New Shoreham Town Council Meeting and

Board of License Commissioners Meeting

Town Hall, 16 Old Town Road

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Minutes

 

Present: First Warden Keith Stover, Second Warden Nancy Dodge, Town Council members Tristan Payne, and Margaret O’Neill.  Also present were Interim Town Manager Amy Land, and via Zoom, Town Solicitor James Callaghan, Mayforth Group Lobbyist Jeff Taylor and Peter Friedrichs from Libra Planners. Deputy Town Clerk Laurel Payne was present for the recording of minutes.  Council Member William McCombe was absent.

 

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

 

Mr. Payne made a motion to convene the Board of License Commissioners, Ms. O’Neill seconded and all were in favor.

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

 

Board of License Commissioners

1.      Continued Item from 4/16/2025: Receive and act on an application for Mobile Food Establishment for Alberto Sanchez d/b/a Pizza Shack, location: Payne’s Dock, 878 West Side Road, (Plat 5, Lot 0)

Mr. Payne recused himself.

 

Alberto Sanchez and Sands Payne were present. Mr. Sanchez clarified the hours of operation as 11:30am-11:30pm. He has met with both the police and fire chiefs and identified the truck location on the dock.

 Ms. Dodge moved to grant the application for a Mobile Food Establishment for Alberto Sanchez doing business as Pizza Shack, location Payne’s Dock, 878 West Side Road, Plat 5 Lot 0, Ms. O’Neill seconded, and the motion carried.

 3 Ayes (Stover, Dodge, O’Neill) 1 Absent (McCombe) 1 Abstain (Payne)

 

2.      Discuss and act to amend the locations list for Mobile Food Establishments and Hawkers and Peddlers operations.

Ms. Dodge made a motion to amend the list of locations for Mobile Food Establishments and Hawkers and Peddlers operations to add Plat 5 Lot 0 location Payne’s Dock, Ms. O’Neill seconded, and the motion carried.
3 Ayes (Stover, Dodge, O’Neill) 1 Absent (McCombe) 1 Abstain (Payne)

           

Ms. Dodge made a motion to come out of the Board of License Commissioners, Ms. O’Neill seconded, and the motion carried.

3 Ayes (Stover, Dodge, O’Neill) 1 Absent (McCombe) 1 Abstain (Payne)

 

Mr. Payne returned to the table.

Town Council Agenda

3.      Public Comment

Chris Blane reported on 3 concerns:

·         Mansion Beach Wall Legal Fee Reimbursement

·         Painted Rock Location

·         Amending Hunting Ordinance for Plat 1 Lot 116

Chris Warful reported on 2 issues:

·         Land Trust Meeting Streaming and Recording

·         Resue Barn Solar System

4.      Consent Agenda:

a.       Approval of minutes: May 6, 2025 open and closed; May 7, 2025

b.      Authorize a letter of support for the Block Island Club’s application to CRMC (Plat 4, Lot 49) for dock reconfiguration and expansion that has been in place from 2017-2023

Mr. Payne made a motion to approve the consent agenda, Mr. Dodge seconded, and the motion carried.

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

 

5.      Discuss and act on Board, Commission and Committees:

a.       Announce vacancies:

                                            i.            Commission on Motor Vehicles for Hire: One (not MVFH licensee) (term exp. 12/2026)

                                          ii.            Sewer District Commission: Two Alternate positions (1-year terms exp. 4/2025)

                                        iii.            Water District Commission: Two Alternate positions (1-year terms exp. 4/2025)

Mr. Stover announced the vacancies and made a plea to anyone from the community who might be interested in joining a board to consider the Sewer and Water District as they are essential to our community.

 

6.      Hold public hearing, discuss and act on proposed amendments to New Shoreham Zoning Ordinances Article 2 Definitions; Section 202 Definitions Adding Balcony, Deck & Porch and Article 4 Criteria for Special Use Permits; Section 406 Residential Structures Meeting Certain Thresholds

Mr. Payne made a motion to open the public hearing, Ms. Dodge seconded and all were in favor.

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

 

Following discussion with Peter Friedrichs from Libra Planners, the council decided they would like to see more clarification before making a decision on the amendment. 

Ms. Dodge made a motion to continue the public hearing to June 2^nd, 2025, Ms. O’Neill seconded, and the motion passed.

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

 

7.      Receive report from Town Lobbyists regarding pending legislation: Non-Owner Occupied Property Tax; Whole house rental tax; Increase in local hotel tax; Additional Real Estate Conveyance Tax; Increase the Landing fee to $1.00; Tax Classification; School bonding; Water district

Town Lobbyist Jeff Taylor updated the council on bills the Mayforth Group have been advocating for and insight into the state’s budget.

