EAST PROVIDENCE — Matters involving public works were once again at the fore of councilor privilege during the September 4 meeting of the body, specifically issues pertaining to a derelict home on Pawtucket Avenue and the always volatile subject of water/sewer user rates.
Ward 3 Councilman Joe Botelho raised both issues, stressing it was his aim to bring about resolutions on the topics before the end of the current and, specifically, his time on the council expires come December.
The contentious matter of water/sewer fees has flummoxed both past and present incarnations of the body, Mr. Botelho urging he and his peers to finally bring the subject to a conclusion.
Last year, the city hired a consultant to review rates. The company returned with four scenarios, which the council tabled for more study leaving the status quo of a relatively low fixed rate, a higher consumption rate and an initial usage exemption.
Mr. Botelho argued the existing rate structure was inequitable, penalizing high-end users while affording low-end users a unique break in their costs. Public Works Director Steve Coutu, substantiating a claim by Mr. Botelho, said approximately 25 percent of customers in the city pay only about $60 a year for minimum water/sewer service.
“You won’t find anywhere in the country where you pay only $60 a year just to flush your toilet,” Mr. Botelho said, sarcasm certainly intended.
One of the options presented by the consulting firm was raising the fixed rate while using an annual median usage number of all consumers to set the rate, the so-called “winter average.” Another, which Ward 1 Councilman Bobby Britto referred to as “ripping off the Band Aid,” would basically remove the initial usage exemption entirely and charge customers based almost wholly on consumption. The other two were some combination of the proposals, while staggering their implementation times.
Ward 4 Councilor Brian Faria, appearing to object to any dramatic change, said, “You’re helping the high-end users and hurting the low-end users. It would be nice to find a middle ground.”
Mr. Coutu answered, “You’ll find communities that are all fixed. Very few are all consumption. Usually it’s a combination of the two.”
In the end, Mr. Botelho demanded the updated figures on the topic being compiled by the water division be presented to the council at its next meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 18. It was also suggested the consult return before the body at that gathering to review the matter once again.
Dilapidated house
As for the status of the property located at 2779 Pawtucket Avenue has been in flux for several years and for the better part of 2018, according to Mr. Botelho. The city has attempted to engage with the property owner to raze the house, which, among other maladies, has broken windows and tarps wrapped around it.
“This has been around since January and I’m getting old and cranky about stuff not getting done,” Mr. Botelho said about the Pawtucket Avenue property, but it could have also described his mood about all of the issues he placed on the September 4 docket.
In response to the councilor, Acting City Manager/East Providence Police Chief Chris Parella told the body the last remaining hurdle to demolition of the structure is the abatement of asbestos. What has hampered the situation as well was initial notices sent to abutting neighbors were not done properly, but since has been remedied.
He said the owner has also hired a contractor who has submitted an asbestos removal plan to the state Department of Health for approval. Chief Parella said it was still preferable to have the owner handle the matter rather than the city. He added it was likely the city would be in the same position as the owner is currently in terms of following the necessary protocols.
“We’re not any further behind than if we hired our own vendor and for us to chase the money,” the chief said.
He continued, “A lot of (the process) should have been standard operating procedure and we’ll make the necessary changes” for similar situations in the future.
Culvert project update
On another public works topic, Ward 2 Councilor Anna Sousa asked Mr. Coutu for an update on the now-delayed State Street Culvert reconstruction project, an effort that was supposed to start last month.
Mr. Coutu and City Solicitor Greg Dias told the council legal issues between the city and neighboring Seekonk, in which part of the culvert lies, have yet to be resolved.
Mr. Dias said documents between the municipalities still need to exchanged and approved while two abutting property owners need to sign easement agreements. Neither official gave a firm date for when the process would be concluded.
Reval vendor
The council, at the recommendation of Chief Parella and Tax Assessor Steve Hazard, approved the awarding of a new property revaluation contract to the current holder of the pact, Vision Government Services.
The assessor’s office received just two bids, something that Mr. Hazard said was a disappointment. However, though Vision’s initial bid of $183,000 was higher than that of the other, $172,800 by Northeast Revaluation Group LLC of Warwick, he said circumstances surrounding the submission made by the former made it a better deal than the latter’s.
Mr. Hazard noted it would cost upwards of an additional $17,000 to give the contract with Northeast, in part, because there would be software integration necessities not needed by remaining with Vision. As well, the relative small size of the Northeast operation and the location of the potential project manager, in Florida, also gave the administration pause.
Ice rink purchase
Chief Parella also queried the council’s interest about the possible purchase of an ice skating rink, which would cost the city in the range of $100,000. The council gave a nod to pursue the matter more fully.
The chief said the sale price includes the boards, a “Zamboni” ice surface machine and rental skates. He compared the rink to the one in Providence at Kennedy Plaza. Operations would be overseen by the Recreation Department. A number of sites, like Bold Point or the carousel, where the rink could be placed would be considered, he added.
“I feel this is an outstanding opportunity…It’s an opportunity to create something nice,” the chief continued, noting the possibilities especially during the holiday season. “It’s reasonably priced and I think there’s an awful lot of opportunities for sponsorships from local businesses.”