THE REGULAR MEETING MINUTES OF THE CUMBERLAND TOWN COUNCIL

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2025 at 7:30 p.m.

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

45 BROAD STREET, CUMBERLAND, RHODE ISLAND

 

CALL TO ORDER

Council President Kinch called the regular meeting to order at 7:31 pm.

Members Present: Council President Kinch, Councilors Bradley, Metivier, Magill, Beaulieu, Sweet, and Shaw Jr.

Also, present were Mayor Jeffrey J. Mutter; Kelley Morris Salvatore; Sandra M. Giovanelli, Town Clerk; Scott Dessert, EMS Chief.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Council President Kinch asked that a notification/reminder be sent to all Town Boards and Commissions regarding the State Ethics Training that will take place on Monday, April 21, 2025 in the Community Room at the Cumberland Public Library.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

A.    Acceptance of Minutes of the Regular meeting of March 19, 2025.

 

B.     MUNICIPAL MOBILE FOOD ESTABLISHMENT LICENSE

      1.  Pit Stop

      2.  T’s Grazing Table Charcuterie

      3.  Binge BBQ

      4.  Bird Nest

      5.  Braised

 

C.    COMMUNICATIONS

1.   C-25-17– A resolution from the Town of Charlestown asking for support regarding Public Notices for the Towns of Burrillville and Gloucester.

2.   C-25-18 – A resolution from the Town of Middletown regarding 2025 Legislative Priorities.

3.   C-25-19 – A resolution from the Town of Middletown regarding the restoration of General Revenue sharing.

4.   C-25-20 – A resolution from the Town of Westerly regarding the restoration of General Revenue sharing.

5.   C-25-21 – A resolution from the Town of Narragansett regarding the restoration of General Revenue sharing.

6.   C-25-22 – A resolution from the City of Woonsocket regarding the restoration of General Revenue sharing.

7.   C-25-23 – A resolution from the Town of Lincoln regarding the restoration of General Revenue sharing.

8.   C-25-24 – A resolution from the Town of Lincoln regarding Gun Control legislation.

9.   C-25-25 – A resolution from the Town of Burrillville regarding Gun Control legislation.

10. C-25-26 – A resolution from the North Smithfield Public Schools regarding funding for private school transportation.

11. C-25-27 – A resolution from the Burrillville School District regarding funding for private school transportation

 

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

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

REPORTS/COMMUNICATIONS

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

 

No Executive vote(s) to report.

 

B.  Presentation of Citations to the Cumberland Boys & Girls Club, Northern RI Raptors Flag Football team.

 

Council President Kinch congratulated the Boys & Girls Club of Northern RI Raptors Flag Football Team on their U15 Flag Football 1^st Place win at the AAU World Championship.  Each member was given a citation from the Town.

 

 

LICENSES

A.    SPECIAL EVENT ENTERTAINMENT LICENSE

1.   An application for a Special Event Entertainment license from Cumberland Youth Baseball for the Cumberland Little League Parade taking place on April 19, 2025, beginning at St. John Vianny Church, 3587 Diamond Hill Road, and ending at Bentley Baseball Field, 3579 Diamond Hill Road.

 

Daniel Rhault, Special Event Director for the Cumberland Youth Baseball, stated that there has been quite a bit of growth in little league this past year, so by request from a lot of parents, we decided to bring back the parade.  We will be going from St. John Vianny Church escorted by a fire truck at the front of the parade and the back, marching our way into Bentley Field.  The Mayor, League President, and a few other individuals will speak once the parade ends at Bentley Field.  The kids are really excited to participate.  We are going to keep it simple this year but would like to do something bigger next year.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILORS MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE SUBJECT TO FINAL APPROVAL FROM RI DOT OF STREET CLOSURE AND PROMOTER’S PERMIT.  VOTE 7/0.

 

OLD BUSINESS

A.    ORDINANCES FOR PUBLIC HEARING

1.   #25-04B – An ordinance establishing the fee schedule for The Lodge at Diamond Hill at Diamond Hill Park. (Last tabled at the March 19, 2025 council meeting)

 

Councilor Beaulieu states that the Ordinance Sub-Committee have had several ordinance meetings to discuss The Lodge fees.  The updated ordinance has text in green which is the new text that has been added.  There's also yellow highlighted text in green, which are more recent changes.  We have added a few other items to help identify capabilities for Town residents versus outside of Town residents, and who administers the Ordinance.  There are 2 minor changes that the Solicitor recommended. 

 

Council President Kinch asked for clarification of the Solicitor on taking a motion regarding the ordinance amendment from #25-04A to #25-04B.

 

MOTION TO COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR SHAW, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ACCEPT #25-04B IN PLACE OF #25-04A.  VOTE 7/0.

 

Councilor Beaulieu stated that the committee added prime season, non-prime season rates.  We differentiated it for those who are residents and those who are not residents.  There are different rates based on days of the week.  The Parks and Recs Commission, as I had mentioned previously, had summarized some rate findings.  They unanimously supported passage of the rates in one of their meetings.  We've made some other changes as it relates to other use and care circumstances.  There are 2 changes to the ordinance.  The first change is on Page 2, line 38, number 1, Residents or organizations (e. g. a local nonprofit), may ask to appear, and it continues on.  We are removing the (e.g. a local nonprofit), and the parentheses.  The next change is on Page 3, Line 1, number 2, mentions intermittent use.  We are changing the line to state, Only request for intermittent use will be considered, meaning no more than four (4) events per year without Council approval.  In no event shall an organization use the facility for resale or sub-lease to third parties.  The second sentence prevents somebody from renting the facility and then sub-leasing it to another party. We wanted to control that.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, SECONDED BY COUNCILORS SHAW AND SWEET TO AMEND PAGE 2 LINE 38 BY STRIKING OUT (E.G. A LOCAL NON-PROFIT), AND AMENDING PAGE 3, LINE 1, ONLY REQUEST FOR INTERMITTENT USE WILL BE CONSIDERED, MEANING NO MORE THAN FOUR (4) EVENTS PER YEAR WITHOUT COUNCIL APPROVAL.  IN NO EVENT SHALL AN ORGANIZATION USE THE FACILITY FOR RESALE OR SUB-LEASE TO THIRD PARTIES.  VOTE 7/0.

