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 Elect of the Town of Middletown, RI, held at the Middletown High School, Cafeteria, 130 Valley Road, on Monday, November 28, 2022, at 6:05 P.M.
Councillor Elect Peter D. Connerton, Sr, Members Present
Councillor Elect Christopher M. Logan
Councillor Elect Paul M. Rodrigues
Councillor Elect M. Theresa Santos
Councillor Elect Emily M. Tessier
Councillor Elect Dennis B. Turano
Councillor Elect Thomas P. Welch, III
Posted – November 22, 2022
REGULAR MEETING NOVEMBER 28, 2022
TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLETOWN, RHODE ISLAND
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 regular meeting to be held on Monday, November 28, 2022 at 6:00 P.M. at the Middletown High School Cafeteria, 130 Valley Road, Middletown, Rhode Island.
Presentation of the Colors by the Middletown Police and Fire Departments Color Guard, Singing of the National Anthem by the Middletown High School Chorus
Pledge of Allegiance
Invocation by the Reverend Father Thomas O’Neill
Communication of Board of Canvassers, re: Certification newly elected members of Town Council and School Committee
Oath of Office to elected members of the School Committee by the
Honorable Governor Daniel McKee
Oath of Office to elected members of the Town Council by the
Honorable Governor Daniel McKee
Election of, and oath of office to Town Council President
Election of, and oath of office to Town Council Vice President
Appointment of, and oath of office to Town Solicitor
Appointment of, and oath of office to Assistant Town Solicitors
Appointment of, and oath of office to Assistant Town Solicitor for Prosecution
Appointment of, and oath of office to Probate Judge
Appointment of, and oath of office to Assistant Probate Judge
Appointment of, and oath of office to Municipal Court Judge
Appointment of, and oath of office to First Assistant Municipal Court Judge
Appointment of, and oath of office to Second Assistant Municipal Court Judge
Presentations
Benediction by the Reverend Father Thomas O’Neill
You are cordially invited to join the Town Council for refreshments.
Wendy J.W. Marshall, CMC
Town Clerk
This meeting location is accessible to the handicapped. Individuals requiring interpreter services for the hearing impaired should notify the Town Clerk’s Office not less than 48 hours before this meeting.
Posted on November 22, 2022, at Middletown Town Hall, Middletown Public Library Middletown Web Site and Secretary of State Web Site.
Town Clerk Wendy J.W. Marshall presiding.
Meeting called to order at 6:05 P.M.
Presentation of the Colors by Middletown Fire and Police Department Color Guard, National Anthem by the Middletown High School Chorus, and recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Invocation by Reverend Father Thomas O’Neill
Communication of Board of Canvassers, re: Certification of newly elected members of the Town Council and School Committee.
CANVASSING BOARD
TOWN OF MIDDLETOWN
350 East Main Road, Middletown, RI 02842
(401) 842-6500 | MiddletownRI.com
November 21, 2022
TO THE MIDDLETOWN TOWN CLERK:
At a meeting of the CANVASSING AUTHORITY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLETOWN, held on November 21, 2022, after receiving, reviewing and tabulating the returns from the respective voting machines, absentee, provisional, write-in and manual count ballots used at the General Election on November 8, 2022, of the TOWN COUNCIL for two years, and the SCHOOL COMMITTEE for four year term, WE HEREBY certify the following to be a true list of candidates elected for the Town of Middletown.
TOWN COUNCIL – Non- Partisan (2 YEAR TERM)
Peter D. Connerton, Sr. 3,414
Thomas P. Welch, III 3,288
Emily M. Tessier 3,165
Paul M. Rodrigues 3,106
Christopher M. Logan 2,894
M. Theresa Santos 2,820
Dennis B. Turano 2,813
SCHOOL COMMITTEE - Non-Partisan (4 YEAR TERM)
Wendy E. Heaney 2,984
Theresa M. Silveira Spengler 2,873
Gregory M. Huet 2,702
MIDDLETOWN BOARD OF CANVASSERS
The Honorable Daniel McKee was introduced by the Town Clerk. Governor McKee administered the oath of office to the School Committee Elect Wendy E. Heaney, Gregory M. Huet and Theresa M. Silveira Spengler.
Governor Daniel McKee then administered the oath of office to the Council Elect Peter D. Connerton, Sr., Christopher M. Logan, Paul M. Rodrigues, M. Theresa Santos, Emily M. Tessier, Dennis B. Turano and Thomas P. Welch, III.
Town Clerk Wendy J.W. Marshall called for nominations of Town Council President.
Councillor Welch nominates Paul M. Rodrigues as Town Council President.
There were no further nominations.
On motion of Councillor Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to close nominations.
On motion of Councillor Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to appoint Paul M. Rodrigues as Council President.
Town Clerk administers oath of office to Council President Paul M. Rodrigues.
Council President Rodrigues calls for nominations for Town Council Vice President.
Council President Rodrigues nominates Thomas P. Welch, III as Town Council Vice President.
There were no further nominations.
On motion of Councillor Santos, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to close nominations.
On motion of Council President Rodrigues, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to appoint Thomas P. Welch, III as Vice President.
