LET THEM EAT WATER

More than 100 residents joined in the Brockton Water Party to protest the billings and procedures of the Brockton water department. The water department has been in many cases going back and billing up to 12 years and citizens are receiving huge water bills. The water department is saying this is because the people have been receiving estimates all those years and have finally gotten an actual read and an actual bill. Many residents have asked for consumption reports and those that have gotten them like Robert Ford has said "according to their own reports they actually owe me money". Mr.Fords bill exceeds $10,000 and when he went to the water department they tried to adjust it to $4,700, but Mr.Ford says "They still couldn't explain to me how they arrived at that figure." Mr. Ford has a pool and his own pool holds 20,000 gallons of water and they are saying its because of his Pool.

Brockton police giving thumbs up for peaceful protest

     Mr.Ford has been billed for using over 1,000,000 gallons of water he would of had to "fill his pool about 57 times in the last 8 years to consume that much water" says Ford. All of the local Boston area TV stations were there as well as the Enterprise and Mike Melanson from WATD and Lisa Crowley of  http://www.brocktonpost.com/
City Councilors Michelle Dubois and Thomas Brophy were there along with several other political leaders from the Brockton Area. The rally began about 3:30 with Ayanna Cato telling a little bit about her story with the $100,000 water bill she received and then informing residents about the group that is forming and signing their names for future contact. Ms.Cato talk about the Brockton Water Rally sheet informing residents what else they can do to help change the current procedures that the Brockton water department is using.
    Overall you got a sense of frustrations from the residents. They were paying their bills and when they received the huge bills called or even went to the water department and got very little help or any real explanation as to why their bills are so high. Every thing has been blamed from leaky water faucets and toilets, to huge tree's growing outside people's house's to even don't run the water when you brush your teeth, even though this gentleman wears denture's.

Crowd starts to gather as rally begins

     The problem has been growing for years and this is the end result, it has blown up. The billing software needs to be updated, water meter batteries are failing and haven't been maintained. The water department uses different kinds of meters, some which need to be read manually. Now all this will be fixed with the new water meters that is costing the city 11 million dollars. So who do we blame. Is the department 50% at fault and the residents 50% or is the department 20% and the residents 80% at fault. According to Mr. Thoreson even though they have a problem the residents still have to pay these bills as he said on one of the TV stations last night.

    Residents are willing to accept that there is a huge mess at the water department and are agreeable to going back one year to collect, but they still can't explained as to how they got their numbers. Again how did they take a $12,000 bill and lower it to $4,700 without any explanations. The next meeting is on September 7th at 7pm in City Hall. Residents are asked to show support in this because they are asking for an audit of the department which is badly needed. Before the audit, action needs to be taken by our leaders to stop all the liens and interest and take back the bills that have been placed on resident's mortgage's.

Marianne and Ayanna setting up for the Rally

    The water commission which is a 5 member board appointed and non-salaried met last night in a closed executive meeting. They report to the Mayor and make recommendation's about the water department. When the minutes are available they will be posted here. I am looking into the exact power that this commission holds and what there recommendation's are. Patrick Quinn who was placed on the commission this April has spoken against the policies and procedures within the water department and has been a strong supporter of change in this department. He was also in attendance at the rally.

55k Bill

     The owners of this Condo association have been having trouble since 2007 with their water bills. After receiving a bill for $55k they were able to get the bill reduce to the correct amount. Thankfully in their case there was a positive resolution.

Condo association get results

Brockton resident who has water billing problems

Water bills don't add up

 City Councilor Michelle Dubois

Media starting to set up at Water rally

Start of the first speakers

 Paul Taylor shows his support for Brockton residents

Robert Ford speaking at the rally

Patrick Quinn from the water commission

Amy Littlefield of the Enterprise and Robert Ford

Residents making a change

Double click

     The agenda for the water rally and the focus of the group forming is outlined in the above form. Just double click to get a full view for what the next step in this process is. I asked Ayanna Cato what comes next and she said that within the next week or so that the group will becoming up with a name and they need suggestions, they will have their own website or blog site where residents can come and get information and with all the signatures given today they will have a means to start having one voice and a way of people staying in touch with each other and moving forward. I asked her if legal action is out of the question and she told me "if that's what it takes, that's what we will do."The group is also thinking of starting some type of legal counsel fund to take further action.