·         The two bills for the adoption of a tax classification plan for occupied and owner-occupied properties have received positive feedback. Other towns are pursuing similar proposals, so it is recommended that the proposed language be consistent.

·         School Bonding- The 10.4 million for school improvements is moving forward and will hopefully be through the process in the next few weeks.

·         Water District- This bill was combined with Jamestown but will be removed due to Block Island’s unique demographics. There are some concerns and push back currently from the RI Builders Association due to existing regulatory process.

·         Landing Fee- There has been a positive response, legislators felt this was a good resource for the Town in response to tourism.  Narragansett has also submitted a request for a $.50 increase in landing fee.  Interim Town Manager Land reported that she had a conversation with Interstate Navigation, and they have not changed their position. The Lobbyists will continue to monitor the Narragansett bill.

Mr. Taylor reported on the State’s Budget. Revenue projections and costs/expenditures, compared to November, are consistent. Expenditures show no discernable increase; the revenue side has an increase in personal income tax and lottery proceeds. Overall there shows an eighty million dollar increase on projected revenues, what was a two hundred fifty-million-dollar deficit, is now a one hundred seventy-million-dollar deficit, give or take. The Federal Government may have a future impact on the budget.

 

Ms. Dodge inquired about the CRMC reforming bills. Mr. Taylor stated that there are 3 competing bills currently. The preferred bill the council is endorsing would remove the appointed council and create more of a state-level agency.  It is still in flux, but they are pushing for full reform. Ms. Dodge stated that is what the proposed Resolution supports as well.

 

8.      Receive and act on Report of Interim Town Manager (Public Works, Finance, School, School Construction Project, Library, Recreation, Administration, Harbors, Broadband, Police, Roads, Human Services)

Interim Town Manager Land reviewed some highlights from her report including:

·         The AARP program is expected to move forward before the council in June

·         The DEM parking pass has had a great response.

·         Public Safety Complex Committee is close to signing a contract with Scott Kittel and they continue to move forward.

·         Beach signage is being placed to protect the seal herd around the Island.

·         Police Dept. is working on automating the parking ticket process. Phil Trudel is graduating from the Police Academy and will be sworn in at a council meeting.

·         Highways/ Public Works is working on spring mowing and trimming. They are currently short-staffed.

·         The Thomas property is moving slowly. There will be a formal update in June.

·         DEM has completed work on the bluff stairs; they are open, and we are working with them on cautionary signage.

Topics regarding the Town Garage, Library Hours, Harbors Automation and Old Harbor Styrofoam were discussed.

9.      Review of Financial Reports- no report given.

 

10.  Act upon request of the Committee for the Great Salt Pond to adopt a Resolution in support of House Bill H5706 and Senate Bill S0775 supporting CRMC reform

Henry Dupont urged the council to speak to our representatives, informing them of our support.

Ms. Dodge made a motion to adopt the Resolution in support of House Bill H5706 and Senate Bill H5706, Mr. Payne seconded, and the motion carried.

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

 

Ms. Dodge suggested that the Resolution be sent to Susan Sosnowski.

 

11.  Act upon a Resolution opposing the removal of USCG Aids to Navigation in and around Block Island waters

Ms. Dodge made a motion to add the language “all District 1 stakeholders”, adopt and send the Resolution, Mr. Payne seconded and the motion carried.

 

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

 

12.  Receive and act on recommendation to work with The Nature Conservancy to safely reroute Clay Head Trail through Plat 2 Lot 24 (Whitman Property) for limited pedestrian passage

Ms. Land has reviewed the deed and feels the walking passage is an acceptable use. Ms. Dodge agreed.

Ms. Dodge made a motion to approve the pedestrian passage, Mr. Payne seconded, and the motion passed.

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

 

13.  Receive and act on recommendation to enter into agreement with Puck Enterprises for NFPA 1900-tested FF4500-45 Force Feed Fire Pump, Hose Cart and related accessories for $836,925

Ms. Land reviewed the Puck Enterprises agreement and the equipment. Mr. Payne commented that he would like to see more due diligence before the purchase.

Ms. Dodge made a motion to enter into an agreement with Puck Enterprises for NFPA 1900-tested FF4500-45 Force Feed Fire Pump, Hose Cart and related accessories for $836,925, Mr. Stover seconded, and the motion carried.

3 Ayes (Stover, Dodge, O’Neill) 1 Nay (Payne)  1 Absent (McCombe)

 

14.  Raise items for future agendas

The following agenda items were mentioned:

·         Recreational Opportunities- Disc Golf, Pickle Ball, Bocce Ball

·         Rental Cars and Golf Carts

Mr. Payne made a motion to adjourn at 8:25, Ms. Dodge seconded, and the motion passed.

 

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

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Laurel Payne

 

Approved 6/2/20255