The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About2797 Report of the Committee to Investigate Condition of the Water Department of the Town of Lexington, May 21, 1906 . �� . � . , , , , � - / , ,_/ � � ■ ■ - ■ ' , � � � � � � {� �/ ■ / � e -2 �K /� �� / �2 ` � � - � �\ �/ ` �� , \ \ � �. :. �) . w/ : �� \ . \A \® , �� \ �� REPORT OF COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE CONDITION OF THE WATER DEPARTMENT UP THE TOWN OF LEUNGTON MAY 21, 1906 REPORT OF COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE CON- DITION OF THE WATER DEPARTMENT OF THE TOWN OF LEXINGTON, May 21, 1906. The warrant for the Annual Town Meeting, which was begun on March 5, 1906, and'has not yet been concluded, contains two articles with reference to the Water Department, reading as follows: "Art. 2I. To see if the Town will appoint a committee "to act with the Selectmen for the purpose of investigating "the whole matter of the Water Department, the finances thereof, and to ascertain and report whether or not the "amount of 6 per cent. guaranteed by takers on extensions has been collected, and to report to the Town a plan for placing (.{the Water Department on a self-sustaining basis, or act in «any manner relating thereto. co Art. 22. To see if the Town will make an appropria- tion to cover the deficit in the Water Department, or act in any manner relating thereto." Your committee appointed under Article z i begs to.sub- mit the following report and recommendations : Our examination of the accounts of the Water Depart- ment showed that of the balance of Revenue of $5,890.47 due to the Town on January I, 1906, as shown by the report of the Water Commissioners for the year 1905 an amount of $1,772.56 Was for charges made on or prior to October i, f j - I I i 1905 and that a large part of this amount was much over due In a supplemental report furnished by the Water Reg- appears from the following statement: istrar on the 16th inst. the amount uncollected of the charges YEARS AMOUNT prior t0 Oct. 1, 1905 as at May 16, Igo6 is given as follows: 1897-8-9. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311.8z 1 1900. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39.84 WATER" RATES 1901 39.50 1897-8-9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $311.82 1902. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146.33 1900. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.16 1903. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116.49 1901 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58.50 1904. ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337-37 1902 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118.33 1905 to Oct Ist. . . . . . . . . . . . 781.21 1903. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78.02 1904. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178.46 $1,772.56 j 1905 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 313.29 In the matter of guarantees of water service extensions 1,o72.58 z 58 your Committee found that the Lowell Street extension was 17 Guarantees. . . . . . . . the only one on which, as yet, special charges involved by Services 12I.63 the guarantee had been made and that the account in that g I case stood as follows Making the total uncollected1,368.37 Charged to Balance Guarantors Collected Due ? Of which the following amounts are believed to be 1904• • • • • •$259.50. . • • • .$181.6o. . . . . .$ 77.90 uncollectible: 1905. . . . . . 259-50. . . . . . 124;25. . . . . . 135.25 1897-8-9 .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . P59.16 Balance not collected,. . . . .$213.15 1900. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.16 and on May 18, 1906 the balance still. . 1901 • • • • . . . • • • . • • • • • • • • 58.50 uncollected was.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$174.16 1902 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91.33 1903. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.00 The other extensions on .which guarantees have been exacted are as follows : Total. . . . . . . . . . . . $333.15 North Hancock Street from Bedford Street to McNultys. From the facts as submitted it appears that the collec- Bedford Street to Lexington Park. tions of water rates should be much more promptly made, Middle Street to Mr. Tower's house. that the Water Commissioners have been lax in that they No special charges have yet been made on these exten- have not enforced their own regulations and that this has sions and none are contemplated by the Water Commission- resulted in loss to the Town of revenue as well as of interest ers till the end of the year from the completion of the work and for the larger part of it there seems to be no proper of connection in each case. excuse. 