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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015-01-29-WSAB-min Approved Minutes of the Meeting 1/29/15 Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 January 29, 2015 Attendance: BoardMembers:LorenWood,ChairpersonandBillRibich,Member.Staff:BillHadley,DPWDirector,RobAddelson,As sistantTownManagerforFinanceandElizabethTuckerandRobinFullford,UtilityBilling. LorenWoodcalledthemeetingtoorderat4:32pm. Theorderofbusinesswasconductedasfollows: StatusReportofAbatementRequests Ms.Fullfordpresentedthefollowingstatusreport: 41Tobeheardtonight 38TobeheardinFebruary 45Onholdforhistoryordocumentation AbatementRequestsforConsideration: Leaks 67BaskinRoad T hehomeownersfiledforanabatementonBill#810543.Stafffoundnoleaksbutdiddiscoverthatthe homeownertakesexcessivelylongshowersandoftenputssingleitemsthroughafull,doublerinsewashcycle.In theabsenceofleaksstaffrecommendeddenialofanabatement. 99BlakeRoad ThehomeownersappliedforanabatementonBill#4485.TherepairreceipttheyprovidedstatesthatZone3would notturnoffduetoacrackeddiaphragm.Ithasbeenrepaired.Bill#765460wasnotusedinthecalculationofaver ageusagebecausethehomeownersstatetheproblembeganin2013.The3yearaveragefallusageis71;werecal culatedtheexcessusageattieronewaterratesonly.Staffrecommendedanabatementof($1,311.65). 3CurveStreet Thehomeowner'sdaughterfiledanapplicationforabatementonherfather'sbehalf.Bill#771239hasbeenabated foraleak(see"OriginalAbatement")andtheleakcontinuedintothenextbillingperiod.Inestablishingaverageus agestaffdidnotuseBill#757327asitappearstohavebeenaffectedbytheleak.Theaverageusageis31units;we recalculatedallusageattieroneratesanddeducted30%toacknowledgethehomeowner'seligibilityfortherate subsidy.Staffrecommendedanabatementof($69.14). 234EastStreet Thishousewasateardownandrebuild.ThebuilderappliedforanabatementonBill#3162statingthatallwaterused wasforirrigation.Duringconstructionstaffobservedthatwaterforconstructionwascomingfromaneighborviaahose. Staffrecommendedrecalculatingallusageatirrigationratesforanabatementof($1,549.45). 1 Approved Minutes of the Meeting 1/29/15 Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 January 29, 2015 6EliotRoad ThislocationhadaseriesofleakswhichwererepairedinOctober.TheleaksapparentlystartedwithBill#742323. Springandfallaverageusageswereestablishedandexcessusagehasbeenrecalculatedattieronerates.Additionally HumanServicesverifiedlongtermeligibilityforaratesubsidywhichhasbeenappliedtoBill#177andhasbeenincluded inthecalculationfortheotherthreebills.Staffrecommendedanabatementof($3,547.37). 193GrantStreet ThehomeownersfiledforanabatementonBill#3007.Theyprovidedabillforrepairsmadetotheirirrigationsys teminJuly.Theaverageusageis86;werecalculatedtheexcessusageattieronewaterrates.Staffrecommended anabatementof($684.11). 28KendallRoad ThehomeownersfiledanapplicationafterreceivingBill#805314.Theyhaddonemoreirrigationthispastsummer anddiscoveredtheyhadhadasignificantirrigationleakwhichtheirlandscapersrepairedasreferencedintheirlet terdated12/1/14.Theiraveragefallusageis44;werecalculatedallexcessusageattieronewaterratesastheleak didnotenterthesewersystem.Staffrecommendedanabatementof($9,560.92). 59LaconiaStreet ThehomeownersfiledforanabatementonBill#2500.Theyprovidedareceiptforrepairparts.Theaverageusageis 23;werecalculatedallusageattieronewaterrates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof($49.60). 