MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CUMBERLAND TOWN COUNCIL

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2020 AT 7:30 P.M.

VIRTUAL - OPEN SESSION

 

 

The regular meeting was called to order at 7:31pm.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

President Kinch, Councilors Bradley, Metivier, Shaw, Magill, Beaulieu and Schmitt.

 

Also present— Mayor Jeffrey Mutter; Chief of Staff Linda Teel; Community Outreach Coordinator Sarah King; Town Clerk Sandra M. Giovanelli; Town Solicitor Kelley Morris Salvatore; Parks and Recreation Director Mike Crawley

 

President Kinch stated that in accordance with Governor’s Raimondo’s Executive Order 20-25 (relaxing the Open Meetings Act requirements) this meeting will be available to the public by video or telephone conference.  All members of the Town Council will be participating remotely. Members of the public can listen and/or participate by clicking on the link posted on the agenda, or by calling any of the numbers listed on the agenda. This meeting will also be livestreamed on Clerk base by clicking on the link on the town website.

 

Comments can be emailed to publiccomments@cumberlandri.org including your name, address, and statement. Only comments including all required information will be read into the record.

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

UNANIMOUS CONSENT ITEMS

 

CONSENT AGENDA

A.  Acceptance of Minutes of the Special Meeting of October 29, 2020, the Regular Meeting of November 18, 2020, and the Special Meeting of November 23, 2020.

 

B.  COMMUNICATIONS 

1.  C-20-50 – The Cumberland Water Department is awarded the 2019 Water Fluoridation Quality Award by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

 

2.  C-20-51 – A resolution from the City of Newport urging Rhode Island Governor Gina M. Raimondo to release $150 million dollars from the “Cares Act” to our small business community

 

3.  C-20-52 – A resolution from the City of Newport urging Rhode Island Governor Gina M. Raimondo to place a moratorium on evictions

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS VOTED TO APPROVE BY A ROLL CALL. VOTE 6/1. 

Nay: Councilor Bradley

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

President Kinch paused for public comments.

Resident Pat Ford spoke to the issue of power outages, particularly in the northern part of the town; he felt that Verizon and National Grid were not keeping up with proper tree maintenance. Mr. Ford asked the Council and Mayor to work together to apply pressure and achieve an agreement with the utility companies. Mr. Ford suggested inviting the utility companies to a future Council meeting to discuss the matter.

 

LICENSES

A.  VICTUALLING LICENSE

      1.  An application for a Fourth-Class Victualling House License from Safa d/b/a Bestway located at 302 Broad St

 

Public hearing opened at 7:45pm.

 

The applicant was not present.

 

Public hearing closed at 7:45pm.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR METIVIER, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE PENDING APPROVALS BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, POLICE, FIRE AND BUILDING DEPARTMENTS, BY A ROLL CALL. VOTE 7/0. 

 

B.  HOLIDAY LICENSE

     1.  An application for a Holiday License from Safa d/b/a Bestway located at 302 Broad St

 

Public hearing opened at 7:46pm.

 

Public hearing closed at 7:47pm.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR METIVIER, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE, PENDING THE SAME APPROVALS, BY A ROLL CALL.
VOTE 7/0. 

 

C.  ENTERTAINMENT LICENSE

1.   An application for a Special Event Entertainment License from 13th World for Haunted Trails at Diamond Hill Park, to be held Friday through Sunday starting October 1, 2021 through October 31, 2021

 

Public hearing opened at 7:48pm.

 

Applicant Zeke Fortier reviewed the details of this annual event.

 

President Kinch noted that if approved the license would be pending insurance, promoters permit, Fire, EMS, and Police department approvals.

 

Solicitor Morris Salvatore stated it would need to be contingent on signing a newly formatted licensing agreement created for any tenant-related activity.

 

The nature of the licensing agreement was discussed.

 

Parks & Recreation Director Mike Crawley spoke to the usual rental fee paid by this applicant and the terms held to in all previous events.

 

Councilor Beaulieu asked to table this and refer it to the Finance Sub Committee to review.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR SHAW, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO TABLE AND REFER TO THE FINANCE SUB COMMITTEE, THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMITTEE AND THE ADMINISTRATION FOR REVIEW, BY A ROLL CALL. VOTE 7/0. 

