MINUTES
EXETER TOWN COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
APRIL 29, 2026
The Special Meeting of the Exeter Town Council was called to order on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at 6:34 p.m., in Council Chambers, Exeter Clerk’s Office,
675 Ten Rod Road, Exeter, Rhode Island.
ROLL CALL: Town Council Members Diane Bampton Allen,
Jamie Schiffer, Joseph Turner, and Calvin Ellis
were present. Raymond Morrissey was absent.
ALSO PRESENT: Maria Lawler, Town Treasurer
Lynn M. Hawkins, Town Clerk
Kenneth G. Findlay, Council Assistant
A. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, BUDGET REQUESTS: Director of Public
Works Rob Shappy provided Council copies of his budget requests. Each prompted
lengthy discussion.
Operating Budget: Increase of 5%, $480,150.00.
New Equipment Fund: Increase of 5%, $262,500.00. 40K GVW 6-wheel dump truck. “Bigger
is better.” Target is one truck/one man per every ten miles of roads. Because Exeter has the
fleet it has, it outperformed most communities during the recent blizzard.
Transfer Station: Level funded.
Animal Control: Level funded.
Capital Improvements:
1) Roads: $465,647.00. Presented Council with a list of roads to be improved 2026/2027, what will be done, how much each will cost. Will actually spend $697,813.00. Impact fees and grants will bring that number down to $465,647.00.
2) Public Works Property: $151,750.00. Will include roof repairs, concrete floor sealing, indoor dividing wall, painting, electrical, signage, sanitation, and plumbing.
3) Bridges and Culverts: $985,000.00. Mt. Tom Bridge and Stony Lane upgrade and headwall.
4) Transfer Station: $28,950.00. Fence, gates, signage, renovate guard shack and reuse/tire shed, relocate oil shed, improve traffic patterns, lighting, and flag pole.
5) Animal Shelter: $69,000.00. Kennel wall reconditioning, install water line to barn, and septic and security upgrades.
6) Chelsea Park: $31,250.00. Remove hazards, upgrade equipment, install playground chips,
benches, plants, and flower beds. The DEM grant applied for by the Library has been denied.
The Library Board has raised $35,000.00 and is continuing to raise funds. Those funds will
be combined with this to make the improvements.
7) Reynolds Field: $773,500.00. Pickle ball courts, walking track, skate park, lighting,
security cameras, benches, and plant and flower beds. Hoping for grants.
8) Stormwater: $28,000.00. Engineering, data collection, and pavement preservation.
Impact Fees:
1) Equipment: New 2028 Elgin Pelican Street Sweeper. $308,980.00, less $65,000.00
(impact fees), $243,980.00.
2) Roads: Impact fees and grants will be applied to costs to improve Widow Sweets,
Stony Lane, Tarbox Drive, Ten Rod Road, and New London Turnpike.
B. REVIEW AND PREPARATION: Treasurer Lawler provided Council with Draft 4,
which has been updated with the changes made at the last budget meeting (April 22, 2026).
Review and lengthy discussion ensued.
MOTION made by Mr. Schiffer to increase the Director of Public Works salary by
20% and set aside a $10,000.00 stipend for storms; seconded by Mr. Turner.
Discussion: The Public Works Salary is low in comparison to other communities, considering that he not only is Director of Public Works, he is Director of Animal Control and the Transfer Station, and has no secretary. The Public Works Superintendent will be paid overtime for storms. The Director will be paid a stipend for storms. Ms. Allen suggested entering into
a contract with the Director. That will be put on Council’s June agenda. Mr. Ellis, noting
that the Union employees will receive a 4% raise, suggested that all the non-union employees
receiving a 5% raise be decreased to 4%. No action taken. Mr. Findlay inquired whether Council was going to consider putting funds in for a Town Administrator. There is no room
in the budget at this time. No action taken.
Myrna George, Resident: Mr. Shappy is doing an excellent job as Director and he and his
team did an excellent job during the recent blizzard.
Asa Davis, Resident: Suggested that salary ranges be set for each position. Someone who
is just entering the job should not be paid the same salary as the person existing the position.
Back to the Motion: Voted unanimously in the affirmative.
MOTION made by Mr. Ellis to adjourn; seconded by Mr. Turner;
and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
The Special Meeting was adjourned at 8:31 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Lynn M. Hawkins, CMC
Exeter Town Clerk
Approved: May 4, 2026