MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CUMBERLAND TOWN COUNCIL

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2022 AT 7:30P.M.

CUMBERLAND TOWN HALL, EVERETT “MOE” BONNER, JR. COUNCIL CHAMBERS

45 BROAD STREET, CUMBERLAND
VIRTUAL - OPEN SESSION

 

The regular meeting was called to order at 7:42pm with a roll call of members

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

In person: President Kinch, Councilors Bradley, Magill, Metivier, Beaulieu and Schmitt.

Absent: Councilor Shaw

Also present—Mayor Jeffrey J. Mutter; Outreach Coordinator Sarah King; Town Clerk Sandra M. Giovanelli; Town Solicitor Kelley Morris Salvatore.

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

There were none.

 

UNANIMOUS CONSENT ITEMS

 

CONSENT AGENDA

A.  Acceptance of Minutes of the Special meeting of April 18, 2022, the Regular meeting of April 20, 2022, and the
      Special meeting of April 25, 2022

 

B.  COMMUNICATIONS

1.  C-22-26 – Resolution from the Burrillville Town Council in opposition to Senate Bill S-2557 and House Bill H-7829 Mandatory Translation Services

 

2.  C-22-27 – Resolution from the Burrillville Town Council condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine

 

3.  C-22-28 – Resolution from the Town of Burrillville in opposition to Rhode Island 2022-gun control legislation 

 

4.  C-22-29 – Ordinance 2022-10 from the Town of Barrington Renewal of Declaration of Emergency

 

5.  C-22-30 – Narragansett Electric Company docketing date notice for public hearing for Transmission Line Asset Condition Refurbishment Project, Lincoln and Cumberland, RI

 

C. MUNICIPAL MOBILE FOOD ESTABLISHMENT

    1.  GottaQ BBQ  

    2.  The Trap Box

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR METIVIER, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE.  VOTE 6/0.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

President Kinch paused for public comments. There were none.

 

LICENSES

A. ENTERTAINMENT LICENSE

1.   An application for a Special Event Entertainment license from Brian Andrade for a Boys and Girls Club Northern Rhode Island Flag Football Tournament to be held at Diamond Hill Park on July 23, 2022 and July 24, 2022 (tabled from April 20, 2022)

 

Director Brian Andrade was present to describe the event to the Council and answer any questions.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILORS MAGILL & METIVIER, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE PENDING LEASE AGREEMENT, PROMOTER’S PERMIT, INSURANCE, EMS, FIRE & POLICE APPROVAL. 
VOTE 6/0.

 

2.   An application for a Special Event Entertainment license from Blackstone River Theatre for their annual Summer Solstice Festival to be held at Diamond Hill Park on Saturday, June 18, 2022

Pending lease agreement

 

Executive Director Russell Gusetti was present to speak to the Council.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE. VOTE 6/0.

 

3.   An application for a Special Event Entertainment license from Club Juventude Lusitana for their St. John’s Annual Feast to be held June 24 and 25, 2022.

 

Chris DaCosta, 52 Benefit Street, Pawtucket was present to represent the Club.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR METIVIER, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE PENDING EMS APPROVAL, FINAL TENT AND FOOD SAFETY INSPECTION FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. 
VOTE 6/0.

 

B.   HAWKERS LICENSE

1.   An application for a Hawkers license from Keystone Novelties Distributors LLC d/b/a Keystone Fireworks for fireworks sales located at 3751 Mendon Road from June 22, 2022 to July 5, 2022

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE.  VOTE 6/0.

 

REPORTS/COMMUNICATIONS

A. Report of Executive Session vote(s), as may be necessary.  There were none.

 

OLD BUSINESS

A.  RESOLUTIONS:

1.  R-22-30 – An ordinance authorizing and empowering Mayor Jeffrey J. Mutter to place seven (7) speed bumps along Reservoir Road (tabled from April 20, 2022)

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ACCEPT R-22-30A IN PLACE OF R-22-30.  VOTE 6/0.

 

Acting Police Chief Iozzi and Officer Bannister were present with an updated Powerpoint presentation; EMS Chief John Pliakas, Fire Chief Nick Anderson, and DPW Director Joe Duarte were also in attendance to answer any questions.

 

DPW Director Duarte explained the differences between speed bumps, speed humps and speed tables. He responded to questions on appropriate speed limits.

 

Concerns about delayed response time and fire hydrant placement were addressed by Fire Chief Anderson.

 

Discussion ensued with the Council.

 

The following residents from the Reservoir Road area spoke:

 

John Skewinski, 21 Wysteria Lane, questioned the effects of speed humps on response time.

 

Chesley Chmura, Wysteria Lane, expressed concern that the speed humps still won’t address the kids at night.

 

Donna Palange, Burnt Swamp Road, asked about the potential of hiring retired police officers, or lateral transfers.

