TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA

 

TOWN OF SOUTH KINGSTOWN

 

RHODE ISLAND

 

 

MONDAY, JUNE 16, 2025

 

SPECIAL REGULAR SESSION – 7:30 PM

 

TOWN COUNCIL CHAMBERS

180 HIGH STREET

WAKEFIELD, RI

 

TOWN COUNCIL

Rory H. McEntee, President

Michael K. Marran, Vice President

Patricia A. Alley

Deborah D. Bergner

Jay G. Wegimont

 

James M. Manni, Town Manager

Michael A. Ursillo, Esquire, Town Solicitor

Nichole C. Romane, Town Clerk

 

 

 

Members of the public are welcome and encouraged to attend in person or view the meeting live on ClerkBase at https://clerkshq.com/SouthKingstown-ri or on your local Public Access Television Station.

 

NOTE:  Individuals requesting American Sign Language interpreters or CART service must call the Town Clerk’s Office at 401-789-9331 seventy-two (72) hours in advance of the meeting date.

 

DATE POSTED 6/12/2025

 

 

1.            SPECIAL REGULAR SESSION – 7:30 PM

Please be advised that the Council intends to discuss and/or act upon each and every item appearing on this agenda.

 

            A.        PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

            B.        LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT STATEMENT

 

2.            ROLL CALL

 

3.            NEW BUSINESS

 

A.           A resolution, continued from June 9, 2025, referring to the Planning Board for an advisory opinion proposed amendments to the Town’s Zoning Ordinance relative to rental dwellings, as shown on Exhibit 1 attached hereto.

 

B.           A resolution, continued from June 9, 2025, referring to the Planning Board for an advisory opinion proposed amendments to the Zoning Ordinance relative to manufactured homes for review as further described in a memorandum from the Assistant Town Solicitor to the Town Council dated September 13, 2024 and entitled “Manufactured Homes – Existing Local Regulations & New State Law.”

 

C.           A resolution, continued from June 9, 2025, authorizing an amendment to an award of contract, originally granted on June 13, 2023, to Union Studio, 160 Mathewson Street, Suite 201, Providence, RI 02903 for additional architectural services related to the Perryville EMS Station from a price not to exceed $127,500 to an amended amount not to exceed $140,000, as further described in a memo from the Deputy Town Manager to the Town Manager dated June 4, 2025, entitled “Amendment of Contract for Phase II Environmental Services.”

 

D.           A resolution, continued from June 9, 2025, authorizing the Town Manager to finalize and release the draft Request for Proposals (RFP) in order to solicit proposals to develop workforce housing at the vacant South Road Elementary School, as further described in a memorandum from the Planning Director to the Town Manager dated June 4, 2025, entitled “South Road School – Draft RFP.” (Presentation)

 

E.            Discussion and potential action relative to establishing a South Kingstown Youth Advisory Board, as requested by Council Member Wegimont.

 

4.            TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT

 

A.           Discussion, continued from June 9, 2025, concerning the allocation of undesignated fund balance, as requested by Council Vice President Marran.

 

5.            COMMUNICATIONS

 

A.           An email dated May 30, 2025 from Dorothy Hill, South Kingstown Bicycle-Pedestrian Advisory Committee requesting safety measures for pedestrians and bicyclists on Green Hill Beach Road, continued from June 9, 2025, is received, placed on file, and the Town Council further directs                              .

 

Rule 18:  Correspondence to the Town Council shall be placed on the Council agenda only where action by the Council is requested.  Correspondence relating to personnel issues or personal matters shall not be placed on the agenda.  The Town Clerk shall confer with the Town Manager and/or Town Solicitor where the intent of the correspondence may be unclear.  The Town reserves the right to make correspondence public by posting it on the Town Council agenda or otherwise.

 

6.            PUBLIC COMMENTS

 

Rule 10A.  for the conduct of the meetings of the South Kingstown Town Council:  Members of the public shall be entitled to speak at regular meetings during any period designated on the agenda for public comment, once, for a period of five minutes, or longer at the discretion of the President, and at other times when invited to do so by the President.  The public shall address their comments to the question under debate as indicated on the agenda. Pursuant to RI General Laws §42-46-6(b), public comment regarding subject matter not on the agenda but received during the public participation portion of a meeting shall be for information purposes only and may not be voted on except where necessary to address an unexpected occurrence that requires immediate action to protect the public or to refer the matter to an appropriate committee or to another body or official.

