New Shoreham Town Council Meeting

Town Hall, 16 Old Town Road, Block Island

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

7:00 PM

 

Present: First Warden Keith Stover, Second Warden Nancy Dodge, Town Council members William McCombe, Margaret O’Neill and Tristan Payne.  Also present were Interim Town Manager Amy Land, Interim Finance Director Mona Dwyer Helterline and via Zoom, Town Solicitor James Callaghan.  Town Clerk Millicent Highet was present for the recording of minutes. 

 

First Warden Stover called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. 

 

1.      Discuss and act on budget line amendments to the FY2026 budget

Ms. Dwyer Helterline reviewed the changes which represent an increase to the budget of $17,534.  The Insurance/benefits lines throughout the budget have been adjusted to represent a $7,516 savings.  She noted the following changes:

·         $24,154 was eliminated from the Town Clerk Wage, eliminating the role of Interim Director of Administration.

·         The Contingency line was increased $21,154 which could be allocated to management/finance needs.

·         The Deer Management line was increased by $2,100.

·         Police:

o   $5,000 was moved from the Accreditation line to the Police Wages line to cover the unfunded ¼ officer.

o   An adjustment was made to Police Housing adding $1,250 as a correction.

·         Boards & Commissions:

o   An additional funding for 10 hours per week has been added to the Wages/Clerk, to amount to an extra 20 hours per week over last year. 

o   A benefits increase of $9,700 is reflected from the increase in Wages/Clerks.

 

In follow-up to a question, Interim Town Manager explained that the Public Works Director was not in favor of swapping the funding for a sidewalk tractor for a snowblower, as a snowblower is not effective with the typical wet snow and ice.

 

The Council discussed budget line-items and potential budget line amendments to the FY2026 budget:

·         Recreation:

o   The ski trip has an expense line and income line that equal out, costing the Town nothing.

o   The Wages/Director reflects a salary increase in response to the compensation study reflected in the agreement with the Employees Association.

o   The Training and Travel lines have been combined.

o   There are increases in expenses that are covered by income. 

o   There are expansions in services reflected in the budget.  The playground bathroom maintenance and the beach house maintenance reflect longer seasons, and longer hours. 

·         The Council suggested funding the Mini-grant line for winter programing at $20,000.

 

Ms. Land stated that the total increases, including the Mini-Grant funding, take the budget over the cap by $3,755.

 

Beth Russeau, representing BI Volunteer Fire Department, responded to questions from Town Councilor Payne:

·         Cash on hand is $488,000, not including the investment account.

·         Of the cash on hand, they have committed $50,000 to the repeater system and $50,000 to architectural plans for the new fire barn.

·         Fundraising in 2023 was $488,000 (Harborside fire year) with only $236,000 2024.

·         The Fire Department covers 55% of the annual operating budget.  

·         There may be a Warrant item for a new fire truck at the 2026 Financial Town Meeting.

·         There will be no new EMT class this year. 

·         Firefighter 1 class has 5 students attending at a cost of $2,600.

·         Firefighter 2 may take place next year.

·         Target Solutions is a training platform for EMTs and costs $3,000 annually.

·         The entire purchase/construction cost of the tent was $85,000.

 

Mr. Payne questioned what the maintenance costs are on Engine 4 and the ladder truck housed in the tent.  He suggested a meeting with the Fire Chief to discuss a three-to-five-year plan on replacing ageing equipment. 

 

Mr. Payne moved to cut the Fire budget by $3,755 to cover the funding gap. The motion was not seconded.

 

A meeting with Fire Chief will be scheduled to discuss future equipment needs, laneway maintenance, funding, etc.

 

Mr. Stover stated that the Rhode Island United Way would be open and available to work with the Block Island Early Learning Center (BIELC) staff, board, and parents, to improve communications, look at bylaws, review operations and funding, to make recommendations.  He further stated that he would like to make the BIELC funding contingent on progress being made.  A lengthy discussion ensued.

 

Ms. O’Neill suggested providing a benefit to Town employees, by offering reduced childcare rates, noting that she would like to see that implemented in the next budget season.

 

Mr. Payne moved to make Block Island Early Learning Center funding contingent on the RI United Way involvement with regular progress reports.  Mr. Stover seconded the motion.  Following discussion, Mr. Payne withdrew the motion, and Mr. Stover withdrew his second.

