Transportation in Malden

HALMARK HAS STEPPED UP WITH A GRANT TO SCM FOR TRANSPORTATION TO THEIR
FACILITIES WHEN THEY ARE OVERBOOKED AT THE MALDEN SENOR COMMUNITY
CENTER THIS IS A FIRST STEP FOR MENDICAL APPOINTMENTS
WE SHOULD NEED THE WINCHESTER HOSPITAL AND THE CAMBRIDGE ALLIANCE
GROUP TO STEP UP WITH SENIOR TRANSPORTATION. MSAC SHOULD ADVISE THE
COMMUNITY ABOUT THE RIDE AND THE NON-PROFITS SERVICING THE ELDERLY
SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF WHAT IS AVAILABLE AND STEP INTO THE BREECH FOR
ALL NEEDS FOR TRANSPORTATION OF THE EDERLY AND DISABLED. A LIITLE
PUBLICITY IN THE MALDEN OBSERVER SEEMS TO GET ACTION.
WE AT MSAC ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PROMISISED SHUTTLES TO AND FROM
THE SENIOR CENTER.
Malden seniors unsatisfied with public transportation options
By Rich Tenorio / malden@cnc.com
Thu Mar 05, 2009, 04:57 PM EST
Tools:
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Malden - Transportation issues are at the heart of a Malden senior’s
frustration with the city he calls home.

Howard McGowan, the Metro North membership coordinator for the Mass.
Senior Action Council (MSAC), has protested what he describes as
insufficient access to the new senior center on Washington Street, as
well as a lack of adequate transportation opportunities for seniors to
medical appointments.

“There are two issues,” McGowan said in an interview with the Observer
on Monday. “We want to be able to enjoy the senior center, and to see
that we get transportation to medical facilities.”

Located on 7 Washington St., the center held an opening celebration on
January 24, with MSAC members from the Cambridge, North Shore and
Metro North chapters attending. McGowan, however, said that since
then, seniors who rely on public transportation to get to the center
may find access too difficult.

“If you don’t have transportation, you can’t get there,” said McGowan,
an 84-year-old World War II veteran who now lives on Pleasant Street.
“Once they took the (MBTA) buses off Florence Street and took the bus
stop away from the senior center, you have to walk across a state
highway or across Florence Street, a dangerous section.

“We took somebody from the mayor’s office and showed them how far it
is to walk from the bus stop. There’s a hill, and you have to walk
from the Stop & Shop way down on Route 60. They promised they would
put on a shuttle bus.”

McGowan said that bus routes and stops were changed about a year and a
half ago, “just about the time they were building the senior center,
which is what got us so upset. The bus came right down Main Street and
Pleasant Street.”

However, Debbie Burke, a spokesperson for Mayor Richard Howard, said
that the center is accessible.

“It’s still within walking distance,” she said. “You can take the bus
to the MBTA station. It’s right around the corner. As far as we’re
concerned, it remains accessible by public transportation or car.”

Burke also said that “ridership counts on (bus) routes are really
dwindling,” and that the center has on-street parking as well as lots
on Dartmouth and Florence streets, adding that next year there will be
an additional lot on Pleasant Street.

McGowan has also called for more ways for seniors to get to medical
appointments.

“The Medical Service transportation for Hallmark Medical sites is
handled at the Malden Senior Community Center and is overwhelmed and
overbooked,” he wrote in a mass e-mail on February 14, citing “turn
downs growing (personal experience).”

On Monday, McGowan said, “At the senior center we get transportation
for medical (purposes) backed by Hallmark Health, but they’ll only
take you to Hallmark facilities.”

He added, “It takes an hour, you have to make arrangements, and they
can only do one per hour. It used to be one per half-hour.” And, he
said, “There is no transportation from senior housing for people who
can’t get down. A lot of people can’t go on public transportation.
People who have to go to Winchester Hospital for Blue Cross — there’s
no transportation out there.”

McGowan and Burke both mentioned other transportation opportunities
for seniors. One is the MBTA Ride program, which requires registration
on an individual basis and which takes seniors to medical
appointments. Another is SCM (Somerville-Cambridge-Medford), an
organization that provides shopping trips for eligible seniors as well
as some medical trips. Burke also said that through the efforts of
human services director Chris DiPietro, there is a van that makes some
shopping trips for seniors.

In the end, whether it’s getting to the Senior Center or getting to a
medical appointment, the main point seems the same.

