New Shoreham Town Council Meeting

Town Hall, 16 Old Town Road, Block Island

Monday, January 6, 2025

12:30 PM

 

Present: Second Warden Nancy Dodge, Town Council members William McCombe and Margaret O’Neill.  Also present were Interim Town Manager Amy Land, Town Lobbyists Rick McAuliff and Jeffrey Taylor of Mayfourth Group, via Zoom, Town Solicitors James Callaghan, and Nick Solitro.  Town Clerk Millicent Highet was present for the recording of minutes.  First Warden Keith Stover and Town Council member Tristan Payne were absent.

 

Second Warden Dodge called the meeting to order at 12:35 p.m.

 

Second Warden Dodge offered the Councils’ condolences to First Warden Stover over the loss of his father.

 

1.      Receive 2024 legislative and lobbying update from Mayforth Group

Town Lobbyists Rick McAuliff and Jeffery Taylor reviewed their history working with the Town over the past three years.  They reported the following regarding past years’ legislative sessions:

·         $6,000,000 in federal appropriations have been brought to the Town over the past three years.  $3.5 million for the fire barn, $2.5 million for the medical center and $1 million for Corn Neck Road mitigation. The Corn Neck Road allocation is to come from  Congressional Direct Spending, which is subject to Congressional approval.

·         Their process is collect legislative needs from the Town and forward those needs to the Town’s US Senator and Congressman through application and back up documentation.  Additionally, they meet with the Senator and Congressional members and their staff and lobby for support.

·         At the state level the following successes were made:

o   In 2022, the income levels for affordable housing in New Shoreham were redefined, increasing affordable housing income level threshold from 120% to 140 % for New Shoreham.

o   In 2023, legislation was amended authorizing New Shoreham to adjust their property tax classification.

o   In 2023, they worked toward providing more autonomy to New Shoreham to govern the moped rental industry, though no action has been taken at the state level at this time.

o   They supported and opposed statewide legislation to the benefit of the Town (Tourism funding, municipal autonomy issues, happy hour regulations, public safety funding, etc.).

o   They maintain close relationships with state regulatory organizations to address issues such as providing New Shoreham allocated parking spots at the DEM ferry lot in Narragansett, needed deer mitigation, improved Mohegan Bluff stairs repair and management, ferry services to the Island and road issue mitigation.

 

2.      Discuss 2025 legislative and lobbying agenda, including but not limited to local property tax structure, moped rental regulation, state Zoning regulations as they pertain to Block Island, tourism and congestion impacts, Department of Transportation negotiations, additional alternate member for Zoning Board, etc.

Mr. McAuliff stated that it is their priority to stay focused on bringing the funding previously committed for the new highway’s garage/salt shed, and addressing the financial impacts of tourism. 

 

Interim Town Manager Land explained that lobbying assistance may be beneficial to the negotiations between the Town and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation regarding the agreement for the State Road maintenance.  Public Works Director Mike Shea reported on the deterioration of the state-owned roads, drainage culverts, and buildings.

 

The following items were raised:

·         Ms. Dodge explained that the 2024 statewide zoning amendments are not a fit with the Town of New Shoreham. 

·         The Town is interested in refining the property tax structure to allow for homestead exemptions to cover nonresident property owners providing housing to year-round residents.

·         Needed deer mitigation, with the next step of meeting with DEM.

 

From the audience, BI Tourism Executive Director Jessica Willi explained that preliminary discussions are taking place regarding the redistribution of hotels taxes, potentially adding the hotel tax to house rentals. 

 

From the audience, Cindy Pappas, Chair of the Housing Board, asked that the lobbyists look out for funding for, and legislation regarding affordable housing and attainable housing.  She also noted that the E. Searles Ball low-income housing complex is struggling to find rehab funding.  Discussion ensued regarding affordable housing funding and taxes.  Impact fees on building permits and taxation policy to offer incentives for private homeowners to develop 513 dwellings was suggested.

 

Margie Comings, Chair of the Planning Board Planning, spoke in support of affordable housing.  She also asked that the lobbyists give a heads up they see any statewide Zoning legislation that comes up.

 

Ms. Dodge asked that the lobbyists look out for proposed statewide Short-Term Rental legislation, as one size does not fit all.

 

It was noted that the Council, needed to meet again to decide about appointing the Mayforth Group going forward.

 

Mr. McCombe moved to adjourn at 2:03 p.m.  The motion was seconded by Ms. O’Neill and carried.

Ayes: 3 (Dodge, O’Neill, McCombe)             Nays: 0            Absent: 2 (Stover, Payne)      

 

 

Millicent Highet, MMC,  Town Clerk                        Date Approved: 1/25/2025