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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-12-11 Board of Public Works Meeting AgendaBOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS OFFICIAL NOTICE OF REGULAR MEETING A meeting of the Board of Public Works will be held on Wednesday, January 12, 2011, at 4:45 p.m. in Common Council Chambers - Third Floor, City Hall, 108 East Green Street, Ithaca, New York. Agenda 1. Additions or Deletions to Agenda (Items 1-5: 20 min.) 2. Mayor's Communications 3. Communications and Hearings from Persons before the Board 4. Response to Public 5. Reports Special Committees of the Board Council Liaison Board Liaisons Superintendent and Staff Other Department Heads 6. Approval of Minutes (10 min.) 6.1 October 13, 2010, Board of Public Works Meeting Minutes 6.2 December 22, 2010, Board of Public Works Meeting Minutes 7. Administration and Communications (5 min.) 7.1 Welcome New Board Commissioner, Govind Acharya 8. VOTING ITEMS 8.1 Buildings, Properties, Refuse, and Transit 8.2 Highways, Streets, and Sidewalks (20 min.) 8.2A Recommendation to Establish a Capital Project for Intersection Bulb - outs on West Green Street and West Seneca Street at the Intersections of Plain Street and Corn Street — Resolution 8213 Award of Contract for Professional Services for Reconstruction of Stewart Avenue — Capital Project 728 — Resolution 8.3 Parking and Traffic 8.4 Creeks, Bridges, and Parks 8.5 Water and Sewer 9. DISCUSSION ITEMS 9.1 Buildings, Properties, Refuse, and Transit 9.2 Hiahways. Streets. and Sidewalks 9.3 Parking and Traffic (20 min.) 9.3A Requests for Reserved Parking for People with Disabilities from Kitchen Theater Company and St. Paul's Methodist Church — Discussion 9.4 Creeks, Bridges, and Parks 9.5 Water and Sewer (20 min.) 9.5A Appeal of Water Bill for 104-06 Homestead Road — Discussion 10. New Business 11. Adioumment If you have a disability that will require special arrangements to be made in order for you to fully participate in the meeting, please contact the City Clerk at 274-6570 at least 48 hours before the meeting. The Board of Public Works meets on the second, third and fourth Wednesdays of the month at 4:45 p.m. All meetings are voting meetings, which opens with a public comment period. Meeting agendas are created from prior public input, Department operating and planning issues, and requests made to the Supenmendenl. The Board reserves the night to limit verbal comments to three minutes and to request written comments on lengthy or complex issues. This information may then be used to create committee agendas. with the speaker or author invited to attend. Notes for BPW Agenda, January 12, 2011 7.1 Welcome New Board Commissioner, Govind Acharya I have phoned Govind Acharya to extend an invitation to our meeting on January 12, 2011. 1 left a message and we will send out the agenda package. Attached is the application and back up information he supplied which gives you a glimpse at our new member and his dedication to public issues. I feel very lucky to have the broad representation of the community who have come to serve on the Board. 8.2A Recommendation to Establish a Capital Project for Intersection Bulb -outs on West Green Street and West Seneca Street at the Intersections of Plain Street and Corn Street — Resolution This project has been on the TIP (Transportation Improvement Projects list with the local Metropolitan Planning Organization, the source of our federal funds for transportation work) for several years and has arrived at the date at which funds become available for design. This project is for pedestrian improvements along the Route 79 corridor at Plain and Corn Streets. The eventual project is roughly $270,000 and we can expect to get 80% of it reimbursed from the federal funds for the project. While in prior years we would have also expected 15% of the local 20% to have been paid by the state ... I am not expecting they will participate in the next few years. Page 2 8.28 We are about to embark on a project I have been looking forward to and fearing for over twenty years. I arrived in town just after a know down argument about the brick paving on the State Street hill (Rt. 79 E) which was removed and paved in asphalt (over the concrete sub pavement). The agreement at the time was that the brick pavement on Stewart Avenue would be maintained, improved, and eventually replaced. The concrete sub pavement has deteriorated so extensively that it is now time to completely remove the pavements, make any long term utility upgrades needed, and then restore the brick paving. The Capital project was approved in the 2008 budget so this resolution authorizes the award of a design contract to start this work. We will continue to seek outside funds for this project. 