 

Ms. Land reviewed the Town’s Nonprofit Agency Funding Policy, noting that it sets out basic parameters, such as, for those receiving over $100,000: audited or CPA prepared and reviewed financial statements, meetings must be open and posted, and entities are to enter into an agreement with the Town for the delivery of services including the scope of services to be provided and payment arrangements.  She explained that if the Council was to set contingencies on BIELC, the best way to do that would be through a written agreement.

 

Mr. Payne moved to approve the funding for the Block Island Early Learning Center subject to a written agreement consistent with the Town’s policy on funding for community support entities and a third-party review.  The motion was seconded by Mr. Stover and carried.

Ayes: 5 (Stover, Dodge, Payne, O’Neill, McCombe)                        Nays: 0

 

Ms. Dodge suggested pulling $2,000 from the State Police $20,000 line.  Ms. Land stated that last year’s expenses for the State Police was $18,600 and Police Chief Deane felt that was representative of what was needed. 

 

Mr. McCombe explained that if reductions were made to the State Police line, there must be an understanding that line-item adjustments in the department may be made.

 

Ms. Dodge moved to reduce the State Police line by $1,500.  Mr. McCombe seconded the motion and it carried.

Ayes: 5 (Stover, Dodge, Payne, O’Neill, McCombe)                        Nays: 0

 

Ms. Dodge suggested, with no reflection on the service the Town receives from the solicitors, reducing the Consultant/Litigation and Consultant/Legal by $1,000 or $2,000. 

 

Mr. Stover moved to reduce $700 from Medical Center and $700 from BI Volunteer Fire Department.  Mr. McCombe seconded the motion.  Mr. Stover withdrew his motion and Mr. McCombe withdrew his second, as it does not cover the funding gap.

 

Ms. O’Neill moved to reduce $700 from Medical Center, $700 from the Block Island Early Learning Center and $700 from BI Volunteer Fire Department.  There was no second.

 

Mr. McCombe moved to reduce the Mini-Grant line by $1,000, reduce the Medical Center line by $700 and reduce the BI Volunteer Fire Department line by $700.  Mr. Stover seconded the motion and it carried.

Ayes: 5 (Stover, Dodge, Payne, O’Neill, McCombe)                        Nays: 0

 

2.      Act to adopt Town of New Shoreham FY2026 budget for submission to the Financial Town Meeting

Ms. O’Neill moved to adopt the New Shoreham FY2026 budget for submission to the Financial Town Meeting May 5, 2025 as amended.  The motion was seconded by Mr. Stover and it carried.

            Ayes: 5 (Stover, Dodge, O’Neill, Payne, McCombe)                        Nays: 0

 

Mr. Stover stated that the work on the budget by Interim Finance Director Mona Dwyer Helterline and Interim Town Manager Amy Land was extraordinary and thanked them for their work.

 

3.      Discuss and act to reconsider the motion of March 27, 2025 re: to adopt the resolution seeking legislation to increase the Block Island Landing Fee from $0.50 to $1.75

Mr. McCombe recused himself.

 

Mr. Stover stated that a request from Interstate Navigation was received asking the Town reduce the Landing Fee from $1.75 to $1.00.  He explained that to promote a positive work environment with Interstate, he is in support of the request.

 

Mr. Stover, as he voted in the majority on the original motion, moved to reconsider the motion of March 27, 2025 re: to adopt the resolution seeking legislation to increase the Block Island Landing Fee from $0.50 to $1.75.  The motion was seconded by Ms. Dodge and it carried.

            Ayes: 5 (Stover, Dodge, O’Neill, Payne, McCombe)                        Nays: 0

 

4.      Discuss and act to amend the motion of March 27, 2025 re: to adopt the resolution seeking legislation to increase the Block Island Landing Fee from $0.50 to $1.75 and take action thereon

Mr. Stover moved to amend the motion of March 27, 2025 regarding adopting the resolution seeking legislation to increase the Block Island Landing Fee to read from $0.50 to $1.00, instead of $0.50 to $1.75.  The motion was seconded by Ms. Dodge and it carried.

            Ayes: 5 (Stover, Dodge, O’Neill, Payne, McCombe)                        Nays: 0

 

5.      Discuss potential property purchase (Plat 7, Lot 152) with the Block Island School Committee.  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

This item was not discussed.

 

Mr. McCombe returned to the table.

 

Mr. Payne moved to adjourn at 8:29 p.m.  The motion was seconded by Ms. Dodge and it carried.

            Ayes: 5 (Stover, Dodge, O’Neill, Payne, McCombe)                        Nays: 0           

 

 

Millicent Highet, MMC

Town Clerk    

 

Date Approved: 4/16/2025