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Burrillville council approves $54,000 match to pursue Chapel Street sewer grant
Summary
The council voted to transfer $54,000 from the town's major capital fund to secure an infrastructure grant intended to fund a sewer connection across the river on Chapel Street, a step town officials say enables future sewer extensions in the area.
The Burrillville Town Council on Feb. 12 approved a $54,000 transfer from the town's major capital fund to serve as a local match for a municipal infrastructure grant for the Chapel Street sewer connection project.
DPW Director Jeff McCormick told the council the grant would fund geotechnical and design work and that the town had identified ledge and other subsurface conditions that increased cost estimates. "If we match $54,000, we can get the grant," McCormick said. Town Manager Michael C. Wood said the project would help extend sewer infrastructure across a river and into an area of town that currently lacks service, calling it "a huge endeavor."
Council discussion emphasized the project's role as an enabling step rather than a full solution. McCormick said past engineering work identified options to serve a commercial corridor that includes a gas station, coffee shop, a hardware store and other businesses; those earlier estimates reached into the low millions. The current request covers a single connection and design work; McCormick said the total construction cost for a larger extension remains years away and will be substantially higher.
Council members noted the request uses grant money already obtained plus the new match to move the project forward. A motion to transfer $54,000 from the major capital fund (fund number 3820) to a new CIP line item for the Chapel Street sewer connection (fund number 1460) passed by voice vote.
The council and staff said the match would not by itself construct a full sewer network but would permit design, permitting and a future crossing of the river that officials said has blocked sewer expansion for decades. Officials also said property owners considering on-site improvements have delayed work pending a sewer connection, and the town expects the project to incrementally reduce barriers to redevelopment.
Next steps discussed included finalizing the design, permitting the river crossing and coordinating additional funding; staff said the town will return to council as the design and funding picture firm up.
