MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CUMBERLAND TOWN COUNCIL

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2024, at 7:30 P.M.

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

45 BROAD STREET, CUMBERLAND, RHODE ISLAND

 

CALL TO ORDER

The regular meeting was called to order at 7:38pm with a roll call of members.   

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

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

 

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

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

CONSENT AGENDA

A.    Acceptance of Minutes of the Regular Meeting of January 3, 2023 and the Special Meeting of January 8, 2023.

B.  MUNICIPAL MOBILE FOOD ESTABLISHMENT LICENSE       
      1.  A Mano Pizza and Gelato  

 

C.  COMMUNICATIONS

1.  C-24-01 – A resolution from the Town of Warren to the General Assembly requesting an amendment to RIGL 44-18-18.1 to include Class A Liquor License sales in the levy and imposition of a one percent tax on the gross receipts of the licensee

 

2.  C-24-02 – A resolution from the Town of Jamestown Water and Sewer Commission request that the RI General Assembly amend the Chapter 15 of Title 46 of the General Laws to limit a public water system’s obligation to supply of water available to the Commission.

 

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

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS   

There were none.

 

REPORTS/COMMUNICATIONS

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

There were none to report.

 

B.  Presentation of Citations to our Animal Control Officer Dave Waycott, Assistant Animal Control Officer Ryan Theroux, Alexis Williams, Jeff McCabe, Jeff Bonner, Paul Foisy, Thomas Fuller, Andrew Walmsley, Timothy Bowe, and Eric DiRosario recognizing them for rescue of Margot, a missing mini golden doodle.

 

Fire Chief Anderson described the events leading to the rescue of Margot, who had gotten loose and swam to two different islands on Rawson’s Pond; resulting in a group effort of neighbors, Animal Control, members of the Fire Department and their rescue boat to recover the dog. Proclamations were given to all those involved with the rescue, and Margot received a gift basket of treats from the Mayor’s office.

 

C.  Discussion of the formation of a Cumberland 250^th Semi-quincentennial Commission

 

President Kinch stated that he had requested this be put on the agenda. He had provided an ordinance from the town of Bristol to represent what other communities are doing; he had also forwarded this to the Historic District Commission. Mr. Kinch asked for comments.

 

Mayor Mutter stated his office would reach out to the various town committees/commissions and other groups in town.

President Kinch suggested a committee be formed to include representatives of the various groups.

 

D.  Update from the School Committee

Denis Collins gave an overview of RICAS results & redistricting

·         RICAS results – Cumberland is still doing significantly well, we are 5^th in Rhode Island in math scores; in the same league as Jamestown, East Greenwich, Barrington, Little Compton.

·         ELA is at 55% proficiency; again we are in fifth place. If compared only to the larger towns with equivalent populations, we rank second.

·         Both categories show we are successful in closing the post-Covid learning gap, as math is at an all time high, and ELA is under the 2018 number by just one percentage point.

Compared to Massachusetts, RICAS vs MCAS, Cumberland outperformed 70% of the districts in Massachusetts. Cumberland also outperformed BVP.

 

Councilor Beaulieu asked that the presentation from the last school meeting be forwarded to the Council.

 

Mr. Collins touched on the redistricting issue under consideration, which has been in the works since 2020; nothing is final. Enrollment has been growing at a faster rate than projected. The CET student numbers are at about 38.

 

Discussion ensued with the Council.

 

President Kinch asked to next move up ordinance #23-31.

 

OLD BUSINESS

     A.  ORDINANCES FOR PUBLIC HEARING    

1.  #23-31 – An ordinance amending the zoning ordinance relating to agricultural uses.

 

President Kinch stated that the Ordinance Sub-Committee had voted 3-0 for a favorable recommendation.

They are awaiting Planning Board recommendation; he asked the Council to table to February 7, 2024.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR SHAW, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO TABLE TO FEBRUARY 7, 2024.  VOTE 7/0.

 

E.  Monthly/Quarterly Financial Report ending December 31, 2023

 

Councilor Beaulieu asked about the following:          p. 11 Election Workers

                                                                        p. 19 Tax Assessor Revaluation

                                                                        p. 21 Police Department Vehicle Replacement

                                                                        p. 22 HSA card load

Mayor Mutter provided clarification.

 

 

F.  Check registers for December 31, 2023

 

G.  Request from the Tax Assessor to review and approve December 2023 abatements and supplemental bills

MOTION BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR SHAW, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THE 2023 REAL ESTATE ABATEMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,206.16. 

VOTE 7/0.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THE 2023 TANGIBLE ABATEMENTS IN THE AMOUNT OF $208.44.  VOTE 7/0.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THE 2023 REAL ESTATE SUPPLEMENTALS IN THE AMOUNT OF $905.52. 

VOTE 7/0.

 

H.  Department Reports

1.  Animal Control

2.  Building Committees  

3.  Building Official

4.  EMS

5.  Library  

6.  Parks & Recreation

7.  Planning Board

8.  Police Department

9.  Senior Services

10. Town Clerk’s Office

 

 

I.  Quarterly Reports

1. Solicitor’s Office

2. Human Resources

3. OCYL

4. Public Works

5. Water Department

 

LICENSES

HOLIDAY LICENSES

1.  An application for a Holiday License from Shivaram, Inc. d/b/a Smoke Break located at 391 Mendon Road, Suite D

 

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

 

OLD BUSINESS

     A.  ORDINANCES FOR PUBLIC HEARING    

           1.   #23-31 – An ordinance amending the zoning ordinance relating to agricultural uses. (heard earlier)

 

NEW BUSINESS

A.  APPOINTMENTS

      PLANNING DIRECTOR    

1.      Glenn Modica

Mr. Modica was promoted to Planning Director due to the retirement of Jonathan Stevens.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR METIVIER, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR SHAW, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE.  VOTE 7/0.

 

 

B.  RESOLUTIONS

      1.  R-24-09 – A resolution authorizing Mayor Jeffrey J. Mutter to execute a contract with Curia Systems, Inc. for Judicial Case Management Software for Municipal Court

 

Mayor Mutter stated that this sole-source vendor has been utilized by the town for several years. This is a three-year term contract.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR METIVIER, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE.  VOTE 7/0.

2.      R-24-10 – A resolution authorizing and empowering Mayor Jeffrey J. Mutter to purchase one 2024 Ford Edge for the Cumberland Police Detective Division from Colonial Municipal Group in an amount not to exceed thirty-nine thousand seven hundred and thirty-seven dollars ($39,737)

 

Police Chief Benson stated this was not their first choice, but they have an 8-month wait on other vehicles. They need this car for specific administrative use, and there is money left over in the vehicle replacement line. The car will have a police package on it.

President Kinch asked that an email from resident Deborah Vine Smith be added to the record on Clerkbase.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR SHAW, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE.  VOTE 7/0.

C.  CLAIMS

      1.  Joshua Hurd

 

Referred to the Finance Sub-Committee.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Mayor Mutter referenced a correction to R-24-09.

Via Zoom – a person claiming to be “John B.” at address (expletive deleted) issuing insults irrelevant to any agenda topic, was subsequently muted.

 

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN AT 8:29PM. 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.