MINUTES
EXETER TOWN COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
APRIL 22, 2026
The Special Meeting of the Exeter Town Council was called to order on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at 6:32 p.m., in Council Chambers, Exeter Clerk’s Office,
675 Ten Rod Road, Exeter, Rhode Island.
ROLL CALL: Town Council Members: Diane Bampton Allen,
Raymond A. Morrissey, Jr., Calvin A. Ellis, and
Jamie S. Schiffer
ALSO PRESENT: Maria Lawler, Town Treasurer
Lynn M. Hawkins, Town Clerk
Kenneth G. Findlay, Council Assistant
A. PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT LICENSE APPLICATION: LANDON KENDRICKS, ON BEHALF OF NEW ENGLAND AUTO CHATEAU, TO HOLD CAR SHOWS ON SATURDAY, MAY 2, MAY 30, JULY 25, AND OCTOBER 10, 2026, FROM 9:00 A.M. TO 12:00 P.M. AT NEW ENGLAND AUTO CHATEAU, 314A NOOSENECK HILL ROAD, EXETER, RHODE ISLAND:
MOTION made by Ms. Allen to open the Public Hearing; seconded by Mr. Schiffer;
and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
Landon and Leroy Kendricks, Co-Owners/Applicants: Have enlisted Town Sergeant
and Constables for vehicle and foot traffic and parking. Has spoken with the Fire Marshal
who has approved the application. They appreciate the Town. It has treated them well.
Council felt the Kendricks have prepared sufficiently. It sounds like a nice event
in a good location.
The Clerk reported: All requirements have been met. The application was properly
noticed and the abutters notified. Fees for advertising and certified mail is owing
in the amount of $143.08.
MOTION made by Ms. Allen to close the Public Hearing; seconded by Mr. Ellis;
and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
MOTION made by Ms. Allen to grant Public Entertainment License to
Landon Kendricks on behalf of New England Auto Chateau to hold car shows
on May 2, May 30, July 25, and October 10, at their location, 314A Nooseneck
Hill Road, as advertised and posted, subject to all fees being paid; seconded by
Mr. Schiffer; and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
B. OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT LICENSE APPLICATION: MICHAEL SUN,
ON BEHALF OF MORRIS FARM FIELD AND FLOWER, TO HOLD A MOTHER’S DAY EVENT ON MAY 9, 2026, FROM 10:00 A.M. TO 6:00 P.M., TO INCLUDE PLANT SALES, CRAFTS, TOUCH A TRACTOR, AND FOOD TRUCKS, AT MORRIS FARM,
91A TEN ROD ROAD, EXETER, RHODE ISLAND:
MOTION made by Ms. Allen to open the Public Hearing; seconded by Mr. Schiffer;
and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
Michael and Maryellen Sun, Fourth-Generation Owners/Applicants: This event is their kickoff to Spring. Two food trucks will be serving burgers and lemonade. There will be crafts for
children, lambs to pet and interact with, and tractors to climb into. Plants and merchandise
will be for sale. Parking will be on the farm. Traffic control should not be needed.
Fire Marshal Sue Hawksley has concerns. Mr. and Mrs. Sun will contact her.
Council thought it sounded like it was going to be a nice event in a nice location.
The Clerk reported: All requirements have been met. The application was properly
noticed and the abutters notified. Fees for advertising and certified mail is owing
in the amount of $180.28.
MOTION made by Ms. Allen to close the Public Hearing; seconded by Mr. Schiffer;
and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
MOTION made by Ms. Allen to grant Public Entertainment License to Morris Farm
to hold Mother’s Day Event on May 9, 2026, as advertised and posted, at the farm,
91A Ten Rod Road, subject to Fire Marshal Sue Hawksley being satisfied and all fees
being paid; seconded by Mr. Schiffer; and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
A. ISABELLA JOHNSON, INTERN
B. YVONNE WINGARD, INTERN
The interns were not prepared to present tonight. They would like to come before
Council in May.
A. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, BUDGET REQUESTS
B. REVIEW AND PREPARATION
Emergency Management Director Dori Boardman: Presented her budget to Council.
It is less than last year. She is not joining some of the professional organizations she
Was a member of previously. Regarding her travel, she and the Town benefit. She
learns a lot, obtains information and ways to address challenges, and discovers strategies
to accomplish goals. The networking is invaluable.
Budget discussion: Council has Draft 3, which has been updated with the changes made at the last budget meeting (April 15, 2026). As questions regarding solar array taxation were raised
at the last budget meeting, Tax Assessor Kerri Petrarca was present to explain and answered questions.
Mr. Ellis: Noted that the Comprehensive Plan indicates that a consultant is needed to update
the zoning ordinance. He thought perhaps if the raises were reduced from 5% to 4% that
request could be accommodated, which would not cover it, but would help, and would put
the non-union employees’ raises in line with the union employees’ raises. The balance of
the comprehensive plan update fund in the capital program is $40,000.00. It is proposed
to add $20,000.00 in the next fiscal year. The fund would then have $60,000.00. No action
taken.
Mr. Morrissey: Found discussing the raises in front of the employees present difficult.
Raised the Town Sergeant’s raise from 5% to 10%.
The two changes will be made to the budget. The next meeting is on May 29, 2026.
MOTION made by Mr. Ellis to adjourn; seconded by Ms. Allen; and voted
unanimously in the affirmative.
The Special Meeting was adjourned at 7:44 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynn M. Hawkins, CMC
Exeter Town Clerk
Approved: May 4, 2026