MINUTES
EXETER TOWN COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
DECEMBER 15, 2025
Council led the Public in the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Special Meeting of the Exeter Town Council was called to order at 6:02 p.m. on Monday, December 15, 2025, in the Town Council Chambers, in the Exeter Town Clerk’s Office, 675 Ten Rod Road, Exeter, Rhode Island.
Roll Call: Diane Bampton Allen Present
Raymond A. Morrissey, Jr. Absent – Personal Commitment
Calvin A. Ellis Present
Jamie Schiffer Present
Joseph M. Turner Present
Also Present: Kenneth Sylvia, Esq., Town Solicitor
Lynn M. Hawkins, Town Clerk
Kenneth Findlay, Town Council Assistant
a. CHAPTER 26, MANUFACTURED HOMES AND TRAILERS
ARTICLE II, TRAILERS AND TRAILER PARKS
DIVISION 1, GENERALLY
SECTION 26-31, DEFINITIONS
SECTION 26-33, INSTALLATION PERMIT AND CERTIFICATE
OF OCCUPANCY REQUIRED; FEES
SECTION 26-34, APPLICATION OF ARTICLE PROVISIONS
TO EXISTING TRAILER PARKS
SECTION 26-35, STANDARDS GOVERNING OPERATION
OF TRAILER PARKS
SECTION 26-36, EXPANSION OF TRAILER PARKS
DIVISION 2, LICENSE
SECTION 26-61, REQUIRED
SECTION 26-62, APPLICATION; CONTENTS
SECTION 26-63, NOTICE OF HEARING
SECTION 26-64, HEARING ON ISSUANCE; ISSUANCE OR DENIAL; BONDS
SECTION 26-65, REGISTRATION OF TRAILERS WITHIN TRAILER PARKS
SECTION 26-66, EXPIRATION AND RENEWAL; ANNUAL FEES
SECTION 26-67, REVOCATION OR SUSPENSION
b. APPENDIX A, ZONING
ARTICLE 1, ADMINISTRATION PROCEDURES
SECTION 1.2.68, DEFINTIIONS
ARTICLE III, CONFORMING AND NON-CONFORMING LOTS AND USES
SECTION 3.3.1 (NEW SECTION), EXPANSION OF PRE-EXISTING MOBILE
OR MANUFACTURED HOME PARK
SECTION 3.3.1.1 (NEW PROPOSED SECTION), PURPOSE
SECTION 3.3.1.2 (NEW PROPOSED SECTION ), APPROVAL PROCEDURE
SECTION 3.3.1.3 (NEW PROPOSED SECTION), MINIMUM STANDARDS
MOTION made by Ms. Allen to forward the proposed amendments to the Planning
Board for its review and recommendations; seconded by Mr. Schiffer.
Discussion: The amendments are very ambitious. The Planning Board’s first available
date is January 13. Council will hold a Public Hearing at its March 2 Regular Meeting.
Back to the Motion: Voted unanimously in the affirmative.
a. NEW LEGISLATION: LOW-MODERATE INCOME HOUSING TAXATION:
Previous to the new legislation, low-moderate income housing was taxed on market value.
With the new legislation, taxes will be assessed based on purchase price, usually lower
than market value.
b. POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS TO EXETER CODE OF ORDINANCES:
CHAPTER 42, TAXATION, ARTICLE IX, EMEMPTION FOR OWNERS OF LOW OR MODERATE-INCOME HOUSING: This ordinance allowed
low-moderate house owners a $1,000.00 discount on their taxes.
MOTION made by Ms. Allen that because of the new legislation regarding low-moderate income housing taxation, where the State changed taxation to be on the purchase price rather than market value, that the Town eliminate the $1,000.00 back; seconded by
Mr. Turner.
Discussion: Tax Assessor Kerri Petrarca is holding off on mailing the annual forms applying
for this exemption, until the question of whether the $1,000.00 exemption will still be allowed
following the change in the legislation is resolved. The legislation will cause a loss of $100,000
in tax revenue to the Town.
Back to the Motion: Voted unanimously in the affirmative.