9.3A Requests for Reserved Parking for People with Disabilities from Kitchen Theater Company and St. Paul's Methodist Church — Discussion Attached is Tim's review and recommendations for two requests seeking accommodations out of on -street parking for the facilities' attendees with disabilities. 9.5A Appeal of Water Bill for 104-06 Homestead Road — Discussion Attached is the written protest of a water bill for 104 Homestead Road, and Erik's calculation of an adjusted bill. I believe this is the last of the protests associated with a bill for the difference between the actual meter reading of water used at an address as the meter was being removed or upgraded during our late fall 2008 meter change outs, and the reading of the outside remote readout on the side of the residence that had been used to create bills without requiring the homeowner to give us access to the meter itself. Kathy's graph shows you the one time impact of the adjusted bill. Mr. Johnson's May 2009 letter to the Chamberlain explains his response to the bill. This protest apparently got lost until the Chamberlain put the bill on Mr. Johnson's taxes as an unpaid bill and lien on the property. W.J. Gray, P.E. Superintendent of Public Works January 7, 2011 Page 3 - jins e type or print in black ink) If you axe intas a member of an advisory committee/board, please complete the fohould be returned to the City Clerk's Office at 108 E. Green Street, IthaPlease attach additional sheets if necessary. You may wish to attend a meeting of the committee if you have not yet done so. Please call the City Clerk's office at 274-6570 if �[y. quu haave./� an w��' tJ4�it s Name of Advisory Board/Committee:�I� 2�f ✓ f o Meeting Time d Place: � eng h of term: n3, ' Applicant name: 6_,,,1,d Ac%Arya Date of application: 5-12,1fe Address: 613 N. 7719• f{. Telephone (home) 60792'13Y77 (work) Length of residence in City__9_,W.j E-Mail Address: 9N✓�n✓% 3 �qA�a i� re Arl Occupations)/place of business ellleo[ �I�f/�i+14'O.•��Gw..e� Education: e+ltr'r .a,wici LA.i Lk, are you interested in this position? what particular strengths would you bring to this position? Please return completed application/resume to the City Clerk's office at the above address. *PLEASE NOTE: APPLICATION FILL BE KEPT ON FILE FOR ONE YEAR FROM DATE OF APPLICATION. 13 Govind Acbarya - (607)227-3477 <govind73@gmail , com> 613 N. Tioga SL Ithaca, NY 14850 SUMMARY OF EXPERIENCE • Extensive experience in administrative and financial tasks. Strong familiarity with accounts manage- ment and program admtmstraton. • Strong writing skills, well organized and ability to meet strict deadlines; • Interest and experience in planning and development issues. Undergraduate: University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, Bachelor Degree 1994 -1997 Graduate: San Francisco Stale University 2000- 2003 Master of Arts in Economics • Received funding for teaching assistance, mooring and computer lab support - Cornell University 2003 - 2006 Master of Science in Applied Economics • Thesis topic: "Reimagining Development: The Right to Food"; explored the links between economic development and human rights in the international context; • FLAS Fellowship recipient, 2004 - 2005; renewed, 2OD5 - 2006; • Graduate Community Assistant. Hasbrouck Apartments, 211D4 - 2006. WORK EXPERIENCE Ithaca College - Office of Institutional Research 2009 - presw Research Analyst • Writing reports for administration of college out student and ; • Survey design, focus group facilitation, and data analysis. Cornell University- Survey Research Institute 2007- 2009 Assistant Direchm/Senior Research Associate • Responsible for day-m-day management of staff and facilities, including hiring and terminating staff; • Survey design, focus group facilitation, and dam analysis. Cornell University- Einaudi Center for International Studies 2005 - 2006 Student Assistant • Assisted Research Associate and the Director on various projects ranging from Annual Report prepa- ration