MINUTES
EXETER TOWN COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
NOVEMBER 28, 2022
Town Council President Daniel W. Patterson led Council and the Public in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Special Meeting of the Exeter Town Council was called to order at 6:30 p.m., on Monday, November 28, 2022, in Council Chambers, Exeter Clerk’s Office, 675 Ten Rod Road, Exeter, Rhode Island.
Roll Call: Daniel W. Patterson Present
Michael A. Lefebvre Present
Calvin A. Ellis Present
Olivia DeFrancesco Present
Manuel Andrews Present
A. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, NOVEMBER 7, 2022
B. REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING, EXECUTIVE SESSION, NOVEMBER 7, 2022
MOTION made by Mr. Andrews to approve the Regular Council Meeting Minutes
and Executive Session Minutes of November 7, 2022; seconded by Ms. DeFrancesco;
and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
Town Council President Daniel W. Patterson: Mr. Patterson dedicated tonight’s meeting in memory of the late Francis T. Maher, Jr., Council Member,
who passed away this year, on March 26, 2022. Mr. Maher was re-elected to the Town
Council in November of 2020. He served two terms as State Senator, two terms on the
Exeter-West Greenwich School Committee, and two terms as a Town Council Member.
The last two years have seen unprecedented challenges, the Covid-19 epidemic and
quarantines and the passing of a Councilman. Neither have happened before.
Mr. Patterson turned the meeting over to Town Clerk Lynn Hawkins.
State Senator, Elaine J. Morgan:
Ms. Hawkins asked the following newly-elected Town Council Members to join her at
Council table. They were sworn into office by Senator Morgan. They will serve the
ensuing two-year term, November 2022 to November 2024.
Olivia DeFrancesco
Calvin A. Ellis
Michael A. Lefebvre
Diane Bampton Allen
Daniel W. Patterson
State Senator Elaine J. Morgan:
Ms. Hawkins asked the following newly-elected Town Officials to come forward.
They were sworn into office by Senator Morgan. The Moderator, Town Sergeant, Zoning Inspector, and Director of Social Services will serve the ensuing two-year term, November
2022 to November 2024. The Town Clerk, Town Treasurer, and School Committee
Member will serve the ensuing four-year term, November 2022 to November 26.
Peter V. Lacouture, Town Moderator
Lynn M. Hawkins, Town Clerk
Maria Lawler, Town Treasurer
Scote N. Miller, Town Sergeant
Hal Morgan, Zoning Inspector
Jessica L. DeMartino, Director of Social Services
Kevin P. McGovern, School Committee Member
Ms. Hawkins called for a motion for election of Town Council President.
MOTION made by Mr. Lefebvre to elect Daniel Patterson as Town Council
President; seconded by Ms. Allen; and voted as follows:
Daniel W. Patterson Yes
Michael A. Lefebvre Yes
Calvin A. Ellis No
Olivia DeFrancesco No
Diane Bampton Allen Yes
Motion passes.
Mr. Patterson will serve as Town Council President for the ensuing term, November
2022 to November 2024.
Ms. Hawkins called for a motion for election of Town Council Vice President.
MOTION made by Mr. Ellis to elect Michael Lefebvre as Town Council Vice
President; seconded by Ms. Allen; and voted as follows:
Daniel W. Patterson Yes
Michael A. Lefebvre Yes
Calvin A. Ellis Yes
Olivia DeFrancesco No
Diane Bampton Allen Yes
Motion passes.
Mr. Lefebvre will serve as Town Council Vice President for the ensuing term,
November 2022 to November 2024.
Ms. Hawkins turned the meeting over to newly-elected Town Council President
Daniel Patterson.
Mr. Patterson thanked outgoing Council Member Manny Andrews for stepping in when Councilman Frank Maher passed away in March of this year. He also thanked the Town Staff and Department of
Public Works Workers for the fantastic jobs they do. They go above and beyond their job
duties. When Town Planner William DePasquale joined the team from Warwick, he was
amazed by how much work is done by, and how efficiently the Town runs with, such a small,
very dedicated, hard-working crew. Mr. Ellis echoed Mr. Patterson’s comments regarding
the staff and public works workers, who keep the Town moving forward and see that business
is taken care of. He also thanked Town Clerk Lynn Hawkins for wearing many hats and stepping in as de facto Town Manager in the absence of one.
MOTION made by Mr. Allen to change date of December Town Council Regular Meeting from December 12 to December 5; seconded by Mr. Lefebvre; and voted as follows:
Daniel W. Patterson Yes
Michael A. Lefebvre Yes
Calvin A. Ellis Yes
Olivia DeFrancesco No
Diane Bampton Allen Yes
Motion passes.
Council has been provided a draft of the proposed Town Council Meeting Schedule for 2023. The July meeting falls on July 3, the Monday before the 4th of July Holiday (Tuesday, July 4). Mr. Lefebvre made the following motion:
MOTION made by Mr. Lefebvre to move the Regular Town Council Meeting from Monday, July 3, 2023, to Monday, July 10, 2023; seconded by Mr. Patterson.
Discussion: It being a holiday weekend, attendance on Monday, July 3, may be difficult
for Council and the Public.
Back to the Motion: Voted as follows:
Daniel W. Patterson Yes
Michael A. Lefebvre Yes
Calvin A. Ellis Yes
Olivia DeFrancesco No
Diane Bampton Allen Yes
Motion passes.
MOTION made by Mr. Lefebvre to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Ms. Allen;
and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
The Special Meeting was adjourned at 6:42 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynn M. Hawkins, CMC
Exeter Town Clerk
Approved: December 5, 2022