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Home My WebLink About2016-01-14-WSAB-min (amended)Minutes of the Meeting 1/14/16 Approved 2/25/2016 Minutes as Amended Approved 3/17/16 Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 Attendance: Board Members: Loren Wood, Chairperson, Bill Rbich, Member and .gym Osten, Member. staff: Bill Hadley, DPW Director, Ralph Pecora, Water / Sewer Sjperintendent, and Liz Tucker and Fbbin Fullford, Utility Billing. 4:30 pm Call meeting to order Loren Wood called the meeting to order at 4:34 pm. Status Report of Abatement Requests • 30 Recommendations to be heard tonight • 98 Recommendations on hold for history or documentation Review Minutes of the October 15, 2015 and December 3, 2015 meetings for approval It was moved by Mr. Osten, seconded by Mr. Ribich and voted unanimously to approve the Minutes of the Meeting of December 3, 2015 as amended. It was moved by Mr. Osten, seconded by Mr. Ribich and voted unanimously to approve the Minutes of the Meeting of October 15, 2015 as presented. Abatement Recommendations for Consideration Leaks 29 Battle Green Road The homeowner applied for a leak -based abatement on Bill #840362. A toilet leak was found and re- paired and a repair invoice was provided. The average fall usage is 51, we recalculated all but 11 units at tier one water rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $503.26. 6 Bruce Road The homeowner applied for a leak -based abatement on Bill #828404. A leaking bathroom faucet was repaired and a repair invoice was provided. The 3 year average fall usage is 30; we recalculated all us- age at tier one water rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $66.66. 9 Cider Mill Lane The homeowners applied for an abatement on Bill #811804 for a leak in their irrigation system. A re- pair invoice was submitted. We waited until the fall billing to establish normal usage. The excess usage has been recalculated at tier one rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $1,482.80. 136 East Street The homeowner applied for a leak -based abatement on Bill #834074. Toilet leaks were found and re- paired and a repair invoice was provided. The 3 year average fall usage is 43, we recalculated all but 3 1 Minutes of the Meeting 1/14/16 Approved 2/25/2016 Minutes as Amended Approved 3/17/16 Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 units at tier one water /sewer rates. Bill # 764140 was not used in establishing average as it was abated for a leak. Staff recommended an abatement of $338.14. 6 Hill Street The homeowner applied for a leak -based abatement on Bill #836936. This is a 2- family residence and is charged tier one for the first 80 units. Toilet leaks were found and repaired and a repair invoice was provided. The 3 year average fall usage is 42, we recalculated all usage at tier one water /sewer rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $15,180.48. 35 Ledgelawn Avenue The homeowner applied for a leak -based abatement on Bill #831969. A toilet leaks was repaired and a repair invoice was provided. However, all usage is at tier one rates therefore there is no basis for an abatement. Staff recommended an abatement of interest only. 179 Lincoln Street The homeowners filed an application for abatement on Bill #809772. Leaks were found in their irriga- tion system, they were repaired and a receipt was provided. We waited to establish history. 37 units were calculated at irrigation rates and the excess usage at tier one water rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $576.27. 473 Lowell Street The homeowner applied for and received a leak -based abatement on Bill #818971 (see Original Abate- ment). The leak continued into the next billing period and the homeowner applied for an abatement on Bill #833514. The average fall usage is 45, we recalculated all but 5 units at tier one water /sewer rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $199.98. 329 Massachusetts Avenue — Withdrawn by staff 11 Minola Road The homeowner applied for a leak -based abatement on Bill #831255. Leaks were found and repaired and a repair invoice was provided. The 3 year average fall usage is 70, we recalculated the excess units at tier one water /sewer rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $402.36. 18 Oakmount Circle The homeowner applied for an abatement on Bill #834150. This account is not connected to Town Sewer. They provided an invoice for the repair of 2 leaks in the irrigation system. We established 2 Minutes of the Meeting 1/14/16 Approved 2/25/2016 Minutes as Amended Approved 3/17/16 Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 ADU on Bill #4197 and derived average usage at 289 hcf. The excess usage has been recalculated at tier one water rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $786.24. 35 Parker Street The homeowner applied for a leak -based abatement on Bill #831737. Toilet leaks were found and re- paired and a repair invoice was provided. The 3 year average fall usage is 17, we recalculated all usage at tier one water rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $612.64. 23 Peachtree Road The homeowner applied for a leak -based abatement on Bill #827744. Toilet leaks were found and re- paired and a repair invoice was provided. The 3 year average fall usage is 27, we recalculated all usage at tier one water rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $206.04. 24 Percy Road The homeowner applied for a leak -based abatement on Bill #831141. A toilet leak was and repaired and a repair invoice was provided. The 3 year average fall usage is 26, we recalculated all usage at tier one water rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $1,310.40. 6 Winchester Drive The homeowner applied for a leak -based abatement on Bill #827552. This summer they found that a hose had burst and had run for hours. The 3 year average fall usage is 57, we recalculated all but 17 units at tier one water rates and only 57 units at water /sewer rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $440.96. It was moved by Mr. Osten, seconded by Mr. Ribich and unanimously voted to accept all leak - based abatement recommendations as presented with the exception of 329 Massachusetts Ave- nue. Billing/Meter Issues 4 April Lane This is an apartment building with eleven units. The 1.5" meter failed at 2900 and the register was re- placed in December. Since we have no ending anchor, we recalculated usage based on average usage. The first 440 units are billed at tier one rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $7,156.34. 