75LowellStreet ThehomeownersfiledforanabatementonBill#803389.Theyfoundandrepairedatoiletleakandprovidedare ceiptforparts.The3yearaveragefallusageis74;werecalculatedallbut34unitsattieronerates.Staffrecom mendedanabatementof($1,441.68). 555MarrettRoad ThehomeownersfiledforanabatementonBill#768955.Staffadjustedatoiletleakinginoverflowon12/13/13. Thisapplicationhasbeenonholdtoestablishaveragefallusageat38hcf.Staffrecalculatedallusageattierone water/sewerratesandrecommendedanabatementof($384.82). 1984MassachusettsAvenueΑDomestic ThehomeownersfiledforanabatementonBill#128.Theystatetheymaderepairstotworunningtoilets.Thefall averageusageis37;allusagewasrecalculatedattieronewaterandsewerrates.Staffrecommendedanabatement of($525.97). 1984MassachusettsAvenueΑIrrigation ThehomeownersfiledforanabatementonBill#129.TheystatetheymaderepairstotheirirrigationsysteminNo vember.Theaverageusageis163;theexcessusagewasrecalculatedattieronewaterrates.Staffrecommendedan abatementof($70.77). 11OldShadeStreet ThehomeownersfiledforanabatementonBill#788465.Theyhadpurchasedthepropertyforrehabandthepipes burstcausingmajordamageinsidethehouse.Thehousewasemptyandnowaterwouldhavebeenusedbutforthe leak.Allusagewasrecalculatedattieronewaterrateswithnosewer.Staffrecommendedanabatementof ($15,019.84). 2 Approved Minutes of the Meeting 1/29/15 Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 January 29, 2015 160NorthStreet Thehomeownersfiledforanabatementonbill#2632statingtheyhadaleakandprovidedareceiptforreplace mentparts.The3yearaveragefallusageis42;allbut2unitswererecalculatedattieronerates.Staffrecom mendedanabatementof($718.39). 3PhilbrookTerrace ThehomeownersfiledforanabatementonBill#770172.Inthespringtheyfoundleaksintheirirrigationsystemand providedareceiptforrepairs.The3yearaverageusageis40;werecalculatedallusageattieronewaterrates.Staff recommendedanabatementof($213.84). 25SolomonPierceRoad WITHDRAWN1/29/15TODERIVEUSAGEONBILL#723581ANDINCLUDEFINALBILLFORREFERENCE 44SomersetRoad ThehomeownersfiledforanabatementonBill#3897.Theystatetheirsprinklersystemtimerfailedinthe"on"posi tionandwaswideopenwhiletheywereaway.Asecondincidentoccurredwhenthewindknockedoverabarreland ahosenozzleengagedfordaysbeforetheydiscoveredit.Theaverageusageis62;theexcessusagewasrecalcu latedattieronewaterrateswithnosewer.Staffrecommendedanabatementof($2,350.83). 62TarbellAvenue ThehomeownerappliedforanabatementonBill#804279.Bill#772391waspreviouslyabatedforaleakthathad beenrepaired.Stafffoundandadjustedatoiletleakinginoverflow.The3yearaveragespringusageis38;allusage wasrecalculatedattieronerates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof($180.13). 9WinchesterDrive ThehomeownerfiledforanabatementonBill#803623.Staffinformedhimofaleakyfaucetwhichherepairedbut didnotsavethereceipt.Theaverageusageis38;werecalculatedallusageattieronewater/sewerrates.Staffrec ommendedanabatementof($12.40). 183WalthamStreet WITHDRAWN12915TOHOLDFORSPRINGHISTORY 17WoodcliffeRoad ThehomeownersfiledforanabatementonBill#769613.Theystatedtheyadjustedtwotoiletsthatwereleakingin overflow.Thisabatementhasbeenonholdtoestablishhistory.Thefirstcompletefallusageis49;allbut9units wererecalculatedattieronerates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof($158.34). 