“It makes it hard for people if they can’t get transportation,” McGowan said.

. Comment refer to web page
http://maldentax.blogspot.com/2009/03/here-we-go-again.html


MTFA
CMurphy1 month ago
Report AbuseWho is this Debbie Burke person, and how old is she? And
does she actually ride public transit? I would really like to know. I
am not a senior myself, but I can see the difficulty in her suggestion
that seniors take the bus to the Malden Center T stop, and go *just
around the corner* to the senior center.

The problem with this is that they would have to cross
Florence/Commercial Street to get there. Anyone remember the old
*Frogger* video game? Well, crossing that street on foot is like being
the *frog* in a game of human Frogger. It's hard enough for an
able-bodied person who can move quickly, but if you're an older person
who can't move so fast, you may well become road pizza. There are a
lot of crazies on the roads.

Heck, often I have to stop at the crosswalk in front of 630 Salem
Street to let some elderly person get across, and some jerk behind me
is blowing their horn to try to get me to move. I may care about our
seniors, but most younger people here do not.

As for Ms. Burke's comments about parking...can I drum it into her
head once again...MANY SENIORS HERE DO NOT HAVE CARS. So what the heck
is the use of parking lots, when the people that this place is
supposed to serve do not drive?

Don't even get me started about the transportation to medical
appointments thing. Even if these people CAN get a bus to their
appointments, good luck in getting on the bus, or, if they do get on,
getting a seat. When I used to ride the bus, I had the misfortune of
having to ride when the teen thugs from the high school were on.
They'd crowd the bus, refuse to move to the rear, and if the driver
thought the bus was too crowded, they'd just refuse to stop for
people.

There used to be this elderly man who'd get on the bus at the stop in
front of Vinnie's Pizza on Salem Street, he had medical appointments
to get to. He must have been 90 if he was a day, walked with a cane,
and when he'd get on the bus full of teen thugs, NOT ONE OF THEM would
give him a seat. I didn't have a seat to give him myself. We adults
would try to shame the brats into giving the man a seat, but they just
laughed and spewed obscenities at us. The bus driver did nothing.

I also think Hallmark Health is lousy, we've had nothing but bad
experiences with them, their doctors, and hospitals, and seniors need
to have a choice. Just because people can't drive doesn't mean they
deserve substandard treatment, health care, etc.

My husband and I would rather die young than have to retire in Malden,
if this is what they think of senior citizens.. We can't afford to
move now, but we are working on being able to do so long before we get
to that age. Mayor Howard may think he's all that for opening the new
senior center, but I think he's just a rich jerk who is out of touch
with the working class and senior people here.

Don't get me started about the garbage tax...but that's O/T, so I'll stop now.


Leave a Comment:
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Logged in as: Maldensenior Logout

--
Howard McGowan
MaldenSenior

HALMARK HAS STEPPED UP WITH A GRANT TO SCM FOR TRANSPORTATION TO THEIR
FACILITIES WHEN THEY ARE OVERBOOKED AT THE MALDEN SENOR COMMUNITY
CENTER THIS IS A FIRST STEP FOR MENDICAL APPOINTMENTS
WE SHOULD NEED THE WINCHESTER HOSPITAL AND THE CAMBRIDGE ALLIANCE
GROUP TO STEP UP WITH SENIOR TRANSPORTATION. MSAC SHOULD ADVISE THE
COMMUNITY ABOUT THE RIDE AND THE NON-PROFITS SERVICING THE ELDERLY
SHOULD BE MADE AWARE OF WHAT IS AVAILABLE AND STEP INTO THE BREECH FOR
ALL NEEDS FOR TRANSPORTATION OF THE EDERLY AND DISABLED. A LIITLE
PUBLICITY IN THE MALDEN OBSERVER SEEMS TO GET ACTION.
WE AT MSAC ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO THE PROMISISED SHUTTLES TO AND FROM
THE SENIOR CENTER.
Malden seniors unsatisfied with public transportation options
By Rich Tenorio / malden@cnc.com
Thu Mar 05, 2009, 04:57 PM EST
Tools:
PrintCommentsShareThisStumbleUpon Newsvine del.icio.us Digg
Malden - Transportation issues are at the heart of a Malden senior’s
frustration with the city he calls home.

