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For informational purposes only
Posted 11.8.24
TOWN OF SCITUATE
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
Thursday, November 14, 2024 @ 6:00 PM
Scituate High School
94 Trimtown Road
N. Scituate, RI 02857
The Town has set up the following internet video conference and telephonic access capabilities for remote public participation for items other than public hearings:
By internet/Zoom at:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81243292388?pwd=aUU3aHg4cmRaME5jaE83R1pyTlQ5dz09
Dial via telephone:
888 788 0099 US Toll-free
Meeting ID: 812 4329 2388
Passcode: 132310
AGENDA
Attachments are available to view on our website www.scituateri.org
1. Pledge of Allegiance
2. Call to order – Town Council President
3. Roll Call – Town Clerk
4. Possible Motion(s) to convene into Closed/Executive Session:
A. The Town Council may vote to move into Executive/Closed session pursuant to R.I. General Laws §§ 45-15-9, 45-15-10 & 42-46-5(a) Subsection (2), Potential Litigation concerning loose gravel on Bungy Road at Hartford Pike. Discussion and/or Potential action, announcement and/or vote(s) from Executive Session and/or Open Session concerning potential litigation concerning the Town’s failure to keep the roadway free and clear of any dangerous conditions.
B. The Town Council may convene into Executive Session to discuss, take possible action, and/or vote pursuant to the relevant requirements of R.I. General Laws § 42-46-5(a) Subsection (5) Real Estate, specifically regarding possible sale and/or transfer of real estate and/or leasehold interest(s) in real estate. Discussion and/or Potential action, announcement and/or vote(s) from Executive Session and/or Open Session concerning possible sale and/or transfer of real estate and/or leasehold interest(s) in real estate.
5. Motion to close Executive Session / Motion to seal Executive Session minutes / Announcement of Vote(s) in Executive Session, if any.
6. Regular Meeting call to order – Council President – Beginning no earlier than 7:00 P.M.
7. Proclamations, Presentations and Acknowledgements—Review, Discussion and/or Potential Action and/or Vote:
A. Sergeant Parenti - Rhode Island State Grange Law Enforcement Officer of the Year 2024
B. Presentation of donation by Boy Scout Troop 1 to Joe Steiner, Human Services Director
C. Recognition of the Finance Office 2023 annual comprehensive financial report qualifying for Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Certificate of Achievement of Excellence in Financial Reporting.
D. Presentation about the Hazard Mitigation & Flood Management Plan (HM&FMP): The Project Consultant will provide a brief overview of the Project, summary of the Action Plan, and next steps including dissemination of the DRAFT Plan for public review.
8. Public Hearings—Review, Discussion and/or Potential Action and/or Vote (Note: No virtual participation on these public hearing items):
A. Town Council sitting as Beverage Licensing Board Liquor License Approvals, expiring 12/01/2025, subject to receipt of all required paperwork, all State and Local permits, compliance with all stipulations, rules and regulations as previously required by the Town Council and necessary approvals from all department heads:
i. Class A Retailer – Shayna, Inc., for premises known as “Scituate Liquor Shoppe” at 30 Hartford Pike, No. Scituate, RI
ii. Class BVL – Cindy’s Diner Inc., for premises known as “Cindy’s Diner Inc” at 46 Hartford Avenue, Scituate, RI
iii. Class BVL – Farm to Fork, Inc. for premises known as “Rufino’s Pizzeria” at 4 Hope Furnace Road, Hope, RI
iv. Class BV – GLA Merola LLC. for premises known as “Merola’s Granite Farm Restaurant” at 50 Danielson Pike, N. Scituate, RI
v. Class BV – Bar 5, Inc. for premises known as “The Village Tavern” at 90 Hartford Pike, N. Scituate, RI
vi. Class BV – Corner Bistro Inc, for premises known as “Corner Bistro Inc.” at 1115 Hartford Pike, N. Scituate, RI
vii. Class BVL – Scituate Famous, Inc. for premises known as “Scituate Famous, Inc.” at 92 Hartford Pike, N. Scituate, RI
viii. Class A Retailer – J T D Corporation for premises known as “Country Liquor Store,” at 10 Hope Furnace Road, Hope, RI.
ix. Class BVL – Field and Fork, Inc. for premises known as “Groundwater Café” at 985 Chopmist Hill Road, Scituate, RI
B. Town Council sitting as Licensing Board Junk/Second Hand Sales Renewals, expiring December 31, 2024, subject to receipt of all required paperwork, all State and Local permits, and compliance with all stipulations, rules and regulations as previously required by the Town Council:
i. Hall’s Garage, Inc.
