Councilman John DelGiudice (Ward-5) and Steven Colantuono (Ward-1) say they’re working together to find solutions to the respective problems with sewer installations and hookups in their respective wards.

“We’re trying to take a multi-faceted approach to see how we can do this equitably in the city compared to some of what’s been done in the past,” said Colantuono.

Scores of Colantuono’s constituents in the Governor Francis Farms Phase II project are irked by the fact that they can expect assessment rates of upwards of $82 per linear foot. The rate will be determined once the project is completed and people begin to connect. Residents in Governor Francis Farms Phase I paid $52 per linear foot.

DelGiudice, meanwhile, is concerned with both the difficulty and cost of the Bayside sewer installation project in his ward. DelGiudice said sewers in Bayside have long been a concern of both he, and his predecessor Carlo Pisaturo.

DelGiudice said he estimates the sewers in Bayside could cost upwards of $15 million, and not begin until at least five years from now. Given those stark realities, DelGiudice is suggesting the area might be better served with alternatives – such as septic systems. But even the average septic system costs about $10,000 with some costing more than double that amount.

“In many areas, sewers are just not practical. They’ve already determined that in certain sections of Warwick Neck that sewers are not practical,” said DelGiudice.

DelGiudice points out that there have been discoveries of artifacts in that section of the city. Apparently, a battle between Native American tribes took place in pre-colonial days, and the remains are buried in Bayside and Riverview.

Despite the fact that gas and water lines are already in the ground, the federal Historic Preservation Act prohibits funding being used if it would disturb a historical site.

With that in mind, DelGiudice is wondering whether or not sewers are logical.

WSA Executive Director Janine Burke maintains sewers are the optimal way to go but commends DelGiudice for thinking out of the box.

“If you ask a surgeon what to do, he’s going to say operate. If you ask me what to do, I’m going to say sewers,” said Janine.

“But DelGiudice is right to say let’s take a step back and take another look at everything.”

Given the astronomical costs associated with the projects, both councilmen have turned to the federal government for help.

At a meeting a week ago in the Warwick Sewer Authority’s offices, the two councilmen met with representatives from Congressman James Langevin’s (D-02) office, as well as from Senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse’s (D-RI) offices. Burke and some of her top lieutenants from the agency also attended the meeting.

Colantuono said he hoped his area could secure funding from the stimulus package passed earlier this year, and DelGiudice is looking for aid down the road.

“For my problem, we need to do something more immediate,” said Colantuono.

But Burke said she thought the prospect of securing and additional funding for the Governor Francis Farms II project was slim.

“There’s not more stimulus money for Rhode Island,” said Burke.

“I’m just being realistic.”

The two councilmen say they’re in the beginning stages of finding solutions.

“We’re just at the ground level here. There’s a lot of work to be done,” said DelGiudice.

“Our goal is clean water.”

Colantuono agrees, but likes the bi-partisan cooperation. Colantuono is a Republican. DelGiudice is a Democrat.

“The more heads we put together here the better off we’ll be,” said Colantuono.

Is a Mandatory Connection Fine a Pipe Dream?

Much to the delight of Warwick residents throughout the city, DelGiudice reiterated his position against a fine on citizens who fail to comply with the mandatory connection fee.

“I am against a straight out mandatory tie in fine. If you have a failing system then sure, but I’m not in favor of a fine for all residents who fail to connect,” said DelGiudice.

In 2007, the city council, DelGiudice included, unanimously voted against the fine, which is supported by the Mayor and the WSA, but city residents are worried the council, with a new leadership makeup, could reverse its position.

City Council President Bruce Place (Ward-2) docketed an ordinance earlier this year that would have permitted the agency to fine residents. He withdrew the ordinance a few months ago.

Place said yesterday that he was never really in favor of the measure, but was willing to hear a debate on the issue before the council.

“I said we would be ready to hear it, but that doesn’t mean we’d be in favor of it,” said Place.

“I’m having trouble with the word mandatory.”

Colantuono said he’s in favor of a mandatory connection fee, but as long as it’s for the whole city, not just a portion of the residents in his ward. The idea behind a mandatory connection fee is that it would lower costs for all sewer users by increasing the economy of scale.

“The policy should be spread out across the city,” said Colantuono.”

“Not just for us because we’ve received state funding.”

Detractors say it’s illogical to force someone with a working sewer system to connect when their system isn’t harming the environment.

Roy Dempsey, who is leading the charge in opposition to the proposed cost of the sewer project in Governor Francis II, said he’s happy to hear DelGiudice is opposed to mandatory connections.

“We’re in a bind here in Warwick because we obtained a grant under the pretenses that we have mandatory connections when we don’t,” said Dempsey.

Dempsey wonders whether DelGiudice’s positions emanate from a fear that he could face an uprising like the one in Ward-1.

“DelGiudice is seeing the obstacles, politically speaking, that he’ll be facing. Maybe the safe thing to do is say ‘let’s stick with the septic system,” said Dempsey.