New Shoreham Town Council Minutes
Town Hall, Old Town Road, Block Island
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Noon
Agenda: Members of the Town Council will meet with representatives from USDA and the RI Department of Human Services (participating via telecommunication) to discuss the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and implementation in New Shoreham.
Present: First Warden Kimberley H. Gaffett, Town Councilor Gary Ryan and Town Councilor Chris Warfel. Absent were Second Warden Kenneth C. Lacoste and Town Councilor Norris Pike. Clerk Fiona Fitzpatrick took the minutes of the meeting. Kevin Sawyer of the USDA Food and Nutritional Services Office in Boston and Christina Ruggieri of the RI Department of Human Services participated via telephonic communication.
Meeting was called to order at 12:00.
BI Farmer’s Market Coordinator Dorrie Napoleone was present. Mary Jane Balser of the Block Island Grocery and Cindy Geer of the Block Island Depot were invited but did not attend.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides food for low-income people by providing an electronic banking transfer (ebt) card that may be used to buy eligible staple groceries in participating grocery stores and farmer’s markets. Ms. Ruggieri reported approximately 20 families are SNAP qualified on the Island and receive an aggregate of almost $50,000 annually. No stores on Block Island accept SNAP and participating families have the added expense of travelling to the mainland to use their benefits. A store’s sales must be 50% or more staple groceries to be eligible to participate in the SNAP program. The First Warden, Councilor Warfel and the Town Clerk reported conversations with the owners of the BI Depot who said their store does not meet the 50% threshold. Mr. Sawyer said that provision cannot be waived at this time.
A discussion ensued of how stores register for the program, how the vouchers are accepted and what foods may be purchased. The SNAP cards have individual PIN numbers. A card does not have to be used by its owner, for instance a shut-in may give the card to whomever does their grocery shopping. Mr. Sawyer explained eligible groceries are separated by the customer and cashier into two transactions. The cashier would ring up the eligible groceries and take SNAP payment using the SNAP ebt machine at the register. The other items would be rung up next and the customer would pay cash for those.
Farmer’s markets may participate in the program and Mr. Sawyer explained the mechanics of registering a farmer’s market and accepting paper vouchers in lieu of cards. He will determine whether cell phone technology may be used to accept SNAP cards. Ms. Ruggieri reported the state has grant funding in a “Market Link” program to help farmers markets accept SNAP. She will contact the EBT coordinator and pass along information about the grant program.
Stop and Shop “Peapod” division delivers prepaid grocery orders to the ferry. A discussion ensued regarding whether Stop & Shop could or would modify their program to accept SNAP for Peapod grocery deliveries. Mr. Sawyer will contact Stop and Shop to discuss and report back.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:00.
Minutes approved May 6, 2014
Fiona Fitzpatrick
Town Clerk