MINUTES
EXETER TOWN COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
MARCH 11, 2024
The Special Meeting of the Exeter Town Council was called to order at 7:03 p.m., on Monday, March 11, 2024, in the Wawaloam Elementary School Cafeteria, 100 Victory Highway (Rte.102), Exeter, Rhode Island.
Roll Call: Daniel W. Patterson Yes
Michael A. Lefebvre Yes
Diane Bampton-Allen Yes
Olivia DeFrancesco Yes
Calvin A. Ellis Yes
Also Present: James P. Marusak, Esq., Town Solicitor
Lynn M. Hawkins, Town Clerk
Kenneth G. Findlay, Council Assistant
PUBLIC HEARING: PLANNING BOARD RECOMMENDATION AND TOWN COUNCIL ADOPTION OF TOWN OF EXETER COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: NEW PLAN: "EXETER 2044 - ONE COMMUNITY MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER":
Ron Ronzio, Court Reporter, was present.
MOTION made by Mr. Ellis to open the Joint Meeting and Public Hearing; seconded by Ms. DeFrancesco; and voted unanimously in the alternative.
By unanimous vote, the Planning Board opened the Joint Meeting and Public Hearing.
Attorney Marusak explained the procedure for tonight’s meeting and the public hearing.
Town Planner, William DePasquale, introduced the draft Comprehensive Plan update and
reviewed for Council and the Public. See Attachment A attached hereto and incorporated
herein.
Larrissa Brown, Consultant for the Comprehensive Plan on behalf of the Town, presented a Power Point and reviewed the plan. See Attachment B attached hereto and incorporated herein.
Robert Corriea, Member of the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee, read a statement
from the Committee regarding the plan. See Attachment C attached hereto and incorporated
herein.
Mr. Millar invited the Public to make its comments.
Loretta Converse, 99 Brookridge Drive: Moved to Exeter because it is beautiful and welcoming, Feels, however, there is a divide between old timers and new comers. Loves living here. Does not want to change anything. The Comprehensive Plan’s mission is “One Community Moving Forward Together.” Could that vision also focus on collaboration with businesses, organiza-tions, and surrounding communities and leverage resources. She thanked everyone who has
worked on the plan.
Thomas McMillan, 20 Cobblestone Hill Road: Gave credit and thanks to Larrissa Brown without whom the Comprehensive Plan would not have gotten this far. The Town is handi-capped immensely by huge portions of land owned by the State or non-profits, that are
off limits, and do not offer any economic prospects. The housing dilemma hangs “around our necks like an albatross.” His grandchildren cannot find a place to live. He does not know how long he can stay in his house. It has always been hoped that economic development will help pay taxes. So far, no answer there. The Town has an immense opportunity, as suggested in
the Plan, for the I95/Route 102 intersection that cannot be wasted and must be done. Many recommendations in the plan require budget and people and force the Council to make decisions. In the past, we have not been able to accomplish that. There are strong expressions for a community center and a new town hall at the library site. Leveraging natural resources for the financial good of the town will be a challenge. We cannot expect everyone to agree, but that is what leadership is for.
Asa Davis, 146 Beechwood Hill Trail: Gave Mr. DePasquale kudos. This is the best compre- hensive plan the Town has seen in a decade or so. It has not been fast or cheap, but it is right. He agrees that the Town has to set an example complying with its own plans, setting its own goals, and following its own ordinances. Exeter’s future, as opposed to its past and our current heritage, will probably not be rural. Exeter’s population is increasing. The Census Bureau defines “rural” based on how many people live in a total square area and on buildable square area. State statute obligates the state police to cover rural towns. If the vacant buildable lots
are built on, Exeter will not be considered rural by either definition and would lose police coverage and will result in an increased tax burden for the residents of the Town. He would
like that understood.
Jennifer Cragen, 206 Widow Sweets Road: She is a member of the Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee. She thanked Ms. Brown, Mr. DePasquale, and the other members.
She grew up in Exeter, left, and came back. She learned a lot in the process, how a plan like
this gets put together and how it is executed. There are a lot of wonderful ideas, but it is not possible to get everybody to agree. The idea of having an implementation committee is a good one. Following up on what gets agreed upon in the plan and moving forward must be prioritized.
Crystal Leonard, 47 Cobblestone Hill Road: Thanked everyone involved in putting the Plan together. She did not realize how involved it was or how much work. She does not think a lot
of the community is getting involved, which is really important. There are aging community members and getting the younger generation involved is difficult. Push communication. It
is important to put more online and be more current.
There being no others who wished to speak, Public Comment was closed.
