Press

As Trenching Moves Down Wellington, Council Approves Lower Thames Sewer Work

by Tom Shevlin - Newport-Now.com

NEWPORT, R.I. – Construction to replace one of the city's primary sewer lines is underway, beginning what engineers describe as a hopscotch down Wellington Avenue in the first half of a major downtown infrastructure project expected to last into next spring.

The work has been years in the making, and according to engineers on site at the Wellington Avenue site, is moving ahead smoothly. For motorists navigating the construction zone last Friday, minimal disruption was observed, and according to Director of Utilities Julia Forgue, the worst is soon to be over.

Designed to help alleviate stormwater discharges into Narragansett Bay, the work is being carried out as part of far-reaching improvements to the city's aging water and sewer infrastructure.

Deep trenching at Wellington Avenue, just south of Thames Street, has re-routed traffic, but so far has caused minimal delays, according to city officials. Several nearby residents when asked of the impact on their day-to-day travels, said that they've adjusted their routes to and from home, and more than one said that they were thrilled that the work is finally being done.

According to Russell Boyle, one of principals of Boyle and Boyle Construction, Newport is actually ahead of the curve when it comes to tackling its infrastructure problems. "They've been very proactive about it," he said on Friday.

Pushed along by a consent agreement with the state Department of Environmental Management and the EPA, Newport has indeed a sizable to-do list of water and sewer projects lined up over the next few years.

In fact, the next major project ties directly into the work currently being done at Wellington Avenue.

City Council members on Wednesday approved a $4.4 million contract to Spiniello Companies to begin slip-lining the existing brick and mortar sewer line that runs underneath Lower Thames Street.

During the construction process, Forgue said, the treatment plant would maintain its capacity levels, and residents wouldn't notice any change in their service. Businesses, on the other hand, could be affected by the months-long construction on Lower Thames Street.

To help mitigate the possible disruption, the city has chartered a CSO stakeholder working group to help keep the public informed of the process and the project. To date, more than a dozen groups were contacted to participate in the stakeholder group, and 10 have signed on. Additionally, the City Council last week approved a resolution asking the administration to provide weekly updates to business owners along the street.

Work along Wellington Avenue is expected to move southward toward Harrison Avenue over the course of the next several weeks, with trenching expected to become less intensive as the pipe inches closer to the roadway surface.

Work along Lower Thames Street, meanwhile, is expected to begin within the coming weeks, with The actual slip lining process begining in January 20II, proceeding north to south along Thames St. Major construction projected to wrap up sometime before the end of May – or before the 2011 tourist season.

Read the story on newport-now.com

Spencer, King Park Preserved

by Tom Shevlin - Newport-Now.com

NEWPORT, R.I. — The city officially reached an agreement with the Aquidneck Land Trust on Wednesday to preserve Spencer and King Park as open space.

The agreement, signed by ALT Executive Director Ted Clement and Newport Mayor Jeanne-Marie Napolitano, was incorporated into Wednesday's City Council meeting.

Third Ward Councilor Kathryn E. Leonard read a resolution expressing the city's support for the project – and future open space preservation projects – into the record.

Read the story on newport-now.com

City Awards Lower Thames Sewer Project Bid

The costs of the Thames Street and Wellington Avenue sewer project will total $4.4 million.

by Cara Kenefick newport.patch.com

The Newport City Council announced on Wednesday that Spiniello Companies has been awarded the bid for the Thames Street Sanitary Sewer Interceptor Rehabilitation project. Their bid for the project was $4.3 million.

An additional $100,000 allowance for police details will be provided by the town, bringing the entire project to approximately $4.4 million. Funding for the project, which spans Thames Street from Touro Street to Morton Avenue, will be provided by Clean Water State Revolving Loan Funds.

In comparison to other bids, Spiniello's was about 25 percent lower than the 2nd lowest bid and almost half of the highest, according to a report submitted by CH2M Hill, the engineering firm overseeing the project. Spiniello Companies is based out of Livingston, NJ.

As an incentive for the project to be completed before the peak season, a $50,000 alternate will be awarded to Spiniello if they finish by April 1. The alternate is built into the contract which was approved Wednesday night. By approving the alternate, the May 1 deadline is no longer in effect.

"The date was moved so the work could be done to accommodate for the peak season," said Utilities Director Julia Forgue. "We added an alternate because businesses were interested in them finishing before May 1st."

