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Resident disputes utility billing; council and clerk say city ordinance governs minimum charge
Summary
A resident challenged the city's practice of billing by account rather than by premise; city clerk and attorney said bills for the account and the new owner are correct under the city ordinance; resident said she would pay the roughly $77 balance.
At the Nov. 4 meeting, Pat Lira raised a billing dispute for Sylvester Lira, arguing that the city's utility billing should reflect premises rather than being billed by account.
City Clerk Emily Bessette and Attorney Barnes told the council the bills for Mr. Lira and for the new owner were correct under the city's ordinance, which requires a minimum utility charge per account regardless of water use or trash service. Clerk Bessette confirmed the amount owed was roughly $77, including trash service.
No formal motion to change billing practice was made; the minutes record the clerk's and attorney's statements that the current billing follows ordinance and that Mr. Lira's bill is correct. The council took no action to amend the ordinance at the meeting.
