Great job John, What would we do without you? However, of all the insolence, of all the days, on my birthday! However, fear not, I am here a lot. Shall we take on the epicureans of the sewage domain? Will it make a difference to the Town Council's vote whenever (I can only hope) it may come to a decision time? While I abhor dictatorial practices, and while I agree "we are not here to solve the world's problems" (per Mr. Canario), it may be necessary to issue executive orders to not only sustain Narragansett marine life, but come into compliance with the Clean Water Act of long ago.

Ya'll, what you say? Are we able to get up and face the odds, face the challenges of a changing planet? Business as usual is "Not an Option"!

We are at a crisis stage, again, believe it or not. The conservatives want to save the planet with plastics and protect food supplies with insecticides, while progressives want to save the planet by using alternative energy sources and promote organic agriculture. Therefore, the question is who has the bigger treasure chest (literally), unfortunately, those able to step over bodies (virtually) call in the chits resting in the Halls of Congress, and the game is over.

It follows, in my humble opinion, that it comes down to the ability to use organizational enmities to leverage the attitude of the Members of Congress. Blue Dogs, vacillatingly few Republican Senators, ideologically dispositioned Democrats and Independents vie for the aura of relevancy in a pathetic game of one ups-man ship. Sad but true, democracy was not invented to be efficient and is seemingly at the razors edge of sustaining its charter.
Enough of digressing already, but if WE, our collective we, do not start to break the mold of unmitigated consumption, excoriate development, unencumbered economic growth, postulating exuberant job creation, we will fail in just a short order. Without China, an "oh-my-gosh" authentic communist nation continuing to lend us money for wars and governmental operations is much more threatening to our democracy and "freedom" than our dependence on foreign oil. We do not gain freedom by nation building in Afghanistan, but then who is sacrificing but a few of our sons and daughters.

So what has all this to do with our absentee sewage system? A great deal. It has to do with our attitudes and "I resent change" mentality. Understandable in rough economic times and an uncertain future in job creation, tax rate growth, development intrusion, environmental threats from rising sea levels, and all valid points in the absence of governmental leadership to alleviate the financial load of ordinary citizens trying to make it to another day.

Exaggeration? Please call on me, and perhaps we can address some of the governmental traditions and lack of foresight, planning and ability to change with the transformation rapidly consuming strategic thinkers’ time as to solutions and alternatives in a threatening planetary setting.
Cheers,
Wernerlll

John - I could not agree with you more that what ever the issue, anonymous screeds posted on public property and not conducive to effective civic discourse. But, speaking of sewers:

Try to imagine that you not only don’t live in Portsmouth, but that you never even heard of Portsmouth. You are tasked with examining as much information as you can about the wastewater issues effecting the residents of the community. Make believe that you have absolutely no personal interest in the outcome. What conclusion might such an impartial investigation make?

First of all we would see that there are a relatively small number of residents who currently have cesspools who are certain to have significant costs imposed upon them as a result of the state legislature’s “Get Rid Of Cesspools” law.

There’s also are a fair number of residents in (1) Island Park, and (2) Portsmouth Park whose drain fields likely need major work either now or within near future. Some would add Common Fence Point to this list, but for the purposes of this exercise, it doesn’t matter.

Here’s another observation: NO ONE on the council and NO RESIDENT of the community has publicly spoken up at any meeting (or even a letter to the editor) strongly supporting of any kind or amount of sewers. Not even one of the people who might allegedly benefit by it – people whose postage-stamp properly prohibits them from doing anything to repair or replace a failing system unless its by spending tens of thousands of dollars on some kind of expensive high-tech system.

Lastly, look at what the “Authorities” have had to say: The D.E.M., and the consultant firm of Woodward & Curren (or “W.C.” which conveniently, also stands for “water closet”). They say: “You gotta build some sewers or else.” The “or else” has never been clearly defined, but DEM does make vague references to the fact that in a worst-case scenario, they could end up forcing some people out of their homes, something they are “trying to avoid.”

My conclusion: Tell DEM to take a hike. It is eminently clear that a bond issue for sewers – even if such a thing ever got past the council (which is unlikely) the residents of the town would not support it. First of all, even those who don’t give a fig about the people in Island Park, understand that it isn’t just people connecting to a sewer would have to pay:
everyone in the entire town would have to pay for repairing all the roads and incidental utility infrastructure that would be torn up in the process of putting in sewers.

If DEM really wants to compel the town or any resident thereof to do something, I say: “Bring it on.” Legally speaking it is entirely unclear exactly what the DEM can and cannot compel to happen here. If it turns out some day that a judge rules that the residents of Portsmouth must spend money on something for the alleged benefit of some people living in Island Park, well then at that point I would be very interested to at least know if any of those most effected supported the Judge’s ruling. At this point, it seems doubtful that many or any would do so. If many did rise to support the judge’s ruling: I would be willing to reconsider my views on this matter. However, for me, now, any of the Woodward & Curren proposals is DOA.

John, I just wanted to say that as one of the residents of PP with a cesspool and within 200 ft of high tide I do support the sewer proposal and I have made that statement at past WW hearings and at some previous TC meetings. I don’t want to give up what small yard space we have to an onsite system that I will have to maintain forever and that will not solve the long term problems. I do also note that just about all the flat earth nay-sayers seem to not live in the affected areas but do seem to have a desire to speak for those that live in PP and IP.
I'm also wonder if any of the just-say-no folks have thought thru the possible long term consequences of a WW Management District only solution? DEM presently can only take enforcement action against individual violators of current laws as there is no Portsmouth entity responsible for WW issues. Once the town creates a WWMD the DEM will have the ability to seek enforcement against the town as a whole. I know that our TC will be the ultimate decision maker in this issue and I while I hope they will see the necessity for the proposed solutions, in the end we should all be careful what we wish for.

ggump