EAST PROVIDENCE — The long-running saga of current and past elected officials attempting to somehow create equity in setting water/sewer rates for consumers continues, the latest entry taking place at the January 19 City Council meeting when the administration requested a series of hearings on the matter in the coming weeks.

Mayor Bob DaSilva detailed his approach to the council at the meeting, seeking to confirm dates for at least a pair of workshops to discuss pertinent matters relating to the city’s water system, specifically, at the moment.

A first session will take place on Thursday, Feb. 11, at 6:30 p.m. It will include an update on the contract extension talks with the Suez North America, which maintains much of the city’s system and treatment plant off Bullocks Point Avenue in Riverside, an infrastructure report by the consulting firm CDM Smith Inc.

The latter will also give an assessment on the need to inspect the water mainline connecting the city to the Scituate Reservoir through Cranston into Providence and under the Providence River.

Upon announcing his resignation as Department of Public Works Director late last year, Steve Coutu noted an assessment of the mainline has been “a big objective for a long time.” Mr. Coutu said local officials have “some idea” about the condition of the pipe, which was installed in the 1960s, through estimates based on the material it is made of, but that an internal inspection hasn’t occurred to his knowledge. The former director added, “It’s definitely better to be pro-active in that situation,” when talking about the need to determine the mainline’s short and long-term viability.

The second workshop, set for Wednesday, Feb. 24, also at 6:30 p.m., will include a presentation on the city partnering with the Bristol County Water Authority, representing neighboring Barrington, Warren and Bristol, about the prospects of linking to the Pawtucket system as emergency/secondary water source. Mr. Coutu, it should be noted, is the new executive director of the BCWA.

East Providence officials have in the past resisted BCWA overtures that the city help fund the project and the regional body’s attempt to obtain the necessary rights of way through the city has also proven a challenge. The secondary source project, which in recent times was first broached back in 2014, comes with a hefty price tag, some estimates being over $35 million.

Mayor DaSilva also said the administration would engage the council for a third workshop in the near future once the Suez contract matter is resolved, citing the need to commit to a sewer rate analysis that makes the structure more “palatable” for residents.

Both meetings will be conducted under the hybrid model of in-person and virtual attendance.

Mayoral appointments
Pertaining to the DPW position left vacant upon Mr. Coutu’s departure, Napolean Gonsalves, the mayor’s director of administration, told the council last week that veteran department member Erik Skadberg has been appointed as the acting director.

Mr. Skadberg, a city employee for over 15 years, has been the top administrator in the Engineering Division and served as the DPW’s deputy director. Mr. Skadberg should be expected to have intricate involvement in the scheduled water/sewer discussion.

In addition, Mr. Gonsalves announced Mayor DaSilva had reappointed Ronald Nawroki as Tree Warden for the city.

Tree commission
On a related topic the council discussed the city’s existing ordinance on trees and the associated commission.

Ward 2 member Anna Sousa placed the matter on meeting agenda, saying her intention to visit it was for the purpose of revising and updating the ordinance while adding “a little more language…because it is not as robust as I thought.”

Councilor Sousa said upon review, the ordinance includes the aforementioned tree commission, which is currently not seated. The councilor said she found the commission should include members who have knowledge in architectural landscaping, extensive knowledge in gardening and arborists. The commission is also tasked with preserving green space in city and to potentially look for associated federal and state grants.

Councilor Sousa also said a seated commission is required for the city to maintain its “Tree City” status, something East Providence has held, she continued, for 23 years. She noted without a tree commission the city cannot be recognized nationally. To do so, the tree commission needs to be seated, hold meetings and be active in the community.

The commission would be appointed by mayor without council approval. Councilor Sousa said she has engaged Mayor DaSilva and several residents who meet qualifications have inquired about serving.

“There’s a lot of good things that can come out of the commission,” Councilor Sousa concluded.

Library update
While saying she and her staff don’t like to use the word “closed,” Acting Library Director Joyce May nonetheless said branches around the city remain mostly shuttered due to ongoing concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Libraries are accepting limited entry into buildings through appointments, Mrs. May continued. Staff is also conducting contactless drops of materials while maintaining as possible all youth and adult services on-line and virtually. Mrs. May emphasized as well even though library doors haven’t been open in recent months staff remains in buildings, answering correspondence from residents.

“We can’t see you in person but we are doing our darnedest to be sure we are reach our residents in every way we can,” the acting director added.

Capital Projects review
As a bit of a preview for the council’s upcoming February 2 meeting, Ward 4 member Ricardo Mourato said he would be submitting an agenda item seeking from the administration an update on the city’s list of Capital Improvement Projects.

Specifically, Mr. Mourato is requesting the status of the tree planting effort at Bullocks Point, the Willett Pond improvement project, the electrical wire drop at Riverside Square and renovations at the Crescent Park/Looff Carousel. At the behest of At-Large Councilor Bob Rodericks, the corresponding parking lot/athletic field projects at Riverside Middle School and Riverside Rec Complex were asked to be included as well.