MOTION made by Ms. Allen to hold a Public Hearing on the low-moderate housing taxation at Council’s January 2026 Regular Meeting; seconded by Mr. Turner; and
voted unanimously in the affirmative.
a. RESIGNATION, JESSICA DeMARTINO: Ms. DeMartino has taken a job offer.
MOTION made by Ms. Allen to accept Ms. DeMartino’s resignation with great regret;
seconded by Mr. Ellis; and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
b. TRANSITION TO REPLACEMENT: Ms. DeMartino’s last day is January 2. She will start her new job January 12. She is willing to stay on through the end of January to help with the transition. There are five applicants. If Council wishes, she will sit in on the interviews. With her resignation, this position is a new, appointed position. It needs to be outlined: Will
it be part time or full time? Will hours be in house? Will this person provide basic services or serve on the many boards Ms. DeMartino did and organize the many events? Council thanked Ms. DeMartino for her years of service and the remarkable job and initiatives she did as Social Services Director. Ms. DeMartino thanked Council and appreciated the support received.
MOTION made by Mr. Ellis to continue paying Ms. DeMartino through the end of January; seconded by Mr. Turner; and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
The position of Deputy Zoning Inspector was established by Council to assist the Zoning Inspector. Karen Ellsworth, the person appointed, is a lawyer. Should payments for her services as Deputy Zoning Inspector be made from the Zoning Inspector’s funds or legal? There is not a line item in the budget for Deputy Zoning Inspector. It makes most sense that her services be paid out of Zoning Inspector funds, as she is serving the Town as a Zoning Inspector not as a lawyer. If the funds are to come out
of Zoning Inspector funds, that line item in the budget will be over budget.
MOTION made by Ms. Allen to pay Karen Ellsworth, Deputy Zoning Inspector, out of
the Zoning Inspector funds for her services, knowing full well that line item will go over budget, and during the budget process, if this position is still needed, it will be put in the budget; seconded by Mr. Ellis; and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
ITS CONTRIBUTION TO HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN GRANT: West Greenwich
joined Exeter in obtaining this grant. The grant has been fulfilled. All obligations have been met. West Greenwich gave Exeter its half of the consultant’s fee, $67,500.00, when the application for the grant to rewrite the hazard mitigation plan was made two years ago.
The grant has reimbursed the cost of the consultant’s fee, $135,000.00.
MOTION made by Ms. Allen to reimburse West Greenwich $67,500.00 for its participation
in the Hazard Mitigation Plan Grant; seconded by Mr. Schiffer; and voted unanimously
in the affirmative.
AND SUPERINTENDENT FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER-RELATED EVENTS:
Ms. Allen would like to discuss this request with Labor Attorney Vincent Ragosta from a
union and labor law perspective before Council makes its decision. The Town Clerk will
write Attorney Ragosta.
a. STREET PAVING
b. 2025/2026 SIX-WHEEL PLOW, SANDING, DUMP TRUCK
c. 2025/2026 TEN-WHEEL PLOW, SANDING, DUMP TRUCK
d. MODIFIED ASPHALT CHIP SEAL WITH POLYMER RUBBER IN PLACE
Bids were timely received and duly opened this afternoon. Director of Public Works Rob Shappy will review and submit his recommendations in time for Council’s January Regular Meeting.
MOTION made by Ms. Allen to take a recess; seconded by Mr. Schiffer; and
voted unanimously in the affirmative.
Council entered into recess at 6:30 p.m. and reconvened in open session at 6:40 p.m.
MOTION made by Ms. Allen to enter into Executive Session under RIGL
42-46-5(a)(2), Litigation, Asa Davis v Town of Exeter; seconded by Mr. Turner;
and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
Council entered into Executive Session at 6:40 p.m., adjourned Executive Session
at 7:16 p.m., and reassembled in Open Session.
MOTION made by Ms. Allen to seal the minutes of Executive Session; seconded
by Mr. Ellis; and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
MOTION made by Ms. Allen to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Mr. Schiffer;
and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
The Special Meeting was adjourned at 7:16 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lynn M. Hawkins, CMC
Exeter Town Clerk
Approved: January 5, 2026