2 3 f i The attention of the Town is also directed to the fact 2. That the water rates be increased as follows: that there is a considerable discrepancy between the figures Present Proposed given in the reports of the Water Commissioners and of the First Faucet (per ear 8.00 00 Town Auditors 'in respect to the amount expended by the Second Faucet. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . 2,00 2.25 Water Department in excess of receipts. Water Closet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.00 4.50 The amounts are as follows: i Bath Tub. . . . . . . . . . . . 4.00 4.50 Water Commissioners Stationary Tubs or Basins. ... . . . . . . 1.00 1.25 Auditors'Report Report Private Stables, ist horse. . . . . . . . . 6.00 7.00 1902. . . . $1,506.45. ... . . . . . . . . . . . . .$2,25'9.7.I Each additional horse or cow. . . . . . . 2.00 2.25 1903- . - . 2,171.59. • • • - -• • • - • • • • • 1,793.55 Lawn Hose (to be used by hand only) 6.00 7.00 1904. . . . 3,232.63. . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . 3,236.89 All others special. 1905 . . . . 3,052.66 3,052.66 Provided, that no private house shall pay over $25.00 per annum, exclusive of lawn hose. The above rates are fo.r 49 03.33 $10,342.81 single families. a difference in the totals of $379.48, which occurs chiefly in (a) Also that the charge for street watering be 1902 and 1903, increased from Ic. to 2c. per front foot. The Water Registrar has said that he believes that the 3. That water bills be rendered on the first days of Auditors' report is correct, and your Committee agrees with July, October, January and April, for three months in advance, him in that Conclusion. the July ist bills to contain all charges for street watering We have therefore added to the excess expenditures and garden hose. shown by the Auditors' report amounting to $9,963.33 the That no credit be allowed for more than thin days, amount of past due bills deemed uncollectible amounting to 4 Y Y $333 15 making a total to be provided for of $10,296,48. and that the regulations of the Water Board be rigidly From the data available to -your Committee the figures enforced. appear to show that the revenue from water rates, hydrants, 3 5. That the location of the stand pipe on Concord Hill street watering, guarantees, etc., is insufficient to cover the ' be abandoned and the pipe line cut off and plugged at Lin= running expenses of the department and that the shortage in Coln Street. This is especially desirable in order that the this respect is probably not less than$i,000 a year, the balance water pressure may be increased to the full amount supplied of the annual deficits being made up of construction charges by the Metropolitan System. covering new services and extensions not specifically pro- 6. That the Selectmen be authorized and empowered vided for by appropriations. to sell the present stand pipes and have them removed. To Your Committee therefore recommends: sell also all water works buildings and machinery, including 1. That the collection of all past due bills, including the dwelling house on the Lincoln Street property and a suffi- guarantees be at once enforced and that the amounts of all cient parcel or parcels of land adjoining such buildings to accounts found to be.uncollectible be abated. make them available to purchasers. 4 5 . r. S 7. That all available data relating to the water service ' be carried on to the existing town maps and that where at present there are are no maps of pipe lines, maps of such UPON THE ABOVE REPORT THE TOWN TOOK lines be made. The Committee deems it most essential that THE FOLLOWING ACTION: the Town should have proper maps and plans showing the exact location of every gate, hydrant, relief-valve, house con- Voted that the report of the Committee be received as a nection and of each pipe line showing its length and size in report of progress. And such form that they can be readily interpreted by any engi- Voted that the recommendations contained in the Report neer or water works superintendent. and numbered i to 7, inclusive, are hereby severally adopted; In addition'to this, profiles showing the grades of the that the Water Commissioners are instructed to carry into streets and pipe lines would be of great value especially in the effect recommendations numbered i to 5, inclusive except as case of streets where improvements, such as the reducing of to