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