MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CUMBERLAND TOWN COUNCIL

THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2023, at 6:00 P.M.

JOSEPH L. MCCOURT MIDDLE SCHOOL

45 HIGHLAND AVENUE, CUMBERLAND, RHODE ISLAND

 

CALL TO ORDER

The special meeting was called to order at 6:03pm with a roll call of members.   

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Members present:  Council President Kinch, Councilors Shaw, Magill, Metivier, Schmitt and Beaulieu.

Members absent: Councilor Bradley

 

Also present: Mayor Jeffrey J. Mutter, Town Solicitor Kelley Morris Salvatore, Town Clerk Sandra M. Giovanelli

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

CONSENT AGENDA

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Andrea Henderson, Forest Ave - voiced her objections to the proximity of the proposed B.F. Norton school renovations to the neighboring houses as well as the loss of open green space. 

 

Council President Kinch – If there is no objection, I'd like to move up the resolution relating to B.F. Norton School.  Hearing none, the next item for discussion is R-23-41.

 

B.  RESOLUTIONS

1.  R-23-41 – A resolution memorializing the General Assembly to enact legislation authorizing the Town of Cumberland, with the approval of the qualified electors, to issue not to exceed $52 million General Obligation bonds, notes and other evidence of indebtedness to Finance the construction, renovation, improvement, alteration, repair, furnishing and equipping of a new elementary school and other related school facilities and the demolition of an existing elementary school on land presently occupied by the B.F. Norton School in the Town provided that the authorization shall be reduced by any grant received from the school building authority Capital Fund.

  

Council President Kinch – An amended version has been provided and need a motion to accept.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ACCEPT R-23-41A IN PLACE OF R-23-41.  VOTE 6/0.

 

Assistant School Superintendent Anthony DiManna spoke to quantitative and qualitative reasons supporting the proposed renovations.

 

School Committee Vice Chair Mark Fiorillo explained at length that for years they have explored ways to make the existing school building ADA compliant and increase the number of classrooms, and described the various solutions that were explored  - but the location and grade of the existing 1889 building make compliancy impossible. The existing building cannot accommodate the projected increase of student population; and the State won’t be coming up with this kind of reimbursement money any other time in the foreseeable future. Now is the time to act on this. In twenty years when this is paid off, people are going to look back and be grateful we spent this money now, because we’d never be able to do this even three years from now. Colliers is here and can answer questions.

 

Mr. DiManna asked to share some statistics to help frame questions for the individuals this evening. In February of this year NESDEC had provided report of projections – the 2032-33 enrollment projection being 4,963 students. Currently, the totals are 5,007. As of May 5, 2022 we were at 4,907 – we are ten years ahead of the projections.  Looking at historical enrollment data, the last time Cumberland had an enrollment above 5,000 students was 2007-8.

 

President Kinch referenced the concerns that first public speaker (Andrea Henderson) addressed and asked Mr. DiManna and Mr. Fiorillo if there had been any community outreach about this project. Mr. Fiorillo said no, ordinarily this would be something the town would do – but they had pulled this all together in a month and they would be speaking with these folks in the near future and exploring strategies to make the impact less.

 

Holly Demers from Colliers stated that through the RIDE process, there will be traffic studies, and will be presentations going forward so people know what is happening. None of this is taken lightly and all questions will be addressed.

Councilor Beaulieu asked about the projected enrollment trend – what’s the number 10-15 years down the road?

 

Mr. DiManna responded, a yearly 6% increase.

 

Councilor Metivier asked, are we going to talk about the finance part of this? And to the point of losing more open space in the Valley, are there any plans to move to another area?

Mr. Fiorello – we can look at anything. This is one consideration and it’s very early in the process. He believes the town has plans for green space expansion in the Valley.

 

Mayor Mutter stated that nothing is carved in stone, but there are definite objectives being worked on to rectify that issue of green space.

 

Matthew Blais, VP of Hilltop Securities, financial advisors to the town, outlined the scenario being contemplated here – short term borrowing followed by long-term borrowing. The incentives that are being offered here have never been offered in the past.

 

Mr. Blais, the Mayor and the Council engaged in a lengthy discussion about the resolution topic.

 

Alex Prignano, Cumberland School Department Business Manager, reinforced the point that Mr. Blais had made, that with the reimbursements from the state, the town would actually be paying back less than the project costs. This is such a win, a fabulous project.

 

President Kinch invited members of the public to voice their opinions.

 

Roger Shippee, Forest Avenue, spoke in opposition to the project.

 

Ellen Caruso, 8 Douglas Drive, spoke in support.

 

Sandy Lariviere, 16 Valley View Drive, Principal at B.F. Norton, spoke in support and asked that this be put before the voters on a ballot.

 

Jessica Messito, 404 Angel Road, North Providence, a teacher for eighteen years at B.F. Norton, spoke in support.

 

Andrea Henderson, Forest Avenue, spoke again in opposition.

 

President Kinch asked if the Council was ready for a motion.

 

Councilor Schmitt stated that he had two proposals to the resolution which could be voted on separately or combined.  He would like to memorialize the “39 point 3% base rate reimbursement, plus the 15 additional points” that we get, in the resolution itself, and explained the purpose. To achieve that he asked I'd like to include to line 16 by adding a comma after “capital fund” and add ", provided said reduction shall not be less than 54.3 percent".

 

 The second proposal would be to amend line 38 by deleting a period after "2023" and striking, "or at an election (other than a primary), on a date as shall be designated by the town council”.

