NEWBURYPORT — Water commissioners yesterday said they would investigate what local landowners claim has been a pattern of inaccurate water and sewer bills over a period of many years.
Linda Paulhus and Herb Crooks, owners of rental properties on Woodwell Avenue and Northern Boulevard in Newbury, went before the commission last night, saying that if they were having problems with their water bills, then others are as well.
"We're not the only ones who have unusual jumps in our bills, and there's something really wrong," Paulhus said.
Paulhus said for a period of 10 years, she and Crooks paid more than they should for water and sewer at their Woodwell Avenue rental, prompting the hiring of an outside water engineer to test their water meter. Upon the advice of the engineer, they changed their water meter, which resulted in the return of consistent water readings.
When they sought a refund for the thousands of dollars they overpaid in bills, they were told by the city that they were too late and could only recover their money on current bills, they said last night.
"We got stuck with 10 years of bills we didn't owe," Paulhus said.
At their Northern Boulevard property, the home of Mad Martha's restaurant, Paulhus and Crooks said they recently received a bill for $3,200 compared to the roughly $1,200 they had been charged for several years. As a sign of good faith, Paulhus said she paid the city $1,200 and was assured that the city would investigate the apparent discrepancy. A year later, the check for $1,200 had been cashed, but the city had not gotten back to her about what caused the $3,200 bill, she said.
Mayor Donna Holaday, who was in attendance, said the matter of the check troubled her. Water commissioners shared her concern and said they would investigate why the funds were not applied to the $3,200 bill.
Both incidents have left Paulhus and Crooks demanding action from the city so others don't share their fate.
Water commissioners confessed to being unsure what may be causing what Paulhus and Crooks called wild fluctuations in their water bills but assured them they wouldn't sit by idly.
"I find this all very confusing," water commissioner John Tomasz said at one point.
In addition to instructing a Water Department engineer to inspect water meters at both properties, commissioners assured the landowners they would confer with the Water Department to check its water billing practices.
Leaving the meeting last night, Paulhus said she still felt as if the city had not been able to explain what she called a situation that didn't make any sense.
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