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New Shoreham Town Council Meeting

Town Hall, 16 Old Town Road, Block Island

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

6:00 PM

Anyone wishing to speak from the audience will be asked to rise and use the central microphone to ensure audio for those watching from home

6:00 p.m.

1. Discuss and act on litigation, VVO Real Estate Holding Corp v. Town of New Shoreham (WC 2024-0542) and VVO Real Estate Holding, et al. v. Town of New Shoreham, et al. (WC-2024-0499); this item may be discussed in closed session pursuant to RI General Laws 42-46-5(a) (2) sessions pertaining to litigation or reasonably anticipated litigation.

2. Discuss and act on potential acquisition of real property Plat 10, Lot 30-7. This discussion may be held in executive session pursuant to RIGL 42-46-5(a)(5) Any discussions or considerations related to the acquisition or lease of real property for public purposes, or of the disposition of publicly held property wherein advanced public information would be detrimental to the interest of the public

3. Discuss and act negotiations between International Brotherhood of Police Officers, Local 720 (representing members of New Shoreham Police Department) and Town of New Shoreham. This item may be discussed in closed session pursuant to RI General Laws 42-46-5(a) (2) Sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation, or work sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation.

4. Discuss and act on potential litigation regarding wall constructed on town property (Plat 3, Lot 128). This item may be discussed in closed session pursuant to RI General Laws 42-46-5(a)(2) sessions pertaining to litigation or reasonably anticipated litigation.

5. Discuss potential property purchase. This discussion may be held in executive session pursuant to RIGL 42-46-5(a)(5) Any discussions or considerations related to the acquisition or lease of real property for public purposes, or of the disposition of publicly held property wherein advanced public information would be detrimental to the interest of the public

6. Discuss and act regarding Order and Motion to Reconsider in In Re: Rhode Island Fast Ferry, Inc. (Division of Public Utilities and Carriers, Docket No. D-13-51) (This discussion may be held in closed session pursuant to Rhode Island General Law §42-46-5(a)(2) for the discussion of litigation)

7:00 p.m.

8. Consent Agenda:

a. Approval of minutes: May 13, 2024 open and closed; December 2, 2024; and December 5, 2024

b. Act to open closed session minutes: 1/18/2023; 2/15/2023; 3/20/2023; 4/3/2023; 4/19/2023; 5/19/2023; 5/31/2023; 6/28/2023; 8/7/2023; 8/16/2023; 9/5/2023; 10/2/2023, 10/6/2023; 10/18/2023; 11/2/2023; 11/13/2023; 11/16/2023; and 2/7/2024

c. Annual Board, Committee and Commission reappointments: BIELC rep.: Clair Comings; BIHS rep.: Laura Parsons; Block Island Housing Board: At-Large Millicent Highet, Real Estate Representative Cynthia Pappas, Conservation Representative Rosemary Tobin; Board of Assessment Review: Kenneth Lacoste; Coastal Resilience Committee: Nigel Grindley, Clair Comings, George Davis, Mary Anderson, Socha Cohen; Commission for Motor Vehicles for Hire: Bradford Marthens & Patrick Evans; Conservation Commission: John Hopf, Susan Gibbons; Emergency Mngt TF: Chris Hobe, Jordan Ryan, Amy Land, Thomas Warcup, Jeffery Wright, Laurie Anderson and Peter Gempp; Harbors Committee: Alternate Robert Littlefield; Historic District Commission: Mark Vaillancourt and Martha Ball: Juvenile Hearing Review Board: Shirlyne Gobern; Library Board of Trustees: David Sniffen and William Feuer; New Shoreham Tourism Council: Kristina Peterson, Julie Kiley and Logan Mott Chase; North Light Commission: William Curtiss, Julie Natalizia and John Hopf; Old Harbor Task Force: Margaret Comings, Karen Duale, Nancy Ziomek, Julie Natalizia, and David Graham; Planning Board: Gail Hall; Recreation Board: Emily Butcher, Ann Hall, Gail Heinz, Alternates: Colleen Ernst and Danielle Bates; School Building Committee: Tom Risom, Amy Land, Charles Weber, Melanie Reeves, Daniel Warner, Michael Convery, Lisa Robb, Lionel Butterfield; Senior Advisory Committee: Hillary Transue, Charles McMellon, Jennifer Phillips and Judy Fucci; Shellfish Commission: George Davis and Joe Cantone; Auctioneer: Kimberley Gaffett; Bond Counsel: Ellen Corneau; Corder of Wood: Stanton Geer; CRMC representative: Keith Stover; Director of Public Welfare: Marguarite Donnelly; Field Driver: A Joseph Sprague; Harbor Master: Kate McConville; Packer of Fish: Jon Grant; Sextons: Michael Shea and Jaixson Hall; Care of Cemetery: Town Council; Fence Viewer and Sealer of Weights and Measures: Chris Blane; Special Probate Judge: Richard D'addario; Town Solicitor: Nick Solitro and James Callaghan; Town Solicitor – Land: Kerin Browning; Washington County Rep. Keith Stover; Town Lobbyist: Mayfourth Group; Zoning Board: Susan Bush; Cori Black and Mark Maguire

