Panel addresses sewer funding, future projects

Posted 7/25/13

A council committee charged with setting a plan to correct inconsistencies in sewer assessments and develop a plan for sewer extension may not come up with answers that satisfy everyone. But that’s …

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Panel addresses sewer funding, future projects

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A council committee charged with setting a plan to correct inconsistencies in sewer assessments and develop a plan for sewer extension may not come up with answers that satisfy everyone. But that’s fine, according to its chairman, Ward 5 Councilman Edgar Ladouceur.

“We’ve got to do what’s good for the whole,” he said at the initial meeting Monday morning at City Hall. “We’ve got the investment [the treatment plant and infrastructure]. Let’s iron out the wrinkles and move on.”

The freshman councilman, who called for creation of the committee, said that the lack of sewers and the mandates to eliminate cesspools in coastal areas were issues raised frequently while campaigning for office. Since being a councilman, he has learned resolving those issues involve a number of factors, many of which center on funding.

He told the committee his approach is to bring the stakeholders to the table, identify the problems, look for solutions and then reach a consensus.

“I’m not interested in political problems or perceived issues,” he said.

He asked why 45 percent of the city is still without sewers.

“How do we get there?” he asked. “Let’s identify what are the real problems and get out there and solve them.”

That could be difficult, as some on the committee are likely to have different priorities, the most striking being those who will be watching out for the costs faced by users and taxpayers, and those who put the environment first.

However, at the prompting of chief of staff and committee member Mark Carruolo, there was consensus that sewers need to be extended and that the lack of them has an effect on the bay.

In addition to the city, the committee also includes representatives from the environmental organization Save the Bay; the state Senate and House; the Warwick Sewer Authority; the Department of Environmental Management (DEM); the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC); and the public. Michelle Komar, a professional wetlands scientist and a regular at council meetings, serves as the public member.

Angelo Liberti from the DEM and James Boyd from CRMC expressed their discomfort with roles where they could be setting fees and user rates. Both saw those as local responsibilities. Also, as they are oversight agencies, they saw the potential conflict of working on a plan they might later review for the state.

“Funding is not the only issue,” said Ladouceur.

He welcomed input from Liberti and Boyd as advisors to the committee.

And Ladouceur discovered Liberti wasn’t entirely in agreement with his logic that it doesn’t make sense to extend the sewer system until the treatment plant levees are heightened to prevent a flooding and the rebuilding of the facility at a cost of more than $11 million in 2010. Liberti emphasized the need to upgrade the plant for the enhanced removal of phosphorus and nitrogen by a May 2016 deadline. And he saw the levee work as independent of extending sewers.

Sewer Authority executive director Janine Burke placed the cost of plant upgrades at $14 million and the levee improvements to bring it to the level of a 500-year storm at $5 million. She said both projects have been designed and much of it has been issued permits.

Funding remains an issue. The authority has applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency funding to pay for 75 percent of the levee work. The authority is looking for City Council approval of revenue bonds to pay for the city’s share as well as the plant upgrades. The authority is looking to construct the projects in tandem, even using some of the earth excavated for treatment tanks to augment the levee.

Ward 8 Councilman Joseph Gallucci, who was elected deputy chairman of the committee, said about $62 million in sewer service extensions have been identified apart from the treatment plant and levee. He has proposed an initial revenue bond of $23 million that was to have come before the council early this month. As Ladouceur was moving ahead with the committee, Gallucci postponed action until September. Gallucci is also the sponsor of amendments to the authority’s enabling legislation that was drafted by the authority. Those amendments addressed a variety of issues, including the current method of linear foot assessments and the option to postpone the levying of an assessment for 20 years for a property owner who had recently installed a septic system. Changes require General Assembly approval but revisions failed to gain council approval and without that, the authority didn’t appeal to the legislators.

Ladouceur is hopeful the committee can reach consensus on amendments. He favored the suggestion that the committee brief the city’s legislative delegation prior to the changes going before the General Assembly.

Sewer Authority chairman Aaron Guckian welcomed the opportunity for the committee to clear up “misinformation” about the role and functions of the authority. He also called for action.

“We can’t keep kicking the can down the road,” he said.

Likewise, Senator William Walaska sees the need for a plan.

“Inconsistence is the issue,” he said.

He said constituents ask him, “Are sewers going down the road in a matter of years, when is it going to happen?”

Ladouceur aims to have answers along with what it is going to cost.

Comments

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  • Reality

    Great make-up of the committee. It is rigged with people who just want expand the sewer authority. Current ratepayers and sewer users have been excluded. The public knows this committee is a joke.

    Thursday, July 25, 2013 Report this

  • patientman

    Here is an idea, Start charging the connect capable fee that the city said they were going to charge. That will slow the rise in rates and clean up the bay. Win, win.

    Thursday, July 25, 2013 Report this

  • RoyDempsey

    @Reality makes a good point. Who on the committee is looking out for ratepayers and taxpayers? Mr. Howell states: "That could be difficult, as some on the committee are likely to have different priorities, the most striking being those who will be watching out for the costs faced by users and taxpayers, and those who put the environment first". Will Mr, Howell please state who on that committee is looking out for users and taxpayers?

    Friday, July 26, 2013 Report this

  • bendover

    Where the hell are Reed and Langevin? 40+ years combined in Washington, so they are suppose to have all this power, clout and influence. Show me the money! This administration has gone on a spending spree of a $1T a year, for 5 years including $90B for so called clean & green energy projects...Out of all this walking around money being spent these guys couldn't find $100M for Warwick for "shovel ready" projects like a new sewer plant to replace the over capacity, out date current plant which could flood again, and not in 500 years? They (Reed and Langevin) couldn't find money to fund a 60/40 bond program to provide grant $$$ and ease the financial burden of folks tying into the system? Such a program would speed up compliance and usage. Meanwhile, what about Warwick residents that were told they wouldn't get sewers for some time and went out and paid to replace cesspools with state of the art ISDS septic systems, only now they are going to incur a double penalty? If the system is new, why force a tie in? You are going to assess anyway, why a double penalty? Reed and Langevin, show me documentation of ANYTHING you have proposed as a legislative solution to this issue? Bottom line is we had a grant program before and it worked...If we are still at the point where we need study groups and commissions to try and fact find solutions to this issue, we have a whole lot of deadwood in place that serves no one, starting with Reed and Langevin and running downhill. Lead, follow or get the hell out of the way.

    Friday, July 26, 2013 Report this

  • Pmaloneyjr

    Tax and Spend, Spend and Tax. They don't care about the taxpayers. How about another environmental study to slow things down? We should tell the State it isn't getting done unless they provide funding. Put the entire thing on hold until we have COMPETENT people to do it. Incompetence at best, criminal at worst. Money is being stolen out of the pockets of the taxpayers to get nothing done.

    Friday, July 26, 2013 Report this

  • AbundanceOfCaution

    just get it done

    Saturday, July 27, 2013 Report this

  • warwickguy

    Ummm is that Pmaloneyjr the same guy who didnt get enough votes to hold his seat ion the SC because he didn't know what he was talking about to hold the position? Sometimes people need to know what they are talking about before post what is on their minds. I guess is was just a lesson not learned....

    Monday, July 29, 2013 Report this