TOWN COUNCIL AGENDA

 

TOWN OF SOUTH KINGSTOWN

 

RHODE ISLAND

 

 

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2025

 

CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION – 7:00 PM

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 11/20/2025

 

1.            CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION – 7:00 pm

 

A.           A Closed Executive Session pursuant to RIGL §42-46-5(a)(2) to discuss matters pertaining to potential litigation re Johnnycake Trail drainage.

 

2.            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

 

3.            ROLL CALL

 

4.            APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS

 

A.        Regular Sessions – October 27 and November 10, 2025

 

B.        Closed Executive Session – November 10, 2025

 

5.            INTERVIEWS

 

A.           Susan Mittendorf for reappointment to the Affordable Housing Collaborative Committee

B.           Richard Morrissey for reappointment to the Affordable Housing Collaborative Committee

C.           Peter Swain for reappointment to the Affordable Housing Collaborative Committee

D.           Kim Salisbury-Keith for appointment to the Library Board of Trustees

 

6.            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)

 

7.            CONSENT AGENDA

 

(CA)    A.        A resolution granting Holiday Sales Licenses to the following; Renewals:

 

Eclectic Energy, LLC d/b/a Eclectic Energy, 102 Main Street, Wakefield, RI 02879. Application by Pamela Davis, Owner. License No. 80156.

 

CoxCom, LLC d/b/a Cox Enterprises, 35 South County Commons Way, Wakefield, RI 02879. Application by Paezle Turner, License Manager. License No. 60315.

 

Extreme Airsoft, Inc. d/b/a Extreme Airsoft, 1425 Kingstown Road, Wakefield, RI 02879. Application by Danielle Martin-Cuoco, Owner. License No. 87305.

 

(CA)    B.        A resolution granting Victualling and Holiday Sales Licenses to the following; Renewals:

 

Pipeline Restaurant, Inc. d/b/a Caliente Mexican Grill, 99 Fortin Road, Kingstown, RI 02881. Application by Franquin Rodezno, Owner. License No. 60978.

 

Starbucks Corporation d/b/a Starbucks Coffee #2798, 600 Kingstown Road, Wakefield, RI 02879. Application by Lindsay Larkin, Sr. License Analyst. License No. 59601.

 

MW of Wakefield, LLC d/b/a Mattress Warehouse, 26 South County Commons Way, Wakefield, RI 02879. Application by Sarvesh Dubey, Licensing Manager. License No. 89145.

 

Seaview Marketplace, Inc. d/b/a Seaview Marketplace, 682 Matunuck Beach Road, Wakefield, RI 02879. Application by Dan Saber, President. License No. 59713.

 

Elite Huevos, Inc. d/b/a Bluebird Café, 554 Kingstown Road, Wakefield, RI 02879. Application by Howard M. Raitano Jr., President. License No. 60900.

 

(CA)    C.        A resolution granting Victualling, Holiday Sales, and Additional Hours Licenses to S & L Pizza, Inc. d/b/a Domino’s Pizza, 51 Old Tower Hill Road, Wakefield, RI 02879. Application by Luis Brea, Director. License No. 84633.

 

(CA)    D.        A resolution granting Victualling Licenses to the following; Renewals:

 

Jayd, LLC d/b/a Jayd Bun, 1202 Kingstown Road, Peace Dale, RI 02883. Application by Qiang Li, Owner. License No. 63751.

 

Brickleys Ice Cream LLC d/b/a Brickleys Ice Cream, 322 Main Street, Wakefield, RI 02879. Application by Christina Brophy, Vice President. License No. 61447.

 

(CA)    E.         A resolution authorizing the Town of South Kingstown to apply for and if selected, participate in the RI Main Street Cohort and to pay $295 for an annual membership with Main Street America, 53 West Jackson Blvd. Suite 350, Chicago, Il 60604.

 

(CA)    F.         A resolution authorizing an amendment to an award of bid originally granted on January 23, 2023, to United Site Services Northeast, Inc., 118 Flanders Road, Westborough, MA 01581 for Portable Restroom Services, at the 2024 unit prices bid, for the 2026 season, and as further described in a memorandum from the Leisure Services Director to the Town Manager dated November 13, 2025 and entitled "Bid Recommendation – Portable Restroom Services Contract Extension".

 

Rule 13:  All items listed with a (CA) are to be considered routine by the Town Council and will be enacted by one motion.  There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a member of the Council, or a member of the public so requests, in which event the item will be removed from Consent Agenda (CA) consideration and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda.

 

8.            LICENSES - None

 

9.            PUBLIC COMMENTS – 30 Minutes

 

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.