Who says you cant fight City Hall

NO PITCHFORKS PLEASE, JUST DON'T PITCH US ANOTHER PILE OF DUNG!

This is just one of the bills that was sent out last year. Revisiting the water billing issue over the last year I have gone thru the archives and all the articles that I have written since August of 2010. I got involved initially because I was outraged at the treatment the residents were getting by the DPW. Being blamed for leaky toilets and taking long showers and every excuse in the book. August 2010 to January 2011 I went full steam ahead, writing, interviews, photo's, video's and initiated the first Water Party Rally in August 2010. I decided to wait until the audit was concluded. After reading the audit and its results its still my belief that the residents are still being blamed. The audit concluded different meter types, employee's who were not trained properly on the Munis billing system and numerous other faults but not mismanagement, that was outside the scope even though we were told the audit would cover everything from "Soup to Nuts." Throughout this ordeal the residents were told their houses would not be liened but they were. That the audit would fix everything and that everything is going to work out. What has worked out is for the upper management of the DPW.

We have faulty meters and your toilet leaks are what the residents are told but never an apology or any accountability of how this actually happened. Now we are being told to move forward and don't take pitchforks to the management. The bill below is an actual bill and not an estimated bill. It shows that for the first quarter of 2010 a total of 28 cubit feet of water or roughly 200 gallons of water was used for 3 months. This is a household of 2 and the average house uses about 100 gallons of water a day. Heck when you flush your toilet you use about 3 gallons of water. This was a new meter and when I called the water systems manager I was asked if I went to Florida for the winter. I asked what we owe and was told just to pay the bill. This is just one bill of many that I have seen like this and was brought to the attention of DPW back in March 2010.



DOUBLE CLICK TO ENLARGE



Is it a billing error absolutely, did the city loose money, they sure did. I came forward but how many never came forward on bills like these. We need accountability and not what we already knew that the equipment was old and the software was outdated and the system was broke. Who broke it and how long was it broke. In the private sector a company that looses money and treats customers like dirt wouldn't survive. Now we are told to move forward without pitchforks but tell that to the people who have liens on their houses. Tell that to Mr. Ford who in the Audit report concludes that his bill is unusual and is extremely high. If the system is broke and we use the same people to fix it then are we setting us up for another disaster. We need new management and people who care about their jobs in this economy and know they work for the residents of Brockton and not themselves or the Mayor. They need to stop using the City as their own personal bankroll and stop acting like they are the privileged few. Shame on you and how you treated decent Brocktonians who have been the glue that has held this community together.


People its time for a change and that change is coming this fall. Get out and vote and if your not registered please go to city hall and do it. We can't fix Brockton with the same thinking that got us into this mess. My focus is change and we can do this at the polls. Elect officials who will back new policies and hold people accountable and liable for their positions. Look at the candidates who have been there from the start who sat down with residents to save their homes like Jass and Michele did. Hold the standards high for these elected officials and listen to the ones who have been in the ditches with us and not the ones who have told us what we want to hear but actually are working and committing themselves in their actions everyday to make Brockton a better place for us. We have some good people running for our city who prove in their works like Jass Stewart, Michele Dubois, Kate Archard and Tom Monahan who have helped Brockton fight the good fight.

Ethics Complaint Filed Against Brockton City Councilor

Newton, Massachusetts – July 8, 2011 – While Brockton City Council continues an investigation of Brockton water billing this month, a complaint has been filed with the Massachusetts Ethics Commission asking for a Conflicts of Interest investigation of Brockton Councilor Thomas Brophy.

David Kruger filed the complaint today. In the complaint, Mr. Kruger wrote:

“The direct conflict of interest by Councilor Thomas Brophy is that his brother, Martin Brophy, is Brockton’s Treasurer. I understand the charge of Treasurer in Brockton to include processing water billing as well as tax liens and demand notices with respect to water billing. At issue is that Councilor Thomas Brophy has made statements critical of his City Council investigation and if (the Ethics) Commission does not act, he will continue vote to on matters directly or indirectly involving his blood relative, Martin, through his City Council authority..”

