Council Approves Contract for 'Black, Sticky, Oily Substance' Testing

At the Oct. 15 meeting of the Coventry Town Council, dozens of residents from the North Wood Estates and Westwood Estates neighborhoods of Coventry gathered to learn the Council's decision regarding a contract for testing of the black, sticky, oily residue that has been appearing on the their properties. 

Town Manager Thomas Hoover explained that the Town was legally required to consider bid proposal submissions before entering into a contract. Proposals from three Rhode Island-based environmental engineering firms were received by Hoover, including SAGE Environmental of Providence (the firm recommended by area residents), PARE Corporation of Lincoln and Alliance Environmental Group, Inc. of Warwick.

SAGE Environmental's proposal included labor, equipment, mileage and expenses as well as laboratory and meteorology services for a total of $7,645. PARE Corporation submitted a cost of $9,500 for field data collection, data analysis and report preparation, dust monitoring equipment and analytical laboratory fees. Alliance Environmental Group Inc.'s bid was by far the most complex of the three, suggesting the testing of samples by Electron Microscopy. The company's testing which would include information gathering, sample collection and analysis, data evaluation, communication of results and final reports, would cost the Town of Coventry $21,900.

After reviewing the three bids for the scope of services provided and final cost, Town Manager Hoover recommended that the Council approve a contract with PARE Corporation for $9,500 that would begin within 60 days of the contract being signed and take approximately three weeks for the testing to be completed.

During public comment, Tammy Duxbury, a representative for Coventry Concerned Residents, the community group that brought the issue to the Town's attention, explained that the group disagreed with Hoover's recommendation and wanted the contract to be awarded to SAGE Environmental for several reasons including the group's desire to hire an independent company that does not provide the majority of its services to the state or utilize laboratories frequently contracted by state agencies. 

She pointed out that PARE Corporation works frequently with the RI Department of Transportation, RI Resource Recovery Corporation and RI Division of Planning and also uses ESS Laboratory, a Cranston-based company "extensively used by Rhode Island DEM". Apart from its high cost, it was also noted that Alliance Environmental Group has worked with the Town of Coventry in the past on the closure of its old landfill, making the firm less attractive to the Coventry Concerned Residents group. 

"I'd like to express the importance of independence to our residents," said Duxbury. "They have expressed their lack of trust with town and state agencies and we have not had the response from these agencies that we want."

Council Vice President Kerry McGee stated that he was offended by and resentful of the "insinuation that the Town does not want to find out what the problem is", to which Duxbury said the residents "have been offended by the lack of response over the last 18 months." 

"We do not feel that we have been paid attention to for the last 18 months," she continued. "I apologize if you're offended, but I'm only telling you what our residents feel towards our town government and most importantly toward DEM." 

Duxbury went on to express concern for testing completion times, considering the two asphalt plants in close proximity to the neighborhoods in question (T. Miozzi Inc. and Pasteryak Asphalt LLC) will be wrapping up operations for the winter on Dec. 15., a fact that may change testing conditions in the area. She pointed out that SAGE Environmental's bid includes immediate commencement and a testing period of four to six weeks along with a lower cost.

"I think you can get the same quality service with SAGE as PARE for less money and our residents need to feel comfortable with the company that is chosen," she said. "I would like to ask that the Council reconsider SAGE Environmental."

Taking the discussion into consideration, Council President Gary Cote moved to award the contract to Sage Environmental over Town Manager Hoover's recommendation at a cost of $7,645 for the initial phase of testing. (Pending results, follow-up testing may be considered in the spring at an additional cost.) 

"We're going to go with the firm that you recommended," said Cote. "We want you to know that you're being represented by a council that can be trusted."

Check back with Coventry Patch in the coming weeks for testing updates as they become available.