Howard McGowan, the Metro North membership coordinator for the Mass.
Senior Action Council (MSAC), has protested what he describes as
insufficient access to the new senior center on Washington Street, as
well as a lack of adequate transportation opportunities for seniors to
medical appointments.

“There are two issues,” McGowan said in an interview with the Observer
on Monday. “We want to be able to enjoy the senior center, and to see
that we get transportation to medical facilities.”

Located on 7 Washington St., the center held an opening celebration on
January 24, with MSAC members from the Cambridge, North Shore and
Metro North chapters attending. McGowan, however, said that since
then, seniors who rely on public transportation to get to the center
may find access too difficult.

“If you don’t have transportation, you can’t get there,” said McGowan,
an 84-year-old World War II veteran who now lives on Pleasant Street.
“Once they took the (MBTA) buses off Florence Street and took the bus
stop away from the senior center, you have to walk across a state
highway or across Florence Street, a dangerous section.

“We took somebody from the mayor’s office and showed them how far it
is to walk from the bus stop. There’s a hill, and you have to walk
from the Stop & Shop way down on Route 60. They promised they would
put on a shuttle bus.”

McGowan said that bus routes and stops were changed about a year and a
half ago, “just about the time they were building the senior center,
which is what got us so upset. The bus came right down Main Street and
Pleasant Street.”

However, Debbie Burke, a spokesperson for Mayor Richard Howard, said
that the center is accessible.

“It’s still within walking distance,” she said. “You can take the bus
to the MBTA station. It’s right around the corner. As far as we’re
concerned, it remains accessible by public transportation or car.”

Burke also said that “ridership counts on (bus) routes are really
dwindling,” and that the center has on-street parking as well as lots
on Dartmouth and Florence streets, adding that next year there will be
an additional lot on Pleasant Street.

McGowan has also called for more ways for seniors to get to medical
appointments.

“The Medical Service transportation for Hallmark Medical sites is
handled at the Malden Senior Community Center and is overwhelmed and
overbooked,” he wrote in a mass e-mail on February 14, citing “turn
downs growing (personal experience).”

On Monday, McGowan said, “At the senior center we get transportation
for medical (purposes) backed by Hallmark Health, but they’ll only
take you to Hallmark facilities.”

He added, “It takes an hour, you have to make arrangements, and they
can only do one per hour. It used to be one per half-hour.” And, he
said, “There is no transportation from senior housing for people who
can’t get down. A lot of people can’t go on public transportation.
People who have to go to Winchester Hospital for Blue Cross — there’s
no transportation out there.”

McGowan and Burke both mentioned other transportation opportunities
for seniors. One is the MBTA Ride program, which requires registration
on an individual basis and which takes seniors to medical
appointments. Another is SCM (Somerville-Cambridge-Medford), an
organization that provides shopping trips for eligible seniors as well
as some medical trips. Burke also said that through the efforts of
human services director Chris DiPietro, there is a van that makes some
shopping trips for seniors.

In the end, whether it’s getting to the Senior Center or getting to a
medical appointment, the main point seems the same.

“It makes it hard for people if they can’t get transportation,” McGowan said.

. Comment refer to web page
http://maldentax.blogspot.com/2009/03/here-we-go-again.html


MTFA
CMurphy1 month ago
Report AbuseWho is this Debbie Burke person, and how old is she? And
does she actually ride public transit? I would really like to know. I
am not a senior myself, but I can see the difficulty in her suggestion
that seniors take the bus to the Malden Center T stop, and go *just
around the corner* to the senior center.

The problem with this is that they would have to cross
Florence/Commercial Street to get there. Anyone remember the old
*Frogger* video game? Well, crossing that street on foot is like being
the *frog* in a game of human Frogger. It's hard enough for an
able-bodied person who can move quickly, but if you're an older person
who can't move so fast, you may well become road pizza. There are a
lot of crazies on the roads.

Heck, often I have to stop at the crosswalk in front of 630 Salem
Street to let some elderly person get across, and some jerk behind me
is blowing their horn to try to get me to move. I may care about our
seniors, but most younger people here do not.

As for Ms. Burke's comments about parking...can I drum it into her
head once again...MANY SENIORS HERE DO NOT HAVE CARS. So what the heck
is the use of parking lots, when the people that this place is
supposed to serve do not drive?