 

The public hearing was opened at 7.46 p.m.

No further discussions.

 

The public hearing was closed at 7:47 p.m.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, SECONDED BY COUNCILORS SHAW AND SWEET, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE AS AMENDED BY A ROLL CALL VOTE.  VOTE 7/0.

 

2.   #25-05 – An ordinance amending the tax rate ordinance (Presented by the Council President on behalf of the Administration)

 

Councilor Shaw stated they are moving the ordinance to the full Council with no recommendation other than that it would be good to potentially table this throughout the budget season.  The Mayor will go through the process of why we need this in place and to keep it live versus taking a vote on it tonight.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO TABLE ORDINANCE #25-06 UNTIL APRIL 16, 2025.  VOTE 7/0.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS

A.  CLAIM

      1.   Kara van Zyl and Harper van Zyl

Referred to the Solicitor’s Office

 

      2.   Austin Bodieri

Referred to the Solicitor’s Office

 

      3.   Martin Goulding

Referred to the Solicitor’s Office

 

B.  RESOLUTIONS

1.   R-25-20 – A resolution adopting the unsynchronized Tax Levy for portions of Fiscal Year 2025 and Fiscal Year 2026.

Referred to Finance Sub-Committee

 

2.   R-25-21 – A resolution authorizing and empowering Mayor Jeffrey J. Mutter to enter into an amended lease agreement with Blackstone River Theatre

 

Town Solicitor Salvatore stated that the Blackstone River Theatre approached the Town regarding their insurance premium being high due to the liability amount on their lease.  The recommendation is to lower the full building coverage to $1M.

 

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

 

3.   R-25-22 – A resolution authorizing and empowering Mayor Jeffrey J. Mutter to enter into an agreement with Delta Development Team, Inc. to purchase three temperature-controlled coolers in an amount not to exceed Eighteen Thousand Two Hundred and Forty-Nine Dollars and Fifty Cents ($18,249.50).

 

EMS Chief Scott Dessert states that this resolution would allow the EMS to purchase 3 temperature controlled smart coolers, which will be able to store vaccines and blood products in the future.  They are monitored by cellular connection and will receive the notifications through our phones of anybody that's on duty if there are any temperature variances.  We'll be able to track, report into any state agencies that require it, and stay cool up to 48 hours in pretty extreme temperatures.  They use them all around the country, specifically Texas, and they're top of their game.  Funds to purchase these will be from a recently acquired community paramedic grant. 

 

Council President Kinch asked if the Town had any fund match, which the Chief answered no.  One cooler will be placed in each ambulance, and a spare, if needed, could go in the SUV.  This project has been ongoing since November 2024.

 

Councilor Beaulieu asked if these are replacements or new products.  Chief Dessert stated they are a new product.  They eventually want to be able to carry blood products on the ambulances to administer to patients in hemorrhagic shock.  This is not done today, and Cumberland would be the first.

 

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

 

4.   R-25-23 – A resolution authorizing and empowering Mayor Jeffrey J. Mutter to enter a unit pricing agreement with Cintas Corporation for Janitorial and Facility Maintenance Supplies in a total amount not to exceed twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) for the year.

 

Mayor Mutter states that Cintas is on the State MPA, number 605.  A cost comparison was completed with all our maintenance and janitorial supplies.  FY24 charges were a total of $18,800.  Director Crawley was in contact with Cintas, so the unit pricing is significantly cheaper in a in a bunch of different categories for these supplies.  The $25,000 number is based on $18,800.  This year we know that there's going to be a couple of new facilities that will be added in the next year; 1 in the next few weeks, and 1 at the end of the calendar year.

 

Councilor Sweet questioned if the new buildings, specifically at the park, would cover all the janitorial type supplies we'd need, or would there be additional stuff, maybe post events or things, that would need to be purchased.  Mayor Mutter stated we do have some supplies that we already have in stock, so we would be running through those first.  With this company, Cintas, it's pretty much like a consignment type.  You don't pay anything for the mechanisms.  It gets determined based on usage, but they could be here biweekly, monthly, or weekly in some cases.  At the park, especially in the kitchen, there's no setup.  So that would be the first order. The first 2 buildings that we see as a need are at Diamond Hill Park and the Senior Center.  We would just be going through available stock for everywhere else, then Cintas would come online.

 

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

 

 

C.  ORDINANCES for presentation and permission to advertise

1.         # 25-06 – An ordinance amending the General Fund Budget for Fiscal Year 2024-2025 (Presented by the Council President on behalf of the Administration) 

 

Referred to the Finance Sub-Committee.

 

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Mayor Mutter stated that by code the tax levy, resolution 25-20, has to go to the Finance Sub-committee, and the Finance Sub-committee needs to offer a recommendation prior to the full council adopting that.  For most members, the tax levy has to be passed.  It is of vital importance that the bills go out on May 1, so it is generally passed at the next council meeting or at a special meeting very close to that date.  We need to keep in mind that by code the tax levy resolution needs to go to the Finance Sub-committee and have some sort of recommendation prior to the full vote. 

 

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN AT 8:02 P.M.  VOTE 7/0.