MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CUMBERLAND TOWN COUNCIL

THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2020 AT 7:30 P.M.

VIRTUAL - OPEN SESSION

 

The regular meeting was called to order at 7:00p.m.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

President Dwyer, Councilors Gemski, Kinch, Shaw, Bradley, Beaulieu and Schmitt

 

Also present— Mayor Jeffrey Mutter; Chief of Staff Linda Teel; Town Clerk Sandra M. Giovanelli; Town Solicitor Kelley Morris Salvatore; Finance Director Ray Chauvin; Planning Director Jonathan Stevens; Tax Assessor Ken Mallette

President Dwyer read the following:

“To protect the health and well-being of our citizens, and in accordance with Governor’s Raimondo’s Executive Order
20-05 (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 click on link posted on the agenda.

 

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.  PERMITS FOR TEMPORARY OUTDOOR SEATING

      1.  Davenport’s Restaurant, 1070 Mendon Road

 

      2.  Skeff’s Neighborhood Pub, 80 Manville Hill Road

 

      3.  McT’s Tavern, 940 Mendon Road

 

      4.  Adeline’s Speakeasy Kitchen Bar, 2352 Mendon Road

 

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

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

President Dwyer paused the meeting at 7:02p.m. and resumed at 7:04p.m. to give any audience participants time to send an email or to ask a question via Zoom. There were no calls or emails.

 

OLD BUSINESS

A.  RESOLUTIONS:

1.  R-20-71 – A resolution authorizing Mayor Jeffrey J. Mutter to enter into a contract with WB Community Health for health care administration and costs for a 3-year contract resulting in a projected savings of five hundred fifty-four thousand three hundred forty three dollars ($554,343.00) for year one (tabled from May 20, 2020)

 

Finance Director Ray Chauvin and Rob Calise from HILB Group made a brief presentation to the Council.

Discussion ensued regarding: 

·   Leaving the Trust in favor of WB Community Health

·   Potential changes in benefits to employees

·   The ability for the plan to build its own fund balance, and how that would happen

·   Payment of any run out claims

·   The difference between the two insurers regarding Rx rebates

Councilors Schmitt and Kinch and President Dwyer expressed an interest in tabling one more week to review information that had just been presented at this meeting.

 

Finance Director Chauvin advised that they were already beyond the deadline required by the insurance companies for a decision in order to prepare for the transition.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR KINCH, TO TABLE TO JUNE 3, 2020 VOTED TO APPROVE BY A ROLL CALL VOTE.  MOTION FAILS. VOTE 4/3.

Nay votes:  Councilors Gemski, Beaulieu, Bradley, and Shaw

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR GEMSKI, AND IT IS VOTED TO APPROVE BY A ROLL CALL VOTE.  VOTE 4/3.

Nay votes:  Councilors Schmitt, Kinch, and Dwyer

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

President Dwyer paused the meeting at 8:37p.m. and resumed at 8:38p.m. to give any audience participants time to send an email or to ask a question via Zoom. There were no calls or emails.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN AT 8:39P.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.