Scott Millar, Chair of the Planning Board, thanked the advisory committee for their efforts
and time, in particular, Mr. Corriea, who attended every meeting and was a valuable member,
the citizens for their feedback, Ms. Brown and her team for their valuable guidance and input,
and Mr. DePasquale for the incredible amount of time he has dedicated to this project. The
plan contains valuable information that will help the Town going forward. It is not done, however. It still has to be accepted by the State.
The Town received comments from the Rhode Island Division of Statewide Planning on
March 7, 2024, after receiving portions of the proposed update to the comprehensive plan
from the Town Planner. See Attachment D attached hereto and incorporated herein.
Mr. Millar and the Planning Board conducted their portion of the public hearing,
ultimately voting on and unanimously approving the following amendments:
1) Accept recommendations from Statewide Planning, dated March 7, 2024,
Comments 1 through 10.
2) Accept Suggestions A through F from Statewide Planning, dated March 7, 2024.
3) Delete Action Item, Goal 8.3, Action II, Page 8-37, of the plan because this is
covered more comprehensively in the Town’s land use and housing sections.
4) Include in the plan, words, ideas, or policies relative to how the Town can go
forward with financing these plans, what are the mechanisms or the tools.
See Planning Board minutes of tonight’s meeting.
The Planning Board submitted to Council for its consideration the revised recommended Comprehensive Plan with the amendments approved this evening by the Planning Board.
The meeting was turned over to the Town Council in order for it to conduct its portion of the public hearing.
Mr. Ellis: Whichever draft of the Plan is adopted will most likely be amended. More comments are expected from Statewide Planning once the remaining sections are sent to them. This has to be considered seriously. It is an ambitious proposal and will be costly. The Town will have to
commit to make it work. It requires resident participation, young and old. He encouraged
the Public to join the committees that will be needed. Sign up sheets were provided.
Ms. DeFrancesco: Tonight’s amendments will not be the last. She refrained her comments
for now.
Ms. Allen: Thanked everyone that helped to develop the Plan. Her amendments would be to remove from the Plan transition to an all-electric Town fleet and installation of a public charging station at the Library and the Town Hall. The Town wants a Community Center and a Town Hall at the Library. Putting in a charging station at the Library is not a good idea at a community Center. Cars and people will be hanging around while charging. An all-electric fleet is not a good idea because electric vehicles do not hold their charge in cold temperatures. The Town’s fleet plows the roads in the cold temperatures.
Attorney Marusak: Commented on tonight’s procedure. Council and the Public have the Planning Board’s recommendation of the Plan and its amendments. Council is making its recommendations but will not vote tonight. State law, 45-22.2-8(c)(1)(V), says “…an amendment may be altered or amended prior to the close of the public hearing without
further advertising, as a result of further study, or as a result of the views expressed at the
public hearing. Any alteration and/or amendment must be presented for comment in the
course of the hearing.” Council is taking the amendments this evening, will not close the
public hearing, will continue it, the amendments will be put in writing and posted prior to
the continued public hearing, in order that the Public can review them prior to the continued hearing, and have its comments ready for the continued public hearing and before council
votes on the plan and the amendments. The Town will adopt the Plan. The State will
approve the Plan. Adoption governs the local decision making. It is not known how long
the State will to take to approve the Plan. Another hearing may be required to bring the
adopted plan into compliance with the State’s approval.
Mr. Lefebvre: Had no amendments.
Because Council had the cafeteria until only 10:00 p.m., Mr. Patterson refrained from
voicing his amendments, and made the following motion:
MOTION made by Mr. Patterson to continue the Public Hearing to May 15, 2024; seconded by Ms. DeFrancesco.
Discussion: Council will be busy with budget preparation all of April and through mid-May.
Back to the Motion: Voted unanimously in the affirmative.
Ms. DiDonato, Member of the Planning Board, asked for a sooner date, citing that time is
of the essence to get the Plan approved, otherwise the Town is left in a vulnerable position.
Ms. DeFrancesco agreed and suggested March 20. Mr. DePasquale would not have enough
time to draft the amendments. Discussion ensued. Other dates were suggested.
Mr. Patterson rescinded his earlier motion for May 15. Ms. DeFrancesco rescinded her second.
MOTION made by Mr. Patterson to continue the Public Hearing for the Exeter Comprehensive Plan to April 2, 2024; seconded by Ms. DeFrancesco; and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
MOTION made by Mr. Patterson to adjourn the meeting; seconded by
Mr. Lefebvre; and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
The Planning Board adjourned its meeting.
The Special Meeting was adjourned at 9:28 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynn M. Hawkins, CMC
Exeter Town Clerk
Approved: April 1, 2024