Resident urges action as Smithfield Road flooding damages yard; council votes to send intermunicipal letter

Julie Persicchino, a North Providence resident who said she lives on Smithfield Road by the lake, told the Town Council that heavy rains have pushed lake levels into her backyard and destroyed landscaping.

"The lake has gotten so extremely high that it's come way up the backyard and has entirely ruined half of my yard," Persicchino said. She asked whether a rain catch basin on Lake Drive is functioning and said stormwater sometimes pours down Smithfield Road even on dry days.

Bernie Salvatore, the town's public works director, told the council the BMP (best-management-practice) ponds in the area — including the pond at Waterview and the Twin Rivers system — are discharging as designed but said recent storms exceeded system design capacity. Salvatore said he visited Persicchino's property, monitored stakes placed to measure water levels and agreed to repair berms at the bottom of the drive as a retrofit.

Council members discussed whether some runoff originates in the neighboring town of Smithfield. Councilman Martone moved and Councilman La Porte seconded a motion to draft and send a letter to Smithfield officials and the Smithfield Department of Public Works asking them to review potential upstream runoff contributors and coordinate mitigation. The motion passed on a voice vote.

Why it matters: Council actions to request intermunicipal cooperation can lead to shared solutions for stormwater that crosses municipal boundaries, and residents said the problem has harmed property and quality of life.

What happens next: The council directed staff to draft the letter for distribution to the town clerk, town manager and legal department and to follow up with Smithfield officials.