street watering; and that they issue a new circular show- heavy grades, are to be expected. ing the water rates and terms of payment as hereby estab- 8. That the Town by-laws be changed so as to prohibit lished, and embodying also such revised rules and regulations any Water Commissioner from holding any office of emolu- as to them shall seem best, they being hereby requested to ment under the Water Board. advise with said Committee in making the revision. g. That at a future Town Meeting the Town authorize the borrowing,on a series of notes maturing within ten years, Voted that the Selectmen carry out as soon as may be the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars for the purpose of paying recommendation No. 6 of the Committees Report. current liabilities, in order that the deficit of .the Water Voted that the Committee is hereby instructed to cause Department may be covered. to be prepared, agreeably to the provisions contained in rec- ommendation No. 7 of the Report, such data, plans and maps Respectfully submitted, as in its judgment may be suitable, the cost of the work, _ which shall not exceed $300.00, to be paid from the con- GEO. W. TAYL OR, tingent grant. G. D. MILN E, Voted that the Committee is hereby requested to prepare FRANK D. PEIRCE, a revised draft of the Town's By-Laws so far as the same F. W. DEAN, appertain to the Water Department, embodying therein rec- HENRY A. C. WOODWARD, ommendation No 8 of the Committee's Report and such FRED W. JOHNSON, other changes, if any, as the Committee on further considera- J. O. RICHARDS, tion may deem advisable; and that such revision be reported ti EDWARD C. STEVENS, by the Committee at a future town meeting for adoption. FRANK H. LOCKE. Committee. • 6 7 U � i i I she warrant for the annual town meeting, which was begun on I.zarch 5, 1906 , and has not yet been concluded, contains two articles with reference to the Water Department , reading as follows : - "Art . 21. To see if the Town will appoint a committee to act with the Selectmen for the purpose of investigating the whole matter of the 'Water Department , tie fin;-tnces thereof, and to ascertain and reports whet-her or not the amount of 6 per cent . guaranteed by takers on extenions has been collected, and to report to the Town a plan for placing the Water Department on a self-sustaining basis, or act in any .Manner relating thereto . Art. 22. To see if the Town will 7i.1.e an appropriation to cover the deficit in -the Water Department , or act in any manner relating thereto. " Your corr"ittee appointed under Article 21 begs to submit the f ollovling report and recormnendat ions : - Our examination of the accounts of the Water Department showed that of the balance of Revenue of ��5 , 890. 47 due to the Town on January 1st , 1906 as shown by the report of the hater Corn.iission- ers for the year 1905 an amount of 81 ,772.56 was for clia,rges made on or prior to October 1st , 1905 and that a large part of this amount was much over due appears from the following statement : - Years Amount 1897/8/9 $311. 82 1900 39 . 84 1901 39 .5 0 1902 146 .33 1903 116 .49 1904 337 .37 1905 to Oct . 11 781.21 t-1,772.56 1. In the matter of guarantees of water service extensions your Conunittee found that the Lowell Street extension was the only one on Which, as yet , special charges involved by the guarantee had been made and that the account in that case stood as follows: - Charged to Balance guarantors Collected due 1904 A-259 .50 181. 60 77 .Q0 1905 259 .50 124.25 135 .25 Balance not collected, - - $213. 15 and on INLy 18 , 1906 the balance still uncollected was , - - - $174.16 The other extensions on which guarantees have been exacted are as follows: - No . Hancock St . from Bedford St . to I:=eNultys Bedford )'t . to Lexington Park I,f,iddle St . to Dr. Tower ' s house . No special charges have yet been made on these extensions and none are contemplated by the Water Commissioners till the end of the year from the completion of the work of connection in each case . In a supplemental report furnished by the Water Registrar on the 16th inst . the amount uncollected of the charges prior to Oct . 1, 1905 as at May 16 , 1906 is given as follows: - Water Rates 1897--98-99 $3'11.82 1900 14. 16 1901 58.50 1902 118. 33 1903 78.02 1904 178.46 1905 313.29 1 t072.58 Guarantees , 174. 16 Services , 121.63 Making the total uncollected, $1, 368. 37 Of which the follow-in amounts are believed to be uncollectible : - 1897/8/9 �15 9.16 1900 14. 