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 Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 7:00 P.M.
Council President Robert J. Sylvia, Presiding
Vice President Paul M. Rodrigues
Councillor Terri Flynn
Councillor M. Theresa Santos
Councillor Dennis B. Turano
Councillor Barbara A. VonVillas
Councillor Thomas P. Welch, III, Members Present
Members and Participants Present by Teleconference and Webinar/Meeting.
ALL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION TO AGENDA ITEMS ARE ON CLERKBASE THROUGH THE TOWN OF MIDDLETOWN WEBSITE https://clerkshq.com/Middletown-ri
AMENDED AND POSTED – JANUARY 4, 2021
POSTED – December 30, 2020
SPECIAL MEETING – JANUARY 7, 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 Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 7:00 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 January 6, 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: 897 6684 0640; or on the web at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89766840640.
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:
Discussion of the Town’s vision and priorities for the next two years and matters related thereto.
Said meeting will be held on Thursday, January 7, 2021 at 7:00 P.M. Town Council will meet in accordance with Executive Order 20-46.
____________________________________
Robert J. Sylvia, President
Middletown Town Council
| cc: | | Town Council | | Town Administrator | | Town Solicitor |
| | | Finance Director | | Human Resource 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 January 4, 2021 at Middletown Town Hall, Middletown Public Library, Middletown Web Site and Secretary of State Web Site.
Discussion of the Town’s vision and priorities for the next two years and matters related thereto.
On motion of Vice President Rodrigues, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to begin said discussion of the Town’s vision and priorities for the next two years and matters related thereto.
Council President Sylvia noted that the Town Council by virtue of the recent election has been charged with setting the vision for the town. The goal setting process requires council consensus on priorities and projects that impact the town and the Town Manager will use this Council’s vision, principles, and goals to set department policies and priorities. It will also direct work activities to allow the Administrator to allocate staffing and financial resources. There is more work to be done, there are special projects in the pipeline. The meeting tonight will help focus our Town’s initiative and resources, which is important during these financially challenging times while we continue to navigate through Covid-19. More than ever we need a committed high-functioning Council that is working as a TEAM.
Each Councillor shared their priorities in the following order: Councillor Welch, Councillor VonVillas, Councillor Turano, Councillor Santos, Councillor Flynn, Vice President Rodrigues and Council President Sylvia. Some Councillors noted agreement with other Councillors regarding their priorities.
Councillor Welch - Bring back Public Forum
Councillor VonVillas - West Side Master Plan
Councillor Turano – Education - Form new department like the one that Lieutenant Governor Dan McKee set up in Cumberland
Councillor Santos - Senior Housing
Vice President Rodrigues – Comprehensive review of zoning ordinances – slow down development
Council President Sylvia – Family housing
Councillor Welch - Agenda format – more information
Councillor VonVillas - Stormwater Management
Councillor Turano -Special Meetings for big projects
Councillor Turano -Transparency
Councillor Santos - Police Department – Patrol local roads only
Councillor Flynn - Planning Board items need to be prioritized
Councillor Flynn -Watershed issues
Vice President Rodrigues - Road Safety
Council President Sylvia - Tax Methodology
Councillor Welch - School Unification
Councillor VonVillas- Short Term Rentals – Commercial property
Councillor Turano -Tax Assessment – revaluation – phase out split tax rate
Councillor Santos -Shoveling Sidewalks
Councillor Flynn - tax exemptions
Vice President Rodrigues -Tax reform
Council President Sylvia - Consolidation of Departments
Councillor Welch - Department Responsibilities – What the departments do
Councillor VonVillas -Boards & Committees
Councillor Turano -Technology/Infrastructure
Councillor Santos- Boards & Committee – conflicts of interest
Councillor Santos - Low Bid Contracts – request best contractor gets the bid
Councillor Flynn - Education – follow up with state reps amend Title 16
Vice President Rodrigues - baseline of values
Council President Sylvia - Burma Road Project
Councillor VonVillas - Culture
Councillor Turano - Work together
Councillor Santos - Residents elected them to work for entire town
Councillor Flynn- balanced growth year-round residents
Vice President Rodrigues - Stormwater
Councillor Flynn - Complete Streets
Councillor Flynn – Form a Comprehensive Plan Review Committee
Council President Sylvia - Budget Zoom length of meetings
Below are Councillor Priorities grouped under headings:
Topics/Priorities Discussed at the Special Meeting - January 7, 2021
Agenda Format
Councillor Welch
· Wants to reinstate public forum.