Don't even get me started about the transportation to medical
appointments thing. Even if these people CAN get a bus to their
appointments, good luck in getting on the bus, or, if they do get on,
getting a seat. When I used to ride the bus, I had the misfortune of
having to ride when the teen thugs from the high school were on.
They'd crowd the bus, refuse to move to the rear, and if the driver
thought the bus was too crowded, they'd just refuse to stop for
people.

There used to be this elderly man who'd get on the bus at the stop in
front of Vinnie's Pizza on Salem Street, he had medical appointments
to get to. He must have been 90 if he was a day, walked with a cane,
and when he'd get on the bus full of teen thugs, NOT ONE OF THEM would
give him a seat. I didn't have a seat to give him myself. We adults
would try to shame the brats into giving the man a seat, but they just
laughed and spewed obscenities at us. The bus driver did nothing.

I also think Hallmark Health is lousy, we've had nothing but bad
experiences with them, their doctors, and hospitals, and seniors need
to have a choice. Just because people can't drive doesn't mean they
deserve substandard treatment, health care, etc.

My husband and I would rather die young than have to retire in Malden,
if this is what they think of senior citizens.. We can't afford to
move now, but we are working on being able to do so long before we get
to that age. Mayor Howard may think he's all that for opening the new
senior center, but I think he's just a rich jerk who is out of touch
with the working class and senior people here.

Don't get me started about the garbage tax...but that's O/T, so I'll stop now.


Leave a Comment:
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Logged in as: Maldensenior Logout

--
Howard McGowan
MaldenSenior

Gary Christenson (ward1info@yahoo.com)

Ward 1 update‏
From:
Sent: Wed 10/01/08 2:09 AM
To: councillor@comcast.net

Security scan upon download
PAYT TRAS...doc (26.0 KB), PAYTabsen...doc (24.4 KB)
Dear Ward 1 Neighbors,

Here is the latest from around the neighborhood and city:

UPCOMING WARD AND CITYWIDE EVENTS:
* Every Thursday throughout October, the Heritage Apartments, 195 Pleasant Street (next to City Hall) will host a Farmer's Market and Yard Sale in the parking lot from 10 am - 7 pm. For more information, please call 781-321-3485.

* 59 Green Street's Annual Flea Market will be held this Saturday, October 4th from 9 am - 4 pm in the community room and gazebo. Please stop by as proceeds will go back into residential programs in the building.

* The First Joe Croken 5K walk/run will be held this Saturday, October 4th starting at Anthony's at 10 am. Joe was the Clerk Magistrate for Malden District Court and he did so much for our community.

* The Annual Bread of Life "Walk for Bread" will be held this Sunday, October 5th from 1-3 pm at Pine Banks Park. For more information about the walk or to make a donation, please call the Bread of Life at 781-397-0404.

* The Malden Planning Board will be meeting next Wednesday, October 8th at 7 pm in City Hall, Council Chamber. There are two items on the docket that affect Ward 1. Both items pertain to the 188 Commercial Street plaza. First, Super 88 will be looking to sell limited alcoholic beverages and the second item has to do with the Social Security Administration relocating from City Hall to the plaza. These items were tabled at the September 10th meeting.

* Halloween Craft Time will be held at the Malden Public Library, Children's Program Room on Saturday, October 11th from 2-4 pm. For more information, please call the libary at 781-324-0218.

* The Ferryway School PTO will be having its monthly meeting on Tuesday, October 14th beginning at 6:30 pm in the school library.

* Malden Senior Action Council will be hosting a fundraiser at the Dockside Restaurant, 229 Centre Street on Tuesday, October 23rd from 4-8 pm. 10 percent of all purchases will go back to this great organization.

* You are invited to crash CladdaghBing, the original Irish Italian Comedy Wedding on Friday, October 24th from 7-10 pm at Anthony's. The cost for a ticket is $45 and the proceeds will be dedicated to the Malden Holiday Parade which will be held on Saturday, November 22nd at 4:30 pm. For more information, please visit www.claddaghBing.com or contact Meghan Drummey at 781-974-2345.

* Malden Public Library's Annual Book and Bake Sale will take place on Saturday, October 25th from 10-4 pm. For more information, please call the libary at 781-324-0218.

* The Annual Friends of Oak Grove (FOOGI) 5K Haunt Jaunt will take place on Sunday, October 26th beginning at 10 am at 6 Grove Street (Oak Grove Community Building). For more information about this fun-filled event, please visit www.friendsofoakgrove.org.