16 1901 58.50 1902 91.33 1903 10. Total , $`"333.15 From the facts as submitted it appears that the collections of water rates should be much raore promptly made , that the Water Commissioners have been lax in that they have not enforced their own regulations and that this has resulted in loss to the Town of revenue as well as of interest and for the larger part of it there seems to be no proper excuse . The attention of the Town is also directed to the fact that there is a considerable discrepancy between the figures give: in the reports of the Water Commmissioners a.nd of the -'own Auditors in respect to the amount expended by the Water Department in excess of receipts . The amounts are as follows: Auditors Ilater Commissioners Report Report 1902 Z111506 .45 $29259. 71 1903 29171.59 1,793.55 1904 3,232.63 3,236 .89 1905 39052.66 3,052.66 9 ,963.33 $�101342.81 a difference in the totals of .-379 .48, which occurs chiefly in 1902 and 1903. The "rater Registrar has said that he believes that the Auditors ' report is correct , and your Cornr_iittee agrees with him in that conclusion. We have therefore added to the excess expenditures shown by the Auditors ' report amounting to ��p , 963. 33 the amount of past due bills deemed uncollectible amounting to �?333.15 making a total to be provided for of $10, 296 .48. From the data available to your Comittee the figures appear to shoe that the revenue from water rates , hydrants , street watering, guarantees, etc . , is insufficient to cover the running expenses of the department and that the shortage in this respect is probably not less than $1,000. a year, the balance of the annual deficits being made up of construction charges coveri_zg new services and extensions not specifically provided for by appropriations . Your Committee therefore recomrilends: - 1. That the collection of all past due bills , including guarantees be at once enforced and that the amounts of all accounts found to be uncollect role be abated. 2 . That the water rates be increased as follows: - Present Proposed First Faucet (per year) 8. 00 . 9 .00 Second Faucet , 2.00 2.25 Water Closet , 4.00 4.50 Bath Tub , 4.00 4- .50 Stationary Tubs or Basins , 1.00 1.25 . Private Stables, 1st horse , 6 .00 7 .00 Fach additional 'rorse or cow, 2.00 2.25 Lawn Nose ( to -Ge used by hand only) 6.00 7 .00 All others special . Provided, that no private house shall pay over $25 .00 per annum, exclusive of lawn hose. The above rates are for single families . A ) Also that the charge for street watering be increa ed frog, 1¢ to 20' per front foot . 3 . Ot water bills be rendered on the first days of July , October , January and April, for three months in advance..,. the July lst bills to contain all charges for street watering and garden hose. 4. That no credit be allowed for more than thirty days , and that the regulations of the Water Board be rigidly enforced. 5 . That the location: of the stand pipe on Concord Hill be abandoned and the pipe line cut off and plugged at Lincoln St . This is especially desirable in order that the water pressure inlay be increased to the full amount supplied by the ietropoli.tan System. 6 . That the Selectmen be authorized and empowered to sell the present :stand pipes and have them removed. To sell also all water viorks buildings and machinery , including the dwelling house on the Lincoln St . property and a sufficient pskreel or parcels of land adjoining such buildings to nm;.ke them available to purchasers. 7 . That all available data relating to the water service be carried on to the existing town maps and that oirhere at present there are no maps of pipe lines , naps of such lines be made. The tom--ittee deems it most essential-that the Town should have pr rl-- map s and plans showing the exact location of every gate , hydrant , relief-valve , rouse connection and of each pipe line showing its length and size in such fore that they can be readily interpreted by any engineer or water works superintendent . In addition to this, profiles showing the grades of the streets and pipe lines would be of great value especially in the case of streets where improvements , such as the reducing of heavy grades , are to be expected. 8. That the Town by-laws be changed so as to prohibit any Water Cormaissioner from holding any office of emolument under the dater Board. 9. That at a future Town -Meeting the Town authorize the borrowing, on a series of notes maturing within:` ten years, the sum of Ten Thousand Dollars for the purpose of paying current liabilities , in order that the deficit of the Water Department may be covered. Res p tfull - bMitted, 1 ormnittee. i I I i s F$ �h ei 1 wti z1u i to w