STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, COUNTY OF NEWPORT

 

The Town Council of the Town of Tiverton, County and State aforesaid held a Joint Meeting with the School Committee on Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at 6:00 PM via a Virtual Meeting viewable at Tiverton Videos on YouTube.

 

1. CALL TO ORDER OF THE TOWN COUNCIL

 

Council President deMedeiros called the meeting to order at approximately 6:00 PM with the pledge of allegiance to the flag. Roll Call of the Council performed with all Town Council members present. Administrator Cotta, Solicitor Marcello and Clerk Chabot were also present.

 

2. Discussion and review of the proposed Tiverton School Department Five Year Capital Plan as proposed to be submitted to R.I. Department of Education for approval and potential re-imbursement, discussion of RIDE procedures and regulatory requirements, and submission deadlines, possible vote to approve same.

 

School Chairman Dr. Larkin started by providing background information related to the School Capital Plan, explaining the four (4) stages in the process. Stage 1 is Letter of Intent that has been sent to the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) School Building Authority (SBA). Stage 2 is the School Capital Plan as a collaboration between the School Committee, Town Council, Building Committee, and other professionals. Stage 2 School Capital Plan is submitted to RIDE with statement of how being financed. Stage 2 Plan can be submitted twice a year - February 15 and September 15. Once submitted to RIDE, the Town is committed to do something.

If bonding is required, must be done within 6 months. Stage 3 and 4 is related to Design Review Guidance and Funding (Housing Aid and SBA of the School Capital Plan. Dr. Larkin answered various questions from Council members regarding the process and steps that have been taken.

 

Building Committee first met January 12, 2022 and is currently a committee of the Superintendent. Dr. Larkin indicated this should be a collaboration over the next several months. The committee should be a committee of the School Committee and should include two members of the Town Council.

 

Dr Larkin indicated a new Stage 1 Letter of Intent (February 15) and Stage 2 submission (September 15) is contemplated.

 

Link will be provided to School Building Authority’s Necessity of School Construction on the RIDE website.

https://www.ride.ri.gov/FundingFinance/SchoolBuildingAuthority/NecessityofSchoolConstruction.aspx

 

There was discussion with RGB Architects on what was included in the Stage 2 plan. What RGB identified was not what the Council had agreed to, at the previous meetings on the school capital funding requests from the restricted capital projects account.

 

Council President DeMedeiros was disappointed that there were no documents for the Council to review, discuss and vote. Before Council will vote to move forward with the Stage 2 plan, the Council will need to see what is being submitted and that it is consistent with what the Council previously approved. She requested a draft letter of support from RGB, addressed from the Council to RIDE in support of the Stage 2 plan.

 

3. ADJOURNMENT:

 

Town Councilor Perry motioned to adjourn, seconded by Councilor Vieira. Motion passed in the affirmative by roll call vote. Town Council adjourned at approximately 7:15 PM

 

A True Copy.

 

ATTEST_________________________

                 Joan B. Chabot, Town Clerk