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Woonsocket officials flag 23 permit violations by wastewater operator; executive session set
Summary
The city’s public works director told the City Council that the contractor operating Woonsocket’s wastewater treatment plant has recorded 23 permit violations since December 2023; the city plans closed-door talks with the contractor and its solicitor about next steps.
Public Works Director D'Agostino told the Woonsocket City Council on March 17 that the private contractor operating the city’s wastewater treatment facility has recorded 23 permit violations between December 2023 and January 2025. D'Agostino said the violations are of the permit limits enforced by “DM,” and that the vendor — identified in the meeting as Jacobs Engineering (formerly CH2M Hill) — is not meeting obligations in the contract to operate the plant and meet those permit limits.
"There are 23 permit violations with DM," D'Agostino said. "That doesn't mean the plant is spewing into the river. It doesn't mean that at all. What it means is ... they're not doing that." He added that the city pays about "$2,300,000 or so" to the operator and called the issue "a huge problem." He said legal and operational options will be discussed in a forthcoming executive session.
Mayor Chris Beauchamp and Council members were told that the solicitor and public works director will meet with principal parties and that an executive session is scheduled for the coming Monday to discuss the matter in private. D'Agostino warned the council that the contract and the permit compliance issues could expose the city to "tens of millions of dollars" in future costs if not addressed.
The council asked for briefings and said the solicitor would bring legal perspective; Solicitor Michael J. Lepazarra Jr. was named in the meeting record in connection with upcoming litigation and negotiation. The public works director also said the city planned additional meetings with vendors (including Synagro, which he said had offered to meet with the council) and that the situation will require continued council oversight.
Why it matters: The wastewater treatment plant is a core municipal service with environmental and fiscal consequences. Repeated permit violations can trigger fines, remediation costs and long-term infrastructure or operational changes. The council’s decision to handle the matter in executive session signals the city expects active negotiations or potential legal action against the contractor.
What happens next: The council scheduled an executive session for the following Monday to review the legal and contractual options with the solicitor and staff; the public works director said he would provide documents and updates to the council as the vendor discussions proceed.
