WEST WARWICK TOWN COUNCIL ACTING AS

SEWER COMMISSION

 

PUBLIC HEARING #2 FOR FY24

WWTF PROPOSED BUDGET MINUTES

 

DATE:  TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2023    TIME:  6:00 P.M.

 

LOCATION:  TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS

1170 MAIN STREET

WEST WARWICK, RI  02893

 

 

A.    Meeting called to order at 6:05 p.m. by Town Council President Gosselin

 

B.    Roll Call

 

Members present:

Council President Gosselin

Council Vice President Williamson

Councilman Messier

Councilman Licciardi   

Councilman Bourget

 

Participating communities:

Town of Coventry (not present)

Town of Scituate  (not present)

City of Cranston   (not present)

City of Warwick    (not present)

Town of West Greenwich (not present)

 

 

C.    Quorum on record declared

 

D.    Proposed WWTF FY24 Budget (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2023)

 

·        Superintendent Chapdelaine mentions the proposed budget with the rate increase from $4.25 per 100 cubic feet to $4.65 per 100 cubic feet. He explains that the budget is already lean and they have to address significant issues like aging infrastructure, chemicals and slug removal. The statics we put together show that the average user will see an increase of $24.00 per year and a minimum user will see and increase of $16.00 a year, and a larger apartment complex in Town would have an increase of $4,710.00 per year. This budget would enable the facility to partially offset an emergency repair, and it will also allow us to be proactive with their maintenance needs. This along with potentially accepting significant Federal Funding which the department would have to match a percentage of those funds. Superintendent Chapdelaine continues to explain that in the next 5 years the facility has over $7,000,000.00 in projects that they can no longer delay, and can no longer neglect critical infrastructure improvements.

·        Councilman Bourget comments that he has noticed a lot of the bonds we currently have are going to be going away in the next five to six years which seems like a good amount of income that will be coming in. Councilman Bourget does agree there has to be some type of increase because everything is getting more expensive.  He would like to keep the increase as low as possible.

·        Council Vice President Williamson explains that with the Federal grants we applied for the facility will have to contribute between $500,000.00 to $700,000.00, also with the adjusted numbers that came in it is not in the best interest to do the $30.00 for the one-time fee.

·        Councilman Licciardi asked what the percentage increase would be.

·        Mr. Corrente answered it would be a 9.5% increase. That would bring in $488,640.00 to practically offset some of that emergency repair, and would set up the facility for future funding for these future project that we have to undertake. The overall goal is trying not to borrow.  Budget increase in line maintenance item are due to the fact that we have been reactive and we would like to be proactive, and also try to identify the issues before hand.

·        Council President Bourget explains that he agrees with the yearly increase over the one-time fee. If we restrict that money for that one-line item.

·        Council Vice President Williamson states the group realizes that the one time was not the best approach to take.

·        Councilman Licciardi asked if the money that’s coming in will be guaranteed to go into that cash reserve account.

·        Superintendent Chapdelaine answers that it will be, barring an unforeseen emergency.

·        Council Vice President Williamson mentioned that it could not all be going into that fund, it may have to be used for offsetting others. It is ultimately the goal but we can not say there is definite guarantee.

·        Mr. Corrente said that it is not our plan at all to offset other budget items with that money.

·        Councilman Bourget asked Mr. Corrente how much saving would there be when the bonds fall out.

·        Mr. Corrente said he could get an amount to the council the next day.

·        Councilman Bourget would like to see the percentage increase to be around ½ of what we are asking.

·        Superintendent Chapdelaine mentions that they don’t know what the future holds and would like to remind   all that we are still the second lowest rate in the state.

·        Councilman Licciardi mentioned the admin fees and if we they could lowered in any way.

·        Mr. Knott said it’s a standard practice to use amount of percentage that is being used. The town is comfortable with the revenue, and it’s hard to put an actual percentage on it.

 

 

E.     Public Comment.

 

·        Resident Tom Oaks from 6 Colonial Way, asked where the money went from the “rainy day fund”, and why haven’t we done preventive maintenance.

 

·        Council President Gosselin clarified that over the years the previous department heads had used most of it to offset the budget in the last 10 years, in order to not raise the taxes. A discussion went on about past council and past budgets.

 

·        Council Vice President Williamson explained the reason we haven’t done the preventive maintenance because we never had the money in the budget because we did not want to raise the taxes.

 

·        Resident John Reed asked if the regional Partners are paying their percentage and if they would pay their share if there was a catastrophic event.

 

·        Council Vice President Williamson said yes they would pay their share. She applauds the West Warwick Treatment Facility staff for working with the Town Manager in finding ways, and knowing that we’re in that one critical Breakaway from being in big trouble. She explains this is why we have gone to our federal delegations to get some money and she is hopefully that we will get some.

 

·        Jeff Caldwell spoke up on behalf of the West Warwick Sewer Department regarding the hours it takes to properly clean the lines.

 

 

F.     Adjourn

 

A motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Messier and seconded by Councilman Licciardi.

All in favor, none opposed and unanimously voted to accept. Adjourned at 7:11 p.m.

 

 

 

To view this meeting go to:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6a5AKkU_XWQPoV26Xmc0qA