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Woonsocket council approves contract for citywide water‑meter installations
Summary
The Woonsocket City Council unanimously approved a contract with Hydro Utilities to install about 9,600 water meters, funded by a $5 million infrastructure loan with roughly 40% forgivable; homeowners will be responsible for code‑related meter raises.
The Woonsocket City Council on Jan. 21 approved a resolution authorizing the public works director to contract with Hydro Utilities to install new water meters across the city.
The vote, on Resolution 25R15, was 6–0. Councilman Kenoyer made the motion and Councilwoman Harmon seconded it. Council President Gendron announced the ayes carried the measure.
The resolution covers installation of roughly 9,600 meters already purchased by the city. Council members and staff described the contract as the installation phase following a prior purchase contract for the meters themselves. Public Works Director (unnamed in the meeting) told the council the city had already acquired the meters and that the vendor would perform the installations.
Councilman Kenoyer asked for a plain‑language description of what the installers would do at a typical home: “They’re gonna come to my house, go in the basement, remove the old one, put the new one in? Simple as that?” The vendor’s chief executive, Kevin Adolph of Hydro Utilities, replied that installers would generally shut the valve and change the meter and that the company’s insurance would cover accidental damage: “We would make a call to the city to have a shutoff done at the curb. … We would resolve the issue, any flooding issues. We’d obviously try to remedy ourselves immediately.”
Council members and staff clarified several implementation points: the city has borrowed $5 million from an infrastructure bank to cover meter purchase and installation; up to 40 percent of that borrowing is forgivable under the loan terms. After accounting for a debt service reserve and costs of issuance, the administration said roughly $371,300 remained available from the $5 million package.
Council members and the vendor also discussed meters located below grade or in pits. The city and Hydro Utilities said installers will skip installations that do not meet Department of Health code and notify the resident; raising a meter out of a pit or otherwise bringing a meter into compliance would be the homeowner’s responsibility and expense unless the water department instructs otherwise.
The council president said the administration will coordinate public notice and outreach so residents know when installers will be in their neighborhoods. The council approved the resolution without further debate.
Ending: The contract authorizes the public works director to finalize an installation agreement with Hydro Utilities and begin the coordinated installation roll‑out; the council and administration said they will provide upcoming public notices about timing and procedures.
