Council approves city’s reimbursable effort to repair state roads in East Providence

EPPD’s David to serve as interim HR director; carousel upgrades initiated

By Mike Rego
Posted 2/9/18

EAST PROVIDENCE — The long sought after repair of state roads in city should soon come to fruition after the council at its meeting Tuesday night, Feb. 7, approved an agreement brokered locally …

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Council approves city’s reimbursable effort to repair state roads in East Providence

EPPD’s David to serve as interim HR director; carousel upgrades initiated

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — The long sought after repair of state roads in city should soon come to fruition after the council at its meeting Tuesday night, Feb. 7, approved an agreement brokered locally by manager Tim Chapman and the solicitor’s office.
The contract allows for East Providence to initially take on the financing responsibility of approximately $3 million for the repaving and sidewalk replacement of significant portions of Pawtucket and Warren Avenues. East Providence would use monies originally earmarked for synchronization of its fiscal year with that of the state to finance the effort. The state would eventually reimburse the city over the course of the next several years, starting in FY2019 but no later than FY2025.
The drive to undertake the effort, led by Ward 3 Councilman Joe Botelho, was due in part because the city’s state roads were not included in the current “RhodeWorks” initiative, which is focusing mainly on Rhode Island’s dilapidated bridges like those over Interstate 195 in city and other major traffic arteries. According to local officials, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation had indicated repair of East Providence’s state roads would not be considered until the current “RhodeWorks” plan is completed sometime after 2025.
In providing an overview to the council last week, Mr. Chapman said the city would like to do the repairs during the upcoming paving season. He continued, “The goal is to be on a good, quick, fast track to start the project this summer.” He noted, however, the timetable is still dependent, in part, on state requirements, “but the hope is for it to start sooner rather than later.”
City paving contractors
In a related matter, the council also approved a Request for Qualifications notice issued by the state for contractors to do annual repair to other city roads.
Cardi Corporation, D’Ambra Construction, J.H. Lynch and Sons, Narragansett Improvement, Pawtucket Hot Asphalt, T. Miozzi and Hartford Paving responded to the RFQ and were pre-qualified to answer an upcoming Request for Proposals to bid on the project.
HR update
Mr. Chapman told the council Captain Michael David, the Services Commander for the East Providence Police Department, has been chosen to become interim Human Resources Director for the city. Capt. David began in the position Monday, Feb. 12.
The manager said Capt. David was made available upon his request of EPPD Chief Chris Parella. Capt. David will remain in the police department’s command structure, but will report directly to Mr. Chapman is his new role.
The need for a temporary HR director was required when the sexual harassment case of former director Kathleen Waterbury against the city was settled by its insurer, the Interlocal Trust, late last year. The settlement, for $560,000, included an official end of Ms. Waterbury’s employ on February 9.
Wastewater update
Ward 4 Councilman Brian Faria requested an update on the status of improvements being attempted by the Town of Barrington to treat its wastewater before it enters the city’s facility in Riverside, which has been deemed the cause of the periodic odors emanating from the plant.

Mr. Chapman responded, telling the council Barrington has attempted to infuse its wastewater with a different mix of chemicals at more points along the line closer to the plant. He said the town has also hired an engineer to consult on the situation.

“Barrington has been cooperative and continues to be cooperative,” Mr. Chapman added.
The municipalities will next meet to discuss the situation on April 3.
Water notice
The city’s Water Supervisor Jim Marvel spoke before the council in regard to the notice sent out to residents earlier last week indicating increased levels of Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs) were shown in recent tests of the system.
Mr. Marvel said the matter is not a daily health issue, but one of a chronic exposure one. Those residents with specific medical concerns should take caution, though is no need to seek alternative sources of water for the large majority of consumers.
Mr. Marvel said the city’s recent set of projects in constructing new tanks at the Kent Heights plant were done to address the problems. The part of the process is the installation of an aeration system in the Kent Heights water tank, which is designed to significantly reduce the presence of DBPs.
Tax donations
The council approved a recommendation of Mr. Chapman to include a donation box on tax bills for the 2018-19 fiscal year, monies that will be directed to the “Townie Fund” and distributed to the non-profit East Bay Community Action Program.
Carousel repairs
The council also approved awarding a contract to James P. Tavares Construction in the sum of $144,600 to make necessary repairs to the Crescent Park Looff Carousel.
The monies to fix windows, flooring, doors and replace other sections of rotted wood are derived from a Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission, the city’s capital improvement budget and funds gained through the Carousel Commission.

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A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.