Town Clerk administers oath of office to Vice President Thomas P. Welch, III.
Council President Rodrigues calls for nominations for the office of Town Solicitor.
Council President Rodrigues nominates Peter B. Regan for Town Solicitor.
There were no further nominations.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to close nominations.
On motion of Council President Rodrigues, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to appoint Peter B. Regan as Town Solicitor
Town Clerk administers oath of office to Peter B. Regan.
Council President Rodrigues calls for nominations for the office of Assistant Town Solicitors.
Councillor Logan nominates Christopher J. McNally and Michael E. Monti for the office of Assistant Town Solicitors.
There were no further nominations.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to close nominations.
On motion of Councillor Logan, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to appoint Christopher J. McNally and Michael E. Monti as Assistant Solicitors.
Christopher J. McNally and Michael E. Monti were unable to attend, it was requested that the Town Clerk administer the oath of office to the Assistant Town Solicitors at a later date.
Council President Rodrigues calls for nominations for the office of Assistant Town Solicitor for Prosecution matters.
Council President Rodrigues nominates Anthony Pesare for Assistant Town Solicitor for Prosecution matters.
There were no further nominations.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to close nominations.
On motion of Council President Rodrigues, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to Appoint Anthony Pesare as Assistant Town Solicitor for Prosecution matters
Town Clerk administers oath of office to Anthony Pesare.
Council President Rodrigues calls for nominations for the office of Probate Judge.
Councillor Turano nominates Michael W. Miller for the office of Probate Judge.
There were no further nominations.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to close nominations.
On motion of Councillor Turano, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to appoint Michael W. Miller as Probate Judge
Town Clerk administers oath of office to Michael W. Miller.
Council President Rodrigues calls for nominations for the office of Assistant Probate Judge.
Councillor Santos nominates Barbara A. Barrow for the office of Assistant Probate Judge.
There were no further nominations.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to close nominations.
On motion of Councillor Santos, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to appoint Barbara A. Barrow as Assistant Probate Judge
Town Clerk administers oath of office to Barbara A. Barrow.
Council President Rodrigues calls for nominations for the office of Municipal Court Judge.
Councillor Connerton nominates Francis S. Holbrook, II for the office of Municipal Court Judge.
There were no further nominations.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to close nominations
On motion of Councillor Connerton, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to appoint Francis S. Holbrook, II as Municipal Court Judge
Town Clerk administers oath of office to Francis S. Holbrook, II.
Council President Rodrigues calls for nominations for the office of First Assistant Municipal Court Judge.
Councillor Tessier nominates Robert M. Silva for the office of First Assistant Municipal Court Judge.
There were no further nominations.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to close nominations
On motion of Councillor Tessier, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to appoint Robert M. Silva as First Assistant Municipal Court Judge.
Robert M. Silva was unable to attend, it was requested that the Town Clerk administer the oath of office to the First Assistant Municipal Court Judge at a later date.
Council President Rodrigues calls for nominations for the office of Second Assistant Municipal Court Judge.
Vice President Welch nominates Kevin O. Hagan for the office of Second Municipal Court Judge.
There were no further nominations.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to close nominations.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to appoint Kevin O. Hagan as Second Assistant Municipal Court Judge.
Town Clerk administers oath of office to Kevin O. Hagan.
Board of Canvassers members Lucie-Anne Dionne Thomas, Carmella Murphy and Adeline Rose were introduced and received a token of appreciation for their service to the Town presented by Council President Rodrigues and Vice President Welch.
Council President Rodrigues and Vice President Welch recognized Governor Daniel McKee for his election to office and for swearing in the School Committee and Town Council, presenting him with a token of appreciation.
Governor McKee noted the importance of local government, and it was an honor to be present at the Inauguration.
Council President Rodrigues and Vice President Welch recognized Representative Deborah Ruggiero, thanking her for her support of Middletown through the years.
Council President Rodrigues and Vice President Welch recognized outgoing School Committee members Lianna Ferreira Fenton (not present) and Douglas Arnold with a gift of appreciation.
School Committee Member Theresa Silveira Spengler recognized outgoing School Committee members Douglas Arnold and Lianna Ferreira Fenton for their years of service to the Town.
Council President Rodrigues and Vice President Welch recognized former Councillor Terri Flynn and Councillor Barbara A. VonVillas for their service to the Town as Town Council members. Council President Rodrigues and Vice President Welch presented Ms. Flynn and Ms. VonVillas with a gift of appreciation.
Council President Rodrigues recognized Senator Louis P. DiPalma and newly Elected Representative Alex S. Finkelman
Council President Rodrigues thanked the color guard, Middletown High School Chorus, and Father O’Neill, welcomed new Town Council Members Peter Connerton and Emily Tessier. Council President noted the Council will continue to work on important issues such as affordable housing and the construction of new school buildings. Mr. Rodrigues explained the need to work as a team and pull the rope in the same direction, using town resources carefully to keep Middletown vibrant.
Benediction by Reverend Father Thomas O’Neill
All were invited to join the Town Council for refreshments.
On motion of Council Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to adjourn this meeting at 6:57 P.M.
Karin H. Clancey, CMC
Deputy Town Clerk