[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6648857,"mediaKeyId","2622893-231682a19985e4fa54ebbb0c5be0ead9","parentId",2622893,"title","Council approves multiple city contracts: Pilgrim Center repairs, police tablets, animal shelter generator and IT maintenance","audioSeconds",276,"startMs",1979000,"endMs",2255000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2622893-231682a19985e4fa54ebbb0c5be0ead9&start=1979&end=2255","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2622893-231682a19985e4fa54ebbb0c5be0ead9/thumbnail_1979000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6648857/Warwick-City/Kent-County/Rhode-Island/Council-approves-multiple-city-contracts-Pilgrim-Center-repairs-police-tablets-animal-shelter-generator-and-IT-maintenance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6648857-bb022fef36f36ca81ba3178e8bb49db6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195626&Signature=LC6xXBJo28gzfDcyS-~Ek4iJNaRSzSKHakcKg0HCRy6hk6N~3-DuG2a4-O6f5YYVY5sSfKXgm5jjLn9H6XSV4BblODudRFiiVfBxw9MzrVlRPNeKfMM5vbvX~5MTSyRo4idQowwCRpL5TM0SpdovCjcjhqKHbWD3hYrBWi-0tvClZVd1rQrzRHXoizb6kqdtXw2z9Zza5QHWDuUDyhQNjNPaJn1S7sB8BDQx4aABwVtONex3ZyjcpllOYjTD7KrbagpUDjx7GHgCGtr2MPlCRTQxwHkb3IjJH9ymq8ZXTeY9GqZqmKur0JesotI-2NXxR1xxd51lSgdGlDmY47Mu6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Warwick","date","2025-01-13T11:09:40.61Z","article","The Warwick City Council approved a bundle of procurement actions on Dec. 16, including building repairs at the Pilgrim Senior Center, new in-vehicle tablets for police, a generator for the animal shelter and IT backup maintenance.

Pilgrim Senior Center repairs

Public Works Director Eric Earls told the Finance Committee the department recommends awarding Bid2025274 for masonry, gutter and flashing repairs at the Pilgrim Senior Center to Mill City Construction for $112,463. Earls said the repairs respond to a building assessment earlier in 2024 that identified water intrusion as the priority concern. He told council that some window repairs noted previously are not included in this package but could be addressed later.

Police vehicle tablets

Major Andy Sullivan presented a 1-year bid for Getac F110 tablets and vehicle mount hardware; the police department recommended award to Scitech and Island Tech Services and requested authorization up to $70,000, to be funded from the police computers budget (account 30-231).

Animal shelter generator

Public Works recommended awarding a one-time purchase of a 38-kilowatt emergency generator for the Warwick Animal Shelter to Kay Electric for $66,250. The generator is intended to keep temperature controls and life-safety systems operating during power outages.

IT backup maintenance and other items

IT Director Phil Carlucci recommended an award to Visual Edge IT for licensing, support and maintenance of the city’s Barracuda backup appliance and cloud subscription for $57,608.57; he said the city negotiated an approximate 11% reduction from last year. The council also approved furniture procurement for the Pilgrim Senior Center (WB Mason, $24,940) and other items in the bid packet that were not separately debated.

Vote and context

The package of bids above $50,000 was approved by the Finance Committee and carried forward to the council consent calendar. The council approved the consent calendar votes; the single item that had extended debate (Bid2024322 City Hall Plaza site improvements) was handled separately. Committee and council discussion noted timing constraints for construction in winter months and the need to prioritize water intrusion repairs at the senior center.

Contracts and awardees (selected)

- Bid2025274 — Pilgrim Senior Center exterior repairs: Mill City Construction — $112,463 (award recommended)
- Bid2025287 — Getac F110 tablets and vehicle mounting hardware: Scitech and Island Tech Services — authorization requested $70,000 (1-year bid)
- Bid2025276 — 38 kW generator, Warwick Animal Shelter: Kay Electric — $66,250 (one-time purchase)
- Bid2025313 — Barracuda backup maintenance and cloud subscription: Visual Edge IT — $57,608.57 (annual)
- Bid2025289 — Senior Services furniture (Pilgrim Senior Center): WB Mason — $24,940

Administration and department comments indicated schedule sensitivity for temperature-sensitive masonry work, and that where items were not in the current package (for example, some windows at the senior center), the city would consider follow-on procurements.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Warwick City Council Meeting - 12.16.24","oneSentenceSummary","The council approved a package of bids including Pilgrim Senior Center exterior repairs, Getac tablets for police vehicles, a 38kW generator for the animal shelter, Barracuda backup maintenance and furniture for the Pilgrim Senior Center.","taxTitle","Warwick City, Kent County, Rhode Island","taxId",4566,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6648861,"Warwick council approves $200,000 spending authority after discovery of underground tanks, questions raised about $91,493 disposal charge",2749,59000,2808000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2622893-231682a19985e4fa54ebbb0c5be0ead9&start=59&end=2808","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2622893-231682a19985e4fa54ebbb0c5be0ead9/thumbnail_59000.jpg","/articles/6648861/Warwick-City/Kent-County/Rhode-Island/Warwick-council-approves-200000-spending-authority-after-discovery-of-underground-tanks-questions-raised-about-91493-disposal-charge","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6648861-a23f4274371c8a3f0d92d93040ad4b16/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195626&Signature=cY2EX~OhCneDNkktEizDEcc62-nWz5-3gPyGNC9G~SzuILXvke3EgmZwuf1360dVYz8bka0PqK7fCisBwZFKBprGHAc5Cvp-C6Xab5grGzVOIXyAv8vQjbGO4hUsvfzGi7n9WYfvCYQKo4av6DMi33U8oXDcqeasqUL3VDeq0s2cU6os67b-kf68zlk93H3qxOppSquE5QDlDs7lgP-tVsUojxyButkQwMmhljWdTaP3Z8~V8Ncx7xUSswL3QBWa83nJeTnxPYjz6-t5cfTAUNgI8h70F52uPiom7uUCbSTd3VXEbMY~zeq-dPO1Fr8fEv5wWHLIuTJjFvQ8h6oPsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Warwick City Council on Dec. 16 approved an increase in spending authority of up to $200,000 for Bid 2024322, the City Hall Plaza site improvements, after contractors uncovered two previously undocumented underground storage tanks and removed soils from the site.