Forgue said there would be more crews working on different sites. The $50,000 alternate covers the extra expenses Spiniello would have to pay to accommodate the earlier completion date.

If Spiniello does not complete the project by the April 1 date they will have to pay liquidated damages of $5,000 a day until they are finished.

Councilor Kathryn Leonard asked Forgue if there would be a liaison between the project manager and a representative for the businesses of Thames Street to provide updates on progress as previously discussed at the last council meeting. Forgue said that was not built in the contract.

The improvements to the Thames Street and Wellington Avenue sewers are a part of a long term control plan for Combined Sewer Overflows.

Councilor Justin McLaughlin said he was optimistic that the Thames Street and Wellington Avenue sewer projects have come in under their projected budgets.

"It's a win-win situation," he said. "We're coming in under budget and bringing in work. It's a good thing."

Read the story on newport.patch.com

Newport Daily News Candidate Questionnaire

Q. What is the most important issue facing the city today, and what would you do over the next two years to address it?

A. Infrastructure Needs/Mandates. This is also tied into a balanced budget. The present Council has been working to address this issue on many fronts. We have applied for federal and state grants and have received many. There have been mandates/lawsuits directed at us to address the water and sewer issues. We have working on sewer upgrades, new water mains, road improvements, etc.

Q. Keep beaches open...Are you satisfied with what the city has done so far? What else should the city be doing?

A. I am somewhat satisfied. The seaweed harvester has seldom worked. The new UV System will be expensive to operate.  My conversations with Steve Silva, EPA Director, N.E. make me think we should have looked to many natural alternatives as non-permeable asphalt (beach parking lot and Memorial Blvd), natural filtering plants. I voted against the U.V. for this reason.

Q. Lack of parking...What should the city be doing to address these critical issues?

A. Dig out the Foundation for Newport Plan with its satellite parking recommendations. There will never be enough parking on our limited narrow streets nor with our residential sticker parking program (more stickers given out than spaces available)

Q. Newport is now liable for more than $125 million in promised health care benefits…What would you do to ensure the city gets future costs under control?

A. Control will not happen without State, City, and Unions working together. New State laws, city negotiation/arbitration changes, and local cooperation is a MUST for change. Presently binding arbitration ties the hands of all municipalities. It would be
very positive if required position levels could be lowered through attrition/retirements. This would be fair to those given “the promises” and the municipalities that can no longer pay the costs.

Q. If elected...

A. For one thing, EPA, DEM, etc. have required newer standards or mandates/requirements for clean water, sewage, etc. Most communities, including Newport, cannot afford to make the infrastructure improvements without help. The USA needs to begin helping AT HOME by providing more infrastructure grants HERE, rather than sending billions overseas at this time. Newport does not have an “extra” $100+ million on hand. We are a small community of under 26,000 residents.

ALLIANCE FOR A LIVEABLE NEWPORT QUESTIONNAIRE

Q. Will you commit to assuring: (1) that within the first six months of your term of office a Strategic Plan will be developed for the City of Newport, complete with measurable long and short term goals; (2) that the Plan will be publicized; and (3) that a public report of progress towards the goals will be made at least semi-annually? If no, explain why not.

A. This Council has met on Saturdays to work on measurable goals, both long and short term. The public was invited to the meetings. It is up to the media to publicize the progress once the City Manager has released the information. One of the goals was to improve public participation and to ask the City Manager to work with the media to give updates on Council issues. I am in favor of the public being part of the process with their input included.

Q. Around the U.S., state and local governments are turning to 401(k) plans to help moderate their pension funding problems.  Would you support standing firm for a 401(k) pension plan for all new hires in future city worker union negotiations and for all newly hired city workers not covered by union contracts.  Explain your response.

A. I think that this country is in big trouble with finances. Newport and Rhode Island are part of this scenario. If new-hires are made aware of what the “rules” or “benefits” are, then I see no problem with implementing 401(K) plans. It would make people responsible for their own earnings. This works well for those who are “savers” or good investors.

The downside is that the economy of the last year+ has shown that the market blew apart. Investments have tanked throughout the U.S. –the end result being that people who have saved their money and invested well are now getting much less than they planned for to live on. For example, if investments were paying 5-7% on average as income, and are now paying 1%...the income has dramatically fallen---how will people live? People on fixed incomes are having a difficult time now.

