Frats settle property, water debts with Somerville

The landlords of Theta Delta Chi, Delta Upsilon and Delta Tau Delta have all set up plans with the city of Somerville to pay overdue property taxes and water bills that were incurred over the summer.

The property tax payments are part of a new, city-wide delinquent collection program and do not reflect the city targeting fraternities. "We're going through budget cuts and financial difficulty. Every dollar counts now more than it ever has," said Bill Doncaster, spokesman for Mayor Dorothy Kelly Gay.

Outstanding water bills represent fees that the city has already paid to the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA), which assesses and charges each city's water usage.

"When a water bill isn't paid to the city, the city has already paid out that money." Doncaster said.

The new collection program was set up as an easy way for debtors to repay the city. "When we implemented [the new collection program], we were very clear with everyone that what we really wanted was for people to communicate and establish payment plans."

Theta Delta Chi President Peter Markus disputes Somerville's charge that the fraternity has missed water payments. "Theta Delta Chi owes zero dollars in outstanding water bills," he said. Markus does not dispute the property tax issue, and the fraternity is on a payment plan with the city to resolve those debts.

The payment agreement between Theta Delta Chi and Somerville is fairly simple. "The city agrees to payment plans of the following structure: half of your outstanding debt up front, and the other half paid off in equal monthly installments over the next 12 months," Markus said.

Although the amounts of each of the fraternities' debts are large, Markus said, the numbers can be deceiving. "What people don't seem to understand about the water bills and taxes is that for a house of our size, the property taxes are about $15,000 per year, and about the same for water bills," Markus said.

"If a house has an outstanding debt of $10,000, it does not mean they haven't paid in years, they have simply missed the last one or two payments," he continued.

According to Delta Upsilon President Mike Ciacciarelli, DU's repayment plan has been completed. "The issue is basically resolved. We received a certificate of good standing from the city last week," he said.

The problem does not always lie on the brothers however. According to Markus the utilities and taxes are the responsibilities of house management. "When a house owes money, it's not the brothers that are dropping the ball, it's the landlord," Markus said.

"These debts are settled year after year, and there is no huge new problem with Tufts fraternities," Markus said. "Everyone is simply doing what they have always done."