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Charlton commissioners discuss large billing discrepancy at Route 20 McDonald’s; abatement numbers deferred to next month
Summary
Board members reviewed meter data that shows much lower flows after a new meter was installed at the McDonald’s on Route 20 and discussed a recommended 75% abatement for the contested quarter; commissioners agreed to defer a final abatement vote until staff provides detailed numbers.
Town staff and consultants told the Board of Sewer and Water Commissioners that the McDonald’s on Route 20 (referred to as Charlton East) was billed substantially more than historical usage for one quarter because the previously installed flow meter was recording incorrectly.
Chris McClure, referencing work by Brian Owens, said the newly installed meter is recording much lower usage than the old meter and that the evidence supports an abatement for the disputed quarter. “We and we feel that an abatement would be warranted, similarly to what was done in the past,” McClure said.
Consultants and staff recommended applying a 75% reduction to the contested flow for the quarter in question to align the billed flows with what the new meter and comparable sites indicate. The meeting record contains several draft figures discussed during the session: the contested bill for Charlton East was referenced at $206,000 for that quarter; the comparable Charlton West figure mentioned was about $58,000; the suggested 75% reduction would produce a new Charlton East liability that consultants said would be roughly $51,005. Those monetary figures were discussed on the record but the commission did not take a final numeric vote at the meeting.
Commissioners asked staff to provide the precise worksheet and meter records used to calculate the abatement and then voted to defer a final abatement decision to the June meeting so members could review the supporting numbers. Commissioner Robert Coleman moved to defer and the motion was seconded; the board voted aye to delay the vote and requested exact figures for the next meeting.
Consultants also said grease and meter suitability likely contributed to the faulty readings: the old meter type was better suited for large flows and was affected by grease in the line. Staff reported the line has been scheduled for jetting and cleaning and that McDonald’s has committed to more frequent grease-trap maintenance.
The commission will revisit the abatement request after staff provides the meter read history, software logs from the new meter, and the worksheet used to derive proposed reductions.