21WoodlandRoad ThehomeownerappliedforanabatementonBill#3785.Heprovidedarepairreceiptforleaksinhisirrigationsys tem.The3yearaveragefallusageis111;theexcessusagewasrecalculatedattieronerates.Staffrecommendedan abatementof($401.03). ItwasmovedbyMr.Ribich,secondedbyMr.Woodandvotedunanimouslytoapprovestaffrecommendationsfor leakbasedabatementsaspresentedwiththeexceptionof25SolomonPierceRoadand183WalthamStreet. Over/UnderEstimated 3 Approved Minutes of the Meeting 1/29/15 Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 January 29, 2015 100FiferLane Afterseveralestimatedbillsthemeterwasreplacedon1/16/14withanoutreadof1924.Asof10/30/1416moreunits hadbeenusedonthenewmeter(1924+16=1940).ADUwasestablishedandtheusagewasredistributedgoingbackto thelastManualreadon10/31/2012.Staffrecommendedanabatementof($215.37). 5HolmesRoad Thehomeownersfiledforanabatementonbill#782901.Bill#764325wasbeingabatedduetoahighestimate.Bill# 782901reflectsthewrongperviousbalancewhichcausedittobeoverbilled.Theusageshouldhavebeen151128=23. Staffrecommendedanabatementof($732.87). 9LincolnTerrace ThehomeownersfiledforanabatementonBill#8098547.Staffsuspectedthemeterhadfailedandestimatedusageof 40units.Theowner'sdaughterinformedstaffthathermotherhadpassedawayandthehousehasbeenemptyfor sometime.StaffrecommendedabatingBill#809854entirelyintheamountof($420.00). 39MeriamStreet Wewereunabletoobtainareadingforthisirrigationaccountuntilthepadwasreplacedon12/16/14.Themeterread was0223,indicatingwehadunderestimatedusage.ThiscalculationestablishesADUandderivesusagesince2012.The replacedusageof22unitswillbecapturedinthespring.Staffrecommendedapositiveadjustmentof$992.48. 4MilkStreet Thehomeownersfiledanabatementonbill#767195whichwasestimatedwhenstaffrealizedthemeterhadfailedat 67.Afterthemeterwaschangedwewaitedtoestablishaverageusageonthenewmeter.Thiscalculationestablishes ADUandderivesusagefor.Staffrecommendedapositiveadjustmentof$83.89. 6MorrisStreet ThehomeownerfiledforanabatementonBill#809333.Themeterhadindicatednousagesince2010andwesuspected themeterhadfailed.Thehomeownercalledandstatedthatthehouseisemptyandthemeterreadiscorrect.Thestaff recommendedcalculationabatesBill#809333completelyintheamountof($1,590.60). 11PaulRevereRoad Thehomeownersfiledanabatementonbill#807819.Thepadhadbeenmissingandwhenitwasreplacedthemeter readingindicatedtheaccounthadbeenovercharged.ThiscalculationestablishesADUandderivesusageforthetwo billingperiods.Theyalsohadatoiletleakthattheyadjustedthemselves.Thespringandfallaverageusagesareboth under40;werecalculatedallusageattieronerates.Bill#766530wasabatedforleaksandnotusedinthecalculationof averages.Staffrecommendedanabatementof($808.04). 2TroddenPath Afterseveralestimatesthemeterwasremovedat5739whichcreatedahugecatchupbill.Thehomeownersappliedfor anabatementonBill#806177.WewentbacktothelastAread,establishedADUandderivedusage.Theoriginalrec ommendationwaswithdrawnbecausesomeoftherateswereincorrect.Staffrecommendedanabatementof ($7,554.73). 4 Approved Minutes of the Meeting 1/29/15 Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 January 29, 2015 ItwasmovedbyMr.Ribich,secondedbyMr.Woodandvotedunanimouslytoapprovestaffrecommendationsbased onoverestimatedbillsaspresented. Billing/MeterIssues IrrigationonaDomesticMeter 17CarolLane Thehomeownersfiledforanabatementonbill#978statingtheyhadwateredheavilyanddidnotknowtheTownallows separateirrigationmeters.Theyaretakingstepstocorrectthisandtheyunderstandthisisaonetimeonlyabatementof itstype.70%ofthewaterusedinexcessofthespringisrecalculatedatirrigationrates.Staffrecommendedanabate mentof($714.09). 