Oxford Democrat., 1920-06-08
No. Water Rebates or Rate Revision.

No, Water Rebates or Rate Revision
Transaction OF the actual business
done at the special meeting OF South
Paris Village Corporation Tuesday even
Ing did not occupy much time. though
the collateral discussion and general tall
filled out the space of an hour, and a'
times threatened to develop little acri
mony, which, however, was finally es.
capped.
Walter L. Gray was elected moderator,
and with little preliminary discussion Q
vote was passed instructing the treasurer
to borrow three thousand dollars to meei
corporation expenses, especially the OK.
penses Of the water department. Treas
urer Charles a. Howard of the corpora.
ton expressed the opinion that 1t was
doubtful If that was enough to carry 0D
with until the taxes replenish the treas.
ury, but 1t was the limit under the war.
rant for the meeting.
The next article In the warrant related
to the matter of rebates on the water
bills, and the revision of water rates.
Moderator Gray stated that no bills for
the past six months had yet been made
out, and said the water commission
wanted instructions especially as to
whether rebates should be made to those
customers who have been deprived OF
water more or less during that period.
Two or three expressed the general
opinion that inasmuch as the water sys
tenn is our property, and the expenses
will have to be met either by the water
revenue or by taxation, II was better not
% make rebates, and a motion that no
rebates be made on account Of the shut
ting off of the water was made by Geo.
R. Morton, and was passed.
The sentiment was expressed that this
was a good time for the water commits
sion to tell the people as fully as they
could all the facts regarding the water
situation, and Moderator Gray, who 10
member of the water commission, and
Superintendent Charles W. Bowker made
statements of the situation. Tests made
by Mr.. Scruton at his recent visit here
show that the water is being delivered
by the supply pipe into the reservoir at
the usual rate, and that there ia no leak.
age betwe cen the reservoir and Market
Square. There are certain streets, nota-
bly, High Street, Skillings Avenue end
Hill Street, where the freezing was the
worst, where the leakage Ia sufficient to
bring down the pressure materially. By
shutting of these streets good pressure
can be obtained on the system. When
the water ia turned on to these streets,
the water makes out at unknown places,
and the ground absorbs 1t until the
pressure is sufficient to drive 1t up
through the top. Then the break can be
located and repaired. The water depart
ment is endeavoring to stop all leaks,
big and little, the big ones first. It is
working with eight men, In the most ef'
ficient manner possible, and Is carrying
out the suggestions of Mr.. Scruton, who
said before leaving that he could add
nothing to the advice he had given the
department.
Mr.. Gray expressed the wish that
something might be done In the matter
of revision of the water rates, instancing
especially the rate of three dollars per
year paid by those who have only sill
cock, which he says is q losing PROPOSE.
tion for the village. There followed q
half hour of more or less desultory In
formal discussion, which ranged. over
about everything possible connected with
water, from general raise of rates to an
additional gate on High Street, and the
pressure at Mondays fire. About the
time the air began to look trifle cloudy
with the discussion, 1t was terminated
by vote to pass over the matter of re-
vision of rates, and the meeting ad
jourped,