Certificate of Compliance

[dduquette]

Hey all- I'm interested in claiming the Septic Credit on my MA taxes this year but it says I need a Certificate of Compliance. We went from a failing septic system to town hookup. Does anyone know how to get that certificate? Do I call DPW? Was I supposed to ask the contractor for it? Thanks!

[cozmo]

When I had it done the Contractor gave me the Certification.

[Lilbigmouth]

You can pick that up at the building dept on whipple rd thats where I got mine It just states when you were hooked up and such

[Chasnbos]

rumor has it water and sewer rates will be raised mucho come july for those of us who pay our bills

Sewerman do you have vaseoline left already used the first jar!

[Chasnbos]

Got love this town!!




Burlington’s water and sewer rates are on the rise - with the increase already affecting some customers - though the rates will remain lower than those in surrounding towns. Town officials said the increase is necessary for the town to pay for its water and sewer service.

“The bills have to be paid and that’s all there is to it,” Selectman Daniel DiTucci said of the increase. The Board of Selectmen Monday approved the increase, which will go into effect in July for commercial use and in October for residential bills.

Due to the half-yearly billing system, some customers will be billed the higher rate for the billing cycle that started June 1.

Superintendent of Public Works John Sanchez said the average residential water and sewer bill (for 90,000 gallons of water per year, the average amount), will increase by $80.60, going from $472.40 to $553, or about 17 percent.

Residents who use a minimum amount of water, 40,000 gallons of water per year, will see their bill increase by about $23 a year.

Sanchez said that 89 percent of customers use less than 100,000 gallons of water a year.

The current sewer rate revenue and water demand is not enough to pay for water and sewer costs, Sanchez said. With water use down, revenue is also down, he said, and the town had to pull money from sewer reserves to pay the MWRA, which provides sewer service.

While another option would call for a tax increase to make up for the difference, DiTucci said the rate increase is the best solution because it spreads the burden evenly—and people can control how much water they use.

The increase in commercial rates, which are billed every three months, will go into effect July 1.

Despite the increase, Sanchez pointed out that Burlington’s rates are still low compared to other communities, with Lexington charging $1,290 a year for an average residential user and Bedford charging $1,200 yearly. Woburn’s rates are slightly higher than Burlington, at $563 a year.

“It’s the absolute lowest rate all the way around,” Sanchez said. He pointed out that other communities are looking at rate increases, with Tewksbury anticipating an increase of up to 60 percent.

Commercial rates will also remain competitive, Sanchez said.

Some communities make up the entire water and sewer costs through the rates, while Burlington makes up the remainder of the costs through taxes, Sanchez said.

The rates last went up in 2007, said Town Administrator Robert Mercier, with a previous increase coming in 2001.

However, some criticized the way the rates are being changed.

Selectman Gary Gianino said he was concerned that the increases will unfairly impact people who do not use much water. The minimum usage is 20,000 gallons a year, which Sanchez said would account for the water usage of two people. Gianino said this might be unfair to people who live alone or do not use much water.

Resident Ann McNamara told the Board that the proposed rate increases have people “scared stiff,” adding that she was upset that she found out about the proposed rate changes in the newspaper. She added that a rate increase of 17 percent sounds like a shocking number, though Burlington’s rates are already comparatively low.

Joanne Kinchla, a Town Meeting member from Precinct 5, said she felt the increase, though small, should have been presented to Town Meeting.

“The government is supposed to be by Town Meeting,” she said. “I think this is something that is going to upset people.”

[Rabib]

“It’s the absolute lowest rate all the way around,” Sanchez said. He pointed out that other communities are looking at rate increases, with Tewksbury anticipating an increase of up to 60 percent.

Guess I will ask the questions, is it true the water and sewer rates are going up approx 60%? Is there going to be a rate increase? If so, when will it take effect and how much (best guess) will it be?

[Chasnbos]

Next Tuesday water/sewer rate hearing at the Town Hall. Doesn't matter what residents say at this point 100M plus interest plus indirect/direct cost +++will become the burden of the users. The sewer program was a pig with lipstick now the lipstick is gone but the pig is getting fatter. The water fund doesn't make sense to be that much in the red. Something is wrong.

[cozmo]

I thought things were supposed to get better when the new meters were put in, but it seems they are getting worse.

[Chasnbos]

It was suppose to but with a large % of homes meter @ a cost of 6m they still can't account for 20% of the water. Its funny how this group of selectmen/women were elected to rein in the waste but now its called "the right thing to do"

[Harry]

Some tried to sound the alarm when this Enterprise crap first reared its ugly head.

Remember that with Enterprise Funds you have allowed these funds to become slush funds. The rates have nothing to do with actual consumption but are used as vehicles to raise taxes. Just a way around Prop 2 ½. The funds are also no longer tax deductable.

This is why we must stop any additional expansion of these slush funds, trash, ambulance, dpw and or whatever else they can think of.

[bferrari]

Time to dig a well and get off this crazy system all together.

[Rabib]

I checked the town meeting calendar for next tuesday, nothing listed. Anyone have the details?

[Nacca]

Time to dig a well and get off this crazy system all together.

My thoughts exactly. Does anyone have any experience doing so? If so could you please share a ballpark cost and what it entails. Other than a pump do you need a water conditioner (ie water softener). How is the ground water made fit for consumption?

I know the cost will vary depending on the required depth but I am just looking for a ballpark estimate soup to nuts. Thanks!

[cozmo]

This has to be the only Town around that raise's the water rates when the Town uses less water. By the way, they increase when you use more water also so how can you win? The article below was from last years Lowell Sun.

By Alexandra Mayer-Hohdahl, amayer-hohdahl@lowellsun.com
Updated: 01/21/2009 06:41:27 AM EST


TEWKSBURY -- As many residents are struggling to make ends meet in the face of a slumping economy, they will soon have to dig deeper in their pockets to pay for water.

A slim majority of selectmen last night approved a 10 percent increase in the town's water rates to counteract the increasing number of residents who are not paying their bills and a slump in water consumption during last year's unseasonably cool, wet summer.

[Chasnbos]

think last year they processed 1 billion gals of water. Town can't account for 20% of it,town consumes 10 %,10% don't pay ,weather allowance of a 10% drop in consumption .
6,000,000m budget /500,000 billable units
new rate $12.00 rom 5.88 Ouch looks like rates will double 7/1/10