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)
Monday, January 31, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
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
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
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
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
Sunday, January 23, 2011
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
Thursday, January 20, 2011
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.
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.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
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)
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)
Friday, January 14, 2011
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
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
Monday, January 10, 2011
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)
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)
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