New Shoreham Town Council Meeting

Town Hall, 16 Old Town Road, Block Island

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

4:00 PM

 

 

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

 

First Warden Stover called the meeting to order at 4:02 p.m.

 

1.      Meet with Block Island Conservancy representatives to discuss the composting pilot program and next steps for expansion of the program

Block Island Conservancy President Dorrie Napoleone was present.  She stated that the composting program has been very successful due to the collaboration between the Town of New Shoreham, Block Island Recycling Management (BIRM), BI Conservancy and the community.  She reviewed the composting pilot program highlighting the following:

·         22% of household trash is food waste.

·         Food waste in the landfill doesn’t compost, instead it rots generating methane gas.

·         Food waste on Block Island has far to travel, whereas composting reduces trips to the landfill. 

·         250 households were in the pilot program, including restaurants.

·         The project remained on schedule and on budget.

·         The compost created was tested, with great results, and is now being distributed.

·         Over 18 tons of food scraps have been diverted from the landfill.

·         Challenges raised and proposed solutions include:

o   Complaints about flies and odors – use trash cans with fixed lids, cover scraps with sawdust, implement a biofilter.

o   Loading the EcoDrum must be done after hours due to safety – implement a DumpMaster Loader.

o   Screening must be done manually – implement a semi-automated compost screener.

o   Need to tweak the recipe – adjust the Carbon:Nitrogen ratio and moisture.

o   No food pickup system – opportunity for a small business to pick up scraps and bring to the Transfer Station.

·         To expand the program, they need to address adding equipment, where to expand, and how to cover the costs.

 

It was noted that grants may be available to municipalities to support composting programs.

 

Sean McGarry, President of BIRM was present and discussed operations and the importance of planning and design for the future rebuild of the transfer station that incorporates an expanded composting program.  He suggested creating a working group to bring the stakeholders together and begin planning.

 

Mr. Stover thanked the Block Island Conservancy for their initiation and commitment to the program.

 

2.      Discuss issues with the Block Island Volunteer Fire Department Chief including but not limited to laneway maintenance, brush fire mitigation, long-range equipment needs 

Fire Chief Chris Hobe and Treasurer Mike Lofaro were present.  Chris Hobe raised the following items:

· Concerns over accessibility to laneways, and driveways which have not been trimmed and widened to accommodate firetrucks and emergency vehicles.  He noted that a 14ft wide by 14ft tall laneway would be ideal and he would like to see an ordinance developed enforcing such.  He additionally suggested education.  Ms. O’Neill recommended collecting information from taxis and delivery services to determine lanes and drives that need to be addressed.  Additionally, she suggested creating an ordinance requiring standards.  From the audience, Carolyn Collins proposed using the realtors as a communication mechanism.  Sosha Cohen suggested using the tax bill and the BI Bulletin Board for communication. 

· Wildland fires are concerning. A fire with a 15 mile per hour wind will travel faster than one can run.  Burn barrels should be used.  Property owners should keep a cleared 8ft buffer to protect their homes and a clear 8ft path to maintain an escape route.  Carlos Salinas suggested holding controlled burns.

 

The ordinances regarding burn barrels and open burns will be reviewed.

 

3.      Discuss noise mitigation downtown

Police Chief Deane presented his plan for the summer:

·         Matt Moran, who has previously taken decibel level readings, will not be working for the Police Department this summer.

·         The Police Chief has signed up for a sound meter certification course.  He will be the Departments certified reader for the summer.

 

From the audience, Cindy Lasser, Brigid Price and Nancy Miles raised the following issues regarding noise in the downtown area:

· When reviewing the decibel ratings from last summer 75 is a maximum sound level.

· Vibration is an issue, even if you can block out the sound, the vibration rumbles.

· Speakers are now omnidirectional and pointing them toward the building is ineffective.

· Nine hours of outdoor music from noon to 9:00 p.m. is too long.

· Too many outdoor entertainment licenses are issued.

· No noise citations are issued.

· Intensity of sound which includes bass frequencies, vibration, time of day, reverberation, and loudness is an issue.

· Decibel readings are registered at A waves instead of C waves which rates bass.

 

The following suggestions were raised regarding potential amendments to the Noise Ordinance and the Outdoor Entertainment ordinance:

o   Sound muffling strategies.

o   Requiring box speakers.

o   Turning the volume down if people outside their area can hear the music.

o   Limit the number of licenses issued.

o   Limit the area for licensed outdoor venues.

o   Change the ordinance to take the decibel readings at the location instead of at the complainant’s property line.

o   Address frequency, pitch, duration, repetition, subwoofers, amplitude, bass in the ordinance.

o   Drop the decibel from 70 to 65.

o   Require bands to only use house equipment.  

o   Eliminate subwoofers.

o   Have the same decibel levels for all of the broad commercial areas.

o   Get rid of the 5% margin of error when taking decibel readings.

o   Require staggered leaving: music off 20 minutes before closure.

o   Install a master reader at the Police Station that reports sound levels.

 

The item will be addressed again at a future work session that will include the business owners. 

 

Mr. Payne moved to adjourn at 6:19 p.m.  The motion was seconded by Mr. McCombe and carried.

Ayes: 4 (Stover, Payne, O’Neill, McCombe)                   Nays: 0            Absent: 1 (Dodge)

 

 

Millicent Highet, MMC

Town Clerk    

 

Date Approved: 5/21/2025