|
|
The Town of East Longmeadow Department of Public Works discussed the sewer project with me deceptively, first by referring to linear feet of pipe and then switching to calling it betterment. The contractor was paid for putting linear feet of pipe in the ground not betterment. If it is government for the people this flim-flam would never exist! The contractors never charged the town for a flim-flam. As the property owner, I understood I was going to pay for sewer pipe!
To date, I am still waiting for information referring to where the sewer project ends and why the pipe is not in the ground across the entire frontage of my property.
My property is the last house in the town. Over 46 percent of my property has no pipe at the road, yet I was assessed for a cost according to the frontage of my property. That portion of the property received no betterment. Since I was charged for the entire frontage, I asked that the pipe be laid across the entire frontage or seek relief for the portion that did not receive the betterment. I have found legal evidence that in the past, the court required that a person’s property bear only a fair share of the cost of an improvement, which may be less than the extent of the benefit. Every property owner received the same betterment, yet I was bearing an unjust share of the burden.
I contend that the amount of the assessment exceeds the special benefit, received by my property. There is an excessiveness of the assessment in relation to all other single family residential property abutting the sewer. Every homeowner on the street has paid according to the sewer pipe that was laid across their frontage, except for me.
I am bearing an unjustly burdensome share of the “betterment” total being assessed. In my case, the assessment is $32,430.51. The assessments for all other single family residential property abutting the new sewer line range from $8,700 to 10,000. In this instance, the total amount of assessment is unjust and disproportionate.
I prefer to resolve the issue at the town level since my family has lived on this property and has been solid tax payers for over 50 years. I am elderly and living on a fixed income. My spouse is ill and medical expenses are very high. With a single blow the town has taken my entire pension. The stress endured by me from the town’s abusive behavior toward me has had a negative effect on my health and lifestyle. I am a veteran and served in the military to prevent this type of unjust activity and preserve the rights of the American citizen. The people, especially the elderly people, of the town have no one protecting their interests.
George R. Tracy
East Longmeadow
|
Comments From Our Readers:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