27EatonRoad Thehomeownersappliedforanabatementonbill#1523foraonetimeirrigationonadomesticmeterabatement.The oneyearaverageusageis45.Werecalculated70%oftheexcessusageof38atirrigationrates.Staffrecommendedan abatementof($309.87). 99HaydenAvenue Thisisacommercialaccount.Theyrepairedanirrigationsystemthathadbeendownforyearsbutdidnotrealizethe systemwentthroughthedomesticmeteruntiltheyreceivedBill#811145.Thehaverequestedaonetimeonlyabate mentforirrigationonadomesticmeter.Theaveragefallusageis855.70%oftheexcessusagehasbeenrecalculatedat irrigationrates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof($37,187.61). 23HeritageDrive Thehomeownersfiledforanabatementonbill#768128statingmostoftheusagerepresentedirrigationandasnew residentstheywereunawarethatsecondmetersareallowed.Theyareawarethisisaonetimeonlyabatementofits kind.Wewaiteduntilafterthefallbillingtoestablishaverageusage.70%ofthewaterusedinexcessoftheaverageis recalculatedatirrigationrates.Staffrecommendedanabatementintheamountof($2,100.93). 39MapleStreet Thehomeownersfiledforanabatementonbill#806731citingirrigationonadomesticmeter.Theyunderstandthisisa onetimeonlyabatementofitstype.70%ofthewaterusedinexcessoftheaverageisrecalculatedatirrigationrates. Staffrecommendedanabatementof($567.61). 8MinolaRoad Thehomeownersfiledforanabatementonbill#344statingtheyhadinstalledandusedanewirrigationsystemthis summer.TheywereunawareoftheTown'spolicyofallowingseparatemetersforirrigation.Theyunderstandthisisa onetimeonlyabatementofitstype.70%ofthewaterusedinexcessoftheaverageisrecalculatedatirrigationrates. Staffrecommendedanabatementof($1,635.04). 107SpringStreet Theformerhomeownersfiledanapplicationforabatementonbill#769813forirrigationonadomesticmeter.After thebillingtheydiscoveredthatoneoftheiroutsidefaucetswasnotconnectedtotheirirrigationmeter.Thisabate menthasbeenonholdtoestablishaverageusage.Theiraveragefallusageis54and70%oftheexcessusageisre calculatedatirrigationrates.Staffrecommendedanabatementof($226.36). 5 Approved Minutes of the Meeting 1/29/15 Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 January 29, 2015 ItwasmovedbyMr.Ribich,secondedbyMr.Woodandvotedunanimouslytoacceptstaffrecommendationsfor abatementsbasedonIrrigationonaDomesticmeter. Meter/BillingIssue 51TaftAvenue ThehomeownersfiledforanabatementonBill#804136whichwasbilledfor67units.Thereadingwas79,theprevious readingwas27;7927=52.Theerrorwasduetoapreviousabatement.Staffrecommendedanabatementof($250.50). 48TurningMillRoad ItwasdiscoveredthatthispropertyisnottiedintoTownSewer.Staffperformedadyetestandfoundasepticsystem. Staffrecommendedabatingallknownsewerbillsintheamountof($8,268.46). 156WoburnStreet ThehomeownersfiledforanabatementonBill#2187.Thisaccountwasonholdtoestablishhistoryonanewmeterfor whichanewaccountwassetup.Thereadingobtainedfromthenewmeterwasalsopostedtothisaccountandthere forebilleddouble.Staffrecommendedabatingbill#2187entirelyintheamountof($357.00). Schedulefuturemeetingtimes Theboardwillnextmeton2/19/2015 Adjourn ItwasmovedbyMr.Wood,secondedbyMr.Ribichandvotedunanimouslytoadjournthemeetingat5:57pm. 6