction to be made and reviewed. Meter/Billing Issues 81 Spring Street The homeowners filed an abatement on bill #811118. The pad had been missing since 2013 and when the meter and pad were replaced the meter read indicated that Bill #811118 had been over estimated. This calculation establishes ADU and derives and redistributes usage. The replaced usage of 12 hcf will be captured in the spring bill run; staff recommended an abatement of ($306.34). This calculation was withdrawn on 2/26/15 due to an error and corrected. Staff recommended an abate- ment of$420.64. 1 Webster Road (The agenda listed 1 Webber Road in error) The reading obtained on 3/20/2014 was 1029 which was lower than the last read on 9/18/13. Sus- pecting that the previous read was incorrect, staff estimated usage at zero. When the reading ob- tained on 9/16/14 was lower yet at 972, staff realized that at some time the meter was removed and reversed, perhaps by a plumber. The meter was reversed on 2/6/15 with a reading of 926. We established ADU (reversing the readings so as not to derive negative usage) and derived usage. The replaced usage of 43 hcf will be captured in the spring billing. Staff recommended an abatement of $433.94. It was moved by Mr. Osten, seconded by Mr. Ribich and voted unanimously to accept Billing/Meter Issue abatement recommendations as presented. 3 Approved Minutes of the Meeting 3/12/15 Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 March 12, 2015 Schedule future meeting times The board set a tentative date of May 21, 2015 for the next meeting. Adjourn It was moved by Mr. Ribich, seconded by Mr. Osten and approved unanimously to adjourn at 5:34 PM. 4