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Resident presses council over $28,750 WSPUSA survey payment tied to Fort Road right‑of‑way; council defends survey
Summary
During citizens comments Ben Weber criticized a $28,750 payment to WSP USA Geomatics for a survey related to a Fort Road/right‑of‑way matter, calling the cost excessive; council members responded that the survey proved valuable and that the town sought legal clarity in an ongoing matter.
A Westerly resident used the citizens comment period on March 16 to challenge the council’s upcoming payment of $28,750 to WSP USA Geomatics for a survey tied to a long‑running Fort Road/right‑of‑way dispute.
“Resolution authorizing payment to WSP USA Geomatics … $28,750. Yikes,” Ben Weber told the council, questioning whether the town was spending unnecessarily to “find a road that’s irrelevant” and arguing that a 2008 resolution already memorialized the parties’ agreement limiting the interest to a right‑of‑way. He called the sum “a lot of money” and urged the council — the town’s client in litigation — to be mindful of costs.
Council members acknowledged the comment and discussed the item during council response. Council La Petitra said she had pushed to settle the lawsuit but defended the town’s decision to obtain a survey in the face of prior conflicting claims about whether a public road existed and whether property was underwater. She said the cost was small relative to the property value and that the survey provided clarity for the town’s legal position. The consent calendar later showed the payment item listed as a fiscal matter and the council approved items B1–B5, which included the WSP payment.
