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Westerly council hears planning-board warning about bus garage over aquifer; environmental study expected in spring
Summary
At its Dec. 1 meeting, the Westerly Town Council discussed a planning-board memo raising groundwater risks posed by the town’s school-bus garage, especially for electric-bus battery fires; the town manager said PAR Engineering was contracted in October and a report is expected in early spring. Several councilors urged caution about adding more EV buses until the study is complete.
The Westerly Town Council, meeting Dec. 1, held an extended discussion after the planning board flagged the town’s school-bus garage as sitting in a wellhead/aquifer protection area and said electric-bus battery fires could pose new contamination risks.
Planning-board members told the council that, while the bus garage’s use is permitted under the town’s zoning, overlay maps show the site sits inside groundwater-recharge and wellhead-protection boundaries used to guide stormwater and contamination safeguards. The planning board’s memo, sent in September, urged an assessment of whether existing containment, capping and stormwater controls are sufficient for newer vehicle technologies.
Town Manager Sean Lacy told the council the town contracted PAR Engineering in October to study the site’s environmental risks and containment options; the firm’s findings are expected in early spring. Lacy said PAR’s work will outline options ranging from improved capping and stormwater management to relocation if necessary, and that the town will coordinate with the water superintendent, fire chief and state agencies.
The planning-board presentation and subsequent discussion focused heavily on the difference in fire behavior and firefighting for internal-combustion vehicles versus lithium-ion battery fires. Board members and some councilors cited incidents in other jurisdictions in which EV-battery fires required extended water application and specialized handling; they said the large volumes of contaminated runoff and the chemical byproducts from burning batteries can complicate containment in sensitive recharge areas.
Several councilors urged caution about approving further electric-bus purchases until technical guidance is in hand; the meeting record shows multiple members recommending a pause on buying additional EV buses until the PAR report and related agency reviews are complete. The council did not take a formal vote on purchases at the meeting; the item was listed for discussion only.
Michael Ober, a member of the Westerly School Committee who addressed the council during the citizen-comment period, said the committee included repaving, capping and stormwater improvements for the bus yard in its capital planning and that the committee is committed to protecting the town’s water supply. Ober added that the school committee had considered safety and maintenance needs when it piloted electric buses and said, “Electric buses…they’re the future,” while stressing the committee will cooperate with further study and any required mitigation.
Solicitor Connelly advised that the council’s discussion, framed as environmental compliance and zoning review, does not invade school-department sole jurisdiction under Title 16 because it did not involve decisions on school operations; the session remained discussion-only.
Next steps the council and staff outlined include: receiving PAR Engineering’s technical report, seeking input from the fire chief and water superintendent, coordinating with RIDEM/DOH as needed, and bringing any recommended capital or operational changes to the council for action. Several council members asked staff to keep the school committee closely involved in the review process.
The council did not direct immediate relocations or issue new policy at the Dec. 1 session; instead, members emphasized that additional technical analysis is required before the town would consider moving buses or changing capital plans.
