Dead man charged $600 for running tap

An Ontario town is still pondering over whether a man who died suddenly, leaving the bathroom tap (faucet) running, should get a break on his water bill. Allister MacPherson died at his home in Port Colborne, Ont., Sept. 28. The water remained flowing for three weeks before his body was discovered by family members. Now his family is asking the town to forgive the $600 bill.

But town council is still mulling it over after its services director said policy is policy and the bill needs to be paid. Peter Senese, the city's director of community and corporate services, said waiving the cost would mean the expense would fall back to the city, and ultimately the other taxpayers.



Mayor Vance Badawe shot back at the family, asking if they are approaching other service providers – such as the hydro and gas companies – looking for breaks as well, and what they might have ruled. "I'd like to see their (other companies') responses," Badawey said. In the meantime, he said, the family is always welcome to come to a council meeting “and ask forgiveness from policies.”

The dead man's daughter, Cara Zandvliet, who had been handling her father's bills, says Bell Canada already gave the family a break by exempting charges to the final bill, and is disappointed the city won't follow suit with the whopping water bill. "I want to recognize this is a good town, but city hall won't do anything about this," Zandvliet said. Zandvliet said if she has to pay the bill she will. She just wished the city was more compassionate in the way it handled the situation.