 

7.            APPOINTMENTS

 

A.           A resolution appointing ___________________________________ to the ______________________________ Board/Committee/Commission for a term to expire in _______________. (See Attachment A for Boards and Commissions Appointments Report)

 

B.           A resolution appointing                                                 to serve on the South Kingstown USA 250th Ad-Hoc Committee.

 

Rule 11:  No item of business other than that of adjournment may be brought before the Town Council at any meeting unless such an item is introduced before 11:00 PM; provided, however, that this rule may be suspended by an affirmative vote of a majority of members present.

 

Pursuant to RIGL §42-46-6(b). Notice – “Nothing contained herein shall prevent a public body, other than a school committee from adding additional items to the agenda by majority vote of the members.  Such additional items shall be for informational purposes only and may not be voted on except where necessary to address an unexpected occurrence that requires immediate action to protect the public or to refer the matter to an appropriate committee or to another body or official.”

 

 

Exhibit 1

 

Proposed Amendments to the Town Code Zoning Ordinance

Appendix A – Zoning Ordinance

 

ADD:

 

Article 5.5 - Rental Dwellings

 

Sec. 550. - Applicability.

 

The provisions of this article shall apply to all rental dwellings/units within the town except those such as hotels, motels and tourist homes which are licensed pursuant to Chapter 18. Institutional dormitories are exempt from the provisions of this article. 

 

Sec. 551. - Definitions.

 

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

 

Record owner means the property owner of record, as identified by the town’s tax records.

 

Rental dwelling means any enclosed space which is wholly or partly used or intended to be used for occupants who are paying rent therefor.

 

Rental unit means any room or group of rooms located within a rental dwelling and forming a single habitable unit for living and sleeping by occupants who are paying rent therefor.

 

Sec. 552. - Registration.

 

(a)  Required. No rental dwelling/unit shall be let, leased or otherwise permitted to be occupied, in whole or in part, by a tenant for residential and/or dwelling purposes unless and until the record owner has registered such property with the zoning official.

 

(b)  Form. The rental registration form shall indicate the tax assessor's plat and lot number address of the rental dwelling/unit the number of rental dwelling units and bedrooms therein, the name and permanent mailing address of the record owner, and the maximum number of tenants at one time, and period of occupancy (summer, September to June, or other). All rental registration applications shall be signed and properly notarized by the record owner.

 

(c)  Filing date; term. On or before December 31 of each year, the record owner of the rental dwelling/unit shall file the completed rental registration form with the zoning official, which registration shall be valid for a one-year period from January 1 to December 31 of the following year. If the property is registered during the calendar year, the registration shall be valid until December 31 of that same year.

 

Sec. 553. - Posting of notice by owner.

 

The record owner shall post in plain view, in a conspicuous place within the rental dwelling/unit, a notice containing the ordinances of the town with regard to the dog leash law, trash disposal, parking restrictions, dwelling occupancy limits, unruly gatherings, and any other pertinent ordinance or law which the council may deem appropriate from time to time. Such notices shall be available at the office of the zoning official. The record owner or any person in control or possession of said rental dwelling/unit subject to the provisions of this article, shall cause a copy of the current lease and registration form required by this article to be posted or affixed to the inside of the primary access door to said rental dwelling/unit so as to allow the lease and registration form to be readily available for inspection by police, zoning, building, or minimum housing officials of the Town of South Kingstown.

 

Sec. 554. - Fee.

 

To defray the cost of implementing and overseeing compliance with this article and to help defray the costs associated with the frequent use of town services, including, but not limited to public safety personnel, code compliance personnel and managerial personnel associated with the policing of rental dwellings, there shall be a registration fee of $100.00 for each rental unit covered under the provisions of this article. Any owner who is required to file the registration form on or before December 31 of each year, and who does not file on time, shall, in addition to any other applicable penalties provided for in Article 9, be required to pay a late fee of $300.00. Rental units owned by the South Kingstown Housing Authority and rental units that are deed restricted as affordable housing shall be exempt from the registration fee.

 

Secs. 555—599. - Reserved.

 

* * *

 

This Ordinance shall take effect upon passage.

 

 

 

 

Attachment A

 

 

Boards and Commissions Appointments Report

 

 

The following information reflects the status of those Town boards, commissions and committees which have vacancies, members whose terms are expiring and are eligible for reappointment, and/or applications filed for consideration of appointment. The Town Council may make appointments at any meeting.

 

Affordable Housing Collaborative Committee (7 members; 3 year term)

Vacancies (2): terms to expire August 2025 and August 2027 (Bethany Sorrentino and Meghann Sparks resigned)

Applicant: Brian Smith (applied 1/10/2025; interviewed 1/27/2025).