to dam analysis and research; • Helped to develop the international Conference on External Actors and (Re) -Construction, held at Comell University on November I1-12, 2005. Cornell University Campos Life 2004 - 2006 Graduate Community Assistant • Developed programs for the international graduate students and families residing at Hasbrouck, 1 was also involved in crisis prevention activities. These programs varied, but about half of the programs were youth related. Amnesty International 2002 Head of Once, Kabul Field Presence • First director of At's temporary office in Kabul, Afghanistan. As the head of office, I was responsible building the field presence from scratch to researching human rights issues in the country during a post -conflict time; • Responsibility for managing a staff of eight, implementing and authorizing spending of the budget as well as projecting budget costs into the future of the project; • Created a lessons -learned document that will be the model for future planning of devolved research offices. San Francisco State University, Undergraduate OMM 20W 2002 Strident Assistant • As an assistant to the head of the SFSU Articuletioo Office, developed and implemented a streamlined database for maintaining course-tocomse articulations between SPSU and Celifomie s wmm " ty college system. I was asked to revamp the entire database, creating a user-friendly environment National Steel and Shipbuilding Company 1997 - 2000 Plamer/Srheduler • Responsible for drawing up schedules and matching budgets with a schedule; • Software used: Open Plan, MS Access, MS Excel, MS Word, MS Project Using planning software and input/output techniques that analyses material expenditures and labor costs, the production targets were adjusted accordingly SELECTED VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE Land Use Leadersbip Aglance'Daining Program(LULA) March - AprU2010 Participant • Participant in 2010 LULA training through Cornell Cooperative Hx[ensiav; • Strengthened understanding of phmn)ng and development isles ta New York Stare. Amnesty International USA 2004 - 2007 Board of Directors • Served on Various committees including the Program Committee (as chair from 2005 to 2007) and the Finance, Committee from 2005 to the 2007. Involved in finance, development and programmatic aspects of the organization; • Responsible for creating 5-year priorities for the organization. Amnesty International USA /998 - present Country Specie ist Program • As Country Specialist in the South Asia Coordination Cmup, I am responsible for setting policy on the work of these current. within the US, and acting as the organization's chief spokesperson and campaigner related to human rights issues in those countries. Ithaca Health Alliance 2008 - present Board of Directions • Various roles including Secretary of the Board and Chair of Development Commntee; • Served on Search Committee for hiring new Executive Director. .. rvcxagv: ens, exrensrve use; ante, "unarm use: Mathematica, extensive WC; SPSS, extensive use; Ce De, some use; ArcVavv 8.1. some use; Compmer Lmguages: HTML, extensive use; App0cmlmts: extensive use of mappuWGIS software; 1g3X, extensive use; common Windows database, spreadsheet, and prvsenmdon software, extensive use; • Operating Systems: Unix/Linux, some experience; Windows, extensive use; 8.2A Recommendation to Establish a Capital Project for Intersection Bulb -outs on West Green Street and West Seneca Street at the Intersections of Plain Street and Corn Street — Resolution WHEREAS, a Project for Intersection Bulb -outs on West Green Street and West Seneca Street P.I.N. 375462 (the "Project") is eligible for funding under Title 23 U.S. Code, as amended, that calls for the apportionment of the costs of such program to be bome at the ratio of 80% Federal funds and 20% non-federal funds, and WHEREAS, the Project purpose is to reduce the negative effects of motor vehicle use, alter driver behavior and improve conditions for non -motorized street users in the interest of street safety and livability along the New York State owned section of Route 79 (a one-way pair) in the mixed residential and low -density commercial area in the vicinity of Plain Street and Corn Street, and WHEREAS, the Board of Public Works desires to advance the Project by requesting that Common Council make a commitment of 100% of the non-federal share of the costs of design; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works recommends to Common Council that a capital project be established in the amount of $36,000 to fund the design portion of this project with the understanding that 80% (or $28,800) of the project costs will be reimbursed to the City, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Board of Public Works recommends that at the appropriate time Common Council should further authorize funds to progress this federal -aid project to include construction and inspection costs, currently estimated at $231,000. Page 4 8.28 Award of Contract for Professional Services for Reconstruction of Stewart Avenue — Capital Project 728 — Resolution WHEREAS, proposals were solicited for professional engineering and design services for of the Reconstruction of Stewart Avenue, and WHEREAS, staff recommends award of contract for professional services to Delta Engineers, Architects and Land Surveyors of Endwell, NY for a not -to -exceed fee of $224,960.00 now therefore be it RESOLVED, That the City of Ithaca Board of Public Works hereby awards the contract for Professional Services for Reconstruction of Stewart Avenue to Delta Engineers, Architects and Land Surveyors of Endwell, NY for their not -to -exceed fee for services of $224.960.00, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Mayor be and hereby is authorized to execute this contract, and that the Superintendent of Public Works be and hereby is authorized to administer the same. Page 5 o41THgc� CITY OF ITHACA '` ':�• 108 East Green Street, Ithaca, New York 14850-5690 a OFFICE OF THE CITY ENGINEER Telephone: 607/274-6530 Fax: 607/274-0567 "roRA'r� To: Board of Public Works From: Tom West Re: Stewart Avenue Reconstruction Date: December 23, 2010 This is a recommendation to retain Delta Engineers, Architects & Land Surveyors of Endwell, New York to provide professional engineering services for design of the Stewart Avenue Reconstruction The City has authorized funding for the design of the reconstruction of Stewart Avenue from East State Street / Martin Luther King Jr. Street to University Avenue. The street is approximately 3700 feet long and lies in two locally designated historic districts. The pavement is in extremely poor condition as are the sidewalks and curbs. Traffic signals at State Street and Buffalo Street are not current with good design standards. All intersections fail to provide adequate service and safety for pedestrians and vehicles. Four consulting firths submitted proposals for design services: Barton & Loguidice, C&S Companies, Labellla Associates and Delta Engineers, Architects and Land Surveyors. Selection was based upon technical understanding of the project, appreciation of the unique character of the street and its neighborhoods and an approach to the project that would represent the varied stakeholders. Three of the firms proposed teaming with Trowbridge & Wolf of Ithaca. The selection committee was comprised of Leslie Chatterton, Tim Logue and Tom West. It is staffs recommendation to accept the Delta Engineers, Architects and Land Surveyors proposal for design services. Delta's proposal and presentation demonstrated the best appreciation for the unique setting and requirements of this project. Delta's fee proposal is within the authorized budget. The selection process was conducted in a manner consistent with requirements typical of federal aid projects in order to maintain eligibility for such funding if (or when) it becomes available. Proposals were solicited from design firms on the Local Design Services Agreement (LDSA) list. Funding for construction activities has not been authorized. Page 6 al9RF CITY OF ITHACA 108 East Green Street Ithaca, New York 14850-5690 ��,'•„���__�. � OFFICE OF THE CITY ENGINEER Telephone: 607/274-6530 F.: 607274-6587 pPoRGTEO To: Board of Public Works From: Tim Logue, City Transportation Engineer - Date: December 13, 2010 Re: Requests for Reserved Parking for People with Disabilities from Kitchen Theater Company and St. Paul's Methodist Church The Kitchen Theater, 417 West Martin Luther King Jr. Street, has requested the ability to place a meter bag on performance days to reserve an on -street parking space for people with disabilities. Currently, the City does not have any arrangements like this. The closest we have would be allowing a funeral home to cover meter bags to reserve spaces for attendees or allowing the Farmers Market to bag meters for their Tuesday and Thursday markets at DeWitt Park. We also had a similar request this summer from St. Paul's church at Court & Aurora, which is discussed below. In the case of the Kitchen Theater, they do seem to have some off-street parking, which would likely be more accessible than on -street parking (the driveway apron would have to be the means of access from the street level). It seems that reserving one or two of these spaces would be preferable than trying to reserve a space on the street. If, for some reason, it is not possible for them to use an off-street space, my only concern would be about what they would use to reserve the meter space. Currently, we are just using paper bags to "bag" a meter. I would think they would want something more durable and reusable, but something with the official symbol to reserve the space for people with disabilities. If the Board is willing to allow this, I can work with them on the specific product. They are requesting to bag a meter during some times when the meter would require payment: some Thursdays from 1pm to Spun. Based on the schedule on their website, it looks like they might have a performance at this time once or twice a month. Otherwise, their performance times are when the meter does not require payment. In May, I met with David Bell from the St. Paul's Methodist Church at the comer of East Court Street and North Aurora Street. It seems that they have a large An Equal opportunity Employer with a commitmem to workforce dh,etei0rmirm.- 10 number of congregants with disabilities who drive or are driven to Sunday morning services. Mr. Bell asked if there was a way to change a two -space parking slot on North Aurora Street (west side, along the church, nearest to Court Street) into a three -space parking slot as always reserved for people with disabilities. This would change one odd/even space into a reserved space. I told him that I didn t have any objections, but that it would require approval from the Board of Public Works. He also asked if there was a way that the City could designate two on -street parking spaces as reserved for people with disabilities on Sundays only, from 7am to noon. Currently, the City does not have any on -street parking spaces that are reserved for people with disabilities during restricted time periods. However, I don t see any technical reason why we cant do this. The only concern I have is how to properly sign such a space so that it is clear to the public that it is only reserved during specific times, but otherwise available to the general public. We could take a standard sign and supplement it with a second sign that would read "Sundays Only, 7am to 12pm." I think that would be clear enough, but this too would need approval from the Board of Public Works. I've attached a sketch of the existing and proposed conditions on North Aurora Street from Court Street to Cascadilla Creek. If you comfortable with this change, I can prepare a resolution for you to amend the Vehicle and Traffic Schedules. 41 ± \� y � f! A&I d ?ƒ e,cw",Y+&, � \ f z i) \� _ & 7 � � * � }± a c wS. Dear Kathy, I am writing this e-mail to request additional handicapped space be identified and signage installed for St. Paul's United Methodist Church. As you can see from the pictures I have attached: Pic: Sany0708 We now utilize printing tape to notify would be parkers to avoid this metered area on Sundays because the Gadabout bus try to use this space to drop off people for Sunday school and church every Sunday from 7 am through pick up about 2 PM. This is sign is generally honored unless there is a city event like Ithaca Festival, or Porch Fest. In Pic Sany0706 You can locate the gadabout bus meter which in the picture is behind the greenish colored car near the front steps of the church. In Pic Sany0701 — Sany0699 - & SanV0698 You can see the only 2 existing handicap parking available to us right now is the two space on the Aurora St. side of the building right near the handicap entrance. Past that area, the handicap area ends after two or spaces. And some 'weird undesignated space is left unmarked', near a telephone pole in which people park all the time because it is not metered at all -this space is seen in Pic- Sany0700, there is a green Hundai parked there in the Pic with no front plate. Also