Mr Kruger also asked the Ethics Commission to review a newspaper quote by Mr. Brophy where the City Councilor said: “A couple councilors want to lead the charge with pitch forks and torches. That’s not how I operate.” The complaint says “this statement reads as an attempt by Mr. Brophy to quiet other City Councilors from questioning hard in the matter of water billing, liens and demands; matters that involve his brother”

Contact:
David Kruger
dkruger327@comcast.net
947 Chestnut Street
Newton, MA 02464

617-965-8325

WATER BILLING PROBLEMS ALL ACROSS AMERICA

WATER BILL DISPUTE ENTERS NEW PHASE

BrocktonPost
BROCKTON—Interviews of residents with disputed water bills by the city’s independent auditing firm are set to begin next week—a round of interviews that began with city councilors earlier this month.
Interviews with residents are expected to begin Monday, Feb. 28 and will continue Monday, March 7, several officials and residents said.
Councilor interviews began Feb. 8 and members met with The Abrahams Group in shifts over the next couple of weeks.
Each of the city’s ward councilors is expected to pick one resident to meet with the review team. Councilor-at-Large Thomas Brophy, the only councilor at large to choose a resident, has picked Robert Ford, a resident who has been vocal and public about his fight with the water department over his bill that was reduced to $12,000—a figure Ford believes is still erroneous.
Among those who are expected to meet with auditors are Ayanna Yancey Cato—the woman who received a $100,000 bill—and Marianne Silva, who has paid her bill, but disputes the numbers involved.
Not all city councilors have made public their picks-yet.
Ward 1 Councilor Timothy Cruise said he has asked a particular lady, but has not heard back if she will be able to attend.
Ward 3 Councilor Dennis Eaniri said in a telephone message and Council President Paul Studenski said in a telephone interview they have made their picks, but are also uncertain if the residents will accept or will be able to make the scheduled interviews.
Dennis DeNapoli could not be reached for comment, but sources have said he has made his pick, but it is uncertain if the resident has accepted.
Kathy Jewett, who was chosen by Ward 7 Councilor Chris MacMillan, is president of the Fieldside Gardens Condominiums Association,which has had ongoing problems with meter readings and problem bills.
Jewett and others in the condo complex have tracked their water bills for over two years and since the latest snafu have had maintenance personnel monitor and record the meters on a quarterly basis—a step Jewett said should not be necessary, but is considering the problems.
Jewett said during the summer when the water bill issue erupted, the condominium complex was hit with a $55,000 bill that was reduced, but the change left numerous questions about the process and formula used to decrease the bill.
She said condo owners are still getting far-fetched bills and are still working with the water department to fix the problems. Steps have been taken to find leaks and none have been found, she said.
“No one is getting an actual read,” Jewett said. “The actuals are actually based on estimates,” she said.
One of the reasons she, Ford and others want to bring their individual problems to the review team is to ensure the auditors understand what the problems are and that the review includes all of the issues associated with metering and billing problems—not just the ones city officials might have mentioned.
“We want to make sure the system is fixed. We want to make sure bills that say they are actual reads are just that, and not based on estimated water use,” Jewett said.
Residents also want to ensure a process is in place that outlines the formula and criteria water officials used to reduce bills that were seemingly high.
“There’s no paperwork. No one knows how they came up with these numbers,” Jewett said. For full article please see The BrocktonPost.com

BROCKTON RESIDENTS SPEAK OUT PART 4

BROCKTON RESIDENTS SPEAK OUT PART 3

BROCKTON RESIDENTS SPEAK OUT PART 2

The second part of Brockton residents speaking out on January 31, 2011 about the water billing systems and how many residents have recieved liens placed on their property taxes for billing errors and recieving estimated bills, some that go back over 10 years and now recieving actual bills. The water department has given the reason to faulty meters, outdated software, leaking toilets and many residents do not understand how they come up with bills as high as $100,000 in one womans case. The department is blaming everyone and everything but not accepting any responsiblity in the perfect man-made storm of catastrophe that might have some residents loose their homes. The system does not run itself and management is put in place to run a efficient department but every meter they say are outdated, when the department tests them, they say the meters are fine. I ask why are they still blaming the meters then. Listen to the residents they tell it the best.

