WORK SESSION
FEBRUARY 6, 2017
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At a WORK SESSION of the Town Council of the Town of South Kingstown, County of Washington, in the State of Rhode Island, held at the Town Hall, in and for said Town on the 6th day of February A.D., 2017 at 6:30 PM.
PRESENT: Margaret M. Healy, President
Abel G. Collins, Vice President
Bryant DaCruz
Liz Gledhill
Joe Viele
Also present: Stephen A. Alfred, Town Manager and Aimee Reiner, Director of Administrative Services.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the flag is given.
Discussion ensues relative to the Town Council Goals and Objectives for the 2016-2018 term of office. Staff took the goals and objectives from the 2014-2016 term of office, and submitted those to each of the department directors for review and proposed revisions. The objective is to tie the goals and objectives to the proposed budget that will be issued on March 1, 2017. If there are revisions or items that the Council wishes to see added, they can be added.
Councilwoman Gledhill would like to enable the Partnership for Prevention to do more to tackle the opioid epidemic. It is recommended that it be placed under Special Needs Population.
Discussion ensues relative to the Budget Development and Fiscal Management section of the Goals and Objectives. Two new issues have been added by staff: one to deal with natural hazards and their impacts to existing infrastructure, and replacement costs associated with destruction of infrastructure; and another providing for the continuation of a budget document consistent with GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Award requirements.
A transparency program was put in the State budget last year and is going to require greater uniformity with the cities and towns. South Kingstown is one of five communities in the State that are acting as lead communities in terms of the chart of accounts.
Dr. William Rosen is present and comments in regard to natural hazards and sea level rise, and a study that the University has conducted.
Council Vice President Collins comments in regard to the School Committee presenting more professional looking budgets. The School Department’s chart of accounts is close to 15,000 and is complicated in terms of the database that needs to be managed. He also discusses the Town Council working cooperatively with the School Committee as far as the facilities plan is concerned.
Councilwoman Gledhill discusses having one meeting with the School Committee in the summer to get an update on the programs and projects.
The Town Manager discusses putting an item under Communication and Education in regard to having more meetings with the policy making boards.
It is requested that the School Committee appointment be placed on the Monday, February 13, 2017 Town Council agenda.
Discussion ensues relative to the Town’s new website and how many people have signed up for notifications.
Discussion ensues relative to maintaining an active communication model with the Union and Kingston Fire Districts.
Councilman DaCruz requests that there be better communication in regard to recruitment of volunteer firefighters. If the Union Fire District wishes to give a statement in regard to recruitment it can go on the Town’s website.
Discussion ensues relative to the Provision of Core Services and Facilities. Completion of the installation of the Matunuck Beach Road sheet pile wall protection system is maintained. Finalization of the off-site virtual net metering contract of off-site solar power is added.
Discussion ensues relative to the accreditation of the Police Department.
Discussion ensues relative to the Municipal Court and it is deleted as a goal.
Discussion ensues relative to Land Use. Efforts will continue for the update of the Comprehensive Community Plan. Workshops have been held to gather input from members of the community. One area of concern is that specific interests are well represented but would like to see a broader community base representation. It is requested that options for mixed use zoning and increased density requirements be included in the Land Use section.
Discussion ensues relative to the clean-up of the Saugatucket River and Green Hill Pond.
Discussion ensues relative to Housing. Councilwoman Gledhill would like to forge some sort of relationship with the South Kingstown Housing Authority and discuss opportunities for shared services. It is recommended that this be listed under the Communication section to meet with local policy boards and commissions.
Discussion ensues relative to the Sustainability, Environmental and Natural Resource section of the goals and objectives. Continuation of the Narrow River Stormwater mitigation project to address the TMDLs has been added to this section.
Discussion ensues relative to the Cultural and Historic Resources section of the goals and objectives. Funds are available to review and evaluate information emerging from the Wakefield National Register nomination for consideration of potential next steps. Councilman Viele asks if the nomination to the National Register would restrict property rights and if so, the stakeholders should be brought into the process before a decision is made.
