Several members of council questioned his remark, and he

Several members of council questioned his remark, and he explained that the construction work done at The Inn at Little Washington during the past several years had covered up its water meter, and that, according to information given to him, it had not been read in several years.

The substance of his allegation was confirmed by Mr. Fisher and by Ray Pullen, who reads the town’s meters for the water authority. The Inn’s water bill has been based on estimated readings since before all 10 of its guest rooms were completed last spring, Mr. Fisher said.

According to Mr. Pullen, a crew working for The Inn moved the town’s water meter to its present location inside a concrete manhole, then covered it with an iron plate which he cannot move by himself. The manhole, reportedly located in the parking lot behind The Inn, has now been covered by gravel spread in the lot.

“It’s the only meter in town not read regularly,” Mr. Pullen added.

“Their construction covered up the meter,” Mayor Morehouse agreed. “It would be a violation in any other jurisdiction . . . it’s definitely wrong - we need to get access. If they won’t cooperate there are ways to get it done.”

Following Mr. Skowronski’s revelation about The Inn’s water bill, council decided to table any action on water rates until its April meeting.

Mayor Dean Morehouse pointed out, with the agreement of town attorney Frank Reynolds, that the council can still pass a business and professional licensing tax.

Mr. Fisher told council that a form had been sent to all businesses registered inside the town limits requesting that they provide confidential information on their gross receipts for the past three years. "The information will give us a rough idea of the revenue we can expect from a business tax.”

Council member Evelyn Willis