Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Delinquent Billing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Blackstone commission says High Rocks condominiums billed for pump‑station monitoring; letter sent seeking payment
Summary
Town water officials told the Water Sewer Commission they recalculated charges to High Rocks condominiums, sent an explanatory demand for payment and will consult the town administrator about next steps, including legal counsel, if the account remains unpaid.
Bruce Patterson, a member of the Town of Blackstone Water Sewer Commission, said at the April 10 meeting that staff had recalculated what the High Rocks condominiums owe for monitoring of a local pump station and sent the owners a letter requesting payment.
The commission heard that some charges previously on the account were not allowable; staff recalculated the amounts and applied CPI increases from the point the account was zeroed. Bruce Patterson said, "Gary redid the whole thing of what they owe and what they're behind on. And we sent off a letter to them explaining everything and asking for a payment from them." The commission has not received a response, he added.
Commissioners discussed timeline and remedies. Jim (Jimmy) Sullivan, the Department of Public Works superintendent and water/sewer superintendent, confirmed the commission can begin accruing interest going forward. When a commissioner asked whether the adjustment must be abated, the answer was no. Patterson said staff reviewed roughly three and a half years of charges back to the point the account was zeroed.
No formal motion or vote was recorded on the High Rocks account during the meeting. Patterson said the next step, if no payment is received, is to consult the town administrator and determine whether to involve legal counsel.
The commission packet included a July 24 payment in the history ($12,002.65), but the meeting transcript did not clearly record the remaining balance in a single unambiguous figure. The commission left the matter pending further contact with the condominium owners and possible action based on the town administrator's advice.
