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 Friday, February 28, 2025, at 5:00 PM at the Tiverton Town Hall, 343 Highland Road.

1. CALL TO ORDER                          

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

Council President Edwards V called the meeting to order with the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

3. ROLL CALL

Present

President John G. Edwards V	Vice President David J. Paull	Craig R. Committo
Blake B. Hayden	David Perry

 

Absent
Denise M. deMedeiros

Deborah G. Janick

Interim Town Administrator Jones, Solicitor Marcello, Clerk Chabot, and Deputy Clerk Veegh were also present.

 

4. EXECUTIVE SESSION

                A. Interim Town Administrator - R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(5) – Discussion and possible vote on the

                     disposition of publicly held property and lots in the Tiverton Industrial Park- related to purchase and
                    sale and future purchase option agreement

 

Council President Edwards V noted there would be no executive session.

5. GENERAL BUSINESS

                A. Interim Town Administrator – Discussion and possible vote to approve Purchase and Sales

                    Agreement with Street Legal, LLC for Assessor’s Plat 107, Lots 813, 814, 815, 816, 817, and 818.

                    Total Purchase Price of $277,663.18 to be adjusted upon completion of survey and road abandonment

                    to be adjusted by final survey and per acre price, and authorization for ITA Jones to sign the Purchase
                    and Sale Agreement.

 

Councilor Hayden motioned to approve item 5-A as written; Resolution 2025-0009. Seconded by Councilor Perry, the motion passed unanimously.

 

                B. Interim Town Administrator – Discussion and possible vote to approve Purchase and Sales

    Agreement with Longplex Ice and Golf, LLC for Assessor’s Plat 107, Lots 720 through 742.

    Total Purchase Price of $858,393.50 to be adjusted upon completion of survey and road abandonment

    to be adjusted by final survey and per acre price, and authorization for ITA to sign the Purchase and

    Sale Agreement.

 

Councilor Hayden motioned to approve item 5-B as written; Resolution 2025-0008. Seconded by Councilor Committo, the motion passed unanimously.

 

                C. Interim Town Administrator – Discussion and possible vote to approve Purchase and Sales

                    Agreement with LP Properties for Assessor’s Plat 107, Lots 750, 751, and 752.

                    Total Purchase Price of $100,761.00, and authorization for ITA to sign the Purchase and Sale

                    Agreement.

 

Council President Edwards V allowed a comment from resident and Chair of the EDC, Renee Jones. Acknowledging that “she did not know whether this was a good proposal or not”, she felt the timing of the meeting put both Longplex and the Council in a “bad light.” She stated that she, as Chair of the EDC, was not notified by the Council in advance of the meeting. She reminded that she had previously informed the Council of a grant sponsored by RI Commerce that could assist with developing a plan for the Industrial Park. She said that although the previous administrator did not follow through last year, the grant was again open for application this year. She asked the council to consider how many and what types of jobs this project would bring to the town, what impacts on the water supply, and how much tax revenue the project would bring in. She reiterated that she believed there should have been a more transparent process with input from the town.

 

Councilor Hayden remarked that this should not have been a surprise, and the council had worked very hard and at length to reach these agreements.  

 

Resident Sally Black spoke in full support of the proposed projects, saying that Mr. Long had been waiting for a very long time, and had shown dedication and good faith with his previous project. She stated that the projects would be of great benefit to the town, for not only children, but all people, including senior citizens.

 

Councilor Perry, noting he had been in town politics for over 40 years, and had watched many proposals come and go for years. He said selling this property to Mr. Long was probably the best thing the town could do, and the town should not be in the real estate business.

 

Council Committo agreed with Councilor Perry.

 

President Edwards V said he was looking forward to the partnership with Mr. Long, which he believed would be beneficial to the town, both in the short and the long term. 

 

Councilor Hayden motioned to approve item 5-C as written; Resolution 2025-0010. Seconded by Councilor Committo, the motion passed unanimously.

 

6. ADJOURNMENT

Councilor Perry motioned to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Committo seconded the motion. The motion unanimously passed. The meeting adjourned at 5:10 p.m.

 

A True Copy.

 

 

ATTEST______________________________________

                        Joan B. Chabot, CMC    Town Clerk