STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, COUNTY OF NEWPORT

The Town Council of the Town of Tiverton, County, and State aforesaid held a Regular Council Meeting on Monday, September 11, 2023, at 7:00 PM at the Tiverton Town Hall, 343 Highland Road.

1. CALL TO ORDER          

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

Council president deMedeiros called the meeting to order with the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

A moment of silence was taken in remembrance of the victims of September 11, 2001.

3. ROLL CALL

Present

President Denise M. deMedeiros	Vice President Michael S. Burk	Deborah G. Janick
John G. Edwards V	Jay P. Edwards

 

Absent                
Joseph C. Perry
Dennis J. Milbourne

Solicitor Marcello, Administrator Cotta, Clerk Chabot, and Deputy Clerk Veegh were also present.

 

BUSINESS BROUGHT BEFORE THE COUNCIL

President Denise M. deMedeiros read the items on the Consent Agenda.

 

4. CONSENT AGENDA

All items listed within the Consent Agenda are to be considered routine by Town Council and will ordinarily 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 and the Town Council President permits, in which event the item will be removed for separate consideration later on the agenda.

A. Approval of Town Council Minutes
     1. August 28 – Regular Meeting (Councilor Perry abstains, absent)
     2. August 28 – Executive Session (Councilor Perry abstains, absent)

 

B. Acknowledge Receipt of Minutes from Boards/Commissions/Committees
     1. North End and Industrial/Business Park Advisory – (1)

     2. Historical Cemeteries Commission – (1)

 

C. Acknowledge Receipt of Reports

     1. Town Administrator – Departments’ Monthly Reports – August 2023

     2. Town Administrator – Police and Fire Department Overtime Reports – August 2023

 

D. Acknowledge Receipt of Correspondence

     1. Letter from William & Sherry Marshall regarding poor condition of Main Road between Warren and
         Durfee Avenues – refer to state RIDOT
     2. Letter from Karen Ephraim regarding concerns over lack of preservation and conservation efforts –

         refer to Fire Chief Bailey

 

Councilor Burk motioned to approve Consent Agenda items. Seconded by Councilor Edwards V, the motion passed unanimously.

 

5. PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING A COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM OR OTHER TOWN BUSINESS

                Comments: Library Director Catherine Damiani informed of upcoming events – on Saturday, September 16, the Friends of the Library are hosting a mini book and bake sale. All proceeds will go to library programs and the museum pass programs. On Monday, September 18, a blood drive will be held in the community room from 11am to 4pm. And the annual craft fair will happen on October 21 from 10am to 3pm, also organized by the Friends of the Library.

 

6. APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS– Discussion and possible votes

A. Zoning Board of Review - (7) Member Board (5) Year Terms (2) Vacancies - Alternates

    1. Edwin Karl Schober, Jr, 124 Long Pasture Way - Requests re-appointment, term ending 7/15/2024

 

Mr. Schober was briefly interviewed.

 

Councilor Edwards V motioned to re-appoint Edwin Karl Schober, Jr, as first alternate on the Zoning Board.  Seconded by Councilor Edwards V, the motion passed unanimously.

                B. Budget Committee - (7) Member Board (1) Vacancy        

                     1. Abigail Despres, 417 Judson Street - Requests appointment, term ending 11/2/2026

                     2. John Malzone, 458 W Demello Dr - Requests appointment, term ending 11/2/2026

 

Councilor Burk motioned to appoint Abigail Despres to the Budget Committee for a term ending 11/2/2026. Seconded by Councilor Edwards V, the motion passed unanimously.

                C. Planning Board - (9) Member Board (3) Year Terms (2) Vacancies,

                     Term expiring 7/15/2024 (1), Terms expiring 7/15/2026 (1)

                     1. Christopher Shriver, 113 Fir Avenue – Requests re-appointment
                    2. Adam Rapoza, 31 Carpenter Street – Requests re-appointment
                    3. V.A. Lopes, 267 Deer Run Road – Requests appointment

 

As the candidates were present for interviews, the item was tabled until next meeting.

 

                D. Economic Development Commission - (5) Member Board (4) Year Terms (1) Vacancy       

                     1. V.A. Lopes, 267 Deer Run Road – Requests appointment

                     2. Scott Burns, 117 Neck Road – Request appointment

 

As the candidates were present for interviews, the item was tabled until next meeting.

 

                E. Harbor Commission - (9) Member Board (2) Year Terms (2) Vacancies      

                     1. Christopher Shriver, 113 Fir Avenue – Requests re-appointment

 

As Mr. Schriver was not present for interview, the item was tabled until next meeting.

