By JOHN HOWELL Something for free? That's just what the Warwick Sewer Authority is offering nearly 2,000 homeowners who have the capability to tie into the system, even had paid or are paying the assessment but have elected not to connect. In letters
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Something for free?
That’s just what the Warwick Sewer Authority is offering nearly 2,000 homeowners who have the capability to tie into the system, even had paid or are paying the assessment but have elected not to connect.
In letters mailed earlier this month, the authority is offering those capable of connecting to sewers a full free year of service costs, a savings based on the typical household of $600. The offer is good for this year and the free year starts at the point the service connection is made.
The offer has both its critics and advocates.
Eugene Nadeau, a member of the Warwick School Committee who lives in Governor Francis Farms, finds the letter disingenuous. In a letter to the editor published in today’s Beacon, Nadeau calls the offer “an unforgivable and deliberate misrepresentation” by WSA Executive Director Janine Burke-Wells and Service Manager Anthony Poole.
Nadeau has had access to sewers for years but has chosen not to connect. He has a cesspool, which he said works perfectly fine and has never overflowed. He contends homeowners shouldn’t be lured into connecting to sewers by a free year of service when they’ll end up paying for years afterward.
But Ward 5 Councilman Ed Ladouceur, who headed up the Warwick City Council Sewer Review Commission that ended up revising sewer regulations and gaining council bonding approval enabling the extension of sewers, loves the offer. He correlates the authority to a business and users to customers.
Ladouceur points out that the financial viability of the system, like a business, is dependent on customers. He observes that with the infrastructure in place, the authority relies on the service charge paid by the users to cover operational and maintenance costs. More customers don’t exponentially increase costs, thereby spreading operational costs over a larger base with the potential of maintaining if not reducing costs for everyone.
Ladouceur favors mandatory sewer connections, but that was not part of the package the council approved.
“We can’t do it [connection] by threatening. You have got to make them want to do business with you,” he said. He thinks the one-year of free service does just that.
According to Lynn Owens, administrative coordinator with the authority, the letter prompted a flurry of inquires, some questioning whether the program would be made available to homeowners who will be gaining accessibility to sewers as new projects come on line. Construction started this spring on Gov. Francis Farms Phase III, which is projected to be completed in about 18 months.
No decision has been reached on whether these homeowners would be eligible for a year of free service. Nonetheless, Ladouceur thinks it would be a great idea.
“What’s fair is fair,” he said.
In her letter Burke-Wells writes that the “Warwick Sewer Authority understands that connecting to the sewer system is an expensive proposition and may likely be the reason you have not yet done so.”
The letter outlines the cost of usage charges, which is based on water usage, and service fees. The only charge those choosing to take advantage of the incentive program would be a Renew and Replacement charge of $3.50 per 1,000 cubic feet of water used. What would come off the bill is the usage charge of $47.80 per 1,000 cubic feet of water and the service charge of $31.72 per quarter per residential unit.
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richardcorrente
Several questions:
Is the hook-up financeable through the Sewer Authority?
Are the present Sewer-Authority loans re-financeable through the Sewer Authority at a lower rate?
Has anyone spoken to a second-mortgage lender for a tax-deductible second mortgage to finance the connection? (some seconds are tax deductible. Some aren't)
Bankers Mortgage is not normally in the second mortgage business but we will advise any resident at no cost. Call us at 401-886-5600 or speak to whatever neighborhood credit union or bank you feel comfortable with. Or do both and compare notes.
Happy Spring/Summer everyone.
Rick Corrente
The Taxpayers Mayor
President
Bankers Mortgage Corporation
Thursday, May 24, 2018 Report this
wwkvoter
Corrente now you are shamming ads into the comment section, already polluted with your misinformation. Wow. Please, stop.
As to the article, the free year is a great idea. Nadeu's cesspool is not "fine" as cesspools dump untreated sewage into the water table, eventually to our bay.
Friday, May 25, 2018 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear WwkVoter,
In answer to your request, no, I won't deprive the Warwick readership of the option of reading my opinions just because you tell me not to do it. I did, however, out of courtesy to you, double-check with The Beacon. They confirmed that if you don't like my comments, you are under no obligation to read them. Since you're not brave enough to comment using your own name, I thought this will come as good news. You're welcome!
Happy Spring/Summer anonymous-critic WwkVoter
Happy Spring/Summer everyone.
Rick Corrente
The Taxpayers Mayor
Friday, May 25, 2018 Report this
CrickeeRaven
Wow, WwkVoter:
Look at how you exposed the make-believe mayor's utter hypocrisy, on top of his misuse of this website (again).
"(I)f you don't like my comments, you are under no obligation to read them..."
It's as if he gets up every day and asks himself "Can I make myself look even more disgraceful and foolish than I did yesterday? Yes, I can!"
And then he proves it. Over and over again.
Anyone looking to resolve their sewer issue would be smart to completely avoid the make-believe mayor, except to overwhelmingly reject his pathetic candidacy at the earliest opportunity.
Friday, May 25, 2018 Report this
Scal1024
Rick, you talk about your anonymous critics alot. Where are your on the record supporters? You claim all this support yet not one reader has ever come to your defense. You've been running since December 14th, 2014. Almost 4 years total. I would think if your message was resonating someone would speak up by now. You know who real cowards are Rick? Liars. A liar is the worst kind of person. You are a liar Rick, and its a disgrace.
Friday, May 25, 2018 Report this
CrickeeRaven
Another excellent point, Scal. The only people I've ever seen defend the fake mayor (if you can call it that) are those two whiners who called us bullies and eventually went away.
Other than them, as you rightly point out, I don't recall one comment in the make-believe mayor's favor in nearly four years. It remains a mystery why he continues to use this site for free political advertising when the results have been so abysmal.
Saturday, May 26, 2018 Report this