BROCKTON RESIDENTS SPEAK OUT PART 1

Brockton United Voices and residents of Brockton came out in show off support on January 31, 2011 for the first Water Meeting concerns Major water system billing errors and mismanagement at the department. Many of the residents came out because now the City of Brockton has choosen to put tax liens on residents propety tax and will add another step for residens to take to safe guard their houses in this down spiral economy. An Audit is going forward but the question remains still, why were these liens put on the first place when the department knew about the ongoing water billing problems.Broken meters, outdated software, homes that have leaks have all been given as an explanation but companies need people to run them and apparently at the department much has gotten by in the past 5 years that in any other sector such as the private sector or a water ultitlity that was under DPU guidlines would never seen the light of day. Another major question is why was the audit taken away from the Mayor when the residents were told this would not effect their homes. The Mayor wanted the Audit back in July but some councilors for priveledged reason choose to fore stall that measure and this person believes that is one of the reasons that the homes are liened today. Like the old saying "Be leary of clothes dressed up in sheeps clothing". We will be compiling the meeting into 4 or 5 parts and this part the residents speak. When we get to the part where the lawyers speak we will break that down word for word and try to read between the lines. Good luck to everyone who has a lien and has to deal with this department. It is time for privatization.

WATER BILL MEETING TO BE HELD MONTHLY

 

BrocktonPost
BROCKTON—Residents who attended an informational meeting about disputed water bills are expected to submit a petition to Mayor Linda Balzotti to act in the matter, including enacting a new ordinance that would require the water department perform an actual meter reading every year—a policy similar to the state’s Department of Public Utilities requirements.
“That’s the industry practice and standard,” said Ward 6 City Councilor Michelle DuBois, who along with Councilor-at-large Jass Stewart and numerous residents with Brockton United Voices organized Monday night’s meeting held at the Mary Baker Elementary School.
(FOR FULL ARTICLE SEE BROCKTON POST)

LETTER FROM ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE REGARDING VIOLATION OF OPEN MEETING LAW

Open Meeting Law Complaint Brockton, Ma

MONDAY MEETING FINAL COUNTDOWN TO FEB 1. WATER DISPUTE DEADLINE

BrocktonPost
BROCKTON—Residents embroiled in a dispute with the City of Brockton over their water bills will host an informational meeting Monday night, a day before Feb. 1—the deadline for residents to dispute their unpaid water bills and retain their right of appeal at the state Appellate Tax Board.
“It’s really an informational meeting, not an action meeting,” said Marianne Silvia, one of the meetings organizers and a member of Brockton United Voices, a grass-roots group that has organized to protect and inform residents of their rights over what some consider are outrageously high water bills.
Silvia said organizers will have copies of dispute resolution forms and official state forms that need to be filed before Feb. 1 for residents to assure future appeal rights.(FOR FULL ARTICLE SEE BROCKTONPOST.COM)

BROCKTON WATER FIASCO PARODY

WATER BILL INTERVIEW WITH MR.FORD

READ THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi everyone,

I spoke to the State Appellate Tax Board yesterday, and with the City Solicitor, Mayor's Office, Assessor's Office and Thoreson. I finally was able to clarify the process. The necessary paperwork is at the Assessor's Office (basement of City Hall) and at DPW (third floor of City Hall) and, as of yesterday afternoon, it is also online on the city's website, under events on the main page. I was told the quickest path is to file Form 128 directly with DPW -- otherwise the Assessor's Office needs to bring it to them. Thoreson told me DPW can provide a date-stamped copy of the form to you. Later down the road, if you appeal to the State Appellate Tax Board, they might want proof that you filed by the Feb. 1 deadline.

Almost all water and sewer bills have now been converted into property tax bill liens, so State Tax Form 128 should be the appropriate path for everyone, unless you are on a payment plan. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or run into any problems along the way.

Below is a detailed list of how to file the paperwork, which ran in the paper today:

1. Fill out State Tax Form 128 in person at the Department of Public Works on third floor of Brockton City Hall. Or download Form 128 from the following state website: mass.gov/Ador/docs/dls/publ/forms/abatement.PDF – or from the city website at www.brockton.ma.us/News/NewsDetail.aspx?NewsId=1628.  The completed forms must be received in person, or postmarked by Feb. 1, at the Department of Public Works, City of Brockton, 45 School St., Brockton, MA 02301. 