Discussion ensues relative to the Economic Development section of the goals and objectives. Councilwoman Gledhill would like to incorporate into this section the SKEDC’s recommendation about supporting infrastructure within the villages. The Town Manager is perplexed in regard to what problem we are trying to solve when you go down Main Street and the storefronts are fully occupied; or why we would need a new employee to deal with new businesses that need assistance when we have had no real complaints in regard to assisting business. He is disappointed that the EDC didn’t recognize the town parking lots and the restroom but rather criticized because someone didn’t know there was a restroom there. When trash receptacles were placed on Main Street in the past, the first problem was business owners allowing trash receptacles to be placed in front of their stores, the second problem was particularly during the summer months the trash receptacles generated bees. The Town purchased the receptacles and it was agreed that the business owners would empty them; some did a better job than others cleaning them. Recently, the Town got six bike racks: the Main Street group was asked where they would like them placed. None of the businesses wanted them in front of their business. There are concerns in regard to the placement of trash receptacles and the businesses wanting them in front of their storefronts.
Discussion ensues relative to hiring an Economic Development Coordinator. The Economic Development Committee gave the Town Manager a job description suggesting a $60,000 wage with benefits is $90,000. It is questionable that this new position would have enough work. The question remains what are we trying to accomplish?
Councilman Viele comments that what he took away from the meeting with the SKEDC is that it is not really about generating new business but providing assistance to existing businesses who are taxpayers. It seems that other communities like East Greenwich and Westerly are committing dollars and staying in touch with the businesses to see where those dollars could be spent. The communities see a big pool of money that comes in because of tourism that they believe should go back to those businesses that have created that volume or revenue stream. Maybe the answer is to stay in better contact with those businesses and that Main Street be the focus initially. Then maybe we go up Tower Hill Road and see what is beneficial to those merchants.
Councilwoman Gledhill comments that communication is so important to the stakeholders on Main Street, what services are available, how can we talk to you about what we need before it becomes a problem. They feel like they don’t have a voice at the table.
Another concern is that there are too many groups. There are three businesses that are part of the Main Street group. Is the focus on what those businesses are looking for or what the district needs? There needs to be some way to unify the different groups to work together.
Council President Healy discusses the Town having the responsibility of cleaning the trash receptacles if they are put back on Main Street. She doesn’t want it to be a situation where at 2:00 PM the Manager receives a call and the Town is tasked with taking on an additional responsibility.
The Town needs to work with the downtown group and ask them where they want the trash receptacles, then the Manager can give the Council an estimate of what it will cost to provide the trash removal service.
Councilman Viele recommends that we start with the Main Street group, get someone from that group to talk with EDC about what their needs are.
The Town Manager indicates that the Director of Administrative Services will be going to the next meeting of the downtown group to ask where they want the trash receptacles and what other services they may want.
Discussion ensues relative to the Circulation section of the goals and objectives. The design of the bike path connection between Broad Rock Playfields and South County Commons needs to be done once the grant is in place.
Councilman Viele comments in regard to the designation of the Scenic Highway on Route 1 and requests that the Town consider the impact on property rights, and that the property owners that would be affected are notified of any conditions being changed prior to the Town taking any action.
Councilwoman Gledhill comments in regard to the complete streets concept as a transportation planning tool.
The Town Manager comments that the complete streets concept was a statement that you should consider with future development, that there is more than just vehicle traffic.
Council Vice President Collins comments that complete streets is a concept sensitive solution which means before you consider any road project you have to see what the context of the road is within the broader landscape, and see what the type of uses of a road in that context will demand in terms of alternative modes of transportation. Sidewalks are not going to be called for in most cases in South Kingstown because we are largely a rural community.
Councilman Viele comments in regard to the commuter rail service and inviting it to the Kingston Train Station. He is not so sure it will increase rail service use and would support a study to see what impact it would have to add to the northwest portion of the campus. Riders are not going to get off at Kingston Station and then walk to URI, and there is no shuttle.
Discussion ensues relative to the Special Needs Populations section of the goals and objectives. The Veterans’ Exemption will be adjusted again this year and until we are more in line with other communities. The Elderly Exemption is okay and no changes need to be made.
Discussion ensues relative to whether there are any projections in regard to Senior Services, given the population is aging. One area that increased services may be required in is the EMS services.
Discussion ensues relative to the University of Rhode Island section of the goals and objectives and the relationship between the School of Engineering and Schneider Electric.
Discussion ensues relative to the South County Hospital section of the goals and objectives and the Little League Field being used as additional parking. The hospital is an asset that needs to be protected.
Discussion ensues in regard to the appointment for the School Committee being placed on the Monday, February 13, 2017 agenda.
Discussion ensues relative to the School Department’s budget.
UNANIMOUSLY VOTED: to adjourn at 8:25 PM.
ADJOURNED,
Dale S. Holberton, CMC
Town Clerk