City threatens to put lien on blind woman's house over a penny

Eileen Wilbur, a 74-year-old blind woman was shocked when her daughter, Rose Brederson found a letter from the city of Attleboro, Massachusetts, saying a lien would be placed on her home and a $48 penalty unless she paid an overdue water bill of 1 cent by Dec. 10. Stamps cost 42 cents!! The charge was from the previous fiscal year, which ran from July 2007 to July 2008. City Collector Debora Marcoccio pointed out that accounts with an overdue balance are automatically printed out by a computer and they are not reviewed by staff before being mailed. Also that it would be fiscally irresponsible for her to have staff weed through the bills and pull out any below a certain amount, and what would that amount be? Marcoccio questioned why it wasn't paid when the (original) bills went out. Wilbur's daughter, Rose Brederson said her mother, who has lived in the home since 1959, would likely end up paying the penny however ridiculous. VIA

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