When questioned about the $2,184 figure by residents attending the community’s annual ratepayers meeting Tuesday, auditor Neil Handrahan explained the amount is not considered collectable.
But finance committee chair Edward Gallant reported the municipality intends to go after that money as well as other monies in arrears in the sewer and utility departments.
There’s about $12,000 outstanding in bad debt, Gallant reported.
“We’ve taken steps to collect that,” he told residents, indicating customers in arrears received notification last week. “It is a very, very stern and strong letter and they have a deadline.”
“We’ll be trying our utmost to collect that money and we will also be shutting off water and sewage if they are not paid,” he warned. “If they don’t meet the requirements that we have we are going to have to do that; it’s got to be collected.”
Gallant said some customers have been in arrears for four to five years and their debts have grown quite large.
