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Glens Falls City water-sewer board approves credit for resident’s high sewer bill
Summary
The Glens Falls City Water & Sewer Board voted to grant a one-time sewer credit for a resident who said their latest bill was substantially higher than last year’s average; staff will adjust the account or apply a credit to the next bill.
During a regular meeting of the Glens Falls City Water & Sewer Board, members voted to grant a one-time reduction to a resident’s sewer charge after the resident said the current quarter’s bill was much higher than the prior-year monthly average.
The resident, identified in the meeting only as a caller with an address referenced as 88 Lawrence Street, told the board, “My bill was pretty high.” Board discussion led to a motion to reduce the sewer portion of the resident’s current bill by the amount the resident requested. A voice vote was taken; the motion carried and an abstention was recorded. One board member said, “I’ll just show that you abstained from it.”
Why it matters: the vote set a precedent for case-by-case customer relief handled by the board and staff rather than an administrative-only adjustment. Board members discussed whether the adjustment would be applied as a direct reduction on the current statement or as a credit on the next billing cycle.
Board members and staff summarized the request as a reduction intended to bring the resident’s current sewer charge back in line with their historical average. The resident provided last year’s average sewer charge as about $126 per month and said the current bill showed $288 for the quarter; the resident asked for a reduction of roughly $126 to reflect the prior average. Staff said credits are usually applied to the next bill after the full payment is made and that they would confirm whether a partial payment could be accepted without incurring a late fee while adjustments are processed.
The board did not record a named mover or seconder in the meeting transcript. Staff said they will either adjust the current bill or apply a credit to the next bill and will check whether any partial payment would trigger a late fee during the adjustment process.
Next steps: staff will follow up with the resident to confirm whether the adjustment will appear as an immediate reduction to the current bill or as a credit on the next billing cycle. The board did not indicate a broader policy change; members said similar adjustments have been made previously on a case-by-case basis.
