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Meeting of the Public Works Commission –March 10th, 2026
Present: Diego Barricelli, Chairman
Andrew Scarano, Commissioner
DISCUSSIONS:
Municipal Charges Lien Discharge letter presented to Commissioners from Daniel Grover, City of Malden Treasurer for signature of Chairman, Diego Barricelli to release and discharge Neal Street Area Betterment Assessment which was previously issued by the City of Malden's Street and Water Commission dated June 22, 1938 and filed as document number 152703 with Certificate 26640 with the Land Court Section of the South Middlesex Registry of Deeds. The current certificate of title is in the name of Olympia Apartments LLC, Certificate of Title number 241881.
Chairman Diego Barricelli signed this Document at this hearing on March 10th, 2026.
CONFERENCES:
Debasish Das – 584-586 Salem St. He is seeking an abatement on a high water & sewer bill for December 2025 & January 2026. When he called the Engineering Department, he was told that he was showing a small intermittent leak code on his bill, so he was instructed on how to perform a dye/food coloring test in the toilets. When he attended the hearing, he claims that he changed the flappers in all the toilets and as of this hearing his bills are back to normal usage. This account was granted abatement for the following reasons: No evidence of a defective meter abatement based on hearing testimony.
Commission voted to grant adjustment of $306.29 for December 2025 & January 2026
All in favor
Linda Cousens - 13 Regent Road. Seeking abatement on her Dads December 2025 & January & February 2026 water and sewer bills. When she called to inquire about possibly getting an abatement on the high bills, she told Karen her dad had recently been unable to occupy the property and there was a toilet running. She had a plumber come in and change the flappers and as of this hearing the bills are back to normal. This account was granted abatement for the following reason: No evidence of a defective meter, abatement based on hearing testimony.
Commission voted to grant adjustment of $180.69 for December 2025 & January & February 2026
All in favor
Done Deal LLC – 209-211 Salem St. Seeking abatement on Several high water and sewer bills. This is the third time this property has been before the Commission, and they have been given two significant abatements in the past and asked to check and change, if necessary, the toilets in this multi-unit building. The gentleman who showed up this time was a different guy than the first two times but said that these are still the same owners. He is told that this is the very last time that the Commission will take any action on this property as it is unfair that we keep helping with these bills everytime they increase because they are not following what the Commission has told them in the past and that is to educate the Tenants on water usage to conserve and also to repair faulty toilet flush valves and change them so that this doesn't happen again. This account was granted an abatement for the following reason: No evidence of a defective meter, abatement based on hearing testimony.
Commission voted to grant adjustment of $1,173.79 for March 2026
All in favor
Trung Hai Nguyen – 43-45 Willow St. Seeking abatement on January 2026 slightly higher water and sewer bill. When she called the Engineering office to inquire about the higher bills, she was told to check the toilets for faulty flush valves. She was instructed on how to do the dye test in the toilets to see if they were leaking. She claims at the hearing that she did the test and did find that one of the toilets was in fact running continuously. As of this hearing her bills are back to normal usage. This account was granted an abatement for the following reason: No evidence of a defective meter, abatement based upon hearing testimony.
Commission voted to grant adjustment of $159.59 for January 2026
All in favor
Riya & Ujjwal Shrestha - 21 Granville Avenue. Seeking abatement on their March 2026 water and sewer bill. This is a three family that they own with 10 people and they also live there. When they saw a high bill in January they called and spoke with Karen who suggested they do the dye test in the toilets to check to see if the flapper was sealing properly. When they attended the hearing, they said there was in fact an issue with the toilet flapper, so they had it repaired on 2/7 and as of this hearing his bills are back to normal. This account was granted an abatement for the following reason: No evidence of a defective meter, abatement based on hearing testimony.
Commission voted to grant adjustment of $259.05 for March 2026
All in favor
Steter Properties, LLC – 85 Home St. - Seeking abatement on his water & sewer bills namely November & December 2026. When he called the office to inquire, he was instructed to test the toilets on the property, and he did find a toilet flapper not sealing properly so he changed the flappers and as of this meeting the bills are back to normal usage. This account was granted an abatement for the following reason: No evidence of a defective meter, abatement is based on hearing testimony.
Commission voted to grant adjustment of November & December 2025
All in favor
Jing Lin – 11 Lynde Street. Seeking abatement on his February & March 2026 water and sewer bills. When he called the office to inquire as to an abatement, he was told that he was showing a Continuous leak code on this February bill. He was asked to test the toilets and when he attended the hearing, he said that he did find a faulty flapper in one of the toilets. As of this hearing the bills are back to normal use. This account was granted an abatement for the following reason: No evidence of a defective meter, abatement based on hearing testimony.
Commission voted to grant adjustment of $1,250.71 for March 2026
All in favor
Megbit Berhe – 54 Hill St. Seeking abatement on her January & February water & sewer bills. When he came by the Engineering office, he was told that the account for the two months that he is inquiring about does show a Continuous leak code for both months, so he was given instructions and blue dye tablets and asked to test the toilets for leaks. When he attended the hearing, he was asked if he knew why the two months were showing continuous usage codes he said he had no idea that he did not find anything. He was told to watch his bills to be sure the problem doesn't start up again because more than likely it is a flapper not sealing on the toilet and if it starts to happen again replace those in all toilets. As of this hearing her bills are back down to normal use. This account was granted an abatement for the following reason: No evidence of a defective meter, abatement based on hearing testimony.
Commission voted to grant adjustment of $635.65 for February 2026
All in favor
NO ACTION: (1)
Dahui Lei – 49 Glen Rock Avenue - Commission feels bills are pretty consistent for 6 people occupying the property so they feel that this account does not deserve an abatement but he still would like the meter checked so they suggest that Sonny in Engineering set the address up for an appointment and to show him how the meter is read.
Commission votes to take no action on this and to Deny abatement
All in favor
INCORRECT BILLING FORMS: (3)
1) Condo Association - 151 Boylston Street -Customer received 4 estimated bills when it was thought to be vacant, but it turns out that it's an irrigation meter. Request for abatement of $685.39. Commission votes to abate this account $685.39. All in favor
2) Ledgewood Condo Association- Pebble Place – Customer received an estimated bill when it was thought to be vacant, but it is really an irrigation meter. Request for abatement of $732.76. Commission votes to abate this account $732.76. All in favor
3) Robin Bratton – 48 Princeton Road – Customer received an estimated bill based on previous high estimated bills but was double charged on another bill. Request for abatement of $723.62. Commission votes to abate this account $723.62. All in favor
CANCELLED: (1)
Remon Boules – 63-65 Oliver Street
NO SHOW: (1)
1) Franklin Place Condo – 131 Franklin Street
VOTES:
To grant an abatement of $306.29 to 584-586 Salem St.
To grant an abatement of $180.69 to 13 Regent Road
To grant an abatement of $1,173.79 to 209-211 Salem St.
To grant an abatement of $159.59 to 43-45 Willow St.
To grant an abatement of $259.05 to 21 Granville Avenue
To grant an abatement of $1,014.48 to 85 Home St.
To grant an abatement of $1,250.71 to 11 Lynde St.
To grant an abatement of $635.65 to 54 Hill St.
To deny an abatement to 49 Glen Rock Avenue
Meeting Adjourned at: 5:25 pm
Next Meeting: April 14, 2026
Karen M. Bourque, Clerk to Commission
Diego Barricelli, Chairman
Andrew Scarano, Commissioner