New Shoreham Town Council Meeting

Town Hall, 16 Old Town Road, Block Island

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

2:30 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 Nick Solitro.  Town Clerk Millicent Highet was present for the recording of minutes. 

 

First Warden Stover called the meeting to order at 2:30 p.m. 

 

1.      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

School Committee members Chris Willi and Ann Hall were present.

 

Mr. Payne moved to go into closed session at 2:30 p.m. to 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.  The motion was seconded by Ms. O’Neill and carried.

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

 

Mr. Payne moved to adjourn the closed session at 3:10 p.m.  The motion was seconded by Ms. Dodge and carried.

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

 

Mr. Stover reported that no motions were made in closed session. 

 

Mr. Payne moved to seal the minutes of the closed session.  The motion was seconded by Ms. Dodge and carried.

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

 

2.      Budget discussions on FY 2026 budget:

a.      Library

Librarian Robert Farwell was present.  He reviewed the library budget, noting the following:

·         There is a 3% increase over last year which proposes:

o   Adding an Assistant Director position.

o   Shifting Technology IT maintenance contract to meet Minimum Standards for RI Public Libraries.  

o   Increasing equipment maintenance.

·         Replacement of the elevator is scheduled for October 2025, which will hopefully include funding from a Champlin’s Foundation grant. 

 

b.      Block Island School

School Superintendent Mike Convery was present and explained the following regarding the school budget:

·         A 3.5% increase is proposed.

·         The teachers’ and the Town employees’ contracts are settled.

·         No Title 1 or Title 4 funding will be forthcoming, as the school does not meet number thresholds.

·         The gym envelope will be completed this summer.

·         Basement work to mitigate moisture will be completed soon.

 

c.       Departmental review: Administration, Finance, Central Dispatch, Police, Public Works, Harbors, Building Official, Recreation, GIS Technology, Boards and Commissions

Interim Finance Director Mona Dwyer Helterline noted that the budget includes contractual wage increases, and the Travel and Training lines have been merged.  She reviewed the departmental budgets:

·         Administration:

o   Includes a Human Resources consultant for $15,000 to help create and streamline procedures and policies.

o   Insurance had been increased.

o   Deer Management has been increased to fully fund the current need.

o   Under the Legal Consultant lines, the Litigation line has been reduced and the Solicitor line has been increased.

o   There is a reduction in the Housing line, as a contractual housing stipend has been eliminated.

o   The Telephone line has been reduced by $20,000.

 

·         Finance:

o   There is a new Wellness Coordinator stipend of $1,000 to help support and promote the program.

o   The budget includes a Finance Director at Step 1 and Deputy Finance Director at Step 1.

o   There is an 18% increase for the department.

 

·         Human Resources:

o   This is the second year of the department.

 

Human Resources Director Allison Carley distributed a handout and reported on some of the department's programs.  Discussion ensued regarding the ride service.  Mr. McCombe asked for a policy on the ride service.

 

·         Central Dispatch:

o   There is a new line for a Communications and Alarm Officer at $20,992.

o   The Dispatcher Wage line has been increased to cover a 16-hour dispatcher for vacation coverage and for potential full-time future coverage.

o   The Generator Maintenance Contracts are now covered in this budget.

 

·         Police:

Police Chief Paul Deane noted the following:

·         The increases to the budget are contractual increases. 

·         A candidate is going through the Police Academy now, graduating in May.  Another candidate will enter the Academy in the fall.

·         The Accreditation line has been funded to $8,000.

·         $20,000 is budgeted for overtime State Police coverage.

 

·         Public Works: This item will be addressed at a future meeting.

 

·         Harbors:

Harbormaster Kate McConville explained that increasing staffing and operational costs are the major increases to the budget and they are being offset by a rate increase.

 

·         Building Official:

o   Consultant Four Leaf will continue to fill the role of the Building Official.  They are currently meeting the needs. 

 

Questions were raised regarding enforcement.

 

·         Recreation:

o   Rising costs of general maintenance and utilities have been captured in the budget.

o   Heinz Field Maintenance has been increased based on the cost of the contracts.

 

Recreation Director Dave Sniffen stated that they were adding a camp counselor to increase camp enrollment.

 

·         GIS Technology:

o   License and Maintenance Contracts has increased due to additional technology, technology mandates, software, etc.

o   The GIS Consultant contract is a maximum of $45,000.

 

·         Boards and Commissions:

o   Old Harbor Task Force requested an Urban Planner for Downtown for $40,000 that was not funded.

o   An additional 10 hours a week for a Land Use clerk was added.  The request was for 20 hours. 

o   The North Light staffing includes two docents.

 

Concerns were raised over the increased responsibilities for the Land Use Department, due to state legislative changes.  Enforcement concerns were also raised.

 

Land Use Officer Jenn Brady was thanked for her impressive extra work with Short-Term Rental permits.

 

North Light Commission member Robbie Gilpin presented a slideshow of the work completed on the North Light.  He suggested that the Facilities Manager take control of the exterior of the building.  He noted that they need to replace the solar array.  He additionally suggested the Commission charge should be reviewed.

 

Judy Gray Chair of Coastal Resilience Committee stated that they were looking for a Coastal Resilience Officer.  She additionally asked that the website host sea level rise information.

 

d.      Revenue

This item will be addressed at the March 27, 2025 meeting.

 

Mr. Payne moved to adjourn at 5:29 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: 4/7/2025