MINUTES
EXETER TOWN COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
JANUARY 20, 2026
The Special Meeting of the Exeter Town Council was called to order at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, in the Meeting Room, Exeter Fire Station No. 1, 305 Ten Rod Road, Exeter, Rhode Island.
Roll Call: Diane Bampton Allen Present
Raymond A. Morrissey, Jr. Present
Calvin A. Ellis Absent - Vacation
Jamie Schiffer Present
Joseph M. Turner Present
Also Present: Patricia L. Whitford, Deputy Town Clerk
A. APPLICATION FOR AMENDMENTS TO ZONING MAP/
FARM OVERLAY DISTRICT:
MILAN EARL ADAMS III, MEACO LLC, MICOLE LLC, GLEN ROCK
REALTY LLC, MICOLE REALTY TRUST, NILAN REALTY TRUST,
APPLICANTS
HOG HOUSE HILL ROAD a/k/a SHERMAN ROAD, EXETER, RHODE
ISLAND PLAT- BLOCK-LOT 64-1-8; PLAT-BLOCK-LOT 64-1-9; PLAT-
BLOCK-LOT 64-1-17; PLAT-BLOCK-LOT 64-1-19; PLAT-BLOCK-LOT
64-1-22; PLAT-BLOCK-LOT 64-1-23; PLAT-BLOCK-LOT 64-1-26
PRESENT CLASSIFICATION: RU-4
ZONE CHANGE REQUESTED: RU-4 WITH FARM OVERLAY DISTRICT
MOTION made by Ms. Allen to reconvene the Public Hearing on this application; seconded by Mr. Turner, and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
MOTION made by Ms. Allen to move the Public Hearing of January 20, 2026 to 7:00 p.m. at the Exeter-West Greenwich Junior/Senior School Auditorium, 930 Nooseneck Hill Road, West Greenwich, RI 02817; seconded by Mr. Turner; and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
MOTION made by Ms. Allen to continue the remainder of the items on the agenda for tonight January 20, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the Exeter-West Greenwich Junior/Senior High School Auditorium, 930 Nooseneck Hill Road, West Greenwich, RI 02817; seconded by Mr. Turner; and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
MOTION made by Ms. Allen to recess this meeting and reconvene this day, January 20, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the Exeter West Greenwich Junior/Senior High School Auditorium, 930 Nooseneck Hill Road, West Greenwich, RI 02817; seconded by Mr. Schiffer; and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
The Special Meeting of the Exeter Town Council January 20, 2026, was reconvened at the Exeter-West Greenwich Junior/Senior High School auditorium, 930 Nooseneck Hill Road, West Greenwich, RI 02817 at 7:00 p.m.
Roll Call: Diane Bampton Allen Present
Raymond A. Morrissey, Jr. Present
Calvin A. Ellis Absent-Vacation
Jamie Schiffer Present
Joseph M. Turner Present
Also Present : Kenneth Sylvia, Esq., Town Solicitor
Kenneth Findlay, Council Assistant
Patricia L. Whitford, Deputy Town Clerk
APPLICATION FOR AMENDMENTS TO ZONING MAP/
FARM OVERLAY DISTRICT:
MILAN EARL ADAMS III, MEACO LLC, MICOLE LLC, GLEN ROCK
REALTY LLC, MICOLE REALTY TRUST, NILAN REALTY TRUST,
APPLICANTS
HOG HOUSE HILL ROAD a/k/a SHERMAN ROAD, EXETER, RHODE
ISLAND PLAT- BLOCK-LOT 64-1-8; PLAT-BLOCK-LOT 64-1-9; PLAT-
BLOCK-LOT 64-1-17; PLAT-BLOCK-LOT 64-1-19; PLAT-BLOCK-LOT
64-1-22; PLAT-BLOCK-LOT 64-1-23; PLAT-BLOCK-LOT 64-1-26
PRESENT CLASSIFICATION: RU-4
ZONE CHANGE REQUESTED: RU-4 WITH FARM OVERLAY DISTRICT
MOTION made by Ms. Allen to call the Public Hearing back to order; seconded by Mr. Turner; and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
Ms. Allen read the criteria for the Farm Overlay District. The applicant meets the criteria.
Ms. Allen asked Mr. DePasquale, Town Planner to give an overview from the Planning Board. Mr. DePasquale presented an overview of the Comp 2044 Plan. He referenced the surveys that were mailed to the residents of the Town during the meetings of the committee for the Comp Plan. The reply favored farming and open space. Farming will keep the property in the Town open, not forcing people to sell their farmland. Mr. DePasquale references the Planning Board Meeting of August 12, 2025, where the farm overlay ordinance was considered by the Planning Board. The Board reviewed carefully the criteria of the language in the ordinance for farm overlay district. Mr. DePasquale noted the Slaughterhouse is a completely different application that would be before the Planning Board first and the Planning Board would make recommendation to the Town Council.