 

Bicycle – Pedestrian Advisory Committee (Minimum 5, maximum 9 members; 2 year term)

Vacancies: two terms to expire in July 2025 (David Hamel and James Vogel did not wish to be reappointed; Christopher Moore resigned; two additional open positions).

Applicant: David R. Stone (applied 7/16/2024).

 

Building Code/Minimum Housing Code Boards of Appeals (5 members; 5 year term)

Reappointment for a term to expire June 2025. Michael Joyce wishes to be reappointed. It is reported that Mr. Joyce has attended 7 of 12 meetings held during their current term (attendance as of 2/3/2025).

Vacancy: one term to expire in June 2029 (Paul Schurman did not wish to be reappointed).

 

Canvassing Authority (3 members, 2 alternates; 6 year term)

Reappointments for terms to expire March 2025: John Rose wishes to be reappointed. Awaiting responses from Helen Rose DiSanto and Roland Benjamin. Margaret Healy does not wish to be reappointed.

 

Conservation Commission (7 members; 3 year term)

Vacancies: one term to expire September 2027 (Margaret Clune did not wish to be reappointed).

 

Economic Development Committee (11 members, 3 year term)

Vacancies: 2 terms to expire March 2028 (Brian Smith and Henry Thayer did not wish to be reappointed).

Applicant: Kirk Brown (applied 5/27/2025).

 

Historic District Commission (7 members; 3 year term)

Vacancies (3): one term to expire in December 2026 and two terms to expire December 2027 (Andrew Martinez resigned, and Linda Stedman and David Nedwidek did not wish to be reappointed).

Applicant: John Desmond (applied 3/25/2025); Elizabeth “Bettina” Monaco (applied 6/3/2025).

 

Library Board of Trustees (7 members; 3 year term)

Reappointments for two terms to expire July 2025: Lindsay Madom wishes to be reappointed. It is reported that Ms. Madom has attended 18 of 30 meetings held during their current term (attendance as of 4/28/2025). Mario Briccetti does not wish to be reappointed.

Applicant: David R. Stone (applied 7/16/2024); Kim Salisbury-Keith (applied 5/28/2025).

 

Planning Board (7 members; 3 year term)

Reappointment for a term to expire May 2025. Elizabeth Karp wishes to be reappointed. It is reported that Ms. Karp has attended 50 of 61 meetings held during their current term (attendance as of 2/5/2025).

Applicants: William Green (reapplied 3/25/2025; previously interviewed 3/11/2024)

 

Route 1 Stewardship Plan Development Committee (8 members)

Vacancy: Economic Development Committee Ex-Officio Member (Larry Fish resigned)

Applicants: Jenn Judge (applied 9/30/2024); William Green (applied 10/1/2024); Maureen White (applied 10/8/2024).

 

Route 138 Reconstruction Project Area Committee (11 members; 2 year term)

Reappointments for terms expired in May 2023: Susan Spranger Axelrod, Dorald Beasley, Gail Faris, Thomas Marcello and William Rosen wish to be reappointed. Awaiting a response from Diane Johnson.

Vacancies: terms expired in May 2023 (Peter Maynard did not wish to be reappointed; James Garfield, Ex-Officio member of Historic District Commission resigned; and URI representative)

 

Saugatucket Veterans’ Memorial Park Commission (5 members; 5 year term)

Reappointments for terms to expire January 2025: Stephen Stewart and Richard Pike wish to be reappointed. Awaiting responses from Thomas Browning and Judith Ann Munson.

Vacancy: Vietnam Veteran, term expires in January 2025 (Mark Spangler deceased)

 

Statistical Modeling and Analytics Research Tools (SMART) Committee (9 members)

Two vacancies: (Lauren Weinstock and Jonathan E. Daly-LaBelle resigned)

 

Trustees of the South Kingstown School Funds (5 members; 5 year term)

Reappointments for terms to expire June 2025. William Rosen wishes to be reappointed. Awaiting response from Benedict Ingegneri.

 

Zoning Board of Review (5 members, 3 alternates; 3 year term)

Vacancies: Alternate # 2 term to expire March 2026 and Alternate #3 term to expire in March 2027 (Brian Dupont deceased; William MacDonald promoted to Alt. #1)

Applicant: Gerry Schaffert (applied 3/18/2025; interviewed 5/27/2025); Armand Monaco (applied 6/11/2025).