MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CUMBERLAND TOWN COUNCIL

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2026 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 of the Cumberland Town Council to order at 7:38 p.m., all council members were present.

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

CONSENT AGENDA

A.    Acceptance of Minutes of the Regular Meetings of March 18, 2026.

 

B.     COMMUNICATIONS

1.  C-26-17 – A resolution from the Town of South Kingstown in support of establishing reimbursement for community paramedic programs.

2.  C-26-18 – Resolutions from the Town of Warren:

a.)    To the General Assembly exemption for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as persons with neurological disorders.

b.)    To the General Assembly amendment of the Wavemaker Fellowship

3.  C-26-19 – A resolution from the Town of Smithfield in support of municipalities collaborating in reviewing, analyzing, and responding to the 2024 and 2025 affordable housing laws.

4.  C-26-20 – A joint municipal statement from the Town of Bristol regarding Rhode Island Municipalities on the 2025 State affordable housing laws.

5.  C-26-21 – Resolutions from the Town of Richmond:

a.)    Requesting the General Assembly to consider swift action to change the date of the September 2026 Rhode Island Statewide Primary Election due to concerns regarding the Labor Day holiday.

b.)    In support of Rhode Island House Bill H7224 (2026 – An act relating to Towns & Cities – Award of Municipal Contracts)

6.  C-26-22 – Resolutions from the Town of Lincoln:

a.)    Resolution related to low and moderate income housing resolution 2026-2

b.)    To the Honorable RI General Assembly in support of joint resolution 7678

c.)    To the Honorable RI General Assembly in support of house bill H 7971

d.)    To the Honorable RI General Assembly in opposition to house bill H 8073 and senate bill 2710

e.)    Congratulating the Enrico Caruso Society on the 100th Anniversary of its founding

f.)     To the Honorable RI General Assembly an amendment to Title 44 Chapter 3 of the Rhode Island General Laws to enable the Lincoln Town Council to enact a tax credit for veterans

g.)    In support of municipalities collaborating in reviewing, analyzing, and responding to the 2024 and 2025 affordable housing laws

7.  C-26-23 – Resolutions from East Greenwich:

a.)    Supporting the implementation of the Rhode Island Blue Ribbon Commission on education funding recommendations.

b.)    Regarding Low-and-Moderate-income housing.

8.  C-26-24 – A public hearing notice from the RI DEM for a hearing on April 6, 2026, regarding Peterson Puritan Operable Unit 2 Superfund Site on Mendon Road.

 

C.  MUNICIPAL MOBILE FOOD ESTABLISHMENT LICENSE

      1. Farm to Sandwich LLC

      2. Daily Grind

      3. Chik-Fil-A

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA.  VOTE OF 7/0.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

The Council President asked if anyone wished to speak to which no one responded. 

 

REPORTS/COMMUNICATIONS

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

 

The Council President reported that the council took no votes in executive session.

 

LICENSES

A.    2026-2027 LICENSE RENEWALS

1.  Roses Italian Bakery dba Juliana’s Italian Bakery, 1181 High St (Pending Fire Approval and Building) (tabled from March 18, 2026 meeting)

 

Councilor Beaulieu inquired if all the work had been completed.

 

The Council President responded that they understood it had been and that everything had been done.

 

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

 

B.        ENTERTAINMENT LICENSE

1.      An application for a Special Event Entertainment License from Cole Constant Foundation for the Cole Constant Memorial 5K on May 17, 2026 at the Cumberland Monastery, 1464 Diamond Hill Road.

 

The Council President noted that if approved, it would be pending insurance verification.

 

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

 

2.      An application for a Special Event Entertainment License from Ocean State Brewing Company dba Phantom Farms Brewing, 30 Martin Street, Building C, for Parking lot band on May 24, 2026 from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

 

Council President noted that if approved, the license would be pending a promoter's permit.  The Council President asked if anyone was present from Phantom Farm, finding none.

 

Councilor Sweet raised a question, asking the clerk about confusion over another event that possibly didn't have proper licensing on Saint Patrick's Day. Councilor Sweet inquired if that was correct and what communication she received from the business. Councilor Sweet asked for an explanation, noting that the business had come before them for event licenses previously.

 

The clerk said they learned about the event after EMS asked why they hadn’t been notified, noting the Fire Department was already on-site. Afterward, the office emailed the business owner and staff to remind them that a special event entertainment license is required for outdoor events with more than 25 people that include food and entertainment. The business’s attorney later responded, stating they believed their outdoor serving license already covered such events.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR METIVIER, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL TO APPROVE THE SPECIAL EVENT ENTERTAINMENT LICENSE.  VOTE 6/1. 

