REVISED

New Shoreham Town Council Meeting

Town Hall, 16 Old Town Road

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

6:45 p.m.

 

 

To see supporting documents for this agenda, go to: ClerkBase https://clerkshq.com/NewShoreham-RI  

The meeting can be watched on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Town-NewShoreham/streams

“The above virtual access option is being provided only as a convenience and is not an official “location” where meeting access is guaranteed.  The only way to guarantee complete access to the meeting is to attend physically, in-person at the physical location listed above.”

 

6:45 p.m.

1.       Discuss and act on negotiations between International Brotherhood of Police Officers, Local 720 (representing members of New Shoreham Police Department) and Town of New Shoreham. This item may be discussed in closed session pursuant to RI General Laws 42-46-5(a) (2) Sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation, or work sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation

 

7:00 p.m.

2.       Public Comment

 

3.       Consent Agenda:

a.       Approval of minutes: June 1, 2026 open and closed; June 3, 2026

b.       Grant game licenses, pending receipt of required inspection, Aldo’s Bakery, Champlin’s Hotel, Marina & Resort, Empire Theatre, Neptune House, Wetherbee’s

c.       Act to approve the contract between RI Council 94 AFSCME, AFL-CIO Local 2855 New Shoreham Employee’s Association and Town of New Shoreham and New Shoreham School Committee for July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2030 and related fiscal impact statement

d.       Receive Correspondence:

                                                              i.      Letter from Steve Filippi regarding the cleanup and disposition of the Styrofoam pellets on the Ballard’s beach and southeast beach

                                                            ii.      Letter from Jody Brotherhood in opposition of the proposed Zoning amendment (application of Gary Pollard) to make game rooms an allowable use in the Old Harbor Commercial Zone

 

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

a.       Appoint two members to the Age-Friendly Community Task Force with term expiring 12/2026 & term expiring 12/2027

b.       Reduce the membership of Transportation Safety Committee from nine members to seven members

c.       Appoint Dr. Elizabeth Moran to Emergency Management Task Force as Block Island Health Services Representative

d.       Appoint NettieRose Cooley to Emergency Management Task Force as Block Island Health Services Alternate 1

e.       Announce vacancies:

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

                                                   ii.            Old Harbor Task Force (term exp. 12/2027)

                                                 iii.            Police Advisory Commission (term exp. 12/2026)

                                                  iv.            Age-Friendly Community Task Force (term exp. 12/2026)

                                                    v.            Sewer District Committee and Water District Committee Alternate position (term exp. 4/2027)

                                                  vi.            Early Learning Center Board of Directors – Town Representative (term exp. 12/2026)

 

5.       Hold public hearing, discuss and act on Block Island Veterinary Initiative application to amend the New Shoreham Zoning Ordinance, Article 1, Section 111 General Prohibitions #23 Trailers

 

6.       Hold public hearing, discuss and act on proposed amendment to New Shoreham Zoning Ordinance, Article 3, Sections 306E & 307E re: Uses Allowed with Special Use Permit (Total Living Area)

 

7.       Hold public hearing, discuss and act on amendments to New Shoreham Zoning Ordinance Article 1 General, Section 113 Non-Conformance and Article 4 Criteria for Special Use Permits, Section 401

8.       Hold public hearing, discuss and act on amendments to New Shoreham General Ordinance Chapter 17 Taxation and Finance, Article II Exemptions from Taxes, Division 3 Veterans, Section 17-56 Authority & 17-58 Effective Date

 

9.       Set a public hearing date for New Shoreham General Ordinance, Chapter 5 Fire Prevention and Protection, Article IV Fire Alarms

 

10.   Set a public hearing date for New Shoreham General Ordinance, Chapter 8 Licenses and Business Regulations, Article X Special Events

 

11.   Set a public hearing date for New Shoreham General Ordinance, Chapter 9 Marine Activities, Areas and Structures, Article IV Fishing, Division 2 Shellfishing

 

12.   Introduction of Dr. Elizabeth “Liz” Moran, MD, MPH as Chief Medical Officer of Block Island Health Services

 

13.   Discuss and act on the employment contract for Michael Shea as Public Works Director through December 31, 2028

 

14.   Receive update on July 4th security plans

 

15.   Approve recommendation from Town Manager and authorize award for On-Call Engineering Services

a.       James J. Geremia & Associates, Inc.

b.       VHB, Inc.

c.       Foth Infrastructure & Environmental, LLC

d.       GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.

 

16.   Review of financial reports

 

17.   Receive and Act on Finance Director recommendations re:

a.       Authorization of over expenditures of certain appropriations, not exceeding the adopted FY2026 Budget

b.       Assignment of 2026 Capital and Operating Funds for use in 2027, renewal of prior years’ unexpended assignments and release of expired assignments

c.       Authorize transfer of landing fees to the General Fund

d.       Receive and act on recommendation regarding uncollectible taxes

 

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

 

19.   Receive and act on update from the Town Manager regarding regulatory counsel

 

20.   Receive legislative update:

a.       Department of Transportation funding for Highways maintenance and replacement of highway garage

b.       Non-owner-occupied property tax

c.       Tick-borne illness – Public health issue on Block Island

                                                     i.            Deer mitigation (H8451, S3344)

                                                   ii.            Tick mitigation (S2660)

d.       Moped license retirement (S3187, H8388)

 

21.   Discuss and act on authorizing the Town Manager to submit a letter to the DOT reiterating the Town’s intention to terminate the Memorandum of Agreement between the Town and DOT to maintain the state roads in the absence of meaningful performance toward replacing the State Highways Garage

 

22.   Act to fill the vacancy of New Shoreham Town Council member

 

23.   Raise items for future agendas

 

To see supporting documents for this agenda, go to: ClerkBase https://clerkshq.com/NewShoreham-RI  

The meeting can be watched on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@Town-NewShoreham/streams

Individuals requesting interpreter services for the deaf and hard of hearing must call (401) 466-3200 forty-eight hours in advance of the meeting date.
TTY: 711.   Posted: 6/15/2026 mh