Public Works Director Steve Goslee told the Town Council at Monday's meeting that he has no confidence in the Department of Transportation (DOT) pumping station at Route 138 and North Main Road. "The pumps are still not working," he said.

The pumps have not been working for some time and the water that should be pumped into a sediment pond before draining into Narragansett Bay could be seeping into the reservoir during major rain events when the water table is high, Goslee said.

Goslee sent a letter March 20, 2007 to DOT Director Michael P. Lewis. When Lewis responded he said the DOT decided that the best course of action would be to re-design the pump system.

"So far none of that has happened," Goslee said. "And, even if they do install new pumps, I am not convinced that the new system will work any better, or that it will be maintained."

According to Goslee, the system was originally installed in 1992 and it has consistently malfunctioned. He said they (DOT) either repair or make modifications, but all of the pumps have never worked properly together for any length of time. "Even with the new pumps, we could find ourselves in the same position we are in now. None of the pumps work."

Councilman Robert Sutton suggested considering a settlement pond so pumps wouldn't be necessary.

Town Administrator Bruce Keiser suggested writing to the DOT and telling them that the town wants to be involved in the new design of the system. Sutton said to ask for a passive system and see what happens. Goslee agreed and Keiser said he would draft a letter.

In his monthly report Goslee said, "We are running a deficit in rainfall and the reservoir is dropping like a stone." He said that the north pond has dropped over an inch per day since last Saturday, July 19.

According to Goslee, the south pond has 5-million gallons although usable storage starts at 7-million gallons. The north pond is at 47- million gallons with usable storage at 60-million gallons. He said they stopped transferring water last Friday.

In an unrelated matter, the council voted unanimously to approve an application from Dianne Reilly for a utility service connection to her house at 6 Arnold St. in the Beavertail area. Reilly was represented by surveyor Robert. C. Cournoyer who said the house has not been occupied for more than 50-years and the well is within 50-feet of two cesspools. "It is not a good situation," he said.