New Shoreham Town Council Meeting and

Board of License Commissioners Meeting

Town Hall, 16 Old Town Road, Block Island

Monday, January 8, 2024

6:30 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

 

Town Council

6:30 p.m.

1.      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

 

2.      Discuss and act on potential litigation regarding High View Lane emergency sewer repairs. 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. 

 

7:00 p.m.

3.      Public Comment

 

4.      Consent Agenda:

a.       Approval of Minutes: December 4, 2023 open and closed; December 6, 2023, December 11, 2023 open and closed

b.      Open closed session minutes: 3/7/2022 #7, 4/5/2022 #1, 6/2/2022 #1d, 1/18/2023 #1, 3/20/2023 #1, 4/3/2023 #1, 4/17/2023 #2, 10/18/2023 #1

c.       Grant Resident Commercial Shellfish Licenses for 2024:

                                                              i.      Lionel Butterfield

                                                            ii.      George Davis

                                                          iii.      Joseph Fallon

                                                          iv.      Charles Gale

                                                            v.      John Grant

                                                          vi.      Eric Gustafson

                                                        vii.      Peter Helstrom

                                                      viii.      Frederick Howarth

                                                          ix.      Christopher Littlefield

                                                            x.      John Swienton

d.      Grant Non-Resident Commercial Shellfish License for 2024: James Nelson

e.       Annual Board, Committee and Commission reappointments: BIELC rep.: Clair Comings; BIHS rep.: Laura Parsons; Board of Assessment Review: Gail Heinz; Commission for Motor Vehicles for Hire: Justin Dunlop; Conservation Commission: Taryn Macgregor and Dorothy Findlay; Emergency Mngt TF.: Chris  Hobe, Maryanne Crawford, Thomas Warcup, Jeffery Wright, William McCombe, Laurie Anderson and Peter Gempp; Harbors Committee: Michael Ballard and Robert Littlefield; Historic District Commission: Michael Ballard, Arlene Tunney and Elizabeth Moss: Juvenile Hearing Review Board: Tracy Hinez; Library Board of Trustees: Tracy Heinz and Amanda Boulay; New Shoreham Tourism Council: Neal Murphy, Davis Houseman, Jennifer Huggins and Julie Natalizia; North Light Commission: Bruce Decker; Planning Board:  Clair Comings; Recreation Board: Shannon Morgan, Christopher Willi, Colleen Ernst and Danielle Bates.: Senior Advisory Committee: Ann Henault, Sandra Kelly, Gail Pierce and Judy Fucci; Shellfish Commission: Thomas Walsh; Alarm Officer 1:  Marc Tillson; Alarm Officer 2: Wayne Pinkham; Auctioneer: Kimberley Gaffett;  Bond Counsel: Ellen Corneau; Corder of Wood: Stanton Geer; CRMC representative: Sven Risom; Director of Public Welfare: Mary Donnelly; Field Driver: A Joseph Sprague; Harbor Master: Kate McConville; Sexton: Michael Shea and Jaixson Hall; Care of Cemetery: Coincil; Fence Viewer and Sealer of Weights and Measures: Chris Blan; Special Probate Judge: Richard D'addario; Town Solicitor: Nick Solitro and James Callaghan; Town Solicitor – Land: Desautel Browning Law; Tree Warden: Edward Phillips, Jr; Washington County Rep. Keith Stover; Town Lobbyist: Mayfourth Group; Zoning Board: Robert Closter,Jr; Mark Maguire, Robert Lamoureux and Katharine Atwater; Old Harbor Task Force: Patricia Doyle, Cynthia Pappas, Sean McGarry and Suzanne Wright; Emergency Management Agency: William McCombe and Peter Gempp; School Building Committee: Tom Risom, Maryanne Crawford, Charles Weber, Melanie Reeves, Daniel Warner, Robert Gerardi and William Padien; Hodge Management Committee: Sven Risom and Martha Ball; Sea Level Rise Committee; Judith Gray

f.        Correspondence:

                                                              i.      Chris Warfel re: CA losing solar jobs

                                                            ii.      Zena Clark re: Bike tours

                                                          iii.      Charlie LeRoy re: Support Paul Deane as Police Chief

 

