Charlton water‑sewer commission flags Veolia billing discrepancy, approves small budget increase

The Town of Charlton Water and Sewer Commission on Jan. 7 accepted routine warrants and directed staff to clarify a billing discrepancy with Veolia North America while approving a modest budget increase to cover potential retroactive charges.

Vinnie, the commission’s operations/finance representative, told members they found conflicting numbers in Veolia’s documentation. "They have a paper they signed saying our increase is 3.9, but our bills are reflecting 4.21%," he said, adding that retroactive charges attached to a recent invoice listed about $74,000 in items that need review.

Commissioners voted to accept warrants totaling $26,179.91 and later approved the commission’s operating budget with an additional $3,000 added to the Veolia line item as a buffer. The votes were recorded by roll call; Mister Gagner, Mister Groton, Mister Thomas Coleman and Mister Robert Coleman voted Aye on both measures.

Vinnie said staff will provide the commission with printed backup showing the step‑by‑step calculations and will ask Veolia to reconcile its invoice breakdowns. "I can show you how I processed it all to come up with those numbers," he said, offering to convene a follow‑up discussion with Veolia representatives.

The budget action is procedural rather than a finding of liability; commissioners directed staff to pursue a technical clarification with Veolia’s accounting team and to withhold payment of any disputed retroactive charges until the company explains the discrepancy.

Next steps: staff will print and distribute the calculation worksheets and set up a review with Veolia to reconcile the CPI application, and the commission will revisit any disputed invoice items at a future meeting.