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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 8, 2025, at 7:00 PM at the Tiverton Public Library, 34 Roosevelt Ave, Tiverton, RI, 20878.
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 | David Perry | Craig R. Committo |
| Michael S. Burk | Deborah G. Janick | |
Absent
Vice President David J. Paull
Denise M. deMedeiros
Solicitor Marcello, Administrator Jones, Town Clerk Chabot and Deputy Town 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. Approval of Town Council Minutes
1. August 25, 2025 – Regular Meeting
2. August 25, 2025 – Executive Session Meeting
B. Acknowledge Receipt of Minutes from Boards/Commissions/Committees
1. Harbor Commission (1)
C. Acknowledge Receipt of Reports
1. Treasurer Saurette – July 2025 Budget and Revenue Reports
2. School Department YTD Budget v. Actual Report – July 2025
D. Acknowledge Receipt of Correspondence
1. Sandra Van Hof – Affordable Housing
2. Karen Ephraim – Pausing land sale considerations and partnership with RI Ready in the PDP
3. Dave Santana/Borderline Takeout – Request for 30-minute parking limit on State Avenue (from the
corner of Main Road to parking lot driveway on State Avenue – approx. 56 ft.) – Refer to
Police Chief for recommendation
4. Harbor Commission Secretary/Marco Dirks – Letter related to Tall Ship hosting for 250th
Celebration
Councilor Burk removed item D-3.
Councilor Burk motioned to approve the Consent Agenda with the exception of item D-3. Seconded by Councilor Janick, the motion passed unanimously.
Councilor Burk asked for details related to Dave Santana’s parking limit sign request.
Councilor Burk motioned to approve item D-3. Seconded by Councilor Janick, the motion passed unanimously.
5. PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING A COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM OR OTHER TOWN BUSINESS
Jamie French from Craig Avenue spoke re: the North End and Industrial/Business Park Subcommittee report scheduled to be presented later in the meeting. She stated the report totally disregarded the Mount Hope Bay watershed plan, contained over 100 action items, yet none addressed funding the Bayview Neighborhood Park, which she described as sorely needed. Among other concerns, she described it as redundant and esoteric with a heavy emphasis on tax breaks for businesses.
6. BOARD OF LICENSING – Discussion and possible votes
A. Brianna Baillargeon Borges/The Tiny Pantry, 31 Shove Street - Requests approval of new victualing
license, subject to meeting all legal requirements (ANN-25-6)
Councilor Committo motioned to approve the victualing license, subject to meeting all legal requirements. Seconded by Councilor Janick, the motion passed unanimously.
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS (ADVERTISED) – Discussion and possible votes
A. Sharon L. Rebello - Consideration of sound variance for birthday party at 57 Island View Drive on
Saturday, September 20, 2025, from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm (SPE-112)
President Edwards V opened the public hearing. No one presented to speak. The hearing was closed.
Councilor Committo motioned to approve the sound variance. Seconded by Councilor Perry, the motion passed unanimously.
B. Robert Theberge - Consideration of sound variance for wedding at 1288 Bulgarmarsh Road on
Saturday, September 13, 2025, from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm (SPE-121)
President Edwards V opened the public hearing. No one presented to speak. The hearing was closed.
Councilor Committo motioned to approve the sound variance. Seconded by Councilor Perry, the motion passed unanimously.
C. Approval of the proposed amendment to the Tiverton Code of Ordinance Chapter 26 CEMETERIES.
This proposed new ordinance will add Sections 26-3 and 26-4 for the purpose of establishing
prohibitions, other restrictions, and penalties related to parking at the Pocasset Hill Cemetery (Cont.
from 8/25/25)
Councilor Committo motioned to approve the proposed amendment to the Tiverton Code of Ordinance Chapter 26 CEMETERIES, as written. