THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, DECEmbEr 30, 2022 Page 9 A Water Meter Mystery A Saugus homeowner questions how his water bill can jump by more than $15,000 in six months when the town can’t justify the usage to back it up; selectmen request review by town manager and town tax collector By Mark E. Vogler H ari Krishna Burlakoti said he was “shocked” to discover his water bill had soared from $187 to $15,601.46 in just six months. The 31-year-old Nepalese immigrant figured the astronomical bill he had received for his one-family-three-bedroom ranch home at 22 Wilbur Ave. back in February was “an honest mistake,” and one that would be corrected easily and quickly when he went to Town Hall. But he said he was even “more shocked” after visiting the town Water Department and finding out there was nobody there to help him. “Two ladies were really rude to me,” Burlakoti said in an interview this week as he sat in the kitchen, shaking his head in bewilderment as to why nobody was interested in helping him. “They told me that everything is good and that the meter is never wrong and that I needed to pay the bill. But they can’t explain why I should be paying for an astronomical increase in water usage that doesn’t add up,” Burlakoti said. “There is no swimming pool on our property. There is no leak. There hasn’t been any water flooding neighbors’ yards. So, where did I use the water? I can’t explain it. SomeHari Krishna Burlakoti and family members at Tuesday’s (Dec. 27) Board of Selectmen meeting where he asked selectmen for help in correcting a water bill which had increased by more than $15,000 six months after paying just $187. Selectmen have requested Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree and Finance Director & Treasurer/Collector Wendy Hatch to review the matter and come up with a report before the Jan. 10 meeting. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler) times things happen – people are human and make mistakes. But customer service is very bad,” he said. Selectmen request town manager report Earlier this month, Burlakoti received a “demand letter” from the Town of Saugus ordering him to pay $16,634.75 by Dec. 19 – or have a lien attached to his property. After refusing to pay the bill, he estimates, the bill has increased to more than $20,000. “They keep telling me ‘Your meter is right, you use the water, so pay the bill,’” he told The Saugus Advocate this week. But Burlakoti got a much better reception Tuesday (Dec. 27) when he appeared before the Board of Selectmen requesting help. After reviewing a two-page letter, most of the board members said they were convinced that Burlakoti’s water bill was exorbitant in the context of other bills. “I had six girls in my house and my bill was never more than $2,500,” Board of Selectmen Chair Anthony Cogliano said. “This is clearly not reasonable,” Selectman Jeffrey Cicolini said. Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Debra Panetta said she believes all board members “empathize with you.” “If it were us, we’d feel the same way,” she said. Selectmen told Burlakoti and members of his family at Tuesday’s meeting that they WATER | SEE PAGE 18 New Year. High Hopes. Big Plans. 2023 has great things in store. We look forward to celebrating with you all year. We’ll be closed Monday, January 2nd in observance of the holiday.As always, you can access your accounts using our ATMs and Online & Mobile Banking. Thank you! An unexplained $15,000 increase in a water bill that was previously $187 poses a potential financial dilemma for a Wilbur Avenue family unless the town corrects it. Pictured from left to right: Hari Krishna Burlakoti with daughter Harssika, son Hardik and father-in-law Dip Nepal holding niece Dibyasa Nepal. (Saugus Advocate photo by Mark E. Vogler)
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