* Mayor Howard's Hunter Moon Dinner Dance for Malden's seniors will take place on Thursday, October 30th from 5-9 pm at the Irish-American Hall.

* The Malden Chamber of Commerce Annual Trick or Treat with Malden businesses will take place in Malden Square on Thursday, October 31st from 3:30-5 pm.

CITY COUNCIL NEWS:
The Ordinance Committee voted to amend city council rules to require a public hearing before we adopt our budget. I recommended this change along with a number of my colleagues...On my recommendation, the Malden Traffic Commission has increased the fine for parking cars on sidewalks from $50 to $75...City job postings are now online and can be found on the city's website by looking under "Human Resources"...As a result of our meetings on the city's switch from a quarterly to a monthly billing cycle for all water bills, the city will be abating ratepayers who were bumped up to another step due to the extending billing cycle. You should see a credit on an upcoming water bill...Don't forget that "pay-as-you-throw" starts in Ward 1 this Monday, October 6th. Bags are now on sale and attached are two memorandums regarding the new program. Enforcement will begin a few weeks after October 6th with fines starting at $50 for non-compliance. Also, the DPW has received an order of 5,000 new recycle bins. Everyone who does not have a bin is entitled to one for free. If you want additional bins, the DPW is selling them for $5. The DPW also had stickers printed (one says co-mingled and the other says paper/cardboard). These stickers are free and can be used to convert existing trash barrels or containers into recycling bins. The hotline for residents who have questions about the "pay-as-you-throw" program is 781-397-7186...Curbside yard waste pick-up schedule will be weekly in October and November. For more information, please contact the DPW at 781-397-7160...The city is looking to hire 3 temporary/part-time winter parking enforcement officers. The positions will work between Nov. 1st through April 1st between 11 pm and 4 am (15 hours per week and weekends are a must). The salary is $11.72 per hour and duties are to enforce parking regulations throughout the city. You need a valid MA drivers license and an excellent driving and clean criminal record. For more information, please contact Mary Lewis of the Malden Traffic Commission at 781-397-7190 or mlewis@cityofmalden.org...A neighbor asked that I let you know that a busy holistic office offering chiropractic and nutritional health is looking to hire a position. Job responsibilities include, but are not limited to, answering phones, collecting co-pays, verifying insurance benefits, and bringing patients to treatment rooms. They are looking for a candidate that is detailed oriented, able to multi task and friendly to our patients. This position is 28 to 32 hours per week. Experience in an alternative health care office preferred, but they will consider other healthcare backgroundsor educational certificates. Please fax your resume to 781-324-6836. They are looking to hire immediately...Don't forget that October 15th is the last day to register to vote for the upcoming presidential election to be held on Tuesday, November 4th. For more information, please contact the City Clerk's Office at 781-397-7116 or cityclerk@cityofmalden.org...The School Committee recently voted that to competitively bid cleaning services on certain shifts at Malden High School and the Ferryway School. The City Council will be looking at this issue in the near future...2008 MCAS results for Malden can be found at http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/results.html...I sponsored a resolve that the Malden Police Department post its daily police logs online...Don't forget that the Winter Parking Ban begins on Saturday, November 1...The Park at Riverʼs Edge is now open to the public. Hours, for now, are 10 am - 4 pm, Monday through Friday. The entrance is on the path near the Citizens Bank building at the Wellington Business Center. There are also several parking spaces there for the public.