 

REPORTS/COMMUNICATIONS

 

1.  The Parks & Recreation Commission to present the Residents survey regarding Diamond Hill Park

 

Chairman Alan Neville gave the results of a survey of residents done in early October (utilizing “Survey Monkey”) to obtain opinions regarding Diamond Hill Park. Over 650 responses were received; 378 of them took the time to provide written commentary in addition to responding to the survey questionnaire. 193 respondents stated they would be willing to serve as volunteer friends of Diamond Hill Park.

 

Chairman Neville summarized the results, giving specifics on visitation rates, the various activities and reasons people were drawn to the park, and ranked their requests for improvements. He briefly discussed with the Council the development of a multi-year park maintenance plan and suggested pulling together several of the various boards and commissions to work together. Mayor Mutter and the Council asked questions of Mr. Neville and commended the Commission for their work.

 

NEW BUSINESS

A.  APPOINTMENTS

  PARKS AND RECREATION

      1.  Re-appointment of the following members with term to expire December 31, 2022

           Jackie Hooper

           Alan Neville

           Cheryl Gray

           Dan Stevenson

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE BY A ROLL CALL. VOTE 7/0. 

    

      LIBRARY BOARD OF TRUSTEES 
     1.  Re-appointment of Susan Baglini - term to expire December 31, 2023 

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR METIVIER, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE BY A ROLL CALL. VOTE 7/0. 

    

     ZONING BOARD OF REVIEW   

     1.  Re-appointment of alternate, Evan Elgin - term to expire December 31, 2021

 

     2.  Re-appointment of alternate, P. Ryan Antrop - term to expire December 31, 2021

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR METIVIER, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE BY A ROLL CALL. VOTE 7/0. 

 

     TAX ASSESSMENT BOARD OF REVIEW

      1.  Lee Keomani – term to expire January 31, 2027 

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR METIVIER, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE BY A ROLL CALL. VOTE 7/0. 

   B.  RESOLUTIONS:

1.  R-20-120 – A resolution relating to State Assistance during the COVID 19 Emergency

 

Public hearing opened at 8:27pm.

 

Mayor Mutter stated this was endorsed by the League of Cities and Towns. He spoke to reductions in State Aid and how it affects the towns, the current school enrollment and expectations of state support.

 

Public hearing closed at 8:29pm.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE BY A ROLL CALL. VOTE 7/0. 

 

2.  R-20-121 – A resolution authorizing and empowering Mayor Jeffrey J. Mutter to purchase AP42, Lot 2, located at 500 Nate Whipple Highway, for the amount of Six Hundred Thousand Dollars, ($600,000.00)

 

Public hearing opened at 8:31pm.

 

Town Solicitor Morris-Salvatore stated this purchase was previously approved by the former council in an Executive Session and then formally in a regular session by Resolution 20-119. Because of the way the (election) certification fell with new Council, and in an effort to ensure that there is absolutely no question of the town’s authority to purchase this property, the administration wanted to again present this to the new Council to make sure it is absolutely clear that the town has authorized the Mayor to go forward with this purchase. This resolution would ratify the previous, valid approval.

 

The Mayor again summarized the terms of the purchase, stressing that this purchase is important to ensuring the town water supply be increased and under town control by providing a town-owned the required buffer zone around the proposed new well(s), as required by the DOH. The Mayor outlined the previous studies and options available to the town and the corresponding costs, future control of the towns water needs, the increased output of the new wells and the resulting costs savings over time. The Mayor answered questions from the Council.

 

Public hearing closed at 8:52pm.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE BY A ROLL CALL. VOTE 6/1. 

Nay: Councilor Bradley

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Resident Pat Ford was still present; Councilor Schmitt asked if he would contact him to discuss the electrical issue spoken of in the first public comment session.

 

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN AT 8:56P.M.  VOTE 7/0. 

 

 

 

________________________________

Sandra M. Giovanelli, Town Clerk

 

 

 

FOR A FULL ACCOUNT OF THIS MEETING PLEASE REFER TO THE VIDEO RECORDING ACCESSIBLE ON THE TOWN’S WEBSITE, www.cumberlandri.org.

ADDITIONALLY, THE DVD OF THE ENTIRE MEETING IS AVAILABLE AT THE EDWARD J. HAYDEN LIBRARY.