Nay – Councilor Sweet 

 

C.       HAWKER’S LICENSE

1.      An application for a Hawker’s license from JVS Enterprises LLC with operating dates of April 3, 4, and 5 and May 8, 9, and 10, 2026 located at Sher-La-Mon, 2701 Mendon Road.

Councilor Shaw asked the clerk for clarification about what exactly this license was for, expressing some confusion. The clerk explained it involved items like stuffed flowers, plush toys, and holiday gifts. Councilor Shaw sought confirmation that it was in the building's parking lot, not the town parking lot, which was confirmed.

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED COUNCILOR MAGILL TO APPROVE HAWKER'S LICENSE. VOTE 7/0.

NEW BUSINESS

A.    APPOINTMENTS

K-12 PROGRAM COORDNATOR (OCYL)

1.      Jennifer Geller

MOTION BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, COUNCILORS SWEET AND COUNCILOR SHAW, TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT. THE MOTION WAS SECONDED BY BOTH. THE MOTION PASSED BY A VOTE OF 7/0.

 

B.     RESOLUTIONS

1.      R-26-15 – A resolution extending the period for authorized firms to provide on-call services for engineering and related services for one (1) year.

 

Director Mendes explained that a number of years ago, the Town put out an RFP for engineering and related services and had a number of firms respond. Subsequent committee reviewed the qualifications of the firms, and they were put on the list that the public works department and a bevy of other departments in the town have taken advantage of since then. That initial agreement was to be in place for 3 years with an option for an additional year if the council saw fit to have that be the case. Public works would request favorable consideration to extend for a year.

 

The Council President asked if it had worked out for the Director, and the Director confirmed that it most definitely has.

 

Councilor Shaw asked if there were any changes to the list, to which the Director confirmed there were not.

 

Councilor Bradley inquired whether they had considered looking for others for the list or advertising it.

The Director explained that there was significant effort involved in recreating the process from three years ago, and because they had worded it with an option for a year, they decided to continue. He noted they would start working on a new RFP in the next six months to have a similar list in place for the council next spring, but the extension made it easier at this point.

 

The Council President sought clarification that they would extend for a year and open it up for possible other bidders next year, which the Director confirmed.

 

The Mayor emphasized that the list includes many highly qualified firms across many categories. He noted that he is sensitive to any suggestion that these companies are unqualified or have failed to meet standards, particularly given their three years of service on the on-call list.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU TO APPROVE.  VOTE OF 7/0.

 

2.      R-26-16 – A resolution adopting the unsynchronized tax levy for portions of fiscal year 2026 and fiscal year 2027.

 

Administration requested to table this until the April 15th meeting while referring it to the finance subcommittee.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL TO TABLE TO APRIL 15, 2026 COUNCIL MEETING.  VOTE 7/0.

 

3.      R-26-17 – A resolution authorizing and empowering Mayor Jeffrey J. Mutter to execute an easement to the Narragansett Electric company and Verizon New England for the replacement and maintenance of a distribution system on assessor’s plat 45, lot 33.

 

Director Mendes explained to the council that they were approached by Rhode Island Energy, who crafted the easement and were asking the town to grant it. He noted there were existing poles in both locations, and that Resolution 26-18 was the exact same request but at a different location in the vicinity. The Director explained that the existing poles were not on town property, but when they replace and put in the new pole, it would have a live wire that would encroach onto town property, which was why they were requesting the easement.

 

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

 

4.      R-26-18 – A resolution authorizing and empowering Mayor Jeffrey J. Mutter to execute an easement to the Narragansett Electric Company and Verizon New England for the replacement and maintenance of a distribution system on assessor’s plat 45, lot 79.

 

The Director noted this is the same situation. 

 

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

 

5.      R-26-19 –A resolution authorizing and empowering Mayor Jeffrey J. Mutter to enter into a contract renewal with Retrofit Technologies for IT Managed Services, Microsoft Licensing, and Barracuda Security Licensing.

 

The Administration requested to table this to April 15th.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL TO TABLE TO APRIL 15, 2026 COUNCIL MEETING.  VOTE 7/0.

 

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR SHAW, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLT VOTED TO ADJOURN AT 7:54 PM.  VOTE 7/0.