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Home My WebLink About2015-07-23-WSAB-min Minutes of the Meeting 7/23/15 Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 Approved 8/13/15 Attendance: BoardMembers:LorenWood,ChairpersonandJimOsten,Member.Staff:RobAddelson,Assistant TownManagerforFinance,BillHadley,DPWDirector,ElizabethTuckerandRobinFullford,UtilityBill ing. 4:30pmCallmeetingtoorder LorenWoodcalledthemeetingtoorderat4:30pm. StatusReportofAbatementRequests 38Tobeheardtonight 66Onholdforbillinghistoryordocumentation 104Total ReviewMinutesoftheJune11,2015meetingforapproval ItwasmovedbyMr.Osten,secondedbyMr.WoodandvotedunanimouslytoapprovetheMinutesof theMeetingJune11,2015aspresented. AbatementRequestsforConsideration Leaks 9AbernathyRoad ThehomeownerappliedforanabatementonBill#812666.Sheprovidedreceiptsfortherepairofatoiletand repairstoherirrigationsystem.Theaveragespringusageis46.Werecalculatedallbutsixunitsattieronerates andreducedsewerbyonehalfoftheleakedwaterbecauseitdidnotenterthesewer.Staffconfirmedthatus ageisbackdowntonormalandrecommendedanabatementof$621.13. 19AprilLane ThehomeownersfiledforanabatementonBill#815221.Theydiscoveredthesinkinthebasementbathroom wasleakingandprovidedareceiptforanewfaucet.StaffaddedBill#805772tothecalculation.Becauseboth theaveragespringandfallusagesareunder40werecalculatedallusageattieronerates.Staffrecommended anabatementof$130.20. 7ButlerAvenue ThehomeownerappliedforanabatementonBill#813787.Shestatesshefoundatoiletleakandafriendre pairedit;shedoesnothaveareceipt.Theaveragespringusageis25;werecalculatedallusageattieronerates andappliedthe30%ratesubsidy.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$156.24. 2CoachRoad ThehomeownerappliedforanabatementonBill#823542.Shehadatoiletrepairedandprovidedaninvoice. Theaveragespringusageis32;werecalculatedallusageattieronerates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof $672.27. 1 Minutes of the Meeting 7/23/15 Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 Approved 8/13/15 21ColonyRoad ThehomeownerappliedforanabatementonBill#820142.Hehadatoiletrepairedandprovidedaninvoice. Theaveragespringusageis28;werecalculatedallusageattieronerates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof $204.60. 475ConcordAvenue ThehomeownerappliedforanabatementonBill#788518.Hehadatoiletrepairedandprovidedaninvoice. Thisabatementhadbeenonholdtoestablishaverageusage.Theaveragespringusageis39;werecalculated allusageattieronerates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$1,369.96. 16DeeRoad ThehomeownerfiledforanabatementonBill#817634.Hefoundandadjustedatoiletleakinginoverflow.The 3yearaveragespringusageis20;werecalculatedallusageattieronerates.Staffrecommendedanabatement of$37.20. 43FiferLane ThehomeownerappliedforanabatementonBill#823297.Headjustedatoiletthatwasleakinginoverflow. Theaveragespringusageis25;werecalculatedallusageattieronerates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof $167.40. 17JohnPoulterRoad ThehomeownerappliedforanabatementonBill#816852statingthatagardenhoseburstduringthewinter whiletheywereawayandfloodedthebackyard.Theytypicallydonotusetheirirrigationandthespringaver ageusageiszero.Allusagehasbeenrecalculatedattieronerates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof $697.59. 116KendallRoad Thehomeownerstateshefoundaseldomusedtoiletleakingandadjustedithimself;theusageisbackdownto normal.Theaveragespringusageis39;werecalculatedallusageattieronerates.Staffrecommendedan abatementof$716.16. 473LowellStreet ThehomeownerappliedforanabatementonBill#818971.Headjustedatoiletleakinginoverflow.Theaverage springusageis39;werecalculatedallusageattieronerates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$1,008.76. 642MarrettRoad ThehomeownersappliedforanabatementonBill#824449.Theypurchasedthepropertytorehabthissummer butpipesburstduringthewinter.AneighborcalledtheFireDepartmentwhenwaterwasseenbeingdis chargedfromthebasementbyasumppump.Becausethehousewasemptyallusageisattributabletotheleak. Sincethewaterdidnotenterthesewersystemwerecalculatedallusageattieronewaterratesonly.Staffrec ommendedanabatementof$2,047.76. 11NortonRoad 2 Minutes of the Meeting 7/23/15 Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 Approved 8/13/15 Thehomeownernoticedasharpincreaseinusageoverthepasttwoyearsbutjustassumedtheyhadincreased theirusage.DuringthebillingperiodofBill#812555thehomeownerwasaloneinthehouseandwhenherus agedidnotgodownsheunderstoodsomethingwasamiss.Staffinstructedheronhowtofindandrepairtoilet leaksandshereplacedaflapperandprovidedareceipt.ThispropertyisontheBOHsepticsystemlist.Since springandfallaverageusagesareunder40,staffrecalculatedallusageattieronerates.Subsequentstaffreads indicatetheusageisbackdowntoformernormallimits.