Sharon Mullane, 31 Hidden Meadow Drive stated her full support of the speed humps and suggested the addition of a sidewalk.

 

Andrew Hayes, 1 Hayes Drive, original project leader, spoke to progress with the initial speed humps, stating there is no perfect solution, and hopes folks will support this.

 

Randy Tuomisto, 411 Reservoir Road recommended the Council approve this.

 

Kenneth Bush, 4 Torrey Road; stated that he doesn’t think anyone wants speed humps but sees no other solution.

 

Will Nakshian, 2 Jasons Grant Drive spoke in support of the speed humps and urged for a vote in favor.

 

Tom Concilio, 40 Jasons Grant Drive, felt that the number of speed humps is excessive and suggested speed signs with cameras in them.

 

Mark Palange, 96 Burnt Swamp Road, echoed concerns on response times; speed tables may be better and should be considered.

 

Ryan Kelly, 10 Wisteria Lane; questioned the placement of the speed bumps and spoke in opposition to the speed humps.

 

Russ Klowan, 15 Reservoir Road, spoke in favor of speed signs that indicate your speed. Motorcyclists love to burn out on the humps.

 

President Kinch asked the Council for comments.

 

Councilor Schmitt offered a compromise for consideration: put the speed humps in for a period of one year. If they work, great. If they haven’t resolved the problems, we can remove some and revisit the issue a year from now. He has never been a supporter of cameras but has changed his opinion here. Perhaps that will take care of the issue instead of the speed bumps.

Discussion ensued with the Council and the Mayor.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, AND IT IS VOTED TO AMEND SECTION TWO OF R-22-30A TO READ “THIS RESOLUTION SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY UPON ITS PASSAGE AND SHALL BE RECONSIDERED ONE YEAR AFTER THE INSTALLATION OF THE SPEED HUMPS”, BY A ROLL CALL VOTE. VOTE 5/1.

Nay: Councilor Bradley

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, AND IT IS VOTED TO APPROVE AS AMENDED, BY A ROLL CALL.  VOTE 5/1.

Nay: Councilor Bradley

 

President Kinch thanked the public and departments for their comments. There was a five-minute recess.

 

NEW BUSINESS 

A.  APPOINTMENT

      ASSISTANT ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER

      1.  Nicole Cioffi

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE.  VOTE 6/0.

 

Two resolutions were taken out of order to allow participants to leave the meeting earlier.

 

B.  RESOLUTIONS

3.  R-22-34 – A resolution in support of Legislation restoring funding for the State Aid to Libraries to the full 25 percent 

 

Library Director Celeste Dyer, 65 Rebecca Street, Coventry outlined the terms of the State grant.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR METIVIER, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE.  VOTE 6/0.

 

5.  R-22-36 – A resolution engaging Attorney Kevin Crawley as Special Counsel for Prosecution Services

 

Kelley Morris Salvatore reminded the Council of the retirement of Deputy Chief Ciullo. Part of his position was to complete the prosecution court services for the town; it is necessary to designate a replacement. She asked the Council for a vote to replace him with Attorney Kevin Crawley.

 

Mr. Crawley was present via Zoom.  He thanked the Council for their consideration and gave an overview of his background.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE.  VOTE 6/0.

 

1.  R-22-32 – A resolution authorizing and empowering Mayor Jeffrey J. Mutter to enter into a master lease agreement for the replacement of high school boilers and univents in an amount not to exceed one million four hundred and sixty-five dollars ($1,465,000)

 

Mayor Mutter outlined the resolution.

 

Councilors Beaulieu and Schmitt noted the following corrections to the resolution:
Line 16, change the numerical amount to reflect the actual amount by adding a zero

Line 18 should read Cumberland High School instead of Cumberland Hill

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILORS MAGILL & METIVIER, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO AMEND WITH THOSE CHANGES.  VOTE 6/0.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILORS MAGILL & METIVIER, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE AS AMENDED.  VOTE 6/0.

 

2.  R-22-33 – A resolution designating May 2022 as “Brain Tumor Awareness Month” in the Town of Cumberland

 

President Kinch read former Councilor Gemski’s statement thanking Sarah King and the Council into the record.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR METIVIER, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE.  VOTE 6/0.

 

4.  R-22-35 – A resolution requesting the Secretary of State to place a question on the November 8, 2022 Election Ballot (presented by Councilor Metivier)

 

Councilor Metivier stated that the intent of this resolution was getting more voters involved in the election process and was modeled after the school committee elections. If this resolution passes, the residents would vote on the question on the November ballot.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR BRADLEY, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE.  VOTE 6/0.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

There were none.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR METIVIER, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN AT 10:05PM. VOTE 6/0

 

 

 

 

 

___________________________________

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.