THIS MEETING CAN BE HEARD IN ITS ENTIRETY ON THE TOWN OF MIDDLETOWN WEBSITE WWW.MIDDLETOWNRI.COM OR THE DVD IS AVAILABLE AT THE MIDDLETOWN LIBRARY.
At a Special Meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Middletown, RI held by telephone conference at the Middletown Town Hall, 350 East Main Road, Middletown, RI on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at 6:00 P.M.
Council President Paul M. Rodrigues, Presiding
Vice President Thomas P. Welch, III
Councillor Terri Flynn
Councillor Christopher M. Logan
Councillor M. Theresa Santos
Councillor Dennis B. Turano
Councillor Barbara A. VonVillas, Members Present
All Council members were present, with the exception of Councillor Flynn who joined the meeting by zoom.
Members and Participants Present by Teleconference and Webinar/Meeting.
POSTED – April 7, 2021
SPECIAL MEETING – APRIL 28, 2021
The following items of business, having been filed with the Town Clerk under the Rules of the Council, will come before the Council at a Special Meeting to be held on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at 6:00 P.M. - Said meeting will be conducted by telephone conference call/ webinar, in accordance with Executive Order 20-46 issued by Governor Raimondo on April 15, 2020, extended to April 29, 2021, which modifies certain provisions of the Open Meetings Act (“OMA”) and the Access to Public Records Act (“APRA”) as part of the State’s emergency response to COVID-19. Members of the public may access and listen to the meeting in real-time by calling 1-877-853-5257 (Toll Free) or 1-888-475-4499 (Toll Free) and entering Meeting ID: 880 9700 3513; or on the web at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88097003513 .
Wendy J.W. Marshall, Town Clerk
Town of Middletown
Town Hall – 350 East Main Road
Middletown, Rhode Island 02842
Dear Ms. Marshall:
Pursuant to the provisions of Article II, Section 203 of the Town Charter and in accordance with Sections 42-46-2, 42-46-3, 42-46-4, 42-46-5 and 42-46-6, RIGL, I hereby call a Special Meeting of the Town Council to formally consider, discuss and vote upon the following items of business:
Joint meeting with the Planning Board to regarding Comprehensive Plan implementation priorities – Zoning and Full-build impact study and matters related thereto.
1. Communication of Ron Wolanski, Town Planner and Paul Croce, Planning Board Chair, re: Comprehensive Plan Zoning Implementation Status Report.
2. Communication of Paul Croce, Planning Board Chair., re: Full-build impact study prioritized recommendations.
Said meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at 6:00 P.M. Town Council will meet in accordance with Executive Order 20-46.
____________________________________
Paul M. Rodrigues, Vice President
Middletown Town Council
cc: Town Council Town Administrator Town Solicitor
Finance Director Public Library
This meeting location is accessible to the handicapped. Individuals requiring interpreter services for the hearing-impaired should notify the Town Clerk’s Office at 847-0009 not less than 48 hours before the meeting.
Posted on April 7, 2021 at Middletown Town Hall, Middletown Public Library, Middletown Web Site and Secretary of State Web Site.
Present also were Town Administrator Shawn Brown, Town Solicitor Peter B. Regan, Town Planner Ronald Wolanski, Planning Board Chair Paul Croce, Planning Board Vice Chair William J. Nash, Jr., Planning Board Members John L. Ciummo, Michael J. Fenton, Betty Jane Owen, Joseph J. Pierik and Arthur S. Weber, Jr.
The Planning Board introduced themselves to the Council.
The Town Council introduced themselves to the Planning Board.
Planning Board Chair Paul Croce thanked the Council for a reappointing himself and Betty Jane Owen to the Board. Mr. Croce explained that the Planning Board will continue being productive and that the Board wants to ensure they are in full alignment with the Council going forward.
Council President Rodrigues noted that tonight the Council and Planning Board are meeting to establish a priority list of projects.
Town Planner Ronald Wolanski reviewed the communication above.
Discussion centered around the zoning map changes are just about complete, comprehensive community plan, zoning and zoning maps must be consistent, solar array ordinance will be before the Council soon to be ordered advertised, the Planning Board has a subcommittee working on the Land Use table, the marijuana ordinance will be coming before the Town Council soon, the Planning and Zoning Board processes are spelled out in state law, wastewater management plan, the need for the Town Council to provide specific guidance and/or questions to the Planning Board regarding items sent back to the Planning Board from the Town Council and priorities being Affordable Housing, West Main and Coddington Highway corridor development, Atlantic Beach District , Airport Overlay, Stormwater issues, Marijuana and zoning use table.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to receive said communication.
Town Planner Ronald Wolanski reviewed the communication above.
Discussion centered around water issues, water quality testing, extending waterlines to the east side of town, cisterns in new developments, the residents do not want water extended to the east side of town because of the expense, stormwater utility management plan, septic inspections/testing, utilizing data to make decisions for stormwater and waste management plans.
On motion of Councillor Flynn, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to move forward/approve getting data and cost/prices on #1, #3 and #4 of the High-priority, short term surface water impacts.
Groundwater:
Steve Cabral representing Crossman Engineers was present by zoom to answer Council questions.
Council President Rodrigues read item #1 from the Groundwater – High-priority, short-term recommendations entered here:
Discussion centered around monitoring septic systems, the town needing to put a process in place to protect ground water from non-performing septic systems, the difference between long-term and short-term priorities for Groundwater, tweaking the ordinance regarding ground-water without putting a burden on residents, if the Town adopts a wastewater management plan residents will qualify for a low-interest loan to help replace their septic system, informing homeowners of their responsibilities regarding septic systems and municipal court fines for failing septic systems.
Enter Ground Water impacts
On motion of Councillor Flynn, duly seconded, it was voted to approve High-priority, short-term recommendations #2, Long-term considerations and #4 and #5 be moved to short-term recommendations; Councillor Santos voted NO to said motion.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to adjourn said meeting at 8:54 p.m.
Wendy J.W. Marshall, CMC
Council Clerk
Supporting documentation is available at http://clerkshq.com/default.ashx?clientsite=Middletown-ri