Bill Passed To Protect Coventry Sewer Ratepayers

State Senator Leonidas P. Raptakis’ (D-Dist. 33, Coventry, East Greenwich, West Greenwich) legislation (2018-S 2010) that protects sewer ratepayers in Coventry from exorbitant interest costs for the town’s controversial sewer project was passed by the Rhode Island Senate last night. The bill passed 37-0 in the Senate.

The act would prohibit the town of Coventry from charging its sewage works’ users more than the interest the town has actually paid for its borrowed funds for sewage works’ purposes.

“Sadly, this bill was necessary in order to protect the sewer ratepayers of Coventry from the unjustifiable actions of the Coventry Sewer Authority. This project should not be a money-making scheme for the town. We must make sure this is fair to homeowners and that no undue burden is being placed on those who are affected by the sewer expansion project. It’s inexcusable that the homeowner be charged twice the percentage the town is being charged as a rate for the sewer construction project loan or bond,” said Senator Raptakis (D-Dist. 33, Coventry, East Greenwich, West Greenwich).

This is the second bill passed by the Senate that Senator Raptakis has sponsored that protects the residents of Coventry and addresses the controversial sewer program in Coventry. The previous legislation (2018-S 2020Aaa) passed by the Senate addresses the issue of sewers at the point of sale of a home, rather than force a mandate on vulnerable residents who may be forced to leave their homes due to a new and sudden financial burden that they cannot shoulder. It was passed by the Senate with a 34-0 vote. This bill is currently before the House Committee on Municipal Government.

Senator Raptakis has been a champion for Coventry residents who live in sections of Coventry where the sewers have been expanded. Those residents now have to pay for tie-in fees, use fees, and assessment fees, regardless of whether they possess a fully compliant septic system.

In January, Coventry’s bi-partisan delegation at the State House asked that the state’s Auditor General, Dennis Hoyle, to investigate the town’s sewer program and the high costs being levied on taxpayers. Auditor General Hoyle accepted the request and his office has begun the process of a full audit on the program.

Senator Raptakis is hopeful the last piece of legislation (2018-S 2085) he sponsored that would amend Coventry's sewer system enabling legislation to allow appropriations from town tax fund for wastewater system sewers/projects only after voter approval is also passed by the Senate this legislative session. Currently the bill is before the Senate Committee on Housing and Municipal Government.

“As a duly elected legislator of the Town of Coventry, I represent the citizens of Coventry regarding their well-being, quality of life, and all other issues of concern, especially in regards to this disastrous sewer project being rammed through by the Coventry Town Council despite the pleas of a very concerned public,” said Senator Raptakis.

Senator Raptakis is also refuting circulating rumors that the General Assembly is responsible for the sewer project debacle.

“When the original enabling legislation was passed in 2006, sewer assessments were $6,600 - a significant difference from the now $22,000 to $30,000 assessments. Also, a Coventry Town Council Resolution was first passed by the 2006 Town Council, and they requested that the legislation be passed by the General Assembly, to which we obliged. Now after the passage of my bill last night, Coventry ratepayers will see a dramatic increase of interest payment savings.”

“To blame the General Assembly for this mess is far from the truth. The General Assembly did not oversee and sign off on the tens of millions of dollars that our past and current town councils have signed off on, not realizing they have put us in approximately $25 million of debt without having $1 of revenues to offset that debt.”

“And, for general funds to be utilized, procedures need to take place, and taxpayers need to be informed. This never occurred. Town assets were collateralized to be able to obtain loans on the sewer project without ever disclosing this information to taxpayers.”

“Finally, any capital improvement to any town building in excess of $100,000 is required to go to a vote of the town residents, but, the taxpayers never voted on these capital improvements. The record must be set straight for the benefit of the ratepayers of Coventry so they know who is truly responsible for this disaster and it is not the General Assembly nor the Coventry delegation at the State House,” concluded Senator Raptakis.

Image Via Shuttershock