9. Public comment for items not on the agenda
10. Consent Items—Review, Discussion and/or Potential Action and/or Vote:
A. Approval of Town Council meeting minutes:
i. Regular Meeting – October 10, 2024
ii. Closed Session – October 10, 2024
i. Town Clerk
ii. Public Works
iii. Building Official/Zoning
iv. Police
v. Treasurer
vi. Senior Services
vii. Human Services
viii. EMA
ix. Recreation
x. Conservation Commission/Land Trust
xi. American Rescue Plan Act Funds
xii. Sustainability Committee
C. Abatements and Additions: NONE
D. Correspondence: NONE
E. Joint Pole Location(s): NONE
F. Re-Appointments:
a. Robert Bower, term expiring November 30, 2027
b. William Frederickson, term expiring November 30, 2027
ii. Land Trust
a. Matthew Sayer, term expiring November 30, 2029
G. Resignations & Retirements:
i. Lawrence Desormier – Building/Zoning Official, effective November 30, 2024
ii. Kerry Ferri - Board of Canvassers
H. Authorization/Ratification of Authorization to post for open positions:
i. Building/Zoning Official
I. Licenses—subject to receipt of all required paperwork, all State and Local permits, and compliance with all stipulations, rules and regulations as previously required by the Town Council:
i. Victualling License Renewals, expiring 12/31/2024
a. The Village Tavern
b. Cindy’s Diner Restaurant, Inc.
c. Corner Bistro
d. Cuozzo’s Casa De Pizza
e. China Garden
f. Chopmist Donuts, LLC D/B/A Dunkin Donuts
g. Scituate Famous Pizza
h. Merolla’s Granite Farm Restaurant
i. Brigido’s Fresh Market
j. Chopmist Xtra Mart
k. Cold Brook Café
l. Rufino’s Pizzeria
m. Socrates Pizza
n. Country Chowder Shack
o. Moose Trackers Ice Cream & Confections
p. Seasons Corner Market
q. Harmony Nutrition
r. Ground Water Cafe
i. Early Town Expenses – $298,228.75
ii. Regular Town Expenses – $67,297.04
K. Request from the Sustainability Committee to withdraw an additional $160 from the Recycling initiative account, to 001-L2350, to cover the cost of composting at the Art Festival
11. Appointments—Review, Discussion and/or Potential Action and/or Vote:
A. Board of Canvassers member appointment to replace Kerry Ferri; term expiring February 28, 2030 (first Monday of March per R.I.G.L. § 17-8-2); Names Submitted:
i. Republican Town Committee Nominations:
a. Marti Bower
ii. Democratic Town Committee Nominations: NONE
12. Resolutions—Review, Discussion and/or Potential Action and/or Vote: NONE
13. Town Business—Review, Discussion and/or Potential Action and/or Vote:
A. Approval of a matching grant of $7,500 to Connecting with Hope and authorization to post for positions on a new ad hoc committee to be appointed by the new Town Council in January 2025.
B. Recommendation from the Tax Collector and Deputy Tax Collector to hire Beth Sampalis for the Tax Collector Clerk position, effective December 1, 2024, at rate of $25.00/hr., a full-time position with other terms and conditions of employment consistent with the posted job description and benefits in accordance with the Town of Scituate Human Resource Manual.
C. Approval of Municipal Road and Bridge Program State Funds Agreement between the State of Rhode Island and the Town of Scituate; authorization for the Town Council President, Town Treasurer and Town Solicitor to sign any and all documents necessary to effectuate the foregoing.
D. Request from Chief Rollinson, in consultation with the Purchasing Agent, for approval to purchase 2 new police cruisers from the state Master Purchasing Agreement, each complete with equipment outfitting, in an amount not to exceed $119,200.00 total for both vehicles, with funds from the Detail L account and the police capital budget.
E. Request from IBPO Local 502 to continue “No Shave November” into “Double Down December” commencing on December 1, 2024 and ending on December 31, 2024; all proceeds from this event will be donated to a charitable organization
F. Authorization for the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Town Purchasing Agent, spend up to $30,000 to purchase shelving units for the new vault from Dupont Storage Systems, an approved vendor on the Massachusetts Higher Education Consortium list. Funds to be used from Recording Technology Fund 227.
G. Request from Hope Jackson Fire Department to purchase Firefighter Turnout Gear from the Fire Department Equipment, 10 complete sets and an additional 6 helmets, 6 pairs of boots, gloves and particulate hoods. GOB Fund: 603 4 420 0000 0000 account 0304, amount not to exceed $65,000
H. Request from the Scituate Land Trust, in consultation with the Town Purchasing Agent, to award Bid No. SCIT064 for Trail Benches. The recommendation for the bid award will be presented by the Land Trust at the meeting; Authorization for the Town Council President, Treasurer and Purchasing Agent to take any and all such actions, and to approve, execute and deliver all such documents as may be necessary to carry into effect the bid award and to take any other action relative thereto. Bids received from:
| Bidder | Bid Price Not to Exceed | Hourly Rate | Daily Rate |
| Westway Construction, Inc. | $11,500.00 | $92.50 | $740.00 |
| Timber Homes Vermont | $7,600.00 | $95.00 | $760.00 |
| Go Outdoor Amenities | $11,567.00 | $300.00 | $2,500.00 |
I. Consideration of traffic study for Institute Lane conducted by Weston & Sampson.
J. Consideration of the proposal from Joe Casali Engineering, Inc. to update the Town’s Onsite Wastewater Management Plan (last updated in 2004).
K. Possible appointment of an interim Zoning Official, with terms and conditions of employment to be determined by the Town Council at the meeting; in the alternative, the Town Council may delegate to a Town Council member the ability to make an interim appointment, in consultation with the Finance Director and Town Solicitor.