 

7. GENERAL BUSINESS

A. Tiverton Dog Park Advisory Committee – Discussion and possible vote regarding the Raymond F.

     Jones Memorial Dog Park event LalaPawrooza to be held on October 7, 2023 (rain date October 8,

     2023) from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM

 

Due to a parking/event date conflict in need of resolution, Chair Paull asked the item be deferred until the next meeting.

 

B. DPW Director Rogers - Discussion and possible vote to advertise for bids to clean & video record the

    Town-owned sewer lines

 

Councilor Edwards V motioned to approve the Director’s request to go to bid for services to clean & video record the Town-owned sewer lines. Seconded by Councilor Edwards, the motion passed unanimously.

 

C. Fire Chief Bailey – Discussion and possible vote to authorize grant applications to the following:

                1. RI Interlocal Trust Safety Enhancement Grant

                2. RI Interlocal Trust Life Safety and Emergency Action Grant

                3. Gary Sinise Foundation Firefighter Training Grant

 

Fire Chief Bailey requested approval for all three grant applications, which were all non-matching. He noted the Interlocal Trust grants totaled $3,000 and the Gary Sinise grant application would be for $15k to $16k for training.  

 

Councilor Burk motioned to approve the Fire Chief make grant applications to the RI Interlocal Trust Safety Enhancement Grant, the RI Interlocal Trust Life Safety and Emergency Action Grant, and the Gary Sinise Foundation Firefighter Training Grant. Seconded by Councilor Edwards V, the motion passed unanimously.

 

D. Administrator Cotta – Update on Town Hall hours

 

Administrator Cotta explained the AFSCME contract that requires employees to work 37.5 hours per week. It was intended to offer additional hours beyond normal business hours to accommodate persons unable to conduct business at Town Hall during normal business hours. The employee preference is to work two extra hours on Wednesdays until 6 p.m. and leave early on Fridays. There are two options for Friday – leaving at 1;30 p.m. without taking a lunch break or at 2:00 p.m. with a lunch break. Discussion continued around handling Friday holidays. Metrics will be kept as well as any complaints. The effectiveness of the change will be revisited in six months. It was agreed to start during the week of November 13, 2023.

 

E. Councilor President deMedeiros – Discussion and possible vote on distribution of Fiscal Year 2023

     casino gaming funds

 

Administrator Cotta noted he was waiting on the final numbers on landfill closure numbers and the USDA grant application in order to determine if casino gaming funds would be necessary. The item would be revisited when that information was available.

 

F. Councilor President deMedeiros – Discussion and possible vote to ratify three-year contract for Town

    Administrator Cotta, effective October 1, 2023, thru September 30, 2026

Councilor Burk motioned to ratify a three-year contract for Town Administrator Cotta, with all the conditions contained therein, effective October 1, 2023, through September 30, 2026. Seconded by Councilor Edwards V, the motion passed unanimously.

 

G. Solicitor Marcello – discussion and possible vote to approve advertising funds for Ordinance
                    amendments to Farmer Market and Public Entertainment Ordinances related to music entertainment

 

Councilor Edwards V motioned to approve advertising funds for Ordinance amendments for Farmer Market and Public Entertainment Ordinances. Seconded by Councilor Burk, the motion passed unanimously.

 

H. Clerk Chabot – Update on Charter Review Commission special election and discussion and possible

     vote for potential change in Resolution 2023-0003A

Clerk Chabot informed the council that no candidates stepped forward for the Charter Review Commission. With no candidates and again, potentially facing nine write-in candidates, she recommended moving it to the November 5, 2024 election cycle. Referring to the situation as somewhat unchartered territory, Solicitor Marcello affirmed all due diligence had been appropriately performed.   

Councilor Burk motioned to move the Charter Review Commission special election to the November 2024 election cycle. Seconded by Councilor Edwards V, the motion passed unanimously.

 

Administrator Cotta announced the school department did receive the police department’s SRO agreement, which is going to the school committee. Therefore, no executive session was necessary. Having no executive session, Council President deMedeiros asked for a motion to adjourn.

 

8. EXECUTIVE SESSION

A. Administrator Cotta – RIGL 42-46-5(a)(2) Discussion and possible vote regarding School Memorandum

     of Understanding for School Resource Officer

 

9. ADJOURNMENT

Councilor Edwards V motioned to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Janick seconded the motion. The motion unanimously passed. The meeting adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

 

A True Copy.

 

 

ATTEST________________________________

                         Joan B. Chabot, Town Clerk