What happens if people have no savings or income at retirement? Who will support them?  Welfare may run rampant. People/Workers need to have stable investments. Maybe teaching good fiscal/financial strategies should be a requirement to the 401(K) programs that should be implemented.

Q. More than $1 million has been spent on Bellevue Avenue repairs, yet these repairs already are rapidly deteriorating.  What should be done about this situation?

A. I have been on top of this issue for months. Communication and emails have been flying among me, the Bellevue Ochre Point Association, and City Administration/Staff. This week a resolution forcing the issue is being discussed on the docket. Steve Waluk and I have added the item to the docket to try and resolve the issue. City taxpayers need to know WHY the road materials have failed. The City should work to re-coop the funds. Bad work, either in contract specifications or workmanship should not be rewarded. Someone should pay. One Million + Dollars should not be wasted. It is shameful. Maybe the engineering element is at fault. The Newport Bridge had the same contractor (Aetna) with the same results, it seems.) I am a person who believes and fights for accountability---in my own purse and that of the taxpayers.

Q. Newport must meet Clean Water Act requirements that impose approximately $100 million in new capital projects for water and sewer improvements.  How do you propose to fund these mandates?

A. That is the big question for all. The City has applied for and received both federal and state funds. This is not even close to what our financial needs are. We need to prioritize how we spend money—this is part of it. I voted against the UV at Memorial Blvd. for a variety of reasons that one can read about on my website.  Anyone interested in knowing more, may contact me at 401.849.4818.

Q. How would you improve relations between Newport's City Council and School Committee?

A. This perception of bad relations has been going on for years. The City can do no more than give the School Committee a budget amount to work with. We have no line item veto. What the taxpayers can afford may not be what the School Committee thinks we can afford. We have State legal mandates on what the tax rate increase can be. Would we all like to give our kids everything? Indeed. Can we afford it? Probably not.  I am a former educator with 27 years experience. I think that good teaching and successful learning are key in helping students to reach their full potential. Then America will gain also---the kids are our future. Communication is how relations improve between the City Council and School Committee. It needs to continue.

Q. What measures would you support to assure the timely sale of released school properties?

A. First of all, the timely release of school properties and their disposal has not happened. Sheffield School was closed. An RFP was put out to bring in buyers. Only one entity was interested. The economy tanked. The building is still empty. We need to WOO businesses to Newport for our future—good jobs for the residents and good jobs to enable local people to return here to afford to come back “home.” We need a professional to put out the RFPs, in my opinion. The Planning and Zoning Department cannot do it. We need to go out and FIND the businesses to come here. I have said this repeatedly. Advertising for vacant land or buildings does not cut it. An example, what do we have  in place for the land on Connell Highway---so far, only a micro-brewery that employs few with great high-paying jobs (nothing against the brewery—the City needed to be more pro-active to bring in the businesses with the help of professionals.

Q. There are a handful of properties in the City that are in serious physical disrepair constituting eyesores, hazards and lowering neighboring property values.  What would you do to mitigate these situations effectively?

A. We have a system in place. The ordinances are addressing this. However, oftentimes, the courts step in and the process is long. Everyone SHOULD take care of his/her property. We should all be stewards of the properties, not only for our own use but to protect the neighborhoods and surrounding residents. I asked the City, via resolution, to look at the abandoned and inadequately maintained properties. The Planning Board came back saying that each property was an individual issue. We have moved forward using this format/plan to improve those buildings in need of repair.

Q. Noise has been an issue for the public for some time.  How would you assure that progress is made in alleviating this livability problem?

A. We have made progress. When I first took office in 1995, there was a much worse problem. Part-time weekend zoning officers were hired to allow the city to check noise disturbances with noise meters, to check for over-crowding (zoning issue); to work with the state on housing issues (i.e. 5 unrelated people per unit); etc. Can we still make improvements? Of course. The big issue is enforcement. Residents need to call the police when noise goes unchecked. The police need to respond. We are working on this—it is an on-going issue.

Q. What are the two most important issues the City Council will face over the next two years?  What specific actions will you propose to address those issues?