· Looking for more information, some items prolong the meetings.
· Wants to make sure answers to his questions reach the public.
Councillor Turano
· Does not want to rush big issues.
Councillor Flynn
· Priorities should have their own Special Meetings.
· Items from the Planning Board should be acted on immediately.
Boards & Committees/Departments/Town Council
Councillor VonVillas
· Improve Applications for Planning & Zoning by adding additional question to the application. (No Interviews); Councillor Santos noted agreement.
Council President Sylvia
· Consolidation of Departments with School.
Councillor Welch
· What does each department do? Staffing? Suggests highlighting a day in each department to show the functions within the department.
Vice President Rodrigues
· Council Rules – Culture/Values/Behaviors/ Transparency; Councillor VonVillas noted agreement.
Councillor Turano
· List of Projects to align with Town resources.
· Website.
· See that all employee’s work as one unit.
Councillor Santos
· See that more local people work in the Town - fill Town positions
Burma Road Project
Council President Sylvia
Education
Councillor Turano
· Form a Department in the Town like McKee has done in Cumberland which provides additional assistance to students.
Council President Sylvia
· Importance of Education.
Councillor Welch
· Unification be revisited.
Councillor Flynn
· Follow up with State Representatives editing Title 16 to reconsider Unification.
Open Space
Councillor Santos
· Need to preserve open space.
Ordinances/ Ordinance Enforcement
Councillor Flynn
· Establish Taskforce to enforce STR’s & other Ordinances.
Vice President Rodrigues
· Comprehensive Review of Zoning Ordinances- Slow down development.
Councillor Santos
· Contracts - Lowest bidder not always the best for the job.
Safety
Councillor Santos-
· Police Department Police should only police local roads.
Vice President Rodrigues
· Road Safety Improvements
Councillor Santos
· Sidewalk Maintenance during snowstorms.
Councillor Flynn
· Infrastructure Safety – Walkers/bikers.
Senior Housing
Councillor Santos
· Update – keep moving forward with a plan; Council President Sylvia and Councillor Flynn noted agreement.
Vice President Rodrigues – Affordable Senior Housing.
Stormwater Management
Councillor VonVillas
· Ensure safety of drinking water; Councillor Flynn noted agreement.
Vice President Rodrigues
· Maidford River – Phased in approach and the need for partners for the project.
Tax
Council President Sylvia
· Family Housing Opportunities – Tax Incentive Opportunities
· Tax Methodology - Attract young families (Develop and Incentive)
Councillor VonVillas
· STR’s – Suggests tax as commercial.
Councillor Turano
· Give businesses a break – Phase out split tax.
Councillor Flynn
· Simple Tiered Tax – Expand Exemptions.
· Sound tax policies.
Vice President Rodrigues
· Tax Reform – Second homes taxed as commercial
Westside Master Plan
Councillor VonVillas; Council President Sylvia noted agreement.
Discussion centered around the Public Forum being an important way to interact with the residents, West Side property representing tremendous opportunity to rebuild the town’s economy, forming a department for education within the town like the Lieutenant Governor did in Cumberland, where the Senior Housing issue is at this time, ordinance enforcement in the town, reviewing the Zoning Ordinances, slowing down development in the town, family housing opportunities, method of taxing in the town, getting more information on docket items with the agendas, getting more information to the public regarding docket items, day-to-day operations in Town Offices, not rushing through Council priorities, having Special meetings if an agenda item is lengthy, transparency, updating the website, local police department just policing town roads and Council asking questions prior to the meetings.
To view the meeting in its entirety you can view on YouTube and the Middletown Website www.middeltownri.com (Middletown TV).
On motion of Vice President Rodrigues, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to adjourn said meeting at 8:18 p.m.
_____________________________
Wendy J.W. Marshall, CMC
Council Clerk
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 January 4, 2021 at Middletown Town Hall, Middletown Public Library, Middletown Web Site and Secretary of State Web Site. Supporting documentation is available at http://clerkshq.com/default.ashx?clientsite=Middletown-ri