TRUMBULL COUNTY Hubbard officials vow to fix resident's utility problem
The issue arose when the clerk read an e-mail during the council meeting.
By TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HUBBARD -- Mayor Arthur U. Magee is miffed that he didn't have a chance to resolve a resident's problem before it was brought before city council.
Magee said he has a program in place that he instituted when taking office in January to deal with such concerns.
The issue surfaced at Monday's council meeting when Linda Green, clerk of council, read an e-mail sent last Friday from Timothy Mott, a Hubbard resident, who wants to transfer his city utilities before moving into another house.
Requirement
The city requires by law that a person applying for city water, electricity and sewer must do it in person.
However, in the e-mail to Judy Pitts, utilities office manager, with a copy to council President John Darko, Mott wrote that he works weekdays in Connecticut and is unable to apply in person. City hall is closed during weekends.
When questioned about the complaint by Councilman William Williams, D-at-large, who chairs council's utilities committee, Service Director Al Patrick responded that the application must be made in person and he doesn't make the rules.
Both Magee and Patrick said the first they heard of the issue was Monday afternoon.
Williams asserted that if it's a problem, something should be done, including changing the law.
Auditor Michael Villano and Magee said the issue will be resolved.
"It's the first complaint we've had this year," Magee said. "We'll correct it; count on it."
"It's unfortunate it got to this point," Villano added.
Hadn't seen complaint
Magee said Tuesday that the e-mail should not have been read on the floor because he had not seen the complaint until Monday, and it's trivial.
Pitts, whom Magee credited with being customer-friendly for her service to residents, said she talked with Mott last Friday and she faxed him an application. He called her Monday and agreed to fax her his driver's license in hopes of a resolution.
Pitts said Mott called her Tuesday morning and thanked her for the application.
"He just didn't give me time to send him the application. He just blew everything out of proportion," the office manager said.
"If I got an e-mail, I'm going to ask about it," Williams said Tuesday.
"I wanted to know if there is something we [council] needed to know. I think it's our prerogative to ask questions," Williams said.
yovich@vindy.com