Councilman Bill Foley did not attend.
Previously, the DPW was authorized so spend $8 million on road improvements with vendors J.R. Vinagro Corp., Inc. and T. Miozzi, LLC for the road work, according to a memo sent to the city’s purchasing department by DPW Director Eric Earls. New funding, about 1.7 million, is now available: $ 1 million from RIDOT’s Road Restore program, as well $700,000 from RI Energy Fund reimbursements, Earls wrote.
As a result, approval of the spending increase will extend the contract, orginally set to expire April 24, 2025, to instead expire April 26, 2025.
Responding to Councilman Bill Muto’s question about how much road work the extra funding buys, DPW Business Manager Christy Moretti said it depends on if the road in question is a milling and resurface, or a more involved reconstruction. Also, she said, the width of the road is a variable that could affect the miles repaved. However, she said, it could be 4 – 5 additional miles.
“I think we’re in the wrong business,” Muto quipped.
Coucilman Ed Ladouceur asked if the DPW had a list of the roads to be added by this round of repaving. Moretti said that’s still in progress, but that should be possible soon. She warned the list would be subject to change.
Earls said they can predict work on roads RI Energy is working on, since it includes roads the utility and its predecessor, National Grid, have cut into for utility work already, which the department uses to coordinate its paving work. He said the city paved about 4.3 miles of roads this past season.
The purchasing bid package also included $985,870 for the DPW’s gas and diesel fuel, $405,000 for the Warwick Police Department’ gas and diesel fuel, and $250,000 for Warwick Fire Department gas and diesel fuel.
Ladouceur asked the city’s department heads to keep an eye on non-essential, non-emergency use of city vehicles and equipment using gas and diesel fuel.
“What I’m going to request from all departments is that, in an effort to cut down the consumption of fuel that we use, right now, just these three items right here, we’re looking at a million and three-quarter dollars in fuel between gas and diesel. “I’m going to ask the three departments that are here this evening to review with your staff about unnecessary use of company vehicles.”
Ladoucuer said some vehicles, such as fire engines, only get a handful of miles to the gallon, and that driving them adds up to significant costs.
The increased paving spending and departments’ respective fuel budgets were approved as part of the bid package during the regular council meeting unanimously, with the DPW fuel approved as a separate item removed from the bid package to correct a typo.
High School Bond Premium Resolution held till March 10
The Council will consider Council President Anthony Sinapi’s resolution to amend the rules on the premium for the $350 million new high schools bond during its March 10 meeting. During Monday’s meeting, Sinapi announced the resolution was being held till the next meeting, without prejudice.
Sinapi’s resolution, PCR-25-25 on the night’s agenda, was described in writing as, “A Resolution requesting the Rhode Island General Assembly to amend Chapters 50 and 53 of the Local Acts and Resolves of 2022 regarding the issuance of indebtedness for two new high schools and school facilities to expand the permitted use of bond premium.”
Sinapi did not immediately respond to a request to elaborate on the resolution.
During the last meeting Feb. 10, the Council voted 7-2 to reject Councilman Ed Ladouceur’s resolution that would have asked the General Assembly to hold a high schools bond special election to “revoke authority for further issuances of indebtedness pursuant to the $350 Million authorization.”
During the regular portion of the meeting, the Council confirmed two appointments to the Warwick Land Trust.
First, Arlene Nappa’s appointment was approved with 6 votes, with Councilman Brian Nappa recusing himself. Next, AJay Pande’s appointment was approved with 7 votes.
Author: Rob Borkowski
Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at editor@warwickpost.com with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.
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