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About Me
- Jerry Marino
- USAAF & USAF 1947-51 Brooklyn Polytech 1953-1957 Bachelor of Civil Engineering Licensed Professional Engineer in New York, Pa. and Nevada Mayor of Kutztown 2002-5 Retired from the hi-rise concrete construction industry and settled in Kutztown in 1993. Volunteer work in Kutztown: Treasurer of Kutztown American Legion Post #480 for 11 years, Coached Optimist Basketball Boys and Girls 4th thru 6th graders for 9 years. Kutztown Meals on Wheels 2 years. Optimist Tee Ball 5 years Coached and managed KYAA K-Red 2 years Optimist Food Stand 1o yrs
3 comments:
way to go mayor!
keep it up!
the borough must be doing well...
they're putting in new street lamps!
too bad with all their extra dough,
the borough wouldn't cut this woman a break:
link to patriot article
Water
Local mother seeks help on
By Lisa Mitchell: Patriot Editor
Water-we use it every day to wash our clothes, make dinner, drink, wash the dishes, wash the car and water the lawn, but do we ever really think about how much water we're using?Most people don't think much about their water consumption, until they have to pay for it.
Jean Werley moved to Kutztown this year with her husband and three children. She discovered the hard way that consuming too much water can be expensive. She received a water and sewer bill for about $2,500. Her normal water bill was $200 per quarter.
A payment plan had been set up for her, but she received another bill with a late charge.
What was the reason for this high usage? Little did she and her husband know that when they bought their 1950s home in an estate sale that there was a pipeline leak from the house to the garage. She did not hear any water running. She did not see any water damage and puddles. Instead, she received a very large bill. Meanwhile, her husband is serving in the military in Iraq.
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Werley spoke to Kutztown Borough Council on Dec. 18 requesting their help.
"Can't I get some break on the rate? I'm lost," she said.
Werley requested a reduced rate on the water bill and a sewer bill credit.
"I think I'd be more comfortable setting up an extended payment plan," said council member Mark Gangewere. "The flood gates, pardon the pun, will open."
Council members expressed their sympathy for Werley's situation, but they were concerned that if they approved her request, then they would have to do the same thing for many other residents in the borough.
"If we start to give discounts, we'd have to change the rate," said Council President Malcolm Eidle.
Eidle explained that not all the homes in the borough have been changed over to the new meters.
"That's the problem," he said. "We're tired of having big bills, too." Borough Manager Jaymes Vettraino explained that the automated meter project is in progress and is a long-term project. Vettraino said the automated meters keep track of water usage more often. Currently, meter readings are conducting every two months. He said the automated system will alert residents of a problem sooner, helping to prevent big water bills in the future.
The council declined her reduced rate request on her water bill, but they did vote 4 to 2 to an extended payment plan of five years for the $1,900 water bill. Council members Kevin Snyder and Brendan Strasser voted no.
The council approved Werley's request for a sewer bill credit of $606.12. Since the water did not run through the sewer line, it did not affect the sewer processing expenses.
Contact Lisa Mitchell by e-mail at lmitchell@lehighvalleynewsgroup.com.
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