New Shoreham Town Council Meeting

Town Hall, 16 Old Town Road, Block Island

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

4:00 PM

 

Present: First Warden Keith Stover, Second Warden Nancy Dodge, Town Council members William McCombe, Tristan Payne, and Margaret O’Neill.  Also present via Zoom were Interim Town Manager Amy Land and Town Solicitors Nick Solitro and James Callaghan.  Deputy Town Clerk Keisha Phillips Brown was present for the recording of minutes. 

 

Keith Stover called the meeting to order at 4:01

 

1.       Receive report from New Shoreham Tourism Council Executive Director Jessica Willi regarding the Economic Impact of Visitors in RI

 

Jessica Willi, Executive Director of Tourism, gave a presentation on the Economic Impact of Visitors in Rhode Island. She stated that the report was done for the year 2023. It is paid for by the State and broken down by region. She explained how the company prepares its surveys.

·         A Visitor is someone who stays overnight or travels more than 50 miles for the day. Due to the size of Rhode Island, visitors were split into two categories.

·         Visitors accounted for $5.6 Billion spent in RI in 2023

·         Total Visitors in RI in 2023 - 28.4 million

·         Total Jobs Generated 86,612

·         $935 Million in State and Local Taxes

·         $15.3 Million spent each month

·         Block Island Visitor Volume 1,669,000 – an increase of 2% over 2022

o   Molly O’Neill asked Ms. Willi if she thinks the increase in rooms at the Eureka and Island Home will have an immediate impact on the visitor number. Ms. Willi stated that there is more supply now than there has been over the last couple of years, but it is hard to say if there will be an increase in the numbers.

·         Visitor Industry Spending- Block Island $249,000,000 in 2023-2.9% Increase over 2022

·         Visitor spending by industry-

o   Lodging 20.7%

o   Seasonal Homes 8.1%

o   Local Transport 8.3%

o   Food & Beverage24.3%

o   Shopping 16%

o   Recreation 22.6%

·         3^rd largest seasonal home in the state

 

Ms. Willi noted that the study done on Sustainable Tourism and the Invisible Burden of Tourism can be found on the website. She stated that the point of sustainable tourism is to make sure that tourism is operating a net positive

  

Keith Stover asked Ms. Willi what data she would like to have. Ms. Willi stated that she would love to have specific visitation numbers from everybody, private boats, private planes, commuter planes, all the ferries.

Nancy Dodge questioned what Ms. Willi would use this information for. Ms. Willi stated that there are several things including Information for Investors, Economic Landscape, Grants, Conversations at the State level

 

Molly O’Neill stated that data would be invaluable municipally, for municipal planning including police staffing, public transportation, sidewalks, signage etc.

 

There was a discussion about staffing,

 

David Lewis stated that he enjoyed the comments that Jess Willi made about why she would want more data. He stated that the STR was a source of data that we never had before. He also spoke on the mini grants over the winter.

 

2.       Discuss the implementation of rental car numbering

 

Keith Stover stated that the Town has limits established regarding rental cars, pursuant to zoning decisions. He stated that the Town needed to do a simple numbering system, if only to enforce their zoning decision. He stated that due to the nature of the business it is difficult to keep track of the number of vehicles being rented.

 

Paul Dean, Chief of Police stated that congestion on the roads has been an issue and had been discussion for a while, he stated that if there is a limit on the rental cars as there are on mopeds, maybe it could alleviate some of the congestion. He stated that there is no proof that there are more vehicles being rented than should be, however, if they were numbered, it would be easier to govern.

 

William McCombe stated that he spoke to Ken Lacoste, and he was in favor. Mr. McCombe also questioned if the Town would be able to do an ordinance since it does not regulate rental cars.

 

James Callaghan stated that the Town’s specific authority to numbering the rental cars could be challenged since we don’t regulate them. It would be helpful if it was voluntary.

 

Nick Solitro reported that the State governs licensing, but the town has the ability to cap the rental car number through zoning, however, they didn’t add an enforcement mechanism. Mr. Solitro stated that he is unsure if the zoning enabling act will allow us to go back and make that change.

 

Keith Stover asked Nick Stover to reach out to DBR or whoever of the state level is tasked with this and make them aware of the situation. He advised him that the Town just wants to make sure that the zoning ordinances are being upheld and want to number cars.

 

Mr. McCombe brought up the topic of low-speed electric vehicles and asked the town solicitors if the companies could substitute a car for a low-speed vehicle.

 

Molly O’Neill noted that rental cars need to be two-wheel drive vehicles- she asked if that is enforceable. Nick Solitro advised her to refer to zoning enforcement officer.

 

The Town Solicitors will check with the State to identify if

1.       It has any position on the Block Island doing something about numbering rental vehicles

2.       Low-speed vehicles

3.       Number of vehicles per Licensee

 

 

3.       Discussion of Town’s involvement in PUC proceedings and direction to solicitors to research/report to the council on the same.

 

Keith Stover stated that he would like a briefing from the Solicitors on the Towns standing and ability to engage in PUC matters particularly related to ferries, as well as the Utility District. Mr. Stover explained that he wants to know the extent to which we intervene or have the ability to intervene in these matters. James Callaghan will investigate it and advise the Council.

 

Nancy Dodge reported that there are two statutes that state 1. Anything filed with PUC regarding Block Island the Town should get notice, 2. The Town has an automatic right to intervene in any case in front of the PUC that involves the Ferries. Ms. Dodge advised that she is uncertain about utilities.

Amy Land stated that this is the kind of information and education for the group to level set on, so they are working from the same understanding. She also advised that they have gone back to the PUC and updated the points of contact to ensure that the correct people are getting the information.

 

 

Mr. Payne moved to adjourn at 5:03pm.  The motion was seconded by Ms. Dodge and carried.

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

 

 

Keisha Phillips-Brown

Town Clerk     

 

Date Approved: 3/19/2025