3 Minutes of the Meeting 1/14/16 Approved 2/25/2016 Minutes as Amended Approved 3/17/16 Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 69 Bridge Street We were unable to obtain a reading on 5/8/15 and estimated usage at 24. On 11/10/15 we obtained a reading. The homeowner applied for a redistribution abatement. We established ADU and derived us- age for the 2 billing periods. Staff recommended an abatement of $64.19. 1 Cherry Street — Withdrawn by staff 46 Ledgelawn Avenue Staff was unaware that this house was empty and under rehab. After two estimated bills the pad was replaced indicating we had overestimated usage. We established ADU and derived usage. Staff recom- mended an abatement of $773.83. 114 Maple Street After 2 estimated bills the meter was changed. The homeowners applied for an abatement on Bill #827227. We redistributed usage from the last A read. Additionally, this house is on the freeze up list and Bill # 827227 had not been adjusted for last winter because the freeze up was still in effect. Fur- ther, due to the severity of last winter, staff requested the owner run water more than a trickle. The 3 year average freeze up usage is 8; staff recommended reducing Bill # 827227 by 16 and an abatement of $156.78 65 Oak Street After an estimated bill the pad was replaced at 0093 indicating we had overestimated usage. We estab- lished ADU and derived usage. The replaced usage of 16 units will be captured in the fall billing. Staff recommended an abatement of $235.87. 45 Peacock Farm Road After 4 estimated bills the pad was replaced @ 0188. The homeowners applied for an abatement on Bill #830290. We established ADU and distributed usage from the last A read. The replaced usage of 21 hcf will be captured in the spring bill run. Staff recommended an abatement of $1,119.81. It was moved by Mr. Ribich, seconded by Mr. Osten and unanimously voted to accept all Billing/Meter Issues Abatement recommendations with the exception of 1 Cherry Street. 4 Minutes of the Meeting 1/14/16 Approved 2/25/2016 Minutes as Amended Approved 3/17/16 Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 171 Grant Street The homeowners filed for an abatement on bill #835145 stating they had filled a 50,000 gallon pool on their domestic meter. They understand this is a onetime only abatement of its type and intend to in- stall a second meter before next summer. 70% of the water used in excess of the average is recalcu- lated at irrigation rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $412.58. 109 Grove Street The homeowners filed for an application on bill #809446 for a onetime only abatement for irrigation on a domestic meter. Having just purchased the property they were not aware that their irrigation sys- tem was on the domestic meter. They have since had a second meter installed for irrigation. We waited until this fall to establish history and 70% of the water used in excess of the average is recalcu- lated at irrigation rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $458.56. 71 Hancock Street The homeowners filed for an abatement on bill #832929 for irrigation on their domestic meter. They understand this is a onetime only abatement of its type. 70% of the water used in excess of the aver- age is recalculated at irrigation rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $1,152.36. 26 Hayes Lane The homeowners filed for an abatement on bill #834339 for irrigation on a domestic meter. They un- derstand this is a onetime only abatement of its type. 70% of the water used in excess of the average is recalculated at irrigation rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $250.56. 61 Meriam Street The homeowners filed for an abatement on bill #834481 on a rental property. They sent in a plumber and it was determined that there are no leaks. They have applied for a one time only abatement for irrigation on a domestic meter. 70% of the water used in excess of the average is recalculated at irriga- tion rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $1,099.98. 16 Oxbow Road The homeowners filed for an irrigation on a domestic meter abatement on bill #840289. They under- stand this is a onetime only abatement of its type and intend to install a second meter before next summer. 70% of the water used in excess of the average is recalculated at irrigation rates. Staff recom- mended an abatement of $2,426.94. 5 Minutes of the Meeting 1/14/16 Approved 2/25/2016 Minutes as Amended Approved 3/17/16 Lexington Water and Sewer Abatement Board 201 Bedford Street Lexington, MA 02420 17 Spencer Street The homeowners filed for an abatement on bill #827086 for irrigation on their domestic meter. They understand this is a onetime only abatement of its type and intend to install a second meter before next summer. 70% of the water used in excess of the average is recalculated at irrigation rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $1,012.68. 3 Whittier Road The homeowners filed for an abatement on bill #832630 stating they irrigated on their domestic meter. They understand this is a onetime only abatement of its type and intend to install a second meter be- fore next summer. 70% of the water used in excess of the average is recalculated at irrigation rates. Staff recommended an abatement of $2,322.18. 359 Woburn Street The homeowners filed for an abatement on bill #833283 for irrigation on a domestic meter. They un- derstand this is a onetime only abatement of its type and intend to install a second meter before next summer. 70% of the water used in excess of the average is recalculated at irrigation rates. Staff recom- mended an abatement of $1,292.04. It was moved by Mr. Ribich, seconded by Mr. Osten and unanimously voted to accept all Irrigation on a Domestic Meter Abatement recommendations as presented. Schedule future meeting time The next meeting of the Water /Sewer Abatement Board will be held at 4:30 pm on February 25, 2016 at 201 Bedford Street. Adjourn It was moved by Mr. Ribich, seconded by Mr. Osten and approved unanimously to adjourn the meeting at 5:15 pm. 6