MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CUMBERLAND TOWN COUNCIL

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2020 AT 5:00 P.M.

VIRTUAL - OPEN SESSION

 

 

The regular meeting was called to order at 5:03pm.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

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

 

Also present - Mayor Jeffrey Mutter; Town Clerk Sandra M. Giovanelli; Town Solicitor Kelley Morris Salvatore; Finance Director Ray Chauvin

 

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
20-25 (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

Solicitor Kelley Morris Salvatore reported that this meeting had been scheduled before the election results were certified. There was a question as to whether this group should be meeting instead of the new council. The Charter states that the new Council would be sworn in the Monday after the election certification, which would be tonight. However, as the election certification occurred on Friday, there was insufficient time to post the new council organizational meeting without incurring an Open Meetings violation. Reading further from the Charter it was determined this meeting was valid. At this meeting, the vote that was taken in the November 18, 2020 Executive session on this matter will be reported. The next Council will be installed and should ratify the resolution being voted on tonight, at their first meeting.

 

President Dwyer confirmed that this meeting was properly posted based on the information they had at the time.

 

UNANIMOUS CONSENT ITEMS

 

CONSENT AGENDA

A.  Acceptance of Minutes of the Special Meeting of November 18, 2020.

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

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

President Dwyer paused at 5:21pm and resumed at 5:22pm.

 

NEW BUSINESS

A.  RESOLUTIONS:

1.  R-20-119 – A resolution authorizing 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)

 

Mayor Mutter gave an abridged presentation/summary on the circumstances surrounding this resolution.

The purchase of the property under consideration tonight would have a long-term benefit – the water department would have control over its own destiny and reduce costs in the future.

 

Public hearing opened at 5:31pm

 

President Dwyer reported the vote taken in Executive Session on November 18, 2020: The Council had voted 6-1 to approve that the Mayor enter into a purchase and sales agreement for this property. Councilor Bradley in opposition.

 

Councilor Shaw expressed his support and added two points: 1.) the water department customers benefitting from the water would be the only people to pay for it; and, 2.) this is the last potential source for the town to acquire in order to reap the benefits for a water supply.

 

The Council discussed the following:

·         Eminent domain 

·         Appraisals

·         Payment structure for the property purchase

·         Any potential impact on planned future water improvements

·         Possible future tie in fees for new home builders

Public hearing closed at 5:51pm.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILORS KINCH, BEAULIEU & SHAW, AND IT IS VOTED TO APPROVE BY A ROLL CALL.   VOTE 6/1

Nay: Councilor Bradley

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

President Dwyer paused at 5:52pm to allow members of the public to comment on any topic and resumed at 5:53pm.

 

Councilor Beaulieu thanked both President Dwyer and Councilor Gemski for their service, as this was their last meeting.

 

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR GEMSKI, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN AT 5:54P.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.