Council endorses creation of Warwick Pond association

Kelcy Dolan
Posted 10/22/15

When Steven Colantuono (Ward 1-R) asked at last Wednesday’s City Council meeting how many were in attendance because of their concern about Warwick Pond nearly 30 people raised their hands. When he …

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Council endorses creation of Warwick Pond association

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When Steven Colantuono (Ward 1-R) asked at last Wednesday’s City Council meeting how many were in attendance because of their concern about Warwick Pond nearly 30 people raised their hands. When he subsequently asked if anyone was there to speak in opposition to two resolutions relating to the pond, not a single hand was raised.

The resolutions to establish a Warwick Pond Association and another requesting a presentation on the quality of Warwick’s waterways from City Planning, the Department of Environmental Management and Department of Health, were introduced by Councilwoman Camille Vella-Wilkinson and Councilman Joseph Solomon, respectively.

Although the resolutions were approved, it wasn’t without some anger from the residents of Warwick Pond, predominantly Philip D’Ercole.

“You can’t just talk about it,” he said Wednesday night. “If you are going to take this seriously and resolve all our water concerns you have to allocate the funds and resources to fix this problem. They won’t just go away, they’ll only get worse.”

Vella-Wilkinson said there is “no fluff” in her resolution but noted it would be “disingenuous” to say the pond association would have no limitations moving forward.

“This resolution is to make sure everyone is at the table,” she said. “The issue of our environment is critical.”

Through the association residents and elected officials would partner together to address that concern, through both individual and legislative methods, not only for the pond’s blue-green algae bloom that resulted in an advisory not to come in contact with the water this summer, but for anything that may arise in the years to come.

Vella-Wilkinson also questioned whether the resolution should be expanded to all waterways in Warwick, not just Warwick Pond.

Solomon agreed that no entity is better suited to tackle the issues facing Warwick’s waterways than a pond association and the more involvement the better.

Although he said he is more about the dollars and cents and not a “tree hugger,” through the public forums held by both D’Ercole and DEM he has learned about the environmental issues facing the city.

He said, “This is all one body of water; they all flow into each other and then eventually to Narragansett Bay. If something is wrong with one it will have a negative effect on all of them. This resolution is designated as Warwick pond, but the importance goes well beyond.”

In an email the next day D’Ercole believed the council is beginning to understand the how essential these natural resources are to Warwick’s way of life, but is still hesitant over whether or not action will really be taken.

D’Ercole wasn’t the only speaker Wednesday enraged at the water quality at Warwick Pond. Nicolas Berg, a North Kingstown resident and a student at Hendricken, said “the water is revolting” and radical solutions are necessary if any change is to be expected.

Berg is doing a science project on the pond’s water quality. For the past couple of weeks he has been studying the water as part of a school project and believes that there are a high amount of pollutants in the pond, all of which spiked after the rainstorm a few weeks ago.

“It’s unacceptable,” he said. “It’s imperative this be solved quickly.”

In his research he found that pollutants are slightly higher closer to the airport and that airport projects could have been what sent things over the edge this year, but said, “If you want someone to blame look in the mirror.”

Vella-Wilkinson had noted earlier as well that the algae in the pond was from a number of causes.

D’Ercole reiterated that Warwick Pond’s neighborhood had been “devastated” by the Rhode Island Airport Corporation’s (RIAC) projects and said, “We can’t let them put another shovel in the ground.”

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  • richardcorrente

    I have read dozens of e-mails and had several conversations with Mr. Philip D'Ercole of the Warwick Pond Association and he needs to be applauded for investing hundreds of hours of his own time on this issue. His statistics are clear and factual and his unselfish goal is solely for the benefit of Warwick Pond. We should all get behind this leader.

    One idea would be to approach the Rhode Island Airport Corporation, who is clearly a major contributor of the pollution (they even had a drainage pipe emptying pollutants directly into the pond). I believe it would be a great public relations gesture if the RIAC donated money and/or resources to provide the clean-up. Considering the bad press they have had since the expansion began this idea seems to me to be a win-win-win (taxpayers, RIAC, Warwick Pond Assoc.) I invite any member of the City Council to take up the cause and set up a meeting with RIAC to present it. It won't cost the taxpayers a dime to try. What could be wrong with that?

    Richard Corrente

    Democrat for Mayor - 2016

    Friday, October 23, 2015 Report this