To the editor:

The Town of Portsmouth is poised to purchase the dilapidated Stone Bridge and (now known as) Billy’s Beach for $150,000 on June 3 from RIDOT. What’s the rush?

Last year I was pleased to initiate my “Seeing is Believing” walking tours of our Stone Bridge and Billy’s Beach.

To be extremely clear, Portsmouth should acquire this beach and stone abutment, when we have a plan! What’s the rush?

To use $150K of ARPA funds without a real plan is ludicrous. The liability is currently on the State of Rhode Island. That liability becomes the Town of Portsmouth’s liability on June 3 if this council-approved sale happens on schedule.

FYI, the state spent $800K-plus to do the minimum work to stabilize the north wall after it caved into the basin along the boat ramp and marina.

What’s the rush?

How would the Town of Portsmouth pay for any future damage? Our insurance company may not be responsive. Have we checked with them?

Last year I worked to have a qualified engineering estimate prepared. It was $25,600 from AI International Engineering in Connecticut. It was sent to the town administrator. He solicited others and the quote he selected was $19K from a firm that may not have the discipline of marine bridge engineering.

Somehow RIDOT decided to offer it to the town for $300K. That’s $299,998 too much. What’s the rush?

$1 for the bridge, $1 for the beach to make it a legal consideration. Now we are paying $149,998, which is still more that we should be paying. The State of Rhode Island, specifically RIDOT, does not want it or the liability.

There is no plan to do anything currently, and that will take time. Tiverton spent $2.9 million of federal grants spanning 10 years to do the most excellent job to their Stone Bridge, including a 40-car gravel parking area that collects a fee during the summer. The sales agreement I reviewed indicates Portsmouth can’t do squat on this property unless RIDOT approves. Another reason to ask the six councilors, what’s the rush? 

Who is going to be responsible for swimmers, and beach cleanups from the hundreds of fisherman and families that cannot read the town sign?

Email: towncouncil@portsmouthri.gov , rrainer@portsmouthri.gov, to learn what’s the rush?

Who else will buy it, as is for $150,000.00?

It will cost us without a real plan, real soon, and real grants that don’t take 10 years.

What’s the rush?

John Vitkevich

119 Hummock Ave.

Portsmouth