d. Acknowledgement of annual certification to Charitable Trust Adminsrator of the Attorney General’s Office re: Thomas Property

e. Act to request an extension of the Fiscal Year 2024 audit

f. Receive Correspondence:

i. Chris Warfel: Creation of microgrids on Block Island

ii. RI Coastal Resources Management Council 9/25/2024: Approval of the Town of New Shoreham Harbor Management Plan

9. Hold public hearing, discuss and act on proposed amendments to New Shoreham Zoning Ordinances Article 2 Definitions; Section 202 Definitions Adding Balcony, Deck & Porch and Article 4 Criteria for Special Use Permits; Section 406 Residential Structures Meeting Certain Thresholds

10. Hold public hearing, discuss and act on proposed amendments to New Shoreham General Ordinances, Chapter 19 Utilities, Article IV Sewer Allocation and Cost, Section 19-465 Contributions in Aid of Construction

11. Discuss and act on Board, Commission and Committees:

a. Resignation of Corrie Heinz from the Coastal Resilience Committee

b. Appointments:

i. Emergency Management Agency Director(s)

ii. Harbors Committee members

iii. Building Committee for Public Safety Complex: Member of the public (1-year term)

iv. Conservation Commission member (term exp. 12/2025)

v. Transportation Safety Committee members: Police Department Representative, Rescue Squad Representative, Medical Center Representative, License Holder Representative(s), and Town Council Member(s)

c. Announce vacancies:

i. Commission on Motor Vehicles for Hire: One (not MVFH licensee) (term exp. 12/2026)

ii. Sewer District Commission: Two Alternate positions (1-year terms exp. 4/2025)

iii. Water District Commission: Two Alternate positions (1-year terms exp. 4/2025)

iv. Coastal Resilience Committee (term exp. 12/2025)

v. Juvenile Hearing Review Board (term exp. 12/2026)

vi. Tree Warden (licensed arborist)

12. Discuss and act on an amendment to Rules of Procedure of Town Council

13. Discuss and act on Town of New Shoreham Document Storage and Use Policy

14. Review of financial reports

15. Receive and act on Report of Interim Town Manager (Public Works, Finance, School, School Construction Project, Library, Recreation, Administration, Harbors, Broadband, Police, Roads, Human Services)

To see supporting documents for this agenda, go to: ClerkBase https://clerkshq.com/NewShoreham-RI

The meeting can be watched on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmvoSBIQ0bsFRg1kxPgNVCA

Individuals requesting interpreter services for the deaf and hard of hearing must call (401) 466-3200 forty-eight hours in advance of the meeting date. TTY: 711.   Posted: 12/16/2024 lp