Ms. Allen invited Attorney Pagliarini to speak. Attorney Pagliarini spoke on behalf of the applicant. He presented an overview of the property in question and the farming that is done by the applicant. Attorney Pagliarini also explained the slaughterhouse at this time is not part of the application. This would need a new application before the Planning Board and there are many components that would have to be met.
PUBLIC COMMENT;
Beth Brown-50 Whispering Pine Way: Ms. Brown stated that with a slaughterhouse she is very concerned with water pollution. She also wondered why she wasn’t notified of tonight’s meeting.
Arthur Shaw – 339 Hog House Hill Road: Mr. Shaw stated his concerns over a slaughterhouse,
the impact on property values and the atmosphere in the neighborhood. Mr. Shaw gave a statement in writing to the Council.
Paul Pisano- 66 Whispering Pine Way: Mr. Pisano expressed his concern over a Slaughterhouse, and the danger of pollution to the ground and the water. The overlay will give the opportunity for the applicant to apply for a slaughterhouse.
Solicitor Sylvia: - Solicitor Sylvia stated the Council is required to approve the application if the council finds they met all the requirements. The potential future plans for a slaughterhouse was not part of tonight’s application.
Mel Gudas –270 Hog House Hill Road: Ms. Gudas spoke against having a slaughterhouse. She lives downhill from said property and is afraid the pollutants will run downhill to her property.
Christie Seymour-361 Hog House Hill Road: Ms. Seymour lives directly across from said property, Ms. Seymour has lived on Hog House Hill for 50 years. She stated living across the road from a slaughterhouse will affect the quality of life for herself and family, and is dangerous health risk from air and water pollution. She submitted her statements in writing to the Council.
David Lusignan- 383 Hog House Hill Road: Mr. Lusignan believes a slaughterhouse will cause pollution to the area.
Sherri Fraza- 341 Gardner Road: Ms. Fraza enjoys the quiet atmosphere of the birds singing and the coyotes howling. She believes a slaughterhouse will disturb the neighborhood.
Joseph Campo-8 Lancelot Court: Mr. Campo spoke and stated that he feels the overlay is vague. It should be more specific with the kind of farming.
Ms. Allen stated that all property owners within 1,000 feet of said property were notified by letter.
Ivon Puiz-505 Mail Road: Mr. Puiz stated that the corner of his property is within the 1,000 feet of said property. He states he believes the overlay needs more detail.
Asa Davis- 146 Beechwood Hill Trail: Mr. Davis asked if the Farm Overlay Ordinance could be rewritten to prohibit slaughterhouses? The Council has the authority to change ordinances with proper advertising and review.
Ted Nataly- 34 Nelson Drive: Mr. Nataly spoke in regards to overlay. Tonight is not the time to speak in regards to slaughterhouse, the current application is for farm overlay only. Slaughterhouses is a completely different application.
Robert Correia- 205 New Road: Mr. Correia, Vice Chair of the Planning Board, should Mr. Adams come to the Planning Board with an application for a slaughterhouse. The Board would always be certain any application would be complete before the Board would make recommendation to the Town Council.
Attorney Chris D’Ovidio: There are uses with the overlay that are allowed. Any other uses need to have separate application to the Planning Board and the Town Council.
Kevin Robishaw- 275 Hallville Road: Mr. Robishaw stated Farming is protecting the land in Exeter and we should do everything possible to protect farming.
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 approve the application for amendments to Zoning Map, Farm Overlay District for Milan Earl Adams III, Meaco LLC, Micole LLC, Glen Rock Realty LLC, Micole Realty Trust, Nilan Realty Trust, seconded by Mr. Morrissey;
Discussion: The applicant has met all the criteria under the ordinance and the Planning Board had sent the recommendation to the Town Council;
Voted unanimously in the affirmative.
MOTION made by Ms. Allen to enter into Executive Session under RIGL 42-46-5(a)(2), Litigation, 1) Asa Davis v. Town of Exeter; seconded by Mr. Morrissey; and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
Council entered into Executive Session at 8:52 p.m., adjourned Executive Session at 9:29 p.m., and reassembled in Open Session.
MOTION made by Ms. Allen to seal the minutes of Executive Session and confirm all votes taken; seconded by Mr. Turner; and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
MOTION made by Ms. Allen to adjourn the meeting; seconded by Mr. Turner;
and voted unanimously in the affirmative.
The Special Meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Patricia L. Whitford
Deputy Town Clerk
Approved: February 2, 2026