WARD 1 NEWS:
Our 8th Annual Back-to-School Bowling Party was a great success. Thank you to Peg Crowe and the Ferryway School PTO on another fun-filled event for the kids...Thank you to the Regent Road residents led by Jimmy Nash for recently having me over for coffee. We had a good meeting and covered alot of issues...Condolences to the Decourcy family on the passing of Don...I met with a few neighbors about the Green, Medford, and Bell Rock Street intersection. A study suggests closing off Bell Rock Street. The neighbors and I are meeting again this Thursday, October 2nd at 6 pm at Dunkin Donuts, 54 Eastern Avenue to further review the proposal...The wall at the Converse Street entrance of Bell Rock Cemetery is going to be repaired this fiscal year...Congratulations to the Ferryway School for an award by the George Lucas Foundation for integrating technology with lessons on history, science, and language...Recent Ward 1 foreclosures occurred at 61 Walnut Street, 34-36 Judson Street, and 12 Fairmont Terrace...The final phase of repairing Belmont Street between Walnut and Ferry Street will happen before the winter sets in...Asahi America has added additional lighting at their own expense to help at night...17 Wilson Avenue has been taken under receivership by the Malden Redevelopment Authority meaning that the property will be fixed up and resold...We had another productive neighborhood crime watch meeting. Thank you to all who participated and there will be another meeting in the future...Police incidents involving Ward 1 residents showed Bart Rosher, 11 Berry Street, being arrested on Friday, August 29th on a charge of breaking and entering a motor vehicle and Paul Bey, 27 Howard Street, for driving a car with a suspended license and reckless operation...Thank you to Ellen O'Leary and Deb Gelzenes who joined me in cleaning up the Green Street Park area...Kudos also go out to everyone who helped with the summer concert at Bell Rock Memorial Park...MATV's Neighborhood Dish led by Ward 1 residents Paula Spizziri and Karen Yates was recently awarded for the best new show on MATV although we'll see if that changes once my cooking skills are televised! Paula is also to be congratulated for winning the election to become MATV's newest board member...The Green Street Park rehab of the basketball courts has just a few punch list items left...I attended the following meetings and events on behalf of Ward 1 during the past month: Irish-American Road Race; Annual Senior Citizens' Cookout; Pay-as-you-throw forum; Housing Families Networking Night; Bread of Life Board meeting; River's Edge Commission meeting; MATV annual meeting; Ferryway School Open House; Malden Pop Warner Comedy Night; Malden High School Flea Market; Bread of Life Yard Sale; Sacred Hearts Parish Church Festival; Harvest Moon Festival; Window Arts Malden 2008 Reception; "Run for Wednesday's Child;" and the MBTA's 2009 Service Plan meeting...Please continue to report any street light outages, graffiti issues, and/or abandoned shopping carts to me as soon as possible...Peg, Loretta Sullivan, and I continue to call BINGO at 59 Green Street on Monday nights so please stop by and say hello. All games start at 7 pm and are held in the Community Room...Finally, don't forget to bookmark the city's website, www.cityofmalden.org if you haven't already done so.

That's it for now! Please e-mail me back or call me with any further questions at (781) 389-3148.

Sincerely,


Gary Christenson,
Ward 1 City Councillor






























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About SCM Transportation

At first glance, SCM appears to be an average transportation agency. But think twice about that. Our real goal is to make it a relief to give up the car keys.

Yes, we run a fleet of twenty-six fully equipped para-transit vehicles. But what we really care about is maintaining lifestyles. Beyond the mere provision of rides, SCM is making it possible for people to live independently in their own homes. We know that you can't continue living in your house if you cannot also get out and about.

SCM's offering is impeccable and intimate. We provide truly door-to-door service, greeting our riders at their doorway and escorting them back and forth to our vans. Our greatest pride is our highly-trained, friendly, and professional driving staff. You've never seen a more safety-oriented bunch. And it won't be long before you are on a first-name basis with us.

To meet our riders’ needs, SCM partners with more than thirty local municipalities, councils on aging, commissions for persons with disabilities, and elder service agencies. We can also set up a private account for you or someone you look after.

Call our reservations staff at 617.625.1191 between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm for more information.

Notice Regarding Parking Regulations on Exchange Street

To print: Click here or Select File and then Print from your browser's menu

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
This article was printed from http://www.cityofmalden.org
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- Important
By: Mayor Office
8/4/2008


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------





Effective Monday, August 18, 2008, the Malden Police Department will begin enforcing the parking regulations on Exchange Street. Signs will be installed advising all visitors, shoppers and diners to Malden Square that on-street parking in many of these newly-created spaces will be limited to one hour between the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. (Parkers who violate the rules will be subject to a fine.)



Exchange Street was recently repaved and an additional 33 on-street parking spaces were added under a publicly financed construction program, authorized by the Office of Mayor Richard C. Howard. The goal is to make Malden Square more convenient for shoppers, diners, visitors and residents by encouraging a frequent turnover of on-street parking.



If you have any questions about the program, you may contact the office of Mayor Howard at 781-397-7000 or City Councillor James Nestor at 781-324-2672. This is just one of many public improvements that the City and its officials will continue to bring to Malden Square.




