MINUTES
EXETER TOWN COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
FEBRUARY 10, 2025
Council led 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, February 10, 2025, in Council
Chambers, Exeter Clerk’s Office, 675 Ten Rod Road, Exeter, Rhode Island.
Roll Call: Daniel W. Patterson Present
Raymond A. Morrissey Present
Diane Bampton Allen Present
Olivia DeFrancesco Present
Calvin A. Ellis Present
Also Present: Kenneth Sylvia, Esq., Town Solicitor
Lynn M. Hawkins, Town Clerk
Kenneth G. Findlay, Council Assistant
A. BOARD OF CANVASSERS MEMBER (UNEXPIRED TERM ENDING MARCH 2, 2026): Chair of the Republican Town Committee, Diane Allen, submitted her recommendation for Geri Ackerman, who has submitted her letter of interest.
MOTION made by Ms. Allen to appoint Geri Ackerman as Board of Canvassers Member for the unexpired term ending March 2, 2026; seconded by Ms. DeFrancesco; and voted
unanimously in the affirmative.
A. RIGL 42-46-5(a)(1): JOB PERFORMANCE:
EDWARD NATALY, BOARD OF CANVASSERS MEMBER
NANCY ANDERTON, BOARD OF CANVASSERS MEMBER
Mr. Nataly was not in attendance. Ms. Anderton was.
Before entering into Executive Session, Council addressed Edward Nataly’s request to have Agenda Item No. 4A heard in open session and continued to a future meeting. Council is required to honor Mr. Nataly’s request for open session but not continuance.
MOTION made by Ms. Allen to postpone Agenda Item No. 4A to Council’s Regular Meeting of March 3, 2025; seconded by Ms. DeFrancesco.
Discussion: Mr. Ellis queried whether Council could speak with Ms. Anderton in Executive Session tonight regarding her job performance and Board of Canvassers’ office operations.
As job performance has been noticed, Council could but risks that action being challenged. Governance of the department has not been noticed and does not fall under the exemptions
for executive session. This agenda item and operations of the Board of Canvassers’ office
will be put on Council’s Regular Meeting agenda of March 3, 2025.
Back to the Motion: Voted unanimously in the affirmative.
MOTION made by Mr. Patterson to enter into Executive Session to discuss Agenda
Item 4.B and 4.C, RIGL 42-46-5(a)(2), Litigation, Potential Litigation related to
4.B) Public Water System, 742 Ten Rod Road, and 4.C) Luis Torrado, Torrado
Architects, in connection with proposed renovations to 675 Ten Rod Road and
request for architectural and construction management services, 742 Ten Rod;
seconded by Mr. Morrissey; and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
Council entered into Executive Session at 6:46 p.m., adjourned Executive Session
at 7:31p.m. and reassembled in Open Session.
MOTION made by Ms. DeFrancesco to seal the minutes of and affirm votes
taken in Executive Session; seconded by Ms. Allen; and voted unanimously
in the affirmative.
Discussion ensued regarding impact fees (approximately $15,000 to $20,000
per year), whether Council wished to continue with the impact fee ordinance or do away with
it, and whether a study or a needs assessment is needed and/or required (State law is not clear). Does the amendment to the ordinance last fall serve as a needs assessment? When contacted for clarification, the consultant deferred to the Town’s solicitor. Mr. Findlay, Mr. Sylvia, and Town Treasurer Maria Lawler will talk with the consultant. Doing away with impact fees would be a loss of revenue to the Town. The projects designated to be paid with impact fees are underway. If the ordinance is done away with, the Town would have to either fund the remainder of the projects or return the funds and abandon the projects. Imposing impact fees on commercial businesses does not attract businesses to Exeter. It is the responsibility of persons building homes to know that impact fees will apply.
MOTION made by Ms. DeFrancesco to authorize procurement of an updated needs assessment; seconded by Ms. Allen; and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
The Town went out to bid in the Fall, 2024. Four
bids were duly received and opened. Mr. Findlay distributed a memo to Council indicating
his award recommendation, overall assessment of each bidder, rating of each bidder with
respect to understanding the Town’s needs, goals, and project, qualifications, work plan,
time and fee schedule, and completeness of the proposal.
MOTION made by Ms. Allen to award bid for Architectural Services, 742 Ten Rod
Road, to Azzinaro Architects and Associates, Inc.; seconded by Mr. Morrissey; and
voted unanimously in the affirmative.
MOTION made by Mr. Patterson to authorize Council Assistant Ken Findlay to work
with Azzinaro Architects and Associates, Inc. for draft contract, costs, and fee schedule; seconded by Ms. DeFrancesco; and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
MOTION made by Mr. Patterson to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Ms. DeFrancesco;
and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
The Special Meeting was adjourned at 8:13 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lynn M. Hawkins, CMC
Exeter Town Clerk
Approved: March 3, 2025