MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CUMBERLAND TOWN COUNCIL

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 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 scheduled meeting of the Cumberland Town Council to order at 7:37 PM.

 

Members Present: Councilors Kinch, Beaulieu, Bradley, Magill, Metivier, and Sweet

Members Absent: Councilor Shaw

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Councilor Beaulieu requested a moment of silence in memory of Roland Gauvin, who was described as a longtime member of the community and advocate for many issues.

 

CONSENT AGENDA

A.    Acceptance of Minutes of the Special and Regular Meetings of November 5, 2025

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

PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

REPORTS/COMMUNICATIONS

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

President Kinch reported that during the executive session, the Council voted that the Town of Cumberland decline further participation in appeals in the matter of the Town of Barrington versus the State of Rhode Island and others.

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SWEET, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO DECLINE FURTHER PARTICIPATION IN APPEALS IN THE MATTER OF THE TOWN OF BARRINGTON VERSUS THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND OTHERS.  VOTE 6/0.    

B.     Update from the School Committee

Chairwoman Amy Vogel reported that school enrollment had increased by 58 students compared to the previous year, now totaling 5,121 students. She noted that construction at BF Norton was progressing well. She announced that Christina Tomasi of North Cumberland Middle School was named Paraprofessional of the Year, and that Cumberland High School's girls' cross country team had won the Rhode Island State Championship. Chairwoman Vogel also mentioned that Cumberland High School's student government would be collecting items for the "Happy Basket Fill a Truck" event on November 22, 2025, from 10 AM to 2 PM at 2000 Mendon Road.  Chairwoman Vogel informed the Council that the superintendent's contract had been extended, though Councilor Bradley noted that the extension was not a unanimous decision by the School Committee.

C.    Monthly/Quarterly Financial Report ending October 2025

No questions were raised regarding the financial reports.

D.    Check registers for October 2025

No questions were raised regarding the check registers.

E.     Request from the Tax Assessor to review and approve October 2025 abatements and supplemental bills

MOTION BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THE TOTAL 2025 REAL ESTATE SUPPLEMENT OF $964.04.  VOTE 6/0.

MOTION BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE THE TOTAL 2020-2025 REAL ESTATE ABATEMENT SUPPLEMENTS OF $9,629.50.  VOTE 6/0.

F.     Department Reports

1.       Animal Control

2.       Building Committees

3.       Building Official

4.       EMS

5.       Library

6.       Parks & Recreation

7.       Planning & Community Development

8.       Police Department

9.       Senior Services

10.   Town Clerk’s Office

 

No questions were raised regarding the department reports

 

OLD BUSINESS

A.    resolutions

1.  R-25-65 – A resolution authorizing a change order for Pare Corporation relating to engineering services for the crosswalk at Diamond Hill Park in an amount not to exceed eight thousand three hundred and fifty dollars ($8,350) (Tabled from November 5, 2025 council meeting).

 

Director Crawley explained that the resolution addressed a crosswalk issue at Diamond Hill Park. The existing crosswalk needed to be relocated or improved as part of the ongoing project. The Building Committee had voted to recommend moving the crosswalk further south toward the pickleball courts rather than impacting a neighboring property owner's wall and land.

Mayor Mutter clarified that the project required a crosswalk, and the town had two options: either relocate the crosswalk to a better location or keep it at the current location, which would require taking down part of a neighboring property owner's wall. After meeting with property owners, the administration determined that relocating the crosswalk was the preferred option.

Councilors expressed concerns about the cost and necessity of the crosswalk, with Councilor Sweet questioning why it couldn't simply be removed.

Mayor Mutter and Director Crawley explained that having a crosswalk was embedded in the project requirements and removing it would jeopardize project completion and related bonds. They emphasized that the $8,350 cost was for engineering services only, not construction.

Councilor Metivier asked if the Council would need to approve additional funds for construction later, to which Director Crawley indicated it was possible, depending on how much of the original project budget remained.