 

10.          NEW BUSINESS

 

A.           A resolution authorizing an award to Hart Engineering Corporation, 800 Scenic View Drive, Cumberland, RI 02864 for Wastewater Treatment Facility Capital Improvements (2026) Replacement of Wastewater Disinfection System and Improvements to the Silver Lake Pump Station, in an amount not to exceed $1,712,600, as further described in a purchasing recommendation from the Director of Public Services to the Town Manager dated November 12, 2025, regarding “Bid Award Recommendation, Chemical Storage and Silver Lake Pump Station Improvements”.

 

B.           A resolution requesting the General Assembly to enact legislation clarifying RIGL 44-4-2 that, in the Town of South Kingstown, all buildings on leased land are taxed as real estate regardless of whether the lease is recorded or not, as shown on Exhibit 1 attached hereto.

 

C.           A resolution authorizing the Town Clerk to advertise for Order of Notice a Public Hearing relative to proposed amendments to the Town Code, Chapter 9 Licenses and Miscellaneous Business Regulations, Article IX Short-Term Rentals, as shown on Exhibit 2 attached hereto.

 

D.           A resolution to reconsider the five-year extension of the Electricity Supply Agreement, originally awarded on October 14, 2025, with NextEra Energy Services, 700 Universe Blvd, Juno Beach, FL 33408, to provide electricity for South Kingstown Community Electricity Aggregation Program, as requested by Council Vice President Marran.

 

E.            Discussion and potential action relative to the creation of a Youth Advisory Board, as requested by Council Member Wegimont.

 

11.          TOWN MANAGER’S REPORT

 

A.           Update on the Homestead Exemption Program timeline

B.           Revolutionary War Memorial

C.           Update on Green Hill Beach Dune Restoration, as requested by Council Vice President Marran

 

12.          PUBLIC HEARINGS

 

A.           A Public Hearing relative to Standing Orders 210.05 Harassment in the Workplace, 220.07 Promotional/Transfer Procedure, 420.01 Vehicular Pursuit, 440.03 Cellblock / Holding Facility, and 460.01 Uniform Standards, as further described in a memorandum dated October 20, 2025 from the Police Chief to the Town Manager entitled “Submission of Updated Standing Orders for Town Council Approval.”

 

13.          PUBLIC COMMENTS – Continued

 

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.

 

14.          COMMUNICATIONS

 

A.           An email dated November 10, 2025 from Laurie Chronley concerning a request to review and amend local fence ordinances is received, placed on file, and the Town Council further directs                                     .

 

B.           An email dated November 19, 2025 from Christopher Little, Chair, South Kingstown Housing Authority requesting a resolution in support of the agency’s application to Rhode Island Housing for low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC) for the Champagne Heights affordable housing development, as requested by Council Member Wegimont 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.

 

15.          TOWN COUNCIL DISCUSSION ITEMS - None

 

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

 

 

TOWN OF SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RHODE ISLAND

A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION PROVIDING FOR TAXATION OF BUILDINGS ON LEASED LAND AS REAL ESTATE

 

WHEREAS, the Town of South Kingstown has a sizeable community of residential cottage owners where the cottage is a residential building located on leased land; and

 

WHEREAS, these cottages on leased land have sold for considerably high prices in the recent sellers’ housing market, for multiple hundreds of thousands of dollars; and

 

WHEREAS, some of these cottage owners have argued that, due to an old statute, RIGL 44-4-2, which dates back to before 1896 and was last amended in 1938, the Town cannot account for these sales prices in assessing taxes on the cottages; and

 

WHEREAS, instead these cottage owners have argued that RIGL 44-4-2 requires that their cottages be taxed at a substantially lesser value as tangible property; and

 

WHEREAS, these cottage owners have argued that RIGL 44-4-2 only permits buildings on leased land to be taxed as real estate if the lease is recorded and, the cottage owners argued, they have willfully chosen not to record their leases so as to avoid being taxed as real estate; and

 

WHEREAS, the Town of South Kingstown has contested the cottage owners’ arguments, which has resulted in a lack of clarity on this issue; and

 

WHEREAS, if the cottage owners’ interpretation of RIGL 44-4-2 were to prevail, it would lead to a highly inequitable and untenable result, where the owner of a residential building could structure her or his ownership so that the land is owned by one entity, the building owned by another and subject to an unrecorded lease, so that the residential building could not be taxed as real estate; and

 

WHEREAS, this interpretation of RIGL 44-4-2 would lead to an untenable loss of revenue to the Town and the highly inequitable result where certain owners of residences and other buildings could avoid having the residence taxed as real estate by cleverly structuring the ownership, whereas all other residence and building owners would have their building assessed as real estate.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:

 

1. The South Kingstown Town Council hereby respectfully requests the General Assembly to enact the enclosed legislation, clarifying that the cottage owners’ reading of RIGL 44-4-2 is incorrect and ensuring that, in the Town of South Kingstown, all buildings on leased land are taxed as real estate regardless of whether the lease is recorded or not; and

 

2. This resolution shall take effect upon passage.

ATTEST:

___________________________

Nichole Romane, Town Clerk

07 –

 

S T AT E   O F   R H O D E   I S L A N D

 

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

 

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

 

_____________

 

A N   A C T

 

RELATING TO THE TOWN OF SOUTH KINGSTOWN

 

Introduced by:

 

Date Introduced:

 

Referred to:

 

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

 

SECTION 1. Chapter 44-4 of the General laws entitled “Situs and Ownership of Taxable Property” is hereby amended as follows:

44-4-2.  Buildings on leased land deemed real estate.