in the same Pic you can see the area I wish to be designated at handicap parking from Midnight Sat night until 2 pm on Sunday afternoon. The four car spaces north on Aurora St. shown in the picture are closest to our handicap door and should provide us with enough space to get our members to church on Sunday. The reason I am asking for it from Saturday Midnight until Sunday at 2 pm is to give the city enough time to clear the street in the winter. Then by 7 am that area is clear and we can get cars to pull off into those spaces and our drop off zone that is clearly seen by the cement sidewalk that extends all the way to the curb near the blue doors. All of these spaces I refer to are nearest the church and all of them are before you get to the creek bridge. The bridge is right after the Blue house called Aurora House. Then you have the creek and then the Buddhist Center. So as seen in Sany0700 the 5 car spaces in that picture are the ones I am requesting here in this e-mail to be designated at handicap Sat Midnight until Sunday at 2 pm. That would give us a total of 7, for the 47 elderly/handicapped people regularly driving to church. Perhaps even some of the spaces on Court St. are possible if they are close to the corner handicap door. If you have any questions, please contact me at 607-351-0174. Thankyou David Bell St. Paul's Trustee St. Paul's United Methodist Church Handicapped Parking Space Request Pic SAN0698 d Peole s 4parking spaces at and of 14 SVeet Aurora Street, 2 Handicapped Parking Spaces Pic SAN0699 Pic SAN0700 Pic SAN0701 Pic SAN0705 Pic SAN0704 St. Paul's United Methodist Church Handicapped Parking Space Request Pic SAN0706 Pic SAN0707 Pic SAN0708 First parking space meter with notification to motorists warning against parking on Sundays. Page 2 (1l5/2011) Kathrin Gehring - 104-106 Homestead Road Water Bill Protest Resolution Calculation Page 1 From: Edk Whitney To: Gray, Bill CC: Gehring, Kathnn Date: 1/4/2011 5:23 PM Subject: 104106 Homestead Road Water all Protest Resolution Calculation Attachments: 10406 Homestead Road Water I-0Amount AdjustmentAS Bill / Kathy As requested. This was indeed one of the original inside meta / outside remote read discrepancy Issues. Please find calculated adjustment per BPW resolution 2/11/D9 (Item 6 on Agenda) for dealing with these. I'll bring you copy of the final change out reads and meter & remote register photo's if you don't already have such. Bill, you were reading the datalog graphic scale correctly - cubic feet, not HCF. edk ater Billing Account Refund Calulator For Inside Outside Water Meter Read Discrepancies Based on Board of Public Works BPW Resolution February 11, 2009, Agenda Item # (Note: Spreadsheet User Entry Cells Highlighted in Yellow, Note all others are locked) Todays date: 6129/2008 Account#: 1405516100 Meter Address: 104-06 Homestead Road Customer Name: Robert Johnson Billing Address: CHANGE -OUT INSIDE READ DATE LAST INSIDE READ DATE DATE INSIDE READ OUTSIDE READ TOTAL DISCREPANCY Number of years discrepacy accrued Annualized assuming uniform distribution Maximum If of years to be billed # of years beyond 6 since last inside read Water use beyond 6-yrs. 0 be expunged Adjusted rater volume to be billed # of years to credit minimum water use Minimum Water Usage Credit Quarters Adjusted water volume less Min. Use Credit -6-Yr. Avg. Bill Rate Applied 'Nevi Adjusted Bill amount Date of Previous Billing for Discrepancy Amount previously billed for discrepancy New BIII Calculated Total New Adjusted BIII Credit Owed if Previous BIII Nready Paid Year Month Day Day # 2008 10 8 39729 1998 10 13 36081 3648 TOTAL DAYS 9.9945 TOTAL YEARS faed @ 2 9.99 decimal places 10/412008 1234 hCf 1055 hcf 179 hcf 9.99 yrs. 17.92 hcf/yr 6.00 yrs. Per BPW Resolution 3.99 yrs. 71.49 hcf 107.51 hcf 6.00 yrs. back to 101412002 58.00 hcf 2104,5t04,8/04,11104,2105,5(05,5108 49.51 hcf (credit in water volume) $5.71 $/hcf $282.44 $ 11/1/2008 date $1,361.20 $ $282.44 (Note: if negative, credits for min. bills > than consumption) $282.44 $1,078.76 Water B Sewer Rates, per hot Year Water Sewer Total 2001 $2.32 $1.96 $4.28 2002 $2.46 $2.16 $4.62 2003 $2.53 $2.38 $4.91 2004 $2.53 $2.62 $5.15 2005 $2.68 $2.80 $5.48 2006 $2.76 $3.08 $5.84 2007 $2.82 $3.39 $6.21 2008 $2.91 $3.73 $6.64 2009 $3.02 $4.10 $7.12 Average of 2003 to 2008 Rates "6-Yr A . Rate = $2.71 $3.00 $5.71 Water Bill Analysis Water