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$159.61. 153OldSpringStreet ThehomeownerappliedforanabatementonBill#788666.Shereplacedatoiletandhadtwoleakingfaucets replacedandprovidedaninvoice.Theaveragespringusageis29;werecalculatedallusageattieronerates. Staffrecommendedanabatementof$1,152.70. 103OutlookDrive Thehomeownerrepairedaleakingtoiletandprovidedacopyofthereceipt.The3yearaveragefallusageis40; werecalculatedallusageattieronerates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$379.67. 9PeacockRoad Thehomeownerstatesshefoundatoiletleakandrepairedit;shedoesnothaveareceipt.Theaveragespring usageis14;werecalculatedallusageattieronerates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$117.80. 37SaddleClubRoad ThehomeownerappliedforanabatementonBill#3058suspectingtheremusthavebeenaleakintheirirriga tionsystem.However,thisspringthesystemwastestedandnoleakswerefound.Staffrecommendedan abatementofinterestonly. 2SeabornPlace ThehomeownerfiledforanabatementonBill#819217.Hefoundaleak,haditrepairedandprovidedareceipt. Theaveragespringusageis31;werecalculatedallusageattieronerates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof $335.78. 15TaftAvenueΑWithdrawn 25TuftsRoadΑOption2 ThehomeownersfiledforanabatementonBill#s787366and810066.Theyprovidedabillforrepairsmadeto abrokenpipe,atoiletandasink.Theaveragefallusageis39;werecalculatedtheexcessusageattieronewa terrates.Theaveragefallusageis42;werecalculatedallbut2unitsattieronewaterrates.Sewerwasnot chargedononehalfoftheexcessusagetoacknowledgethatsomeoftheleakedwaterdidnotenterthesewer. Staffvisitedthehomeandconfirmedextensiveinteriordamagewascausedwhenapipeinaremotepartofthe houseburst.Option2assumeshalfoftheleakedwaterdidnotenterthesewer.Staffrecommendedanabate mentof$3,909.08. 197WestminsterAvenue ThehomeownersappliedforanabatementonBill#803512assumingtheirirrigationsystemhasbeenleaking. Eventuallythehomeowner'ssonfoundtheirrigationsystemwasleakingatthecontrolpanel,maderepairsand 3 Minutes of the Meeting 7/23/15 Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 Approved 8/13/15 providedreceiptsforparts.The3yearaveragefallusageis40;theexcessusageof58hcfhasbeenrecalculated attieronerates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$195.40. 60WilliamsRoad Thehomeownerfoundandrepairedaleakytoiletandprovidedareceipt.Theaveragespringusageis81;we recalculatedtheexcessusageattieronerates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$482.79. 237WorthenRoad ThehomeownerappliedforanabatementonBill#774125inJune2015.Hestatesthatstaffdirectedhimto hireaplumbertodoaleakassessment.Hedidnotmakeagoodfaithpaymentnordidhefileanapplicationas hewouldhavebeenaskedto.Theplumberfoundnoleaksbutdididentifycracksintheirgardenhose.How ever,thehighusagewasduringthewintermonthsandtheusagehascomebackdown.Further,Bill#774125 wasunpaidinDecemberandwenttolien.Intheabsenceofaleak,staffrecommendedanabatementofinter estonly. ItwasmovedbyMr.Osten,secondedbyMr.WoodandvotedunanimouslytoapproveallLeakBased Abatementrequestswiththeexceptionof15TaftAvenue IrrigationonaDomesticMeter 482BedfordStreetΑWithdrawn 22BrentRoad Thehomeownersfiledforanabatementonbill#2902statingtheyhadwateredoutsideontheirdomesticme ter.Theyunderstandthisisaonetimeonlyabatementofitstype.70%ofthewaterusedinexcessofthe3year averagefallusageisrecalculatedatirrigationrates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$394.93. 38DowningRoad TheownersfiledforanabatementonBill#810645forirrigationonadomesticmeter.Theaverageusageis23; werecalculatedthe70%excessusageatirrigationrates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$873.89. 18StrathamRoad Thehomeownersfiledforanabatementonbill#807125statingtheyhadwateredoutsideontheirdomestic meter.Theyunderstandthisisaonetimeonlyabatementofitstype.70%ofthewaterusedinexcessofthe springisrecalculatedatirrigationrates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$1,298.60. ItwasmovedbyMr.Osten,secondedbyMr.WoodandvotedunanimouslytoapproveallIrrigationon aDomesticMeterAbatementrequestswiththeexceptionof482BedfordStreet Billing/MeterIssues 29BarberryRoad ThehomeownerfiledforanabatementonBill#825484whichappearedtobeacatchupbillaftertwoesti mates.Themeteroutreadwas0334indicatingwehadtransposednumbersandoverbilledBill#825484.Staff 4 Minutes of the Meeting 7/23/15 Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 Approved 8/13/15 redistributedusageoverthreebillsgoingbacktothelastͻAͼreadon10/31/13.Thereplacedusageof3has beencapturedforthefallbilling.Thehomeownerstatedheleftahoserunningoutside.Inordertoeffectan irrigationondomesticmeterabatementstaffusedtheaveragespringandfallusagesforBill#s811308and 788605andappliedtheformulatothebalanceof39units.