MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CUMBERLAND TOWN COUNCIL

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2021 AT 7:30 P.M.

VIRTUAL - OPEN SESSION

 

 

The regular meeting was called to order at 8:00pm with a roll call of members.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

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

 

Also present— Mayor Jeffrey Mutter; Community Outreach Coordinator Sarah King; Town Clerk Sandra M. Giovanelli; Town Solicitor Kelley Morris Salvatore; Tax Assessor Richard Arpin; Deputy Tax Assessor Albert Wylie; Planning Director Jonathan Stevens

 

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 and Regular Meetings of January 6, 2021.

 

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

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

President Kinch paused for public comments. There were none.

 

Joe Luca, 52 Staples Road, asked to speak to resolution R-21-08 when it came up on the agenda.

 

Former Mayor Bill Murray, 80 Bear Hill Road, congratulated the new Council, wishing them and Mayor Mutter well over the next four years. He also thanked former councilor E. Craig Dwyer for all his support to the Council and the town over the last twelve years, and recognized Ray Casey for all his time and years on the Pension Board.

 

LICENSES

A.  VICTUALLING HOUSE LICENSE:

1.  An application for a second-class victualling house license from ESM Food Group Inc d/b/a Saki’s Pizzeria located at 2339 Diamond Hill Rd

 

The Town Clerk reported that three items were missing from this application.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR METIVIER, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE PENDING DOH, COPY OF MENU AND PAYMENT OF ANY OUTSTANDING TAXES, BY A ROLL CALL. VOTE 7/0. 

 

REPORTS/COMMUNICATIONS

A.  Monthly/Quarterly Financial Report ending December 31, 2020.

      Budget to Actual

Mayor Mutter spoke to the report in Finance Director Chauvin’s absence.

 

Councilor Beaulieu asked if the next report could show department-level detail as it had been in the past.

 

B.  Check registers for December 1 through December 31, 2020.

Solicitor Morris-Salvatore and the Mayor responded to Councilor Shaw’s questions regarding conveyance taxes, tree removal charges, RIRRC payments and the grant to the Boys’ and Girls’ Club. 

 

C.  A request from the Tax Assessor to review and approve December 2020 abatements and supplemental bills.

President Kinch read the individual totals:

 

TOTAL 2020 REAL ESTATE ABATEMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $4,931.48. 

Tax Assessor Richard Arpin and Deputy Assessor Al Wylie responded to Councilor Schmitt’s question about a tax-exempt status for 900 Highland Corp. Drive approved by the Tax Board of Review. It was stated that the state of RI had purchased the property for their medical examiner’s office going forward, and were tax-exempt.

 

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

 

D.  Report of Executive Session vote(s), as may be necessary.

There were none.

 

E.  Notice of Mayor’s appointment of Acting Water Superintendent, William Descoteaux

 

No vote was necessary. This Mayoral appointment is for 60 days and will come back before the Council for approval if it is necessary to extend it.

 

OLD BUSINESS

A.  ORDINANCES FOR PUBLIC HEARING:

1.  #20-32 – An ordinance relating to Sewer Use Fees and removing the requirement for the sewer deficit reduction fee (Presented by the Council President on behalf of the Administration; tabled from January 6, 2021)

 

Councilor Magill reported that the Finance Sub Committee was still waiting for an audit report before they could complete their review.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO TABLE TO THE FEBRUARY 3, 2020 TOWN COUNCIL MEETING, BY A ROLL CALL.  VOTE 7/0. 

 

2.  #21-01 – An ordinance relating to accessory family dwelling units (Presented by the Council President on behalf of the Administration)

 

Councilor Schmitt stated that the Ordinance Sub Committee will meet on Tuesday, January 6 at 6:00pm to review this.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO TABLE TO THE FEBRUARY 3, 2021 TOWN COUNCIL MEETING, BY A ROLL CALL. VOTE 7/0.

 

3.  #21-03 – An ordinance amending the salaries of the Executive Staff and Other Positions (Presented by the Council President on behalf of the Administration)

 

This ordinance also needed to be heard at the February 3, 2021 Finance Sub Committee meeting.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO TABLE TO THE FEBRUARY 3, 2021 TOWN COUNCIL MEETING, BY A ROLL CALL.
VOTE 7/0. 

 

B.  RESOLUTIONS:

1.  R-21-05 – A resolution authorizing the Finance Director to pay Torrado Architects an amount not to exceed twelve thousand, three hundred forty-five and 97/100 dollars (12,345.97) (tabled from January 6, 2021)

Mayor Mutter stated that this was being funded out of the schools’ facilities budget and asked to withdraw.

 

NEW BUSINESS

A.  CLAIMS

  1.  James & Lori Beauregard

Referred to the Solicitor’s Office

 

  2.  Christina Bruzzi

Referred to the Solicitor’s Office

 

  3.  Stephanie Borges

Referred to the Finance Sub Committee

 

  4.  Christopher Refino

Referred to the Solicitor’s Office

 

  5.  Antonio Pavlakos

Referred to the Finance Sub Committee

 

B.  APPOINTMENTS

  HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION

  1.  Joe Santoro, completing the term of John Robinson due to his resignation; term to expire December 31, 2021

 

Mr. Santoro, 40 West Wrentham Road, thanked the Council for the opportunity and gave a brief history of his life experiences as well as military and work history.

