North Providence residents report repeated flooding; council orders DPW and engineer review and refers relief fund to finance committee

Multiple Bicentennial Way and St. John’s Circle residents told the North Providence Town Council on March 1 that repeated basement flooding is worsening and urged immediate action. Testimony described frequent flooding, clogged drains, debris found in pipes, and a sudden increase in runoff that residents said appears to follow construction of a nearby solar field and changes at an old landfill site.

Bob Laurito told the council he has lived on Bicentennial Way for 42 years and has seen his basement flood three times in the past five to six months. Frank Sorrentino and others said Department of Public Works crews found tires, garbage bags and sandbags in storm drains and that some drains “go nowhere.” Tom Scalavino and Howie Riggs recommended a scheduled maintenance program and additional drains on a vacant lot to relieve pressure.

One speaker raised a specific concern that runoff from a newly developed solar field and altered land near the town landfill has dramatically increased downhill flows: "The increase in runoff that has been produced because of that development is absolutely incredible ... you just created this huge river that runs off that and comes down the hill," the resident said.

In response the council voted to send a letter to DPW asking staff to appear next month with camera‑scope results, asked town engineer Dave D’Amico to inspect the solar farm drainage and report back, and requested a published maintenance schedule for drain cleaning. Separately, Councilman Bacalar proposed setting aside funds for a disaster relief pool to assist households hit repeatedly by flooding; he suggested an initial figure of $100,000 and the council agreed to refer the idea to the finance committee for study.

No immediate appropriation was made; engineering and DPW reports were requested as next steps.