To the editor:

I have read the letter to the editor, the article and Op Ed piece appearing in the Warren Times-Gazette in the February 8, 2017 edition. These pieces deal with the current method of paying for town waste water services and the upgrade to the system that was approved last fall. This is certainly a very important issue that should be discussed as a priority matter before the Town Council since the cost for these services will greatly increase given the approval for the upgrade to the current waste water treatment plant. If the Town Manager requires a financial analysis prior to having a full blown discussion then it should be authorized and initiated immediately. The current method places an unfair burden on property owners who are not now and likely will not be served by the new waste treatment system going forward.

This inequity also negatively impacts those Warren residents who reside outside of the Touisset area and are currently served by the waste water treatment system. The present method of charging based on property value rather than usage favors the taxing authority and does not accurately reflect property owners’ actual demand on the system. This disparity was clearly explained by the example provided in the Letter to the Editor from the Touisset Residents Group dated February 8, 2017. Actual usage should be the method for determining cost to the property owner. These figures are available from the Bristol County Water Authority and are provided to the Towns of Bristol and Barrington for calculation of their use based fee.

One wonders why Warren is the only exception that uses a property tax based system rather than a use based system out of the 30 sewered municipalities in Rhode Island. We should discuss this matter now and not continue to delay facing this issue which is very important to all of the residents of the Town of Warren.

James Patterson

21 Hanley Farm Road