 

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

 

      CONSERVATION COMMISSION

      1.   Joe Luca, reappointment with term ending January 31, 2024

 

Mr. Luca spoke to his interest in being reappointed and the commission’s interest and efforts in becoming better known.

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

     

C.  EXECUTIVE STAFF

 

Building Official	Brad Ward
Building Inspector	Kevin Joyce
Electrical Inspector	Edward Skwirz
Plumbing and Mechanical Inspector	Larry Giorgi
Finance Director	Raymond Chauvin
Deputy Finance Director	Melinda Brouillard
Director of Human Resources	Christina Boyan
Payroll Administrator	Alyson Johnson
Chief of Staff	Linda Teel
Community Outreach Coordinator	Sarah F. King
Planning and Community Dev. Director	Jonathan Stevens
Town Planner	Glenn Modica
Director of Public Works	Robert Anderson
Zoning Inspector/Recycling Coordinator	John Kissik
Assistant Engineer	James N’Tow
Assistant Water Superintendent	Thomas Peck
Administrative Asst. to Water Superintendent	Kim Berard
Confidential Secretary to Police Chief	Patricia Tweedie
Admin Asst. to Asst. EMA Director	Patricia Tweedie
Recreation Director/ Sr. Director	Michael Crawley
Senior Services Social Director	Karen Kane
Assistant to EMA Director	Anthony Silva
Tax Assessor	Richard Arpin
Deputy Tax Assessor	Albert Wylie
Town Clerk	Sandra Giovanelli
Deputy Town Clerk	Jane Christopher
Town Solicitor	Kelley N. Morris
Legal Assistant	Celeste Beauparlant
Probate Judge	Joseph Roszkowski
Municipal Court Judge	Scott Partington
Municipal Court/Probate Clerk	Janice McCormick
Director of Children, Youth, and Learning	Liz Lemire
Program Coordinator OCYL	Jamie Droste
Program Assistant III - OCYL	Christine Domen

 

Mayor Mutter asked if he could have two more weeks to complete extra details.

          

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO TABLE TO FEBRUARY 3, 2021, BY A ROLL CALL. VOTE 7/0. 

     

        TOWN SERGEANT:

        1.  Raymond Lane

 

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

    

D.  RESOLUTIONS:

1.  R-21-07 – A resolution authorizing Mayor Jeffrey Mutter to submit a grant proposal under the Recreation Trails Grant Program sponsored by the Rhode Island Department of Environment Management

 

Mayor Mutter reviewed this proposal for the Beaver Pond Trail which would be sited near the trail head and bathroom facilities section being built now.

 

Planning Director Jonathan Stevens stated that town time can be utilized as in-kind services to defray the matching funds component of the grant.

 

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

 

2.  R-21-08 – A resolution authorizing Mayor Jeffrey Mutter to enter into a contract agreement with BETA Group, Inc. on behalf of the Town of Cumberland to provide on-call professional landscape architecture and engineering review services relating to the Peterson Puritan Operational Unit (OU2) Superfund Site, in an amount not-to-exceed seventy thousand and dollars ($70,000.00)

 

Planning Director Jonathan Stevens gave historical context on the site and spoke to its potential for recreation over time.

Outside legal services and advisement had previously received Council approval and been procured to work with attorneys from other settling parties (polluters). This resolution for landscaping and engineering services is the next step to ascertain what is in the town’s best interest; and only after that would the town exercise the opportunity to acquire these lots as owners, if satisfied with the design. Friends of the Blackstone as well as the Conservation, Open Space and Recreation Commissions are interested in the best possible outcome for this property and the town.

 

Mr. Stevens described the review and selection process arriving at BETA Group as their choice.

 

Mayor Mutter expressed his interest in the opportunity the project affords.  

 

Conservation Commission member Joe Luca spoke in favor.

 

John Marsland, president of Friends of the Blackstone, offered to share information they had acquired over time to the Council and spoke in support of the project.

 

Councilor Schmitt asked if the scope of this was inclusive of the “unnamed island” (yes) and confirmed with Solicitor Morris-Salvatore that this was an appropriate use of open space bond funds.

 

Jonathan Stevens stated that the settling parties will take the lead on the overall project design subject to input from all other parties at the table, exploring what they can do to alleviate the problem to EPA standards and what can they do to maximize the property’s potentials.

 

Councilor Schmitt asked if taking this money is an acceptable risk? He is in favor of the project; will the Planning Department be coming back for more money?

 

Mr. Stevens affirmed that they would. They will go 4-5 months until they see what else might be needed from BETA. But the town is in a strong negotiating position.

 

Councilors Beaulieu, Magill, Shaw and Kinch spoke positively about the project.

 

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

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

President Kinch read an email from Deborah Vine Smith sent Thursday September 10, 2020 for public comment – re: license transfer done by lottery: “I remember awhile back a place closed and there was a question as to whether the license was transferable.  If I remember right, the license had to go to a lottery!!!  This scenario should be in the book. Deb Vine-Smith 

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN BY A ROLL CALL VOTE AT 9:26P.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.