 

Councilor Schmitt spoke to voter population at different types of elections.

 

Council President Kinch stated that the Council should vote on them separately.

 

Motion by Councilor Schmitt, Seconded by Councilor Magill.

 

Mr. Blais and Holly Demers offered opinions on the motion and stated that bonus points expire at the end of the year. It is unknown if the state will extend the expiration. There would need to be a contract this year to lock in those bonus points.

 

Solicitor Salvatore – The first proposed amendment was made to the title of the resolution and must also be included in the body of the resolution.  I suggest adding it to line 35 after placing a comma after "purposes". 

 

Councilor Schmitt – I withdraw my motion and request a motion to amend line 16 and line 35 as previously stated.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL TO AMEND LINE 16 AND LINE 35 BY DELETING THE (.) AFTER “CAPITAL FUND”AND REPLACE IT WITH A (,) AND FOLLOW WITH THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE, "PROVIDED SAID REDUCTION SHALL BE LESS THAN 54.3 PERCENT".  MOTION FAILS BY A ROLL CALL. VOTE 3/3. 

Councilors Beaulieu, Shaw, and Council President voting Nay.

 

Councilor Beaulieu proposes the same motion but including 50 percent instead of 54.3 percent.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR SHAW TO AMEND LINE 16 AND LINE 35 BY REPLACING THE (.) AND REPLACE IT WITH A (,) AND FOLLOW WITH THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE, "PROVIDED SAID REDUCTION SHALL BE LESS THAN 50 PERCENT".  MOTION FAILS BY A ROLL CALL. VOTE 3/3. 

Councilors Schmitt, Metivier, and Magill voting Nay.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO AMEND LINE 38 BY ADDING A PERIOD AFTER "2023" AND STRIKING "OR AT AN ELECTION (OTHER THAN A PRIMARY), ON A DATE AS SHALL BE DESIGNATED BY THE TOWN COUNCIL.".  ROLL CALL VOTE:  6/0

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR SHAW, AND IT IS VOTED BY A ROLL CALL VOTE TO APPROVE AS AMENDED.  VOTE 4/2.   

Councilors Schmitt and Magill voted Nay.

 

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

A.  ORDINANCES FOR PUBLIC HEARING (Powerpoint) (Mayor's e-mail)

1.  #23-11 – An Ordinance amending the General Fund Budget for fiscal year 2022-2023 (First Hearing)

 

Public hearing opened at 7:49pm

 

President Kinch read the totals into the record.

 

Mayor Mutter gave his overview of this yearly budget.

 

Public hearing closed at 8:00pm

 

No vote was required.

 

2.  #23-14 – An ordinance establishing the Operating Budget for the Town of Cumberland's General Fund for Fiscal Year 2023/2024 (First Hearing)

 

Public hearing opened at 8:01pm

 

President Kinch read the totals into the record.

 

School Business Manager Alex Prignano responded to questions on an item relating to the schools.

 

The Councilors asked questions of the Mayor. The Mayor showed a brief Powerpoint presentation to illustrate his points.

 

President Kinch asked if anyone wished to speak about this ordinance.

 

Assistant School Superintendent Antonio DiManna read a statement on behalf of Superintended Thornton.

 

Resident Alyson Johnson stated that she had taken time to go through the budget, and questioned the Mayor on several revenues and expenditures she had concerns with.

 

Public hearing closed at 8:34pm

 

No vote was required.

 

3.  #23-15 – An ordinance establishing the Operating Budget for the Town of Cumberland's Water Department for Fiscal Year 2023/2024 (First Hearing)

 

Public hearing opened at 8:35pm

 

President Kinch read the totals into the record.

 

Councilor Beaulieu commented, it seems there have been no adjustments to the revenue.  There has been some discussion on the water rate study, how does that affect the budget?

 

Mayor Mutter stated that the water rate study was in front of the Finance Sub Committee and would be coming before the Council. This is a working document and may get amended based on the findings of the Finance Sub Committee and the decision of the Council.

 

Public hearing closed at 8:38pm

 

No vote was required.

 

4.  #23-16 – An ordinance establishing the Operating Budget for the Town of Cumberland's Sewer Department for Fiscal Year 2023/2024 (First Hearing)

 

Public hearing opened at 8:39pm

 

President Kinch read the totals into the record.

 

Public hearing closed at 8:40pm

No vote was required.

5.  #23-17 – An ordinance establishing the Operating Budget for the Town of Cumberland's Recreation Fund for Fiscal Year 2023/2024 (First Hearing)

Public hearing opened at 8:41pm

President Kinch read the revenue and expenditures totals.

Councilor Beaulieu and the Mayor discussed an enterprise fund that had been absorbed into the general budget and was returned.

Public hearing closed at 8:42pm

 

No vote was required.

 

B.  RESOLUTIONS  (heard earlier)

1.  R-23-41 – A resolution memorializing the General Assembly to enact legislation authorizing the Town of Cumberland, with the approval of the qualified electors, to issue not to exceed $52 million General Obligation bonds, notes and other evidence of indebtedness to Finance the construction, renovation, improvement, alteration, repair, furnishing and equipping of a new elementary school and other related school facilities and the demolition of an existing elementary school on land presently occupied by the B.F. Norton School in the Town provided that the authorization shall be reduced by any grant received from the school building authority Capital Fund.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS  

Mayor Mutter stated for the record that if any one of the Councilors have any questions at all, please reach out and he will provide answers.

ADJOURNMENT

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN AT 8:50PM. 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.