Consumption for 104 Homestead Rd. 250 m 200 w 2 - - a 150 0 T a 100 T 6 E 50 0 m m m 0 0 0ll 0 m 0 011 rn 0ll o 0 0 U' 9 U' C O. C 6 � M 9 NJ m W SM� J:\Bill Gray\Bill's Correspondence\Complaint Responses\Water Protests- bill analyses104 Homestead Rd 12/6/2010 Water Bill Analysis Robert Johnson Acct. #: 1405516100 104 Homestead Rd. Meter Size: Small Ithaca, NY 14850 Min. Consumption': 12 Meter Reading Date Consumption* Billing Date I Water Bill Total Bill I Notes 12/27/2004 1 1/28/2005 32.16 65.76 7/6/04owner AnthonyVlllani 3/23/2005 10 4/25/2005 32.16 65.76 6/22/2005 27 8/1/2005 72.36 147.96 9/23/2005 42 11/1/2005 112.56 230.16 12/22/2005 21 2/1/2006 57.96 122.64 3/27/2006 13 4/27/2006 35.88 75.92 6/22/2006 26 8/1/2006 71.76 151.94 9/27/2006 25 11/1/2006 69.00 146.00 12/28/2006 23 1/30/2007 64.86 142.83 130.41 192.51 211.14 112.88 79.68 3127/2007 21 511/20071 69.22 6/27/2007 31 8/1/2007 87.42 924/2007 34 11/1/2007 95.88 1227/2007 17 2/1/2008 49.47 3/27/2008 7 5/1/2008 34.92 6/27/2008 23 8/1/2008 66.93 152.72 10/16/2008 205 11/1/2008 596.55 _ 1,361.20 Meter Replaced _ 213,60 242.081. 199.36 9/29/09-Sold to R. Johnson 170.88 Leak Report 1/6/2009 30 120/2009 90.60 4/8/2009 34 4/20/2009 102.68 777/2009 28 7/20/2009 84.56 10/8/2009 241 10/20/2009 72.48 1/5/2010 22 1/20/2610i 73.04 170.50 4/2/2010 21 4202010 69.72 162.75 7/6/2010 32 7/20/2010 106.24 248.00 10/5/2010 24 10/20120101 79.68 186.00 'Consumption is in 100 cubic feet (i.e. 57 = 5,700 cubic feet of water consumed) J:\Bill Gray\Bill's Correspondence\Complaint Responses\Water Protests- bill analysesl04 Homestead Rd 12/62010 May 6, 2009 Debra Parsons Board of Public Works 108 E. Green St. Ithaca, NY 14850 To Ms. Parsons and the Board, - - - -- I'm writing to you as I'm one of the homeowners who has been charged with an astronomical water bill based on so-called past use. I don't feel it's fair or legal for you to try to get me to pay this bill. Let me explain my reasoning. 1) The biggest issue with me is I didn't live in the house when you last physically came into it and measured the meter. That was 11 years ago. I've only been living in the house for 3-4 years (maybe It's 4+? - can't remember exactly).Thus while the indoor meter and outdoor meter may be off, the fact of the matter is THE BOARD HAS ZERO IDEA HOW MUCH OF THIS OCCURRED BEFORE I MOVED IN AND HOW MUCH AFTER I MOVED IN. When I purchased my house, I certainly didn't purchase the past water usage of the previous owner. To me the whole idea of charging people for 11 year -old discrepancies In the meters Is ridiculous. But if you are going to try to charge me based on the inside meter, then you should have come and measured the inside meter when I moved Into the house. Charging me a pro -rated version of supposed past usage Is totally unfair. You can't charge me 4/11 for 4 years out of 11 because the fact of the matter is we have no Idea when the error occurred or if it occurred evenly each year, etc. For all we know, the extra usage occurred under the old owner and I've been paying the right amount each month. 2) It seems to me that you guys are making things up as we go along. For some reason, I was credited $558.22 due to the photo readings being checked by Barbara Frycek. Is that really what happened or did you realize that there was clearly no way that I'd pay $1,300 dollar water bill but I might stomach an $800 one? In summary, I bought my house and paid my bills each month correctly. You are the ones that made the mistake. To come after me for $1300 or $800 of whatever figure you come up with is unfair and most likely illegal. I can only imagine the outrage the Mayor and all the politicians would be having if the electric company or phone company tried to come after me for usage that the previous owner of the house used. If a private company like Verizon made this mistake, no way would it be allowed. I was told to ask to have my case put on the next meeting that you have. My summer schedule is often chaotic and I hope this can be addressed when I can come. I'm generally here August 20th on. The best way to reach me In the summer is on my cell phone or email. A better scenario would be to just drop my extra bill entirely. Sincerely, Robert Johnson rcj8@cornell.edu 104 Homestead Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850 607-227-3625 cell. PS. Please note that I'm cc'mg the Ithaca journal on this note via email.