Tom Stone, the longtime chairman of the Warwick Sewer Authority (WSA), has chosen to not seek a re-appointment to the agency.

“I have greatly enjoyed my tenure and am proud that I was given the opportunity to serve the citizens of Warwick in this capacity,” Stone said in a press release. “After nearly 15 years with the WSA, I felt, with my term coming to an end, that it was an appropriate time to step down and think about taking on a new challenge.”

When contacted Monday morning, Stone said that he will likely miss being a board member, but is looking forward to taking on other challenges. He said his decision had nothing to do with any external factors but was a result of a desire to move on and to give somebody else a chance to serve.

“I have other opportunities that I want to pursue and I want to pursue them full-time,” said Stone.

“I definitely enjoyed my time on the [WSA]. I think I helped out and I know that I’ve learned a lot.”

Stone will continue to serve until his successor is named and ratified by the City Council.

Mayor Scott Avedisian, a big supporter of Stone, said he would miss his service.

“I am disappointed to see [Stone] leave but certainly understand his decision,” Avedisian said in a statement. “He has served our city and the [WSA] well, and I wish him all the best in the future.”

Stone is credited by the administration with a number of accomplishments, including enacting a formula for levying assessments, whereby actual costs are determined prior to sending out assessment notices. (Previously, assessments were determined for a three-year period and not updated to reflect cost changes that occurred within the three-year period.)

Stone also spearheaded an initiative to construct and lease a billboard on WSA property, generating $836,000 in revenue to fund a sewer system tie-in grant program; worked with the Clean Water Finance Agency to take part in a low-interest loan program to complement the WSA’s tie-in grant program; oversaw projects that resulted in the addition of potential sewer service to 11,309 properties; worked with legal counsel and WSA staff to insure consistent application of WSA’s policies and regulations; and implemented a mandatory connection program.

But Stone has also found himself at odds with the City Council, as well as residents over the issue of the increasing costs of sewer assessment fees, which have risen significantly over the last few years, and the mandatory connection program. Opponents of the program say while its intentions are good, it nevertheless heaps significant costs on people who can least afford to connect to the sewer line.

City councilman Steve Merolla (D-Ward 9), who couldn’t be reached for comment by press time, called on Stone to resign in 2006. And recently, even city council members that are prone to support the mayor’s agenda—like Donna Travis (D-Ward 6)—have signaled that they were uneasy about the prospect of voting to confirm Stone’s potential re-appointment.

City councilman Joseph Solomon (D-Ward 4), who has been critical of the WSA, said he wishes Stone well, and hopes his replacement will take steps to rectify the agency’s financial situation.

“I hope that whomever the mayor selects to replace Mr. Stone will have the tools to deal with the WSA’s dire financial situation that the WSA is dealing with,” said Solomon, who pointed out that as of last year, the authority owed the city about $7 million.

Stone said he believes the WSA is in good shape, thanks to the hiring of executive director Janine Burke last year.

“In the short time she’s been at the Sewer Authority, Janine Burke has done a tremendous job, and I feel that I am leaving the WSA in very capable hands,” Stone said. “She works wonderfully with the staff, is accessible to the public and is extremely knowledgeable about wastewater treatment issues and the industry in general.”