STATE OF RHODE ISLAND, COUNTY OF NEWPORT

The Town Council of the Town of Tiverton, County, and State aforesaid held a Special Council Meeting on Monday, September 30, 2024, 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.

3.       ROLL CALL

Present
President Denise M. deMedeiros              Vice President Michael S. Burk                    Deborah G. Janick
Jay P. Edwards                                                   David J. Paull                                                     

 

Absent
John G. Edwards V

Dennis J. Milbourne

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

 

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.       Acknowledge Receipt of Reports

     1. Treasurer Saurette – August 2024 Budget and Revenue Reports

 

Councilor Burk motioned to approve the consent agenda item. Seconded by Councilor Edwards, the motion passed unanimously.

 

5.       GENERAL BUSINESS

a.       Council President deMedeiros – Discussion and possible vote on Resolution 2024-0015 regarding school department capital expenses

 

President deMedeiros explained the item was a necessary resolution needed to cover school overage expenses due to a delay in RIDE reimbursements. She then read the resolution aloud.   

Councilor Janick clarified that the council was not aware that the timeframe to receive the reimbursements would take up to three years. 

Treasurer Saurette endeavored to explain the sequence of the expenditures and reimbursements and the resulting funding shortages.

Councilor Burk commented that going forward, it would be necessary to ensure adequate money was in the school capital account to cover projects. Prior to making a motion, he noted three non-substantive typos that needed correction.

Councilor Burk motioned to approve Resolution 2024-0015 Town of Tiverton, Resolution Appropriating Funds from the Casino Revenue Account. Seconded by Councilor Janick, the motion passed unanimously.

 

b.       Council President deMedeiros – Discussion and possible vote on the allocation of funds regarding Casino Gaming and ARPA monies

 

President deMedeiros explained the meeting start delay was due to verification of some of the account amounts. She stated there currently was $838,150 in the 2023 account and $3,022,850 in the 2024 account. Administrator Cotta noted debt services satisfied included the pumper truck and street lights and the school doors. He added that resolutions were still needed for the pumper for $925,000 and $286,000 for the lights.  

 

Discussion continued around various department capital requests. Solicitor Marcello stated the goal tonight was to establish loose numbers to put into a resolution.

 

Administrator Cotta noted two high-priority items – a second set of PFAS-free gear for the fire department as well as a gear extractor (cleaner) and three dryers. Chief Bailey gave further explanation of those items plus his additional requests which totaled $446,500.00.

 

School Superintendent Sanchioni detailed core project requests that he hoped could be financed using leftover funds from the door replacement project. These included a middle school condenser, finishing the locker room project, security cameras, and floor scrubbers, totaling $127,000.00. He detailed additional requests that included doorknob replacements, vestibule security films, and two gym dividers totaling $647,000.00. 

 

Recreation Direction Gilfillen explained his request to complete the pickleball/tennis courts and a 50% contribution (the other half paid for by the PTO) for a basketball court at Pocasset School, totaling $410,000.00.  

 

DPW Director Rogers reviewed his request, which included a pickup truck, dump truck, utility body truck, street cleaner, and front-end loader. He stated his priority items would be the street cleaner, pickup truck, and garage vehicle maintenance equipment, totaling approximately $443,000.00.

 

Police Chief Jones and Library Director Damiani had minimal requests of $75,000.00 and $15,000.00, respectively.

 

Council Vice President Burk projected a working spreadsheet while the council continued discussion with input from Administrator Cotta and Treasurer Saurette.

  

Councilor Paull asked the council to reconsider the EMS training aid container for the Fire Department. After further discussion, the council agreed to include it for a cost of $50,000.00.

 

Councilor Burk announced the allocation total was $2,311,765.00 with a remainder of $1,549,235.00. 

 

Councilor Burk motioned to approve the preliminary allocation from remaining FY2023 and FY2024 casino funds, and direct the Solicitor to develop a resolution to finalize at the next meeting. Seconded by Councilor Edwards, the motion passed unanimously.

6.       EXECUTIVE SESSION - The Town Council may vote to go into executive session in accordance with the RI Open Meetings Act to discuss and or act upon the following items: 

 

a.       Town Solicitor – RIGL § 42-46-5(a)(2) Litigation: Eagleville Road Realty, LLC v. Collins, NC-2014-218, settlement negotiations

 

Solicitor Marcello noted the above item was not ready for discussion.

 

7.       RECONVENE in OPEN SESSION and Sealing of Executive Session Minutes

 

8.       ADJOURNMENT

 

Councilor Burk motioned to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Paull seconded the motion. The motion unanimously passed. The meeting adjourned at 9:15 p.m.

 

A True Copy.

 

 

ATTEST______________________________________

                        Joan B. Chabot, CMC       Town Clerk