2. You can request a date-stamped copy of the form from the Department of Public Works  for your records.
     

3. The city has three months  to respond to the appeal. If you are unsatisfied with the city’s response, you have three months from the  date of its decision to appeal to the Appellate Tax Board. To reach the state tax board, call 617-727-3100 and ask to speak with a clerk.

Best,

Amy

Amy Littlefield

Reporter

The Enterprise

Brockton, Mass.

508-427-4013

PERMISSION WAS GRANTED FROM THE ENTERPRISE TO RUN THIS. AMY HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING THE WATER CRISIS IN BROCKTON SINCE THE BEGINING. PEOPLE PLEASE FILL OUT THE PAPERWORK AND HAND IT IN BY 1/31/11. I SAY THIS BECAUSE I THINK 2/1/11 MIGHT BE TOO LATE. GO TO THORESON, THE MAYOR, THE TAX COLLECTOR AND MAKE COPIES FOR YOURSELF. CONTEST THE WATER/SEWEGE PROTION IF YOU HAVE A LIEN ON FORM 128. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A LIEN CONTEST THE WATER/SEWEGE PORTION ON THE SHORT FORM. IF YOU DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO DONT WAIT EMAIL ME AT BROCKTONBEAT@HOTMAIL.COM  THIS MUST BE DONE OR YOU COULD LOOSE YOUR HOUSE. THANK YOU AMY AND THE ENTERPRISE FOR HELPING THE PEOPLE OF BROCKTON

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM MARIANNE SILVA-BROCKON UNITED VOICES

Mrs. Warren from the ATB said she has received numerous calls about this issue going on in Brockton.


She told me which is to NOT pay the bill. If the bill is not paid, the ATB will have jurisdiction over Brockton.


She said to fill out the form that Brockton created.... and when we get denied, which we will she said - then send a copy of the Brockton form and the State Tax form 128 as soon as possible to the Appellate Tax Board - although we would legally have three months to do so - but seeing as this is such a large issue and the Tax Board is well aware of if - she suggested we all get them in quickly.


She did note that at the bottom of the ATB form 128 - to write "Not Assessment - only Water/Sewer bill" - so it will show we are not disputing the assessment of our property - but are disputing the water/sewer bills.


If you have more specific questions, I would be happy to call her again. She was very helpful and seemed to understand our problem.


Marianne Silva
BROCKTON UNITED VOICES
BROCKTON UNITED VOICES/FACEBOOK

FILL OUT THESE FORMS AND SEND THEM IN BY 1/31/11 AND MAKE COPIES. YOU ARE CONTESTING THE WATER AND SEWERAGE PORTION. YOU MUST DO THIS TO PROTECT YOURSELVES.

State Form 128

FILL OUT THESE FORMS BY 1/31/11 AND SEND THEM IN. YOU ARE CONTESTING THE WATER PORTION AND SEWER PORTION. YOU MUST SEND THEM IN TO PROTECT YOURSELVES BY 1/31/11 AND MAKE COPIES

City of Brockton Water Sewer Refuse and Utility Abatement

ONLY FEW COUCILORS ARE THE REAL CRUSADERS

THANK YOU WWW.JASSSTEWART FOR SHOWING TRANSPARENCY AND HELPING THE RESIDENTS IN TRUE TIME OF NEED WHEN THEIR VERY HOMES ARE AT STAKE.

THANK YOU
MICHELLE
JASS
FROM BUV BROCKTON UNITED VOICES

LITTLE COMIC RELIEF

WATER PEOPLE LIEN PEOPLE MUST ACT NOW!

