The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2015-08-13-WSAB-min Minutes of the Meeting 8/13/15 Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 Amended 10/15/2015 Approved 9/10/15 Attendance: BoardMembers:LorenWood,ChairpersonandJimOsten,Member.Staff:BillHadley,DPWDirector, ElizabethTuckerandRobinFullford,UtilityBilling. 4:30pmCallmeetingtoorder LorenWoodcalledthemeetingtoorderat4:30pm. StatusReportofAbatementRequests 20Tobeheardtonight 48Onholdforbillinghistoryordocumentation 68Total ReviewMinutesoftheJuly23,2015meetingforapproval ItwasmovedbyMr.Osten,secondedbyMr.WoodandvotedunanimouslytoapprovetheMinutesof theMeetingofJuly23,2015aspresented. AbatementRequestsforConsideration Leaks 17BaskinRoad The homeowner applied for an abatement on Bill #824648 for a leak that has been repaired by a plumber. Staff also saw the need to redistribute two estimated bills. However establishing ADU for the three billings would evenly spread the usage and skew the leak-based abatement. Rather staff estab- lished average usage per year from previous history because of two estimated readings and recom- mended an abatement of $946.52. 23ButlerAvenue The homeowners applied for an abatement on Bill #813797. They had a toilet replaced and provided a receipt. The average spring usage is 44; we recalculated all but 4 units at tier one rates. Staff recom- mended an abatement of $142.60. 143ConcordAvenue The homeowner filed for an abatement on Bill #815129. She provided an invoice from a plumber for re- pair of a toilet. The average spring usage is 34; we recalculated all usage at tier one rates. Staff recom- mended an abatement of $142.60. 36FiferLane The homeowners applied for an abatement on Bill #823290. However, no leaks were found and a read- ing on 6/22/15 confirmed that the usage is back down to normal limits. Staff recommended an abate- ment of interest only. 1 Minutes of the Meeting 8/13/15 Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 239LowellStreet This property was purchased by a developer and was empty over the winter. The meter froze and leaked into the basement. All usage has been recalculated at tier one water rates only. Staff recom- mended an abatement of $706.00. 4PeacockFarmRoad The homeowners applied for an abatement on Bill #815768. A toilet leak was found and repaired; they provided a plumber's invoice. The average spring usage is 26 units; all usage was recalculated at tier one rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $161.20. 17PineKnollRoad The homeowners applied for an abatement on Bill #822705. However, a plumber found no leaks and the toilets passed the dye test. The meter outread on 7/6/2015 indicates the usage is back down to nor- mal limits. Staff recommended denying an abatement. The bill was paid in full and did not accrue inter- est. 18StrathamRoad The homeowner applied for a leak-based abatement on Bill #821272 and provided a repair invoice. The average spring usage is 40; all usage has been recalculated at tier one rates. The board also approved a recommendation for an Irrigation on a Domestic Meter abatement on Bill #807125 in July. Staff rec- ommended an abatement of $1,520.81. 15TaftAvenue The homeowner applied for and received a leak-based abatement on Bill #804109. He had purchased parts and attempted to repair a leaking toilet but the leak continued. In April he hired a plumber to make repairs and has not yet received a bill. Homeowner applied for an abatement on Bill #813554. Staff confirmed that the usage is back down to normal range. The average spring usage is 25; all usage was recalculated at tier one rates. This abatement was put on hold on 7/23/15 until we receive the plumber's invoice. Staff recommended an abatement of $210.80. 23WilsonRoad The homeowner filed for an abatement on Bill #821686. She states that due to heavy snow fall this past winter she was unaware that her outside faucet was leaking until enough melted so she could see it. Her son repaired the faucet. The average spring usage is 17; we recalculated all usage at tier one wa- ter rates and 17 units at tier one sewer rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $84.60. ItwasmovedbyMr.Osten,secondedbyMr.WoodandvotedunanimouslytoapproveallLeakBased Abatementrequestswiththeexceptionof15TaftAvenue IrrigationonaDomesticMeter 28BarberryRoad The homeowners filed for an irrigation on a domestic meter abatement on bill # 811307. 70% of the water used in excess of Bill #825482 has been recalculated at irrigation rates. Additionally, Bill #s 788604 and 769981 have been redistributed establishing ADU. An irrigation meter has since been in- stalled. Staff recommended an abatement of $1,653.77. 2 Minutes of the Meeting 8/13/15 Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 482BedfordStreet It was confirmed by Water Department staff that irrigation water has been recorded on the domestic meter due to an incorrect configuration of the meters. 70% of the 3 year average spring usage has been recalculated at irrigation rates on Bill #808436. Staff recommended an abatement of $19,848.04. 121MarrettRoad The developer of this tear down property filed for an abatement on final bill #826271 stating they had established a lawn on the domestic meter and had not used any inside water that entered the sewer. 70% of the water used is recalculated at irrigation rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $1,735.91. 22ProspectHillRoad The homeowners filed for an abatement on bill #810598 stating they had watered outside on their do- mestic 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 $612.93. 23SomersetRoad The homeowners filed for an abatement on bill #3883 requesting an irrigation on a domestic meter abatement .They understand this is a onetime only abatement of its type and have since installed an irrigation meter. 70% of the water used in excess of the spring average usage has been recalculated at irrigation rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $187.72. ItwasmovedbyMr.Osten,secondedbyMr.WoodandvotedunanimouslytoapproveallIrrigationon aDomesticMeterAbatementrequestswiththeexceptionof482BedfordStreet Billing/MeterIssues 106BlakeRoad The homeowners filed for an abatement on bill #3883 requesting an irrigation on a domestic meter abatement .They understand this is a onetime only abatement of its type and have since installed an irrigation meter. 70% of the water used in excess of the spring average usage has been recalculated at irrigation rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $877.10. 31ParkerStreet The homeowners filed an abatement on several estimated bills. When we obtained a manual read on 10/3/2014 it indicated we had overestimated usage. A radio read device was installed. This calculation establishes ADU and derives usage. 27 replaced units were captured for the fall billing. Staff recom- mended an abatement of $630.22. 11RossRoad The meter at this property failed at 0119 in 2013. The meter was replaced on 7/17/2015. We estab- lished prior average spring and fall usages and applied those to the four estimated bills. Staff recom- mended an abatement of $1,501.43. 3 Minutes of the Meeting 8/13/15 Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 8SpringdaleRoad After two estimated bills the meter was replaced with an outread of 1261 indicating we had overesti- mated usage. We established ADU and derived usage. The replaced usage of 5 units will be captured in the fall billing. Staff recommended as abatement of $105.00. 48TurningMillRoad The owner filed for an abatement on Bill #823795. The former owner had applied for a septic system abandonment which prompted us to activate the sewer service. However the new owner chose not to pursue Town sewer at this time. This calculation abates the sewer charge entirely. This account was previously refunded for several years of sewer charges. Staff recommended an abatement of $627.60. ItwasmovedbyMr.Osten,secondedbyMr.WoodandvotedunanimouslytoapproveallBilling/Me terIssueAbatementrequests. Schedulefuturemeetingtimes ThenextmeetingwillbeheldonThursdayAugust13,2015at4:30at201BedfordStreet. Adjourn ItwasmovedbyMr.Osten,secondedbyMr.Woodandapprovedunanimouslytoadjournthemeeting at5:06pm. 4