The additional funds will replenish contingency authority and cover remaining potential change orders associated with the site work, city planning director Tom Kravitz told the Finance Committee and the full council. Kravitz said the change order covered “two underground unforeseen storage tanks and associated contaminated soils that had to be removed from the site, which cost just under a hundred and 44,000,” and the requested $200,000 is intended as a cautious cushion so the administration does not repeatedly return to the council for minor, additional change orders.

Why it matters: council members and members of the public pressed administrators over whether soils were in fact contaminated, and why the city was being invoiced roughly $91,493 for disposal when state closure documents submitted by the contractor indicate laboratory results “were below DEM standards” and that “contaminated soil was not encountered as part of the UST closure work.” The exchange put the administration on the defensive about project oversight, documentation and fund source choices — including the use of ARPA and OPERA/earmarked community planning funds — and the need to meet ARPA commitment deadlines.

Key details and debate

Tom Kravitz and staff told the committee that the tanks were discovered during excavation after bid award; although records indicated the tanks had been removed in the 1980s, the tanks and some soil had to be physically removed to allow proper compaction and site work. Kravitz said multiple rounds of soil testing were performed and that later testing “did not show exceedances,” permitting reuse of some materials on-site. He said the city expects credits from landfill deliveries if less soil is ultimately disposed of off-site.

Councilman Lattice pressed staff on timing and disclosure, reading a timeline into the record that said the tanks were discovered June 18, removal work occurred in August, and that paperwork and pricing changes followed through September. Lattice challenged why the $91,493 line item appears for “disposal of contaminated soils” when a DEM official and the Clean Harbors closure report say no exceedances were found. “If there was no contaminated soil, then why are we being charged ... $91,000 for removing it?” Lattice asked.

Administration and staff responses

Chief of Staff Bill Vicente explained how Resource Recovery handles soils: material can be accepted as landfill cap material or treated as solid waste depending on test results and regulatory acceptance. Vicente said the soils in question were not at concentrations that would require out-of-state disposal, but they were not acceptable as landfill cap, so they were shipped and billed as solid waste. Kravitz and other staff members said trucking slips and disposal invoices should appear in the bid file and can be produced for council review.

Public comment and documentary evidence

Resident Michelle Colmar, who said she reviewed the Clean Harbors closure report and emailed DEM staff, told council that the Clean Harbors closure assessment, submitted electronically on Sept. 20, states the samples were “non-detect” for contaminants and that “no exceedances” were found. Colmar urged the council to require invoice-level backup rather than rely on allowances or “guesstimates.” She said: “The closure report is done. DEM is satisfied.”

Council response and legal/financial concerns

Council members expressed competing priorities: several said they wanted invoice-level documentation before approving additional obligations; others, including members of the Finance Committee, argued the modest replenishment of contingency would avoid triggering Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements (which would add an estimated 25–30% to project costs) or risking ARPA fund commitment deadlines. Councilman Synappe (Sanappi) highlighted that the vendor contract includes remedies if an invoice were fraudulent and favored moving forward while the city investigates.

Vote and next steps

The council moved the PCR (PCR 121-24) to approve the revised spending authority and voted to approve it; one council member recorded a no vote. The administration agreed to circulate the Clean Harbors and DEM correspondence and to provide trucking slips and disposal invoices for the council’s review. Staff said they will follow up with DEM to confirm whether any soils exceeded reportable thresholds and will provide the council with the documents that public speakers requested.

What remains uncertain

The Clean Harbors closure report and DEM correspondence cited to the council by members of the public indicate no reportable contamination, while project invoices include a $91,493 line described as disposal of contaminated soils; staff said the invoice reflects disposal as solid waste because material could not be used as landfill cap, not because concentrations required out-of-state hazardous disposal. Kravitz said credits are possible if less soil was hauled than anticipated and that the $200,000 is intended to replenish depleted owner's allowances.

Votes at a glance

- PCR 121-24 (Bid2024322 — City Hall Plaza site improvements): Approved (motion for favorable action carried; recorded council vote: majority in favor, one no).","City council approved added spending authority for the City Hall Plaza site improvements after contractors uncovered two underground storage tanks and hauled soils off-site; residents and some council members pressed administration over lab results and a $91,493 invoice for soil disposal.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves multiple city contracts: Pilgrim Center repairs, police tablets, animal shelter generator and IT maintenance

Warwick council approves $200,000 spending authority after discovery of underground tanks, questions raised about $91,493 disposal charge