I am a senior citizen living in Malden.
A little over 3 years ago the City put in new pipes on my street. I was never informed that the pressure of the new pipe could cause my pipe to burst which was exactly what happened and I had water coming into my basement for over 3 yrs. The City had said it was my fault. I paid for a plumber to come to look at it and he said it was the City's end. The old Mayor at the time told me he would have it fixed and to have a Merry X-Mas. They never came to fix it. My son went and spoke to Mr. Tomajian (sp.) and he also said he would have it fixed.
Now, over three years later I had to take out a loan for $2,500.00 from the City to have this leak repaired. The contractor who did the repair said he could not determine whose fault the problem lied with. I contacted the gentleman I got the loan through and also Mayor Christenson and explained the situation. The Mayor asked me to call the man I got the loan through and explain it to him. I did as the Mayor asked and the contrator also told me if I needed him to speak with anyone he had no problem in doing so. I told the man at the MRA the contractor could not determine whose end the problem lied with so I said I would be willing to split the cost with the City!! The gentleman at the MRA said he was sorry but they couldn't help me because some of their fundings were cut. I'm not a healthy senior citizen but I still have to work to exist-----their funding was cut. I would like to know what they would do if the problem was completely on the City's end. How would they pay for it!! I find this totally disgusting how the City can help all the illegals and drug addicts but their own people, especially the seniors they can't help!!!!!
If this is going to be printed I will put down a P.O. Box for Senior Help so if there are some people out there that agree with me, they can send me $1.00 to show support to me and help me pay this loan:
Charlotte Romano
PO Box 490522,
Evertt, MA 02149.
Please e-mail me and let me know if you are going to print this and I will provide the P.O. Box address. My e-mail is cromano2@partners.org.
Thank you.
Charlotte Romano
Patient Financial Services
Accounts Receivable Management
MGPO Administrative Assistant, Workers Compensation Team
Diane Summering
11:42 am on Monday, September 17, 2012
WOW a poor senior has to deal with a headache like that.....she mentions that she's not well. How long does it take to JUST fix the issue???
Charlotte Romano
2:10 pm on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Thank you so much Diane for your reply. I appreciate your understanding.
Lisa Harol
10:22 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
I just read this article and was saddened by it. I can't believe the City would do this to a resident of the city and also a Senior Citizen. My heart goes out for that senior. She stated in her letter she is not a healthy senior. I hope everyone remembers this when it comes time to vote. I do believe the City should pay for the entire amount. Funding cuts or no funding cuts, that has nothing to do with this senior whos cellar is destroyed. The City of Malden, mayor's office and every other politician for the city should be ashamed of themselves! Not only will I send this senior $1.00 I will contribute $10.00 to your Po Box. I Hope the city comes to full terms with this situation and fixes this problem and pays off that loan for Charlotte Romano.
Michelle Ellis
1:45 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
It's crazy to me that the city would just brush this off and hope it goes away. Seems to me, knowing more than a few people living in Malden currently, that the city is really not operating with the residents best interests at heart. On top of this mess I have been informed that they charge for trash bags they insist you use?!? The city in which I live provided each resident with a barrel for trash & recycling. We are not being charged for bags, in this economy does that make sense to anyone else??? I think at the very least the city should have split the cost with this resident, knowing that the leak started after the work they did on the street, wouldn't that be the appropriate way to handle this?
Charlotte Romano
2:12 pm on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Michelle, thank you for your thoughtfulness. Yes, it is true we have to pay $20.00 for ten trash bags----not even a senior discount!!! It's sad when there really is nobody to turn to. I'm sure I'll get thru it.
AnnieOMalden
7:56 pm on Monday, September 17, 2012
Unbeknown to the neighborhood on Columbia St. we had new pipes installed in the summer of '11. We were told we had to come up with at least $1500 within a couple of days to replace the pipe from the street into our house. The city had a program to offer a loan program yet their cost would've been closer to $4000 with the city selecting who would do the work. The least the city could do is warn people when they are doing the streets over that we would have to pay for the replacement of this pipe from the street. I could've put away some money to pay for it without having an extra burden on our family. Oh, and the pressure still stinks!
Bobby James
8:16 am on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Never mind that they still haven't repaved the street. Can't wait until this winter when the BS patch job they did turns it into a 10" deep ditch going the length of the road.
Charlotte Romano
2:14 pm on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Isn't it awful!! I also had a sinkhole coming up to my front stairs which a couple of people tripped over and Thank God nobody was seriously hurt. The covered that up with the tar. It looks terrible but at least the whole is filled and covered.
Charlotte Romano
2:15 pm on Tuesday, September 18, 2012
That could very well happen. I never anticipated the sinkhole I had for 3 yrs.
Rick P
9:40 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
The fact that none of this was a problem until the city touched the pipe. Totally their fault!! and the fact that they are taking no responsibility and no liability on their end is a disgrace!!! Shame on the new Mayor Christensian for lying to a hard working senior citizen. As she has been jerked around for 3 years now. This should be faught and the city should be sued for their neglect and pain caused to this person! This city is a dump!!!!
Charlotte Romano
9:48 am on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Wow Rick, that's absolutely correct!!! I truly appreciate your sentiments. Thank you for caring.
Reynaldo Risotto
11:03 am on Monday, September 24, 2012
The phrase "You can’t fight City Hall" has never been truer than in this instance. From what I gather from Ms. Romano's letter and the subsequent comments, workers representing the City of Malden caused damage to Ms. Romano's property and City officials promised some assistance in rectifying the matter. But low and behold, the City reneged on that promise. These City officials should be absolutely ashamed of themselves for putting additional financial and stressful burdens on the residents of what could be a great City, but due to continuous petty decisions, they fall short. Malden claims to be a great City full of diversity and a great place to raise a family, but when you hear of travesties like this one, I don't think so. I was a resident of Malden for many years, but I am so glad I moved out. I'd suggest that any one else who lives in Malden who has the means to do so, do the exact same thing. Good luck Ms. Romano - it looks like you're going to need it.