5.      Public Hearing: Discuss and act on proposed Amendments to Town of New Shoreham Zoning Ordinance Section 309(D), Permitted Uses in RC/M Zone; Section 310(D), Permitted Uses in M Zone; Section 311(D), Permitted Uses in OHC Zone; Section 312(D), Permitted Uses in NHC Zone, & Section 313(D), Permitted Uses in SC Zone

 

6.      Public Hearing: Discuss and act on proposed amendments to the New Shoreham Liquor License Rules and Regulations amending sections “II. New License Applications”, “III. License Renewal Applications”, and “VI. License Restrictions & Conditions” to include a requirement, to be satisfied prior to the issuance, renewal, or transfer of liquor licenses, of furnishing statements from the Town’s Building Official and the Rhode Island State Fire Marshal’s Office that the premises at which the license is to be held is in conformity with all requirements of state and local building and fire codes.

 

7.      Public Hearing: Discuss and act on proposed amendments to the New Shoreham Zoning Ordinance re: Application to Amend the Zoning Ordinance of Christopher Warfel amending Article 5 Performance Standards, Section 517 Solar Energy Systems (SES) © Definitions & (F) Standards for Ground-Mounted Systems and Article 4 Criteria for Special Use Permits, Section 425 Solar Energy Systems (A) Applicability & (B) Standards

 

 

Board of License Commissioners

8.      Act to approve amendments to the New Shoreham Liquor License Rules and Regulations amending sections “II. New License Applications”, “III. License Renewal Applications”, and “VI. License Restrictions & Conditions” to include a requirement, to be satisfied prior to the issuance, renewal, or transfer of liquor licenses, of furnishing statements from the Town’s Building Official and the Rhode Island State Fire Marshal’s Office that the premises at which the license is to be held is in conformity with all requirements of state and local building and fire codes

 

Town Council

9.      Receive and act on Mobile Food Establishment Permit renewal applications for 2024:

a.       Andiamo Zeke dba Aldo’s Bakery (Boat)

b.      See The Light LLC dba Southeast Light Delights

c.       Sea Life Services, Inc. dba Farmstead Refreshments

d.      Block Island Gourmet, LLC dba Block Island Gourmet Food Truck

 

10.  Receive and act on Hawkers and Peddlers License renewal application for 2024

 

11.  Discuss and act on request of Marc Tillson to reside in the Coast Guard Motor Pool building through early March

 

12.  Discuss and act on deer hunting dates for Town property at Plat 20, Lot 20

 

13.  Discuss and act on Resolution in support of Block Island Housing Board project West Side Road, Plat 18, Lot 2-3

 

14.  Discuss and act on Resolution in support of Juneteenth

 

15.  Act to give advice and consent on the recommendation of the Town Manager to appoint the Chief of Police

 

16.  Discuss and act on authorizing the Town Manager to apply for a Municipal Public Safety Infrastructre Grant of $1,000,000 to support the development/renovation of the Public Safety Complex (police, fire, rescue)

 

17.  Discuss and act on conversations with Orstead regarding windfarm development negotiations

 

18.  Receive update on governance of the Island-wide Broadband

 

19.  Review and announce budget hearing schedule

 

20.  Receive and act on Annual Audit Report for FY 2023

 

21.  Discuss and act on allocating ARPA funds for the purchase of the Medical Center generator

 

22.  Receive and act on Managed Edge Services Agreement with OSHEAN, Inc. for CAI network services

 

23.  Discuss S&P Global Ratings of the Town of New Shoreham

 

24.  Review of financial reports

 

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

a.       Receive resignation of Sarah Cullen from the Library Board of Trustees

b.      Appoint:

                                                              i.      North Light Commission Alternate position (term exp. 12/2024)

                                                            ii.      Shellfish Commission: Two positions (terms exp. 12/2026)

                                                          iii.      Sea Level Rise Committee: Three positions (terms exp. 12/2025)

c.       Announce vacancies:

                                                              i.      Board of Canvassers: One (6 year term); 2 Alternate (1 year term)

                                                            ii.      Library Board of Trustees: One (term exp. 12/2024)

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

                                                          iv.      Juvenile Hearing Board: One (term exp. 12/2026)

                                                            v.      Shellfish Commission: One (term exp. 12/2026)

                                                          vi.      Packer of Fish: term exp. 12/2024

 

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: 1/3/2024 mm