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August 6, 2007

Summertime paper trail leads to State House restrooms

How quiet are things in state government this time of year?

So quiet that Political Scene has resorted to investigating Smith Hill toilet paper usage.

The investigation was prompted by news that state officials have decided to use the summer break to make upgrades to State House restrooms, just a few years after spending more than $30,000 to renovate the lavatories.

Workers are in the midst of installing dozens of sleek dark toilet-paper dispensers and “hands-free” paper towel dispensers. And they have even upgraded the hand soap, opting for environment-friendly “green cleaners,” according to the state Division of Facilities Management.

The improvements were largely attributed to efforts to improve sanitation, according to Building Supt. Sam DeVincenzo.

The upgrades easily make the cavernous first-floor restrooms in the State House the most beautiful in Rhode Island government, according to Political Scene’s unofficial ranking system.

The floors, walls and even the stalls are marble. Several grand golden light fixtures hang from the high ceilings. Bar-style oak doors cover each stall. And motion-activated faucets produce a gentle stream of clear water that always seems to be the perfect temperature.

The latest upgrades come as the result of a deal with the Foxboro, Mass., company Casey Engineered Maintenance Systems, which has an office in Cranston. The state did not have to pay for the 70 toilet paper dispensers, 50 paper towel dispensers and 60 soap dispensers being installed.

But in exchange for the free hardware, the state entered into a 6-month contract to buy toilet paper, paper towels and the hand soap from Casey, according to Michael Maynard, spokesman for Governor Carcieri. Neither Maynard nor DeVincenzo could estimate the monthly cost. And Maynard did not immediately know if the contract had gone out to bid.

Taxpayers were billed $1,493.26 for the first shipment of supplies, according to an invoice provided by DeVincenzo. That’s $525.12 for 16 cases of paper towels, $525.12 for 14 cases of hand foam, and $440.64 for 12 cases of two-ply toilet paper.

DeVincenzo couldn’t say how long the first shipment would last, but said he pays close attention to ensure the supply doesn’t run out.

--By Steve Peoples, Elizabeth Gudrais, John E. Mulligan and Scott MacKay

Journal staff writers

Posted by Pam Cotter  at 11:28 AM | Permalink

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Posted by: Ed Wachowicz at August 9, 2007 10:06 AM

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