What's the Broadrock Settlement About?

Tuesday's announcement by Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena that Broadrock will pay Johnston $3 million to settle a 2011 lawsuit actually brought the town's tally to $8 million from the odor case.

In December, 2011, Polisena filed the lawsuit alleging that Broadrock and Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation were responsible for the noxious odor problem that plagued several local towns through the previous summer.

RIRRC had agreed to pay $3 million on Aug. 1, which Polisena announced would be used to rehab the Johnston High School athletic fields.

As part of that agreement, RIRRC agreed to pay another $2 million if the town and Broadrock would agree on hiring a third-party vendor for the actual gas-extraction work. 

Polisena called the requirement for a new extraction company "the sticking point with me," and the company signed onto the plan.

Broadrock workers would remain to manage the gas-conversion plants, according to CEO Doug Wilson.

The $3 million is to be paid over 20 years [$10,000 per year for the first 10 years and $20,000 for 10 years after that], and is an increase in the existing host community agreement between the company and the town.

Polisena said the new $5 million would fund a capital improvement account for town buildings.

See more from Tuesday's press conference in the video above.