Governor Francis Farms residents will get a second opportunity to have their questions answered when the Warwick Sewer Authority conducts a public meeting July 1 at 7 p.m. at the Pilgrim Senior Center. However, they may not like what they hear when it comes to mandatory connections or assessment costs.

“Hopefully they will be able to control some of this [costs],” Farms’ resident Roy Dempsey said Saturday.

Dempsey is one of several residents who mounted a petition when they were informed the assessment rates for the Farms II project, which is now under construction, would be at least $82 a linear foot and maybe more. The Farms I project completed less than two years ago carries an assessments rate of $52 a foot. Also, residents within the Farms II project are being told they must tie into sewers when they are completed.

The petition argues the mandatory connection is inequitable since user fees help pay for debt costs incurred for other projects where residents haven’t been required to connect.

“We have to control costs. This is a large cost to the homeowners,” argues Dempsey.

Yesterday Janine Burke, executive director of the Warwick Sewer Authority, offered some hope that assessment rates could be offset by stimulus funds. She said that the Sandy Lane project estimated to cost $1.5 million is eligible for the principal forgiveness program entitling the authority to about $200,000.

“We’ll take every bit we can,” she said.

Assessment rates are determined by construction costs with usually two or more projects lumped together and divided between property owners. Farms II costs are to be blended with Sandy Lane, meaning any reduction in costs resulting from “shovel-ready” stimulus projects would be passed along to the overall assessment rate at that time.

The decision for a second meeting for Farms II residents was reached after Dempsey met with Mayor Scott Avedisian, Ward 1 Councilman Steven Colantuono, Council President Bruce Place and city and sewer authority officials.

Now the Farms residents are circulating a “homeowners’ alert” informing people there will be another meeting and requesting them to call neighbors to attend. The notice says Farms II homeowners could be paying $8,500 or more for assessments than their neighbors in addition to facing $3,000 for mandatory connections and possible penalties for non-compliance.

Burke said because the authority depends on financing from the Clean Water Finance Authority that has access to low cost federal loans, it couldn’t waive the mandatory connection requirement.

She expects much of the meeting will be devoted to answering specific questions of homeowners. She also questioned the projected cost of connecting to the sewer line, a cost borne by the homeowner. She said costs usually average $1,600. She said there is a program to assist low-income property owners with grants for connections.