Buildings on leased land, where the leases are in writing and recorded, are, for the purposes of taxation, deemed real estate; provided, however, that in the Town of South Kingstown, buildings on leased land are, for the purposes of taxation, deemed real estate and shall be taxed to the owner of the building as real estate whether or not the leases are in writing or recorded.

SECTION 2.    This act shall take effect upon passage and shall apply to any assessment of taxes currently under appeal at the time of enactment.

 

EXPLANATION

 

OF

 

A N   A C T

 

RELATING TO THE TOWN OF SOUTH KINGSTOWN

 

 

* * *

 

            This act would provide that, in the Town of South Kingstown, buildings on leased land shall be taxed to the owner of the building as real estate regardless of whether the lease is in writing or recorded.

 

 

Exhibit 2

 

AMENDMENTS TO THE TOWN CODE

CHAPTER 9 – LICENSES AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS REGULATIONS

* * *

 

ARTICLE IX – SHORT-TERM RESIDENTIAL RENTALS RESERVED

Sec. 9-200. - Applicability.

The provisions of this article shall apply to all short-term rentals within the town.

Sec. 9-201. - 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.

Registrar means the zoning enforcement officer of the town.

Short-term rental means the use and enjoyment of a dwelling unit, or any portion thereof, by guests for a period of less than thirty (30) consecutive days, in exchange for money, commodities, services, or other performances. Hotels, motels, tourist homes, and bed-and-breakfasts, as defined in the Town Code, are not considered to be short-term rentals.

Sec. 9-202. - Registration.

(a) Required. No short-term rental 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 short-term rental with the building official.

(b) Form. The short-term rental registration form shall indicate the tax assessor's plat and lot number address of the short-term rental, the number of short-term rental dwelling units and bedrooms therein, the name and permanent mailing address of the record owner, and the maximum number of tenants at one (1) time, and period of occupancy (summer, September to June, or other). All short-term 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 short-term rental shall file the completed short-term rental registration form with the registrar, 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. 9-203. - Posting of notice by owner.

The record owner shall post in plain view, in a conspicuous place within the short-term rental, a notice containing the ordinances of the town with regard to the dog leash law, trash disposal, parking restrictions, noise ordinance, 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 registrar. The record owner or any person in control or possession of said short-term rental 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 short-term rental 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. 9-204. - Penalty for violation of article.

Record owners who violate the provisions of this article shall be subject to a fine not exceeding three hundred dollars ($300.00).

Sec. 9-205. - 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 short-term rental dwellings, there shall be a registration fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) for each short-term rental covered under the provisions of this article.

* * *

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)

Reappointments for terms expired August 2025. Richard Morrissey, Peter Swain, and Susan Mittendorf wish to be reappointed. It is reported that Mr. Morrissey has attended 3 of 3 meetings, Mr. Swain has attended 2 of 2 meetings, and Ms. Mittendorf has attended 3 of 3 meetings held during their current term.

Vacancy: one term to expire August 2027 (Bethany Sorrentino resigned)

 

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

Reappointment for a term expired July 2025. Joshua Saunders wish to be reappointed.

Vacancies (2): 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).

 

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

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

 

Conservation Commission (7 members; 3 year term)

Vacancies (4): one term to expire September 2027 and three terms to expire September 2028 (Margaret Clune, Melissa Hughes, Matthew Bradywood, and Vernon Wyman did not wish to be reappointed).

 

Economic Development Committee (11 members, 3 year term)

Vacancy: one term to expire March 2028 (Henry Thayer did not wish to be reappointed).

 

Housing Authority (5 members; 5 year term)

Vacancy: One term to expire October 2030 (Christi Saurette did not wish to be reappointed)

 

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

Vacancy: one term to expire July 2028 (Mario Briccetti did not wish to be reappointed).

Applicant: Kim Salisbury-Keith (applied 5/28/2025).

 

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)

Reappointment for a term expired June 2025. Awaiting response from Benedict Ingegneri.

 

Waterfront Advisory Commission (7 members; 3 year term)

Reappointments for terms expired June 2025. Michael Sherry wishes to be reappointed. Awaiting response from Joseph Nuzzolillo.

 

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

Vacancies (2): 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)