| | CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE RHODE ISLAND JOURNAL OF CONGRESSIONAL MEETING APRIL 5, 2007 1:30 P.M. | |
| Present: | Mayor Isadore S. Ramos | | |
| | Robert E. Cusack | ) | Council Members |
| | Bruce DiTraglia | ) | |
| | | | |
| | Richard M. Brown | ) | City Manager |
| | William J. Conley, Jr. | ) | City Solicitor |
| | Virginia B. Nunes | ) | City Clerk |
| | Jack Reed | ) | Senator |
| | Sheldon Whitehouse | ) | Senator |
| | Patrick Kennedy | ) | Congressman |
| | Dennis Reilly | ) | Representative from Jack Reed’s Office |
| | George Carvalho | ) | Representative from Sheldon Whitehouse’s Office |
| | George Zenyah | ) | Representative from Patrick Kennedy’s Office |
| | Chris Vitale | ) | City Capitol List Group |
Mr. Brown stated we had a meeting with your staff to talk about some financial concerns in the community and to try to get some federal support. There are three areas, the waste water treatment plant, drainage issues especially in the Southeast, and support for our waterfront community projects. We appreciate your interest and your being here today.
Mayor Ramos stated the treatment plant; DM has put us on notice and other issues we have to take care of. We need some help in funding that treatment plant. There are concerns about giving up the plant to across the bay. We went up 33% to the tax payers. To take care of a portion it would be 16 million. When we met with your staff we were told 1 or 2 million. That’s a significant amount of money, but that doesn’t put a Band-Aid on it. We’re building up our waterfront. We just approved a project at Leonardo Farm which will put in 300+ households. Kettle Point with Gilbane is another big project. We need help with the plant to handle all these projects.
Councilman DiTraglia stated he wanted to thank Patrick Kennedy, Sheldon Whitehouse, and Jack Reed for coming to this meeting. We’re in dire need of repairs at the Sewer plant. Kettle Point is a billion dollar project, a jewel for RI. When it’s complete people from all over the world will come into this port. This is going to help the City, the State, and the Federal government for bringing in good revenue. It’s going to take money to make money. It’s going to be beautiful another Newport. If the Sewer Plant is not up to grade, people won’t come because of the smell, the sewage.
Councilman Cusack stated that help with the plant is not only for our community but for a cleaner bay and to meet standards of DEM.
Congressman Kennedy stated tell us the concerns about the other side taking over.
Mayor Ramos stated the NBC across the Bay, they can get funded. Our plant in Rumford is 15 million. We can’t get funding. NBC is looking to purchase other plants, running 1.7 million more than the one in Riverside. Because we’re one city, all the projects NBC is involved with, we have to pay because it’s collaboration. If we maintain our own plant we have control.
Congressman Kennedy asked what’s the advantage of having control, when you’re already paying to NBC.
Mayor Ramos stated once they take over the plant and they rehab it themselves, the City is still responsible for pump stations and pipes. If they run it, then all taxpayers in the City would be responsible for taking care of both plants based on what NBC taxes us.
Congressman Kennedy stated right now they’re paying twice.
Mayor Ramos stated they’re not paying at the same rate. They’re pumping 9800 cubic feet. We give a 3500 cubic feet reduction.
Mr. Brown stated there was an idea to close our facility in Riverside and create a pump station and pump it across the river.
Councilman Cusak stated lay a pipe under the bay, ship it over there.
Mr. Brown stated it was a wonderful idea. When they did the engineering on it, they realized it was more expensive to do that than to rehab our existing facility. Basically there are 3 ways to go, find the resources ourselves, have NBC take over or contract a private sector. The feeling is to own it ourselves; the rate payer would be lower. If it’s a private sector they would have to make a profit. If it’s NBC, they are aggressively acquiring other facilities and we feel we would be paying for those other facilities, like a portion of our rate goes for the Rumford plant.
Congressman Kennedy stated he never air marked money. Maybe 1 or 2 million, but 16 million is way out of the ball park. This isn’t going to be a quick easy answer.
Mr. Brown stated we know we’re not trying to do this with somebody else’s money. We know we have to meet the permit; we are going to be investing. As we gather resources we’re looking for as much support as we possibly can.
Senator Reed stated we will collaborate. We recognize your taking steps to help yourselves. We certainly want to help the City of East Providence. Given our financial difficulties, we have to look at other areas like the revolving fund.
Mr. Brown stated we just got notice from the State on the revolving fund submitting application and request from DEM for priority projects.
Senator Reed stated he’s working on a 1.8 billion dollar fund over a five year period that will deal with waste water.
Mr. Brown stated we will pay by our own rate payers.
Senator Reed stated he recognized how much effort is going into this.
Congressman Kennedy stated we’ll do anything we can without saddling the kids with debt. We pay for war, end the war sooner.
Mr. Brown stated new Nitrogen requirements to get down levels are very costly.
Councilman Cusack stated we are on a 22 month construction period beginning in December. What would be the timing if you’re successful?
Senator Reed stated Republican’s didn’t pass appropriation bills last year. Federal fiscal year begins October 1.
Mr. Brown stated then the money would come a year later.
Senator Reed stated no not that long.
Senator Whitehouse wanted a short overview of how the development projects along the river are going.
Mr. Conley stated the Geo Nova project received certificate of completion for design review. Old world mills are in the process of being converted to high end residential and retail just approved for design review and the waterfront commission. Rumford Commons is another renovation project with high end condominiums, residential and retail. The old Rumford chemical plant has gone though the historic approval process and is on the drawing board. Another project is Kettle Point off the parkway on the bay. Waterfront commission and the Council have just received a presentation from Gilbane. They expect to develop it as a New England Village style with some townhouses, residential and retail.
Mr. Fazioli stated also the Chevron properties. Aspen has been open about a year thanks to your help Congressman and Senator; it’s one of the biggest booms for the City, 75 high paying jobs.
Mr. Conley stated yes not only your help but the Federal Highway Design money has been a major motivating factor.
Mr. Fazioli stated we do need some of your help with relocation of power lines at India Point despite the initial funding secured by the last congress. National Grid’s holding up the development, the funding is in place.
Senator Reed asked if it passed.
Mr. Vitale stated it did pass, but no budget, so it fell though.
Mr. Conley stated everything came to a halt and that development became significantly behind schedule. The real impact on that is when the wires get moved. In addition to that development going forward, it opens up another key area of development right in the heart of the waterfront. Revisiting the funding for that would be great.
Attest:
_________________________________
Virginia B. Nunes
City Clerk
Approved: April 17, 2007