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

B.  ORDINANCES for PUBLIC HEARING

1.  #25-21 – An ordinance in Amendment of the Zoning Ordinance relating to Accessory Structures and Accessory Dwelling Units (Presented by the Council President on behalf of the Administration)

This ordinance was tabled and returned to the Ordinance Subcommittee to be considered. 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS VOTED TABLE TO DECEMBER 3, 2025.  VOTE 6/0.

2.  #25-22 – An ordinance amending the zoning ordinance relating to the subdivision of a lot with multiple residences by special use permit (Presented by the Council President on behalf of the Administration)

 

Council President noted that an amended version of the ordinance #25-22A is before them for consideration. 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR METIVIER AND MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ACCEPT #25-22A IN PLACE OF #25-22 BY A ROLL CALL VOTE.  VOTE 6/0.

Director Glenn explained that the ordinance amendment stemmed from a case the Planning Board had considered involving a two-family residence on a large lot where the owner proposed adding affordable housing units. The amendment would prevent future owners of properties that received special variances for affordable housing from later subdividing the lot. This would specifically add criterion #7 to exempt projects approved under comprehensive permits from future subdivisions.

The public hearing was opened at 7:56 p.m. and closed at 7:58 p.m. with no public comments.

Councilor Beaulieu noted that the Ordinance Subcommittee had voted 3-0 to recommend approval of the ordinance at their November 4 meeting.

MOTION BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE BY A ROLL CALL VOTE.  VOTE 6/0.

3.  #25-24 – An ordinance authorizing the placement of a stop sign on River Street at the intersection of Forest Avenue. (Presented by Councilor Metivier)

This ordinance was tabled and returned to the Ordinance Subcommittee to be considered. 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS VOTED TO TABLE TO DECEMBER 3, 2025.  VOTE 6/0.

4.  #25-25 – An ordinance amending sections 38-34 and 38-36 of the code of ordinances entitled “One Way Streets” and “Stop Intersections” (Presented by Councilor Magill)

This ordinance was tabled and returned to the Ordinance Subcommittee to be considered. 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS VOTED TO TABLE TO DECEMBER 3, 2025.  VOTE 6/0.

5.  #25-26 – An ordinance amending Chapter 38, Article III (entitled parking, stopping, and standing) of the Town of Cumberland’s Code of Ordinances (Presented by Councilor Magill)

This ordinance was tabled and returned to the Ordinance Subcommittee to be considered. 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS VOTED TO TABLE TO DECEMBER 3, 2025.  VOTE 6/0.

NEW BUSINESS

A.    RESOLUTIONS

1.      R-25-69 – A resolution requesting the General Assembly to consider amending legislation relating to accessory dwelling units (Presented by Councilor Sweet)

Councilor Sweet requested that this resolution be tabled until the December 3^rd meeting.

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

2.   R-25-70 – A resolution authorizing Narragansett Electric Company to install barbed wire at 1595 Mendon Road.

Attorney George Watson of Robinson Cole represented Narragansett Electric Company. He explained that the company had received Planning Board approval to build a new training facility at 1595 Mendon Road. The site is currently secured with a barbed wire fence, and the company wishes to expand the fence around the new training facility to maintain site security.

Mr. Watson presented pictures showing the layout of the existing facility and the proposed new fence (marked green on the plans). He explained that the training facility would be used for electric and gas utility training, including connections, splicing, pole climbing, and transformer installation. He noted that the facility would replace a similar one in Millbury, Massachusetts, that was previously used by National Grid but is no longer available to PPL/Narragansett Electric Company.

Mr.Watson also mentioned that quieter activities had been placed closer to residential properties on Scott Road, and that the driving/parking training area would use the existing parking lot to minimize impact on neighbors.

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

B.     ORDINANCES for presentation and permission to advertise

1.      #25-27 – An ordinance authorizing the placement of a stop sign on Carlson Drive at the intersection of Bryant Street (Presented by Councilor Beaulieu)

This ordinance was referred to the Ordinance Subcommittee.

2.      #25-28 – An ordinance amending section 38-36 of the Cumberland Code of Ordinances entitled “Stop Intersections” (Presented by Councilor Beaulieu)

This ordinance was referred to the Ordinance Subcommittee.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

There were no public comments.

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR SWEET, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN AT 8:08P.M.  VOTE 6/0.