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Community Corner

Outside Water Use ( Second) Meters a 'Must' for Stoneham Ratepayers !

 I have assumed this space is available to us so that we, as citizens, with or without long and proven experience can attempt to aid all of you or some in matters of present functions, and billings of your Tax Dollars, Site Plans, etc. and 'there are many'. 
- Over the years, all of us, and especially you newer homeowners , since 1982 when an initiative entitled Prop. 2 1/2 , which 'tried to' limit the extent of government increasing your Property tax, your government has 'worked around you'.   

They 'Fee'd' you to death with Sports Fees, Cancelled Busing, Rented Schools, Drama Clubs, and more Clubs in school, they cut the Traffic Directors, Police Dept., Fire Dept, and especially Public Works, During 1982, something 'else' happened which has helped 'increase these fees'.... EXCISE TAXES on vehicles in Stoneham presently bring in over $ 3 Million Dollars in money. It 'should be'...over $ 7 Million right now.. and you probably would not have a 'Trash Fee, or maybe not so many Sports Fees, or even 30 per cent of your Water Bill and Sewer Bill !.......... What Happened ?..........During the vote of Prop. 2 1/2 in 1982, a 'Question' was asked " Do you wish to vote to DECREASE... THE Motor Vehicle Tax from $ 66.00 per thousand Valuation to $ 25.00 Valuation ?... Of course the citizenry voted a resounding 'Yes' !! .......And the town then of course 'lost' much Revenue.. and then looked for ways, or had 'new legislative' ways . as increased Gas Taxes, Liquor Taxes, School and Sports Fees, Golf and School Rental Fees, New Skating rink fees, built a 3 Hole Golf Course; Built a 'Trash Fee;, and Then: CAME........The burdensome 'MOUNTAIN' ON YOUR BACKS... of the MWRA Water and Sewer Bills which are now approaching HALF YOUR Property Tax Bills !

Years ago , someone came to 'realize' there really 'ARE' 'two' bills, One for Water and ONE for Sewer. We receive each year one bill for the Estimated amount of 'Water' Stoneham shall use 'under all scenarios. That is a 'Single Bill'.. It has 'nothing by itself' to do with ANY Sewer bill .
** There is also an estimate 'Sewer Bill'.. which must be paid... AND THEY .. are 'Both' based on 'Previous Years' usage... for 'OUR TOWN.'

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Every city and town in the MWRA system gets billed the 'same' $ Per million for 'Water'. NO DIFFERENCE........However, 'INSIDE' the Sewer Pipes there are 'Sensors'......repeat... SENSORS... Which 'electronically' 'calculate ' the Sewer FLOW.....What is left in your Garden on your vegetables, petunias ,or bushes IS NOT SEWERAGE ! And as Selectman Vallarelli and Selectman "Boussy' noted quite intelligently, you should rightly be allowed, AS LEXINGTON and other towns to 'separate' that usage from the Sewer Bills, It's one word...........'MATH'... AND ANOTHER WORD......................' Fair'........

A company entitled KRAFT FOODS : In Woburn : Uses our Water System , probably a million gallons per day.. and only pays.. 25 % of the pure 'Water' price ( called the 'Wholesale Rate) from the MWRA....They get to 'Test' Their own meter !...Why aren't they,( if some find is so necessary for 'us' to do so, pay the 'combined' water and sewer per million gallon costs ?

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If I were all of you. .I would also ask the Selectmen if the 'Town' gets any 'discount' off the Full Retail Rate ???? ( I think what you find , you may be surprised )..........

We are 'allowed' a 'per cent' of 'non metered usage' of water...GET that figure !...

KRAFT foods has 'Wells' which they have access to.. and does 'use them'... and that, in any year could be a Problem. ( as it has been.. trust me ).... If they had used 400 million gallons 'last year' , the 'new ' Stoneham bill is 'based' on that.. So as the 'new year' begins.. IF Kraft only meters...300 Million.. It 'could' develop a huge 'deficit' in the next year. Does Kraft have any 'Fixed Usage' Obligation ? They should have !.. .But...'They Don't........pure and simple.. 'Our fault'. There should have at least been a 'minimum' usage built into that 25 year fixed contract. 

We of older ages, have been to the 'Big Universities, Been Selectmen, and in Fact 'Water and Sewer ' Chairmen . They want to 'charge you' for Outside Water ?.. Well, 'First' ? Assure me.. we have gotten back the check of about $ 300,000 is owed us, when I personally calculated the MDC was using our Sewer....and we billed them.. for that 'sewer use'..........Gee, maybe we should bill them for the Water also ?.........Naaaaah..........Noooo... Because.. They already had......an ." Outside Water Meter' !!! Be Well my friends......

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