Newport’s connection to women’s suffrage
Newport†
Vol. 38, No. 34
WEDNESDAY, August 25, 2010
Going the Distance
What’s Inside
spotted atthe bird ball!
BORN FREE
Contaminated 5th Ward Soil Halts Sewer Work By Tom Shevlin
Table of Contents 02840 CALENDAR CLASSIFIEDS COMMUNITY BRIEFS CROSSWORD DINING OUT EDITORIAL LETTERS MAINSHEET NATURE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES REALTY TRANSACTIONS RECENT DEATHS
10 16 22 4 22 13 6 6 11 21 22 6 19
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Rambler, the 90-foot custom maxi maneuvers off the line during the sixth annual Ida Lewis Distance Race on Friday. (Photo by Tom Shevlin)
Valet Parking...Parked By Tom Shevlin NEWPORT, R.I. – When city councilors unanimously approved an ordinance allowing valet parking in some of the city’s busiest downtown corridors, it seemed like the days of circling the block in search of parking were numbered. But four months later, it appears that handing your keys off to a valet while you and your date run in for dinner or a movie, will likely have to wait until next summer. With only minimal interest expressed on behalf of the private sector, and an shift in the city’s administrative staffing, valet parking has been effectively parked for the season. According to City Manager Edward F. Lavallee,” We haven’t gotten a chance to write the regulations governing the process.” “There’s nothing inhibiting it… We’re just trying to protect the people that would be running it,” he added. Specifically, regulations such as limiting where valet companies can operate; setting a rate to occupy metered parking spaces for drop off areas; and coordinating the process through a central office are just some of the details that still need to be worked out. Consider it a case of administrative overload. As the ordinance is written, much of the responsibility for overseeing and implementing the system falls to the director of economic development – a position which as of July 1, no longer exists. As a result, filling in some of the finer points of
the ordinance and promoting it to the private sector has proven to be more challenging than originally thought. “We’ll try to get it done by the end of the season,” said Lavallee, but he added, he doesn’t expect to see much interest on the part of vendors before the start of next summer. Mayor Jeanne Marie Napolitano described the process as “frustrating.” “I would have loved to have done it for this year,” she said. However, as the summer approached, and the budget was adopted, it became clear that getting a valet program off the ground would be more complicated than simply inviting private companies to participate. Last year, the city conducted a test with the Chamber of Commerce to determine if valet parking could be a viable solution to alleviating some of the problems associated with the city’s downtown parking crunch. Stations were set up in Washington Square and on Lower Thames Street, and although dampened a touch by the weather, the project was overall well received. In April, after receiving a positive report from the operator of the pilot project, the City Council unanimously passed an ordinance which effectively threw the doors open to vendors interested in operating a valet system in Newport. However, according to Lavallee, interest was lacking, and there was still work to
See “Valet” on page 2
Craig Guthrie working with sailors in the 2.4 Metre class. (Photo by Jan Harley)
Regatta Tests the Mettle of Disabled Sailors The arrival, on Monday of a summer nor’easter has slightly rearranged the competition schedule at the eighth annual C. Thomas Clagett Jr. Memorial Regatta being held from Sail Newport this week. The clinic that is the hallmark of this event took place Monday morning as planned, however, a north-northeasterly breeze that was gusting to 29 knots kept three of the four competing fleets (2.4 Metre, SKUD-18, Sonar and J/22) from putting the chalk-talk lessons into practice. Only the SKUD-18s headed onthe-water to sail with their coach, Betsy Alison, while the remaining fleets continued working on shore with coaches Craig Guthrie, Amanda Callahan and Meg Gaillard. The NNE breeze continue unabated overnight as the persistent storm stalled over most of New England, and when the competitors returned to the venue in the morning for the first day of racing, they were greeted by an atypical August day – drizzle and a high temperature 15 degrees below average. Racing is scheduled to get underway Wednesday, August 25, and conclude Thursday, August 26. For more information, become a “Facebook Friend” of The C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Regatta at http://www.facebook. com/pages/C-Thomas-Clagett-Jr-Memorial-Regatta/128829627144323 or visit the event website at www.clagettregatta.org/ where full results will be posted as they become available. The recent cold and windy weather also disrupted the schedule for the Little America’s Cup, or International C-Class Catamaran Championships. Originally slated to begin on Sunday, Aug. 22, the event was pushed back due to high winds. For results, and to keep up with the races on the water, visit www.Newport-Now.com.
LOCAL NEWS MATTERS PLEASE SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS
NEWPORT – A $1.75 million project to repair badly aging sewer lines in the city’s Fifth Ward had to be put on hold earlier this year after crews discovered soil contaminated by high levels of arsenic, city officials said this week. The work, which is part of the city’s ongoing effort to curb persistent combined sewer overflows, or CSOs, had begun at the beginning of the year, and was scheduled to cover some 7,000 linear feet of pipe snaking its way through the city’s Fifth Ward. The total cost for the repairs had been set at $1.75 million and was part of the Phase 1 Part 2 CSO Control Plan, which is designed to help alleviate CSO events suspected to be caused in part by faulty or failing infrastructure. The pipe segments in question were mostly constructed of vitrified clay pipe, and were noted in earlier inspections to have defects including sags, misaligned pipes, and cracks. The repairs were intended to fix these problems and are expected to eliminate a portion of the inflow of groundwater into the system, which puts a strain on the city’s treatment plant and contributes to CSO events during heavy rain events. According to City Manager Edward F. Lavallee, the contractor, JAM Construction, found the soil back in February while working on Connection Street. The soil was removed and transported off-site where it the presence of high levels of arsenic was confirmed. Although a naturally occurring element, high levels of arsenic have been identified as a carcinogen and linked to various forms of cancer. The levels recorded during the soil test are said to be just above the government’s acceptable threshold, and nearby residents were not notified of the discovery. Still, the city has been working with JAM to remediate the situation. “Once it’s discovered and tested, it needs to be cleaned up,” Lavallee said. While the discovery does mean a delay in the overall CSO Control Plan, Lavallee said he didn’t expect it to cause any delay in another project in the CSO Control Plan: the Thames Street and Wellington Avenue sewer interceptor rehabilitation project set to begin shortly after Labor Day. “The two big interceptor line projects will move ahead on schedule,” said Lavallee. (See our accompanying story on the Wellington Avenue project on page 2). The sewer main work, however, was put on hold.
See “Contamination” on page 2