from CBS Boston – WBZ
Imagine this, you don’t get a sewer bill for 30 years even though you are hooked up to town sewer. Sound crazy? Not really, that could be the case for perhaps more than 100 homes in Milton. (Read the full story here.)
from CBS Boston – WBZ
Imagine this, you don’t get a sewer bill for 30 years even though you are hooked up to town sewer. Sound crazy? Not really, that could be the case for perhaps more than 100 homes in Milton. (Read the full story here.)
This is ridiculous and the homeowners had to know that they were beating the system. If the law allows the town to recover back six years we should go back six years. If it causes a true hardship, a payment plan could be offered.
Someone should research who was responsible for this error.
I agree with Mr. Jackson. From the DPW map it looks like Curry College, Milton Academy, and the hospital are either on septic systems or are part of the 100 or so property owners that haven’t paid. Or perhaps there is a third categorical reason for the highlighted properties? Residents have the right to know. I would like to see the DPW report before the Selectmen make a decision on how to handle this.
Town Meeting Member P7
One item not addressed in the article is the use of the recovered funds. It seems to me the proper thing to do with any recovered funds is to refund anyone who paid a sewer bill over the past 3 years in proportion to their percent of the overall billing during that time. Seeing as those who paid sewer rates were picking up the tab for the entire system, it is only proper that those recovered funds be used to reimburse those who were technically overcharged.
It would be improper to use those funds to reduce rates in the future, as those reduced rates would further subsidize these 100 or so freeloaders, as well as new homeowners who never paid the heightened bills over the past few years.
I hope the selectmen consider this in their decision.
And a thank you to Mr. Lynch and the DPW for catching this error and rectifying the problem. For those that have been paying sewer in the town, we are all too aware the spike in rates over recent years. There may be some things out of our control (aged pipelines with substantial leakage, etc), but it is important that this is resolved for those that have endured the burden.
Mark Botelho
I agree. I paid my sewer bill for the last 6 years. What would happen if I refused? The town should claw back the 6 years it is allowed to. It isn’t like the town couldn’t put that money to good use. Surely these people knew they were getting a break. Maybe the town can offer a payment plan so those residents aren’t over-burdened. After-all, they would still be getting 24 year break. Imagine if your mortgage company did that!
Curry College has demonstrated over a number of years that depends upon the services provided by this town particularly the Milton Fire and Milton Police Departments. Of late, the MPD have nearly had to take up residence on the Campus. Now, we find that Curry College is not paying its fair share.
I find it impossible to believe that Curry did not know that it was not paying its sewer bill. No one hates the fact more than I that this town is burdened with the excessive MWRA water and sewer rates but we all manage to pay our bills. Now,it looks like we have been paying more than our fair share….we have been paying Curry College’s share. That being the case we demand a rebate to the percentage of our water and sewer bills that went to pay Curry College’s sewer bill. Time for Curry College to become a good and responsible neighbor.
i didn’t see anything in the report to indicate that Curry College was among those not paying sewer bills. Is there something I’m missing?
Please recognize that this is an active and continuing investigation. Analysis of this issue is multifaceted, complicated, and not complete.
Many of the comments posted here and elsewhere, have erroneously jumped to conclusions. Any mention of names and or institutions by some posters is nothing short of reckless. It incorrectly, unfairly, and unreasonably paints those institutions in a poor light.
When the investigation is complete, I am sure there will be plenty of time for discussion and finger-pointing. Only then will we know which properties are truly at issue.
The map showing parcels with septic systems along with those not on town sewer was posted on DPW’s Facebook page. The map has now been removed. From the map it is simple to see property owned by two large Milton institutions are highlighted. It is reasonable and respectful to the citizens of Milton to ask if these institutions are on septic or if they are highlighted for some other reason. There is nothing reckless about asking these questions. If something is placing the institutions in a bad light, it is the lack of an answer. I appreciate the work DPW has and is doing to identify and correct these problems.
Cindy L. Christiansen, Town Meeting Member P7
The map may have been removed because people were misinterpreting what it indicated with respect to the issue under discussion.
Absolutely nothing is gained by premature, and ill-informed conjecture about who the 100 customers are who have not paid sewer charges for some or all of the 30 year period as reported.
Soon enough we will know the specifics. In the meantime, why don’t we resist the conspiratorial urges that tend to denigrate government in a way that is often not corrected even when the facts refute initial suspicions?
Well said Mr. Mathews and Mr. Lynch……
Maybe the map should never have been posted.