MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CUMBERLAND TOWN COUNCIL

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2024, at 6:00 P.M.

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

45 BROAD STREET, CUMBERLAND, RHODE ISLAND

 

 

CALL TO ORDER

The special meeting was called to order at 6:00pm 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; Director Joe Duarte; Parks & Recreation
                      Director Mike Crawley

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

There were none  

OLD BUSINESS

A. ORDINANCES FOR PUBLIC HEARING

1.  #24-08A – An ordinance amending the General Fund Budget for fiscal year 2023-2034 (First hearing)

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR SHAW, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ACCEPT #24-08A IN PLACE OF #24-08. VOTE 7/0.

Mayor Mutter stated that this ordinance complies with the recently enacted FY24-25 levy which is typically adjusted throughout the year; and briefly outlined the budget.

 

Public hearing opened at 6:02pm.

 

President Kinch read the adjusted totals for both the revenues and expenditures.

 

Councilor Beaulieu asked when the vote for this ordinance would be expected. The Mayor said he anticipated having that vote at the June 5, 2024 Council meeting.

 

Councilor Shaw stated that at the Finance Sub Committee meeting the previous evening they discussed the Cumberlandfest budget; and asked if now would be an appropriate time to make an amendment to reallocate that money to distribute $2,000 to Franklin Farm and $500 to the Land Trust?

 

 

The Mayor responded in the affirmative.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO AMEND #28-08A TO TRANSFER THE FUNDS ALLOCATED FOR CUMBERLANDFEST ($2,500) BY DISTRIBUTING $500 TO THE LAND TRUST AND $2,000 TO FRANKLIN FARMS. VOTE 7/0.

 

President Kinch asked if anyone wished to speak on this ordinance. There was no one.

 

Public hearing closed at 6:14pm

No other vote was required at this meeting.

 

2.  #24-15A – An ordinance establishing the Operating Budget for the Town of Cumberland's General Fund for Fiscal Year 2024/2025 (Second hearing and first vote)

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ACCEPT #24-15A IN PLACE OF #24-15. VOTE 7/0.

 

Public hearing opened at 6:15pm

 

President Kinch read the adjusted totals for both the revenues and expenditures.

 

Mayor Mutter stated that the driver to the amendment in FY25 relates to the school construction payment and the school housing offset which is somewhat delayed, presenting a strategy for a catch-up payment to come subsequently.

The Mayor further reviewed changes to the budget.

 

Councilor Metivier asked if the maintenance of effort would create an issue next year?

Mayor Mutter responded that it will always be a challenge, especially with any new construction.

President Kinch asked if any member of the public would like to speak. There was no none.

 

The Council and Mayor discussed department goals and how the Council contributes to the support of those goals; and future plans for use of the old police station building.

 

Councilor Shaw asked if he could make the same amendment to this budget, transferring money from Cumberlandfest to the Land Trust and Franklin Farm, and what is the deadline for this budget? The Mayor responded that the deadline was prior to June 30^th.

 

Public hearing closed at 6:40pm

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO AMEND #24-15A TO REMOVE FUNDS ALLOCATED FOR CUMBERLANDFEST FROM $2500 TO $0 AND INCREASE THE LAND TRUST FROM $1000 TO $1500 AND INCREASE FRANKLIN FARMS FROM $15,000 TO $17,000. VOTE 7/0.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS VOTED TO APPROVE AS AMENDED, BY A ROLL CALL. VOTE 6/1.
Nay: Councilor Bradley, due to impact fees

 

3.  #24-16A – An ordinance establishing the Operating Budget for the Town of Cumberland's Water Department for Fiscal Year 2024/2025 (Second hearing and first vote)

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR METIVIER, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ACCEPT #24-16A IN PLACE OF #24-16. VOTE 7/0.

 

Discussion was stopped as it was determined that the resolution had been labeled “A” incorrectly; there had been no changes to warrant the “A” designation.

 

The motion and second were withdrawn.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR METIVIER, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO WITHDRAW THEIR MOTIONS. VOTE 7/0.

 

President Kinch read the revenues and expenditures for #24-16 into the record.

 

Public hearing opened at 6:48pm                 

 

Mayor Mutter reviewed the ordinance for the Council.

 

Councilor Shaw commented that he had spoken to Water Superintendent Romeo Mendes regarding the pump being down for 4 weeks at Manville for scheduled maintenance; it should be back online in a week and a half.

 

President Kinch asked if anyone from the public wished to speak.

 

Councilor Bradley confirmed with the Mayor about paving projects going through the water department.

 

Public hearing closed at 6:50pm

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS VOTED TO APPROVE #24-16, BY A ROLL CALL. VOTE 6/1.

Nay: Councilor Bradley, due to impact fees.

 

4.  #24-17 – An ordinance establishing the Operating Budget for the Town of Cumberland's Sewer Department for Fiscal Year 2024/2025 (Second hearing and first vote)

 

President Kinch read the revenues and expenditures into the record.

 

Public hearing opened at 6:54pm 

 

Mayor Mutter stated that the administration has been making sewer fund a legitimate enterprise fund. There are infrastructure projects to be done. A sewer rate study will be completed and presented soon.

 

Councilor Shaw asked DPW Director Joe Duarte – with the infrastructure improvement fund – are there any projects relating to Cumberland Hill area around the quarry that have come up the last year with blasting?

 

Mr. Duarte responded that he had not heard of anything affecting the sewer mains in that area.

Councilor Magill and Mr. Duarte discussed rising sewer insurance claims.

 

There were no other questions.

 

Public hearing closed at 6:58pm

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS VOTED TO APPROVE #24-17, BY A ROLL CALL. VOTE 6/1.

Nay: Councilor Bradley

 

4.  #24-18A – An ordinance establishing the Operating Budget for the Town of Cumberland's Recreation Fund for Fiscal Year 2024/2025 (Second hearing and first vote)

 

President Kinch read the revenues and expenditures into the record.

 

Public hearing opened at 7:00pm

 

Mayor Mutter explained that this is a program fund – if the revenues don’t come in the expenses follow accordingly. Effectively they are subject to change based on the fluctuation of who participates in the events and who doesn’t.

 

Councilor Shaw commented on a $20,000 decrease in program payroll; ballfield rentals; and Tucker Field miscellaneous revenue.

 

Mayor Mutter explained that previously revenues in excess of what was anticipated were put into the general fund. Now, if revenues exceed what is anticipated, the excess stays in that program fund to be spent only on items within that program.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ACCEPT #24-18A IN PLACE OF #24-18. VOTE 7/0.

 

Parks & Rec Director Mike Crawley joined via Zoom. In response to Councilor Shaw’s question about the $20,000 decrease, Mr. Crawley stated that it fell under the dance instruction and summer camp program.

 

There were no other questions from the council or public.

 

Public hearing closed at 7:09pm

 

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

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

There were none.

 

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN AT 7:09PM. 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.