Resident asks council to waive sewer charge after water‑meter leak; council cites policy and proof limits

During public comment, Maria Lee Carvalo (gave address on Angleside Avenue) asked the borough to reconsider charging sewer fees for water lost to a cracked meter that she said leaked from Feb. 9 until May 28. Carvalo told the council the meter was visibly cracked when crews replaced it on May 28, that a borough employee named Kurt inspected the meter, and that her plumber also verified the leak. "I leaked 20 gallons an hour from February 9th till May 28th," she said, and asked the council to "reconsider charging me for sewer when it was obviously not used."

Council members responded that the borough could not definitively prove the water did not enter the sewer system, which is the borough's standard for granting sewer billing adjustments. Town officials said their records indicated meter problems and that the committee and staff reviewed the matter and would stand with the borough's current policy. One official summarized the borough's position: because the water could not be proven not to have entered the sewer, the committee recommended no adjustment.

Carvalo said she had documentation, video surveillance and a plumber's confirmation that would support her case and that she had consulted counsel. She also requested assistance in filing any appeal and said the property is mostly vacant and should have been charged only a flat residential rate.

Council members encouraged follow-up outside of the meeting and signaled that, after committee review, they would not reverse the committee's recommendation at this time.

The meeting record shows no vote or formal policy change on sewer billing; the exchange closed with an invitation to pursue administrative or legal remedies outside the meeting if desired.