RICHMOND TOWN COUNCIL

Special Town Council Meeting

Town Council Chambers

5 Richmond Townhouse Road, Wyoming, RI 02898

August 23, 2022

5:30 P.M.

 

A.        CALL TO ORDER

 

President Carpenter called the meeting of the Richmond Town Council to order at 5:40 P.M. held on August 23, 2022. This meeting was held In-Person at the Town Council Chambers, 5 Richmond Townhouse Road, Wyoming, RI as well as teleconferenced via Zoom.

 

B.        ROLL CALL

 

Town Council Members present in Council Chambers were as follows: Council President Nell Carpenter, Councilor Rich Nassaney, Councilor Ron Newman and Councilor Lauren Cacciola. Vice President Palmisciano was not present. Also present Town Solicitor Karen Ellsworth, Town Planner Shaun Lacey, Finance Director Laura Kenyon, Building Official Anthony Santilli, Assistant Town Clerk Kendra Tanguay and Town Clerk Erin Liese.

 

C.        TOWN COUNCIL WORKSHOP

Please Note in Accordance with Section 42-46-6 (b) the Council May Review, Discuss and/or take Action on the following items:

1.         Discussion of enactment of an amendment to the Code of Ordinances to establish a Municipal Court

 

Town Planner Lacey presented the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Councilor Newman thanked Town Planner Lacey for bringing this subject up and for the presentation.

 

Councilor Cacciola questioned the cost. Town Planner Lacey advised we would convene as needed for land use matters and estimated a cost of $2,500- $5,000.

 

Building Official Santilli advised that he serves in Hopkinton and Narragansett where they have Municipal Court and it is quite successful in solving violations. He explained this would not be a revenue source; however a tool to resolve outstanding matters.

 

Councilor Nassaney advised it could save time and cost without going to Superior Court.

 

Discussion ensued on Municipal Court.

 

President Carpenter questioned how many violations would currently go through Municipal Court if we have one. Building Official Santilli advised about ten cases.

 

Discussion ensued on pilot program and using it as needed

 

Town Planner Lacey advised we would need to hire a Municipal Court Judge and Clerk to facilitate Court.

 

Town Solicitor Ellsworth advised the Town Clerk’s Office staff would facilitate Municipal Court.

 

Town Clerk Liese explained we have had several discussions and the Town Clerk’s Office does not have the staffing to facilitate this. She further explained many communities operate Municipal Court out of the Zoning Dept. and Charlestown has the Administrator’s Clerk conduct Municipal Court. All have agreed that the Building and Planning Dept. would need to acquire staff to operate the Court.

 

It was noted that appropriations are made to cover the cost of Municipal Court.

 

Council President Carpenter advised we were running late into the regular meeting time and suggested discussing this further at a later date.

 

Councilor Newman suggested waiting to determine this with the new Council.

 

A motion was made by Councilor Newman with second by President Carpenter to table this matter until after November 2022.Vote: President Carpenter, Aye; Councilor Nassaney, Aye; Councilor Newman, Aye; Councilor Cacciola, Aye.

 

D.        ADJOURNMENT

 

A motion was made by Councilor Newman with second by Councilor Nassaney to adjourn at 6:10 P.M. Vote: President Carpenter, Aye; Councilor Nassaney, Aye; Councilor Newman, Aye; Councilor Cacciola, Aye.

 

 

Attest:

 

 

_______________________

Erin F. Liese, CMC Town Clerk