News Home| Search| News Archives

CHECKLIST UTILITY CONSUMERS

CHECKLIST OF KEY PROTECTIONS FOR UTILITY CONSUMERS

1. SERIOUS ILLNESS: ALWAYS ask your client if there is ANY person in the household (adult or child) who has a serious illness. Utilities cannot shut off (and must restore) utility service if anyone in the house has a serious illness. An illness can be physical (pneumonia, etc.) or mental (depression, bipolar, ADHD), short-term (e.g., flu) or long-term (cancer). The utility company does NOT get to decide what is a serious illness. All you need is a letter from a doctor. A phone call from the doctor to the company is initially ok, if later followed by a letter. We should expect and demand that utility service be restored the same day (at worst, the next day) whenever we document a serious illness, by phone, fax or letter from a doctor. You will also need to document that the client has a “financial hardship” in paying bills. The regulations are 220 CMR 25.03 (see #8 below). Any client who receives LIHEAP (fuel assistance) is automatically presumed to have a financial hardship.

3. CHILD UNDER 12 MONTHS: ALWAYS ask if there is a child under the age of 12 months in the household. A utility company cannot terminate service if there is a young child in the home, and must restore service that has been terminated if the child was in the home at or prior to the time of termination. The child’s age can be documented by birth certificate, baptismal certificate, or any other reasonable means. “Financial hardship” must also be shown. 220 CMR 25.03 (see #8 below).

4. WINTER MORATORIUM: Utilities cannot terminate service that is heat-related (meaning: natural gas service, if used to heat the home; or electricity, if the tenant pays for heat because electricity is needed for furnace/boiler controls) between Nov. 15 and Mar. 15, if the household has a “financial hardship.” These dates are often extended to April 15 or April 30. 220 CMR 25.03 (see #8 below).

5. ELDERLY CLIENTS: If every person in the household is age 65 or over, the company needs the explicit approval of the DPU to terminate service, which is almost never granted. ALWAYS notify the company if everyone in the household is age 65 or over. If service has been terminated, it should be restored. 220 CMR 25.03 (see #8 below).

6. DISCOUNT RATES: ALWAYS determine if your client is on the low-income discount rate. However, many clients will not know. When in doubt, call the company to see if your client is on the rate. It’s very easy for the company to check. Many advocates have been able to get their clients on the rate retroactively to the date that the client became income eligible. This can be extremely helpful if the client has been terminated and owes a large amount because a retroactive adjustment will reduce or eliminate the arrearage. However, get advice from NCLC if you are trying to do this. Discount rates are mandated by law, and all companies have them. Clients on LIHEAP and with income at or below 200% of poverty are eligible for the discount and will usually get the discount automatically via the fuel assistance agency notifying the utility (but worth checking). Clients on TAFDC, Food Stamps, Mass Health, WIC, and other income-tested programs with income at or below 200% of poverty are also eligible, but may have to apply to the utility directly; some of these are being automatically enrolled as of 2005. Some of the companies post their discount rate applications on the web).

7. PAYMENT PLANS: ALL clients are entitled to PAYMENT PLANS. This allows a client who is behind on her bills to spread the payments over several months. If the client has NOT yet been terminated, the company MUST offer a payment plan of AT LEAST four months. Some payment plans go 12 months or longer. If the client has been terminated, the rules are not as favorable, and are strictest during the fall (because the winter moratorium is about to begin and companies are most aggressive in trying to shut off service). ALWAYS insist on a payment plan that your client can afford. 220 CMR 25.01(2), 25.02(6).

8. GO TO http://www.mass.gov/Eoca/docs/dte/cmr/220cmr2500.pdf AND BOOKMARK THIS PAGE. (If you don't know how to bookmark, ask someone in your office). This page includes the most relevant state regulations governing the billing and termination practices of utility companies. In this Checklist, the regulations are referred to as “220 CMR, (section #)” because these regulations are found in Title 220 of the Code of Massachusetts Regulations.

9. If you have trouble getting a utility to comply with any of the protections or programs described above, call the DPU’s Consumer Division at 800 392-6066. The front-line phone representative should intervene on your client’s behalf. If not, ask to speak to his or her supervisor. Ultimately, you can speak to Karen Robinson, Director of the Consumer Division. If you need to take the complaint this far, contact Charlie Harak (see below).



Charles Harak, Esq.
National Consumer Law Center
77 Summer Street, 10th flr.
Boston, MA 02110-1006
617 542-8010 (voice)
617 542-8028 (fax)
charak@nclc.org

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