PLANNING BOARD MINUTES

May 5, 2022, 6pm

Town Council Chambers – Town Hall

350 East Main Road

Middletown, RI 02842

 

Board members present:

Paul Croce, Chair                                                   Ron Wolanski, Town Planner

Bill Nash, Vice Chair                                                          Michael Monti, Assistant Town Solicitor

Michael Fenton, Secretary

Art Weber

John Ciummo

Joe Pierik

Member absent:

B.J. Owen

Mr. Croce called the meeting to order at 6:00pm           

1.    Review of project ideas submitted to the Town for potential funding from American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds allocated to the Town, and recommendation to the Town Council on the consistency of submitted projects with the Middletown Comprehensive Community Plan.

a.    Mr. Croce introduced the discussion. Mr. Wolanski discussed the rationale for the preliminary findings of Comprehensive Plan consistency that he provided to the Board. Items identified as N/A, or not applicable, were determined to be outside the scope of the Comprehensive Plan. Board members suggested that such items be identified as “not addressed” in the Plan, rather than “not applicable”. This designation will be explained in the Board’s recommendation to the Town Council.

b.    The Board reviewed each of the 115 project suggestions included in a table provided by Mr. Wolanski. It was noted that the determination of consistency with the Comprehensive Plan does not indicate the worthiness of the request or whether the project should be funded. These decisions will be made by the Town Council.

c.     The Board considered the preliminary Comprehensive Plan designations provide in the table. By consensus changes were requested as follows:

                                  i.    Item 71, public safety communications equipment, changed from N/A to Y

                                 ii.    Item 72, speed bumps on Wave Ave., and vegetation clearing on Valley Rd., changed from N/A to Y

                                iii.    Item 84, speed bumps on Wave Ave., changed from N/A to Y

                               iv.    Item 91, educational support, replace Town revenue, reduce debt, insert N/A

                                 v.    Item 93, educational assistance, insert N/A

                               vi.    All other preliminary designations in the table were confirmed by the Board by consensus.

d.    The Board also requested some modifications to the table for clarity, which Mr. Wolanski agreed to make.

e.    Motion by Mr. Nash, seconded by Mr. Weber, to forward the findings regarding Comprehensive Plan consistency to the Town Council for consideration. Vote: 6-0-0.

Motion by Mr. Nash, seconded by Mr. Weber to adjourn. Vote: 6-0-0

 

Meeting adjourned at approximately 6:40pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Mike Fenton, Secretary