This is a widespread problem and if read the BrocktonPost.com article it clear that the liens has been looked at and DPW believe that these people owe the money, so if your bill is $17,000 pay up because according to Mr. Condon and DPW commissioner these are the ones who owe the money and that's why they got liens. Remember Condons job is to protect the city and not the residents. Go to City Hall and contest the bills, you have to contest the water portion based on the audit and not trusting the billing procedures, have it on record you are contesting the water portion, get it in writing and to DPW and contest the water bill portion and you want it in writing that you are disputing it. As the February 1st deadline appears I am afraid it will be too late. Your mortgage company may or may not help you. I know many people with bills of $1500 who settled for $300 and you will never see them again. People we must be proactive and contest the water portion on the tax bill. Go to Michelle, Jass, Monahan, Sullivan, Macmillan..Go to the meeting and bring 4 people, ask them to bring 4 people, there is power in numbers, if you have a problem call Michelle and she will get you in touch with the appropriate people or call me at 774-360-5950. How many bills where played "lets make a deal" instead of $2000 you owe us, we will settle for $300 because we are good guys" this happened more than you know and come out and speak up. You will be heard by BUV. We need to plan the next step and dispute the water portion and have the real estate taxes paid only. I am still waiting for Mr. Thoreson to call back and justify taking a $17,000 water bill and saying pay $4000 and we will make it even. I guess it takes a real man to answer questions like that.Mr. Thoreson have you or you staff every been to the Randolph Cinema's, I hear they have great movies. Stay tuned but be proactive, several calls in to lawyers who specialize in these types of matter who reside outside of Brockton are looking into the matter last minute and we have a couple of aces up our sleeves. Be pro-active and got to City Hall and get it in writing you are contesting the water portion only. hang in there you are not alone.


Brockton United Voices-   WWW.BROCKTONUNITEDVOICES.BLOGSPOT.COM

Also make copies of everything and please bring it to the meeting, we would like a compile for our data base and also to give to the Auditors first hand. Plan the next step and if anything is suspicious document it, tape it and record it. We Will Win but its going to take your help.

CITY OFFICIALS TESTY OVER WATER BILL ISSUE

By Lisa E. Crowley
BrocktonPostBROCKTON----City officials are taking steps to have an independent auditor speak individually to city councilors and some individual residents about problems associated with disputed water bills and are developing a type of official water dispute form that would allow residents to contest their water bill and ensure those residents meet a Feb. 1 deadline. (FOR FULL ARTICLE PLEASE SEE BROCKTONPOST.COM FULL IN-DEPTH FEATURE)

ADVOCACY AND INFORMATION MEETING

ARE YOU ONE OF THE STRUGGLING WITH OUTRAGEOUS WATER BILLS?
DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WITH AN EXTREMELY HIGH WATER BILL?
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THE "WATER BILLING CRISIS" HAPPENING IN BROCKTON?

PLEASE JOIN US AT AN INFORMATION AND ADVOCACY MEETING TO LEARN MORE AND TO ORGANIZE FOR THE BATTLE AHEAD.

MONDAY, JANUARY 31ST, 2011
MARY BAKER SCHOOL CAFETERIA
NORTH QUINCY STREET, BROCKTON, MA
7:00 P.M.

PLEASE CHECK OUT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AT BROCKTON UNITED VOICES

ALSO GET IN TOUCH WITH US WITH YOUR STORIES AT BROCKTONUNITEDVOICES@GMAIL.COM

LEGAL STEPS POSSIBLITILY IN WAKE OF WATER BILL LIENS

BrocktonPostBROCKTON—Brockton residents who have received liens for overdue water bills in this quarter’s property tax bill and refuse to pay the water bill be aware: Unless you specify you want your property tax payment to be applied to the property tax, the city collector’s office will pay the overdue water bill and interest first.
Treasurer-Collector Martin Brophy said the “hierarchy” of payment requires the collector pay the interest and overdue water bill before applying any payment to the homeowner’s property tax.
Brophy said if residents send in their payments it will go to a so-called “lock-box” and the payment will be applied to the overdue water bill and interest first.
If residents do not want their payment to go to the overdue water bill they should include a note within in their payment if mailed, but the best way to ensure the property tax is paid and not the water bill is to visit city hall in person.
“They’re best bet is to come into the collector’s office themselves and tell the clerk at the counter they want the money applied to their property tax,” Brophy said.
Ayanna YanceyCato, a resident with a nearly $17,000 overdue water bill said the word is spreading about the latest hassle in connection with their water bills following the city’s move to attach the overdue bills to residents’ property taxes—a move residents say is a betrayal of promises not to attach the liens and to give them three years to pay the overdue bills if an audit shows they actually used the water. (For full article see BrocktonPost.com)