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$387.50. 19BellflowerStreet ThehomeownersfiledforanabatementonBill#822331.Themeterwasreplacedon6/9/15withanoutreadof 512indicatingwehadoverestimatedusage.WeestablishedADUandderivedusageforBill#822331.There placedusageof12unitshasbeencapturedforthefallbilling.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$1,128.60. 29BlossomcrestRoad ThehomeownersfiledforanabatementonBill#815037.WewereunabletoobtainreadingsandestimatedBill #s815037and805587.Themeterwaschangedon5/26/15withanoutreadof0712indicatingaredistribution. StaffestablishedADUandredistributedtheusageovertwobillingperiods.Thereplacedusagehasbeencap turedforthefallbilling.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$50.10. 4ChaseAvenue ThehomeownersfiledforanabatementonBill#813727.Wewereunabletoobtainareadingduetosnowand iceandthecustomerreturnedapostcardreadbutreadtheelectricmeterratherthanthewatermeter.Staff confirmedthereadingon6/10/15.WeestablishedADUandderivedusageforBill#813727.Thepreviousread waschangedto337tocapturethereplacedusageof7units.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$3,734.56. 8DudleyRoad Thehomeownerfiledforanabatementbecauseshesuppliedaneighborwithwaterwhiletheirservicewasfro zen.Thereadingtakenthedayofthefreezeupwas0591.Thepreviousreadwas0576;staffrecalculatedBill #814108for15hcfandrecommendedanabatementof$412.80. 28EldredStreet ThehomeownerfiledforanabatementonBill#808938whichwasestimatedwhenwewereunabletoobtaina reading.Staffobtainedareadingof1204on6/15/2015.WeestablishedADUandredistributedtheusageover twobillingperiods.Bychangingthepreviousreadingto1173thereplacedusageof31unitswillbecapturedin thefallbilling.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$500.50. 96KendallRoad ThehomeownerappliedforanabatementonBill#814782.Whenwewereunabletoobtainareadingweesti matedusageat40hcf.Thehomeownerstatesthehousewasstillbeingrehabbedon2/16/15andusagewas zero.On6/2/15staffinstalledwires&padsandthereadingwas0001confirmingtheowner'sassertion.Staff recommendedabatingBill#814782entirelyintheamountof$420.00. 22LarchmontLane ThehomeownerfiledforanabatementonestimatedBill#817274.Staffwasunabletoobtainareadingon 4/7/15andestimatedusageof40.Theownerstatesthehouseisstillunderconstructionandisempty.InJunea padwasinstalledandthereadingwas0000.StaffrecommendedabatingBill#817274entirelyintheamountof $420.00. 5 Minutes of the Meeting 7/23/15 Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 Approved 8/13/15 430MassachusettsAvenue ThehomeownersappliedforanabatementonBill#812116.On1/6/15theywereaskedtoruntheirwaterto preventtheirservicefromfreezing;theirmeterreadingwas1010indicatingtheyhadused49unitspriortothe freezeup.Thiscalculationbillsthemfor49units.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$248.70.On6/29/15the selectmenalsoapprovedtheabatement.Howeverstaffdiscoveredthe2familystatuswasnottakenintoac countinthecalculation.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$304.50.$304.50$248.70=$55.80. 159PleasantStreet ThehomeownersfiledforanabatementonBill#805859whichwasestimated.On3/30/15weobtainedalower readingindicatingwehadoverestimated.Themeterwasreplacedon6/4/15withanoutreadof1611.Wees tablishedADUandderivedusage.Thepreviousreadingonthereplacedmeterwaschangedto1606tocapture replacedusageof5.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$261.50. 73SpringStreet ThehomeownersfiledforanabatementonBill#788409whichwasestimatedhighaftertwozerobills.Theme terhadfailedat89.WeusedrecenthistorytoestablishADUandredistributedtheusageoverthreebillingperi ods.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$813.87. 37TowerRoad Thehomeownerfiledanabatementonbill#814393statingthattheamountofwaterbeingbilledisoutofline forasingleoccupant.Thisaccountwasoverbilledduetoaseriesofincorrectmanualreadsat1129.On6/4/15 staffobtainedaninsidereadingof1052.ThiscalculationestablishesADUandderivesusage.ThechargesonBill #759116havebeenupdatedtoreflecttheabatementappliedin2014.The3/31/15readinghasbeenchanged to1049tocapturethereplacedusageof3hcf.Staffrecommendedanabatementof$3,553.06. ItwasmovedbyMr.Osten,secondedbyMr.WoodandvotedunanimouslytoapproveallBilling/Me terIssueAbatementrequests. Schedulefuturemeetingtimes ThenextmeetingwillbeheldonThursdayAugust13,2015at4:30at201BedfordStreet. Adjourn ItwasmovedbyMr.Osten,secondedbyMr.Woodandapprovedunanimouslytoadjournthemeeting at5:36pm. 6