A. The two big issues, to me, are infrastructure needs and OPEB liability. The big questions are:

• What are the mandated requirements for infrastructure (clean water/ sewer discharges)
• How do we pay for these needs?
• How do we pay for the continued roadwork improvement beyond the bond issue that was passed and the capital budget?
• How do we insure that students have a clean and viable place to learn? Where does the funding come from? From what I recall, the Thompson Middle School was built promising that the funds from the sale of closed schools would be used to lower the loan liability. We cannot use the same money twice. The public needs to see in black and white what the costs are for keeping the present schools versus constructing a new elementary school. The public will decide.

Q. Do you believe that Newport should partner with other towns in Newport County to reduce costs for police and fire services and the roads?   Yes   No

A. Yes. If we can get consensus and negotiate these services , it would be wonderful and productive. It would give budget savings. A good start would be with shared services, i.e. billing services in each department; purchasing services, building maintenance, etc.

Q. Should this partnership extend to staffing?   Yes  No

A. It cannot be extended to staffing in RI with our present state laws. This needs to be partnering and working together.

Q Do you support regionalization of high schools?   Yes   No

Yes

(b) Of middle schools?   Yes   No
 Yes. Thompson is not utilized to capacity. We should definitely look at this.

(c) Of elementary schools?  Yes    No
I am not sure. I do not think that young children should be on buses for extended periods of time. I personally like the concept of neighborhood schools, but this concept is expensive. I would have preferred that Carey School remain open—what if the School Bond fails? Where is Plan B? We may need Carey School.             
                                                                                                                                                                                 Y
(d) Assuming regionalization, do you support municipal cost sharing based upon student economic levels?   Yes   No

Q. Do you support the Ballot Question to fund the proposed new elementary school?   Yes   No

A .I need more information --- in black and white. 

Q. Do you support the proposal to close the Touro Street Fire Station?   Yes   No

A. The Touro Street Fire Station does not have ambulance/EMT service, never has that I remember. The issue is fire safety in serving the Hill area. Is safety compromised with fire equipment coming up from Marlboro Street if response time is greater?  What is the time difference to get from Marlboro Street to a street in need? The Fire Marshal and City Manager need to present the Council with the FACTS. Emotion should not be a part of the decision.

Donation secures historic lighting for Touro Park

Hamilton Trust provides funding for heritage lighting plan

NEWPORT - A private donation made to the city may light the way for historic preservation in Touro Park.

The Hamilton Improvement Foundation, chartered by Campbell Soup heiress Dorrance “Dodo” Hamilton, has offered just over $47,000 to the city for the improvement and maintenance of historic lighting structures in the historic Touro Park.

Third Ward Councilwoman Kate Leonard negotiated the deal. She noted that the gift, should it be accepted by the city, comes at a critical point for the park.

“About six months ago, one of the lights went out [at the park],” she said. “National Grid didn’t think they could fix it.”

That was unsettling for Ms. Leonard, who along with Councilwoman Jeanne-Marie Napolitano, sponsored a resolution in August to instruct city staff to engage state regulators and the general assembly to formulate a policy to protect Newport’s historic lighting fixtures.

“I think it’s quite generous,” Ms. Napolitano said. “Any time that you have a trust or a citizen in the community that’s willing to donate their time or money [in such a way], they should be commended.”

Under the current practice, should the lights in any historic neighborhood need to be replaced, National Grid is authorized to replace them at their preference and regardless of their historic context.

Such was the case along Broadway earlier this year when new cobra-head light fixtures went up in front of City Hall despite neighborhood pleas for more historical fixtures. With antiquated wiring and slowly deteriorating lamp posts, the fixtures that light the historic park best known for its iconic stone tower have begun to show their age.

The community organization Friends of Touro Park lauded the gift.

“The Friends of Touro Park would like to show their support for the heritage light plan proposed for Touro Park,” wrote Jan Slee, president of Friends of Touro Park. “We would like to thank Councilor Leonard for her efforts to secure the gift from the Hamilton Trust to help underwrite the cost to restore the historic light in Touro Park.”

They also singled out the tireless work of Brian Pelletier, a Newport resident with a penchant for historic lighting preservation and restoration.

Working with other like-minded groups, Ms. Leonard said that she hopes to see a master plan developed for the park in a way that will not only preserve the historic integrity of the area, but enhance the neighboring community.

This would not be the only gift the Hamilton Improvement Trust has made to the city. In recent years, other projects funded by the trust include: The harbor walk at King Park; fencing at Aquidneck Park; new bleechers at the King Park little league field; and the restoration of historic fencing along Farewell Street at the Common Burying Ground.