WEST WARWICK TOWN COUNCIL ACTING AS

SEWER COMMISSION

 

MEETING MINUTES

 

 

DATE:  TUESDAY,  OCTOBER 21, 2025    TIME:  6:00 P.M.

 

LOCATION:  TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS

1170 MAIN STREET

WEST WARWICK, RI  02893

 

 

 

A.              Meeting called to order at 6:01 p.m. by Town Council President Gosselin.

 

B.              Prayer led by Councilman Messier.

 

C.              Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilman Licciardi.

 

D.              Roll Call

 

Members present:

Council President Gosselin

Council Vice President Williamson

Councilman Licciardi  

Councilman Dennison

Councilman Messier 

 

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)

 

E.               Quorum on record declared

 

F.               Minutes of previous meeting

SC2025-26

RESOLVED, that the minutes of the September 16, 2025 Sewer Commission Meeting. Town Council acting as the Sewer Commission, is hereby accepted.

 

Resolution SC2025-26  was moved by Council Vice President Williamson and seconded by Councilman Messier.  All in favor, none opposed (5 – 0) voted to accept

 

       

 

G.              Reports

 

G-1:  Superintendent’s Report – September 2025

 

·        Average daily flow was 4.0 mgd with a maximum of 9.8 mgd and a minimum of 1.6 mgd.

 

·        CBOD removal was 99% at 2.3 mg/l. 

 

·        TSS removal was 98% at 3.4 mg/l.

 

·        Total Phosphorus was 0.08 mg/l.

 

·        Sludge to EPIC (Synagro) 510 tons. Total Sludge 510 tons.

 

·        There was two (2) public line block ups on Bettez St. and Andrews Ave.

 

·        There was five (5) private line block up on Wyman St., Clyde St. Bramble Ln, Phenix Ave. and Cedar Dr.

 

·        There was seven (7) odor complaints. One in the Natick area, one on Providence St. and Greenhill St. Four (4) on Fernwood Drive.

 

·        There was one (1) Facility Violations.

 

Mr. Chapdelaine explained the one violation was for a weekly sample they sent out, the ammonia was slightly elevated over the limit. There was no root cause they could come up with for that time. The other (3) three samples they sent out that month was under the limit, so for the month they were under the limit.

 

Councilman Liccardi asked Mr. Chapdelaine if that was the cause of the odor complaints. Mr. Chapdelaine said he does not believe so. He then asked Mr. Hoak to come up and talk about the odor complaints.

 

Mr. Hoak explained they have narrowed down the area for the odor complaints, near the Fish Bowl and the Water Street main line. The odors are in the 42-inch line. They are exploring ways to mitigate the odor.

 

Council Vice President Williamson asked about the complaints across the street. Mr. Hoak said its most likely related. He had put odor loggers all though that entire area. All the odors are coming from below. The odor loggers are peaking at night and go down during the day. Mr. Hoak said now that they found the area it is originating from they can come up with the best and quickest solution to take care of it.

 

Council President Gosselin mentioned peaking at night is likely from showers and more usage at that time of day.

 

Council Vice President Williams asked if that was the area they found pipes not connected. Mr. Hoak said yes. He also put odor loggers in the abanded line and there were no odor issues.

 

Council Vice President Williams asked if the back up in the private lines are unusual. Mr. Chapdelaine said it’s tough to tell, but did say if we have four houses that have block ups in the same area, we will go out to inspection our line and clean it out as a precaution.

 

G-2:   Industrial Pretreatment Program – September 2025

 

Significant Industrial Users:

This month, Pharmaron (498 Washington St.), submitted their monthly self-monitoring reports. All of the results were within the permit limits.

 

The annual inspections were conducted for Bradford Soap Works and Warwick Ice Cream. Bradford Soap has had major changes in the management. The facility is expected to have a stable production volume. The company will be required to submit a revised Wastewater Questionnaire in order to update the permit.

 

Warwick Ice Cream also is expected to have a production volume similar to last year. The facility experienced a disruption in the pretreatment system at the time of the inspection. The probe for the pH system failed. The owner was able to correct the problem and ordered a new probe.

 

Amtrol reported a violation of the parameter for Zinc. A Significant Notice of Violation was issued which required the company to retest in October and November and submit a $500.00 administrative penalty.

 

Private Wastewater Treatment Facilities:

Eagle’s Nest conducted a line cleaning this month. The collection system was generally in good condition. The pump system needs replacement. The force main was not evaluated because the system did not have access points. The engineers (Pare Corporation) are preparing to submit an O&M Manual in December and a design for the pump replacement in early 2026 for installation in the Spring.

 

The new owner of 1600 Division St. (Wasserman PWWTF) has engaged Sage Environmental to develop an O&M Manual for the system.

 

Bald Hill Realty began construction this month.

 

Food Service Inspections

293 PVD, LLC (d/b/a Boomerangs Roadhouse) - 293 Providence St., West Warwick

New England Homemade Donuts, LLC - 265 Providence St. West Warwick

Wise Guys Deli House, LLC - 289 Cowesett Ave., West Warwick

Frybread Catering, LLC (d/b/a Frybread Indigenous Fusion) - 1013 Main St., West Warwick

Fusion Latin and Caribbean Cuisine - 1013 Main St., West Warwick

OLee Restaurante, LLC - 943 Main St., West Warwick closed

Little Lattes - 57 Sandy Bottom Rd., Coventry

Fresco Also, Inc. (d/b/a Fresco) - 115 Cowesett Ave., West Warwick

Luka LLC (d/b/a Café Aristao Luka) - 681 Providence St., West Warwick WEST

 

293 PVD, LLC (d/b/a Boomerangs Roadhouse) was inspected and the grease interceptor was not functional and there were not records of cleaning. A Notice of Violation was issued which required the facility to repair or replace the GRD and submit a $200.00 penalty. This notice is the third similar notice for the facility.

 

New England Homemade Donuts, LLC changed ownership and submitted new application. The grease recovery device was not functional at the time of the inspection. The GRD must be repaired prior to issuing a permit.

 

Frybread Catering, LLC (d/b/a Frybread Indigenous Fusion) failed to file an application and has not completed the required task in the Notice of Violation. The Program attempted to reach the owner. However, at this time, the Program was not able to contact the owner.

 

Wise Guys Deli House, LLC repaired the Grease Recovery Device and returned to compliance.

 

Fusion Latin and Caribbean Cuisine ordered a new Grease Recovery device, but was not able to install the unit before the end of the month.

 

Little Lattes opened without filing a Wastewater Permit Application. The owner was contacted and was provided with the forms.

 

Café Aristao Luka provided applications and a permit was issued.

The other facilities were generally in compliance.

 

 

 

Council President Gosselin asked about the increase in flow at Bradford Soap in regards to the smell.

Mr. Geremia explained why, and that the hydrogen sulfide is escaping. He praised Mr. Hoak and his team for working really hard to find out what is causing the issue.

 

Council Vice President Williamson said she notices the odor more at night. Mr. Geremia explained there are points that it increases and it is usually when the flow is low that you will get more odors.

 

G-3:  September Financial Report

 

·        •Year-to-Date Operating and Debt Expenses for Fiscal Year 2026 through the end of September totaled $3,336,640 which is 32% of the approved budget. This includes $2,038,799 for Operational expenses and $1,297,841 for our September Bond payment.

 

Mr. Corrente mentioned the expense amount will increase significantly next month. They completed the East Natick Rehabilitation Project which the council approved as one of the projects we applied for though RIIB. They are in the process of closing with RIIB, when they do close we will get reimbursed 1.65 million dollars.

 

·        Overtime for the month of September was $11,595 which is 7% of the annual budget. Year-to-Date overtime is $32,602 which is 20% of the approved budget. We also have a Year-to-Date salary savings of $28,933.

·        Sludge Removal costs through the end of September totaled $255,222 which is 22% of the annual budget.

·        Fiscal Year 2026 Sewer Usage and Industrial collections through the end of September totaled $3,275,610 which is 38% of the total billed.

·        Prior year Sewer Usage collections through the end of September totaled $162,449 of which $13,135 is penalty interest.

·        Fiscal Year 2026 Sewer Assessment collections through the end of September totaled $108,283 which is    47% of the total billed.

·        Cash and Investments through the end of September totaled $3,924,558. Interest accrued with Centreville     Bank to be applied at CD Maturity Date in April 2026 is $69,446.

 

H.              Resolutions

 

1.      SC2025-27  Change Order – East Natick Interceptor Rehabilitation Project

 

Resolution SC2025-27 was moved by Council Vice-President Williamson and seconded by Councilman Messier.  All in favor, none opposed (5-0) voted to accept.

 

 

I.                 Public Comment

 

No public comment.

           

J.               Adjourn

 

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

All in favor, none opposed (5 - 0) voted to accept. Adjourned at 6:19 p.m.

 

 

To view this meeting go to:

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