Mayor Joseph J. Solomon remains unprepared to sign a contract to bring sewers to 900 property owners, citing concerns over costs and the possibility of added payments to address concerns raised the Narragansett Indians. Furthermore, in an interview Tuesday, he feared sewers could lead to the destruction of a neighborhood where generations of families have lived.

Meanwhile, Department of Environmental Management spokeswoman Gail Mastrati, responding to questions raised by the Beacon, said in a statement her agency would require 42 homeowners within 200 feet of the water that are dependent on cesspools to install septic systems if sewers aren’t built.

Solomon said the cost of the sewer project troubles him because of all the variables.

“I don’t think the taxpayers should guess at that.”

He said the “Indians are looking for compensation.” Asked to clarify, Solomon said there would be “added costs involved in preserving archeological features in the area.” A survey of the area that was an Indian summer camp ground in pre-colonial times involved digging pits in Tidewater Drive where two grave sites and artifacts were found. The Narragansett Indians were among those represented on the Warwick City Council’s Sewer Commission, which among other issues studied how to bring sewers to Bayside. The system D’Ambra Construction bid $17.8 million to build calls for directional drilling that would not disturb Indian relics.

Nonetheless, Solomon thinks D’Ambra could encounter unforeseen issues that would push costs and property owner assessments up. Based on the D’Ambra bid, assessments would be about $20,000, but Earl Bond, interim Warwick Sewer Authority director, in a statement said assessments could be $25,000 to $27,000 by the time the project is completed.

Questions have also been raised about the cost of home grinder pumps, home connections to the system, electrical costs and debt carrying expenses that would further push up the tab for the homeowner.

Asked if the city is in danger of losing the D’Ambra bid if he doesn’t sign it soon, Solomon said the contractor “has been very accommodating.” The mayor was also asked if he had had talks with DEM Director Janet Coit, as the agency granted a waiver of the 2016 law requiring homeowners within 200 feet of a body of water to have on-site water treatment – an approved septic system – or be connected to sewers. That waiver expired this year.

Solomon called Coit “an extraordinary department director,” adding, “it is not her intention to push people out of their homes” and that she “has worked with us for the common good.”

Asked specifically about a continued waiver of the law, Solomon said they discussed the issue. “You have got to respect all the people and work with them to be as comfortable as possible.”

Solomon then reflected on the history of the area that includes the neighborhoods of Riverview, Longmeadow, Bayside and Highland Park, how it developed as a summer community and homes have been passed down from generation to generation. He speculated that with the introduction of sewers land values would increase and promote the development of “McMansions,” altering the character of the neighborhoods.

The full statement released by Mastrati reads: “Over the past few years, DEM has been working with the Warwick Sewer Authority (WSA) and supporting progress towards the design and construction of new sewers. On September 1, WSA voted unanimously to award a construction contract for the Bayside Sewer System, the final step in this process. Given the many benefits associated with extending sewers to households currently using antiquated cesspools, DEM delayed requiring replacement of cesspools subject to the Cesspool Phase Out Act. If the sewer construction contract is not executed, 42 properties would need to replace their cesspools with onsite wastewater treatment (OWTS) systems. DEM will follow up and require that OWTS be installed at these properties if the City does not follow through with the construction of sewers to treat wastewater in this area of Warwick.”