Hartford board approves mixed outcomes on water/sewer and tax abatement requests

The Hartford Board of Civil Authority on Sept. 24, 2024 heard testimony in six abatement hearings and, after deliberations, approved several abatements and one refund while denying at least one request.

The board approved a $550 abatement for Sandra Rhods’s excess sewer charge after Rhods told the panel she discovered a leaking hot-water tank and that “none of it went out in to the sewer,” adding she replaced the heater and had contacted public works to inspect the usage. The board carried a motion to grant her relief and instructed staff to send a written decision within 30 days.

Jonathan Shekman told the board a furnace pipe burst at his property and water soaked a dirt-floor basement that has no drain; he said he was “willing to pay for the water that came out of the furnace but I’m not willing to pay for any sewer charges.” The board approved a $300 abatement for the portion the board concluded did not enter the sewer system.

For Kimber Loose — who did not attend — a board member who spoke on her behalf described dementia, very limited income and difficulty managing the property. The board carried a motion to issue a credit/refund covering the first installment of the 2025 tax bill rather than a full abatement.

The board also approved a $134 correction related to a shed assessment for a separate case (Maharaj) and reported that at least one application (recorded in the deliberation as the petition from Catherine and Peter Noak/Noak as listed in the packet) was denied for lack of evidence tying the usage problem to something the applicant could document.

Chair remarks and staff follow-up: the chair reminded applicants that formal written decisions will be mailed within 30 days and that deliberations relied on evidence presented during the hearing rather than outside knowledge. Lisa, the town clerk, will prepare the decision letters and the revised application form the board reviewed.

Votes at a glance Kimber Loose — refund/credit: carried (credit/refund for first 2025 tax installment). Catherine and Peter Noak — abatement: denied (motion carried). Sandra Rhods — $550 sewer abatement: approved. Jonathan Shekman — $300 abatement (sewer portion): approved. Maharaj — $134 correction/abatement for shed assessment: approved.

What happens next: The board directed staff to send written decisions to each applicant within 30 days. The decisions reflect the board’s deliberations on evidence presented at the hearings; members stressed they weighed only information entered in the hearing record.