To the Editor,

I have sat back for over a year now and watched the city start the development of The Knightsville Rehabilitation.  I will admit the Gazebo Park which we will call Phase 1 is coming along rather quickly and it looks great and may be done by July right before the St. Mary’s Feast.  Phase 2 which will include sidewalks, lighting, and paving down Cranston Street in Knightsville was on the Capital Budget this year for a Bond was approved by the Council and will start next year.  I voted against Phase 2 and actually tried to have Phase 2 removed from the Capital Budget.  I would like to explain why.

Please be reminded that these figures are not exact but the very best I can give at this time.  The total cost for Phase 1 (The Gazebo Park) is close to 2 million dollars.  I believe $500,000 of it was a grant.  That brings the cost of just the Gazebo Park to $1.5 million of borrowed money plus interest for the taxpayer. This adds up to an actual cost of close to 2.5 million dollars for just the Gazebo Park.

Phase 2 is estimated to cost between 2.5 and 3 million dollars of which another $400,000 grant will be included.  The balance which will be borrowed will bring the actual cost close to $4 million.  Through some due diligence, I discovered that there is also a hidden cost with Phase 2 which is additional paving the city is forced to do because the city forced National Grid/RI Energy to speed up work they had planned on Cranston St. and Park Ave so we have to pay for the paving not them.  That estimated cost is over 1.5 million dollars.  

I estimate that the actual total cost of The Knightsville Rehabilitation will be close 8 million dollars.  In comparison Rolfe Street and Pawtuxet Village received facelifts over the past 2 years and I estimate their costs were not even $750,000 combined.

I am not against Capital Improvements to the city.  I am just concerned about borrowing money for 25 years when something only lasts for 15.  This was also the reason I motioned to remove the $ 1.3 million in Astro Turf from Cranston West Baseball Field. I was successful on that motion.  A Bond is simply a 25-year loan. 

My statement to those that have questioned why I voted against The Knightsville Rehabilitation…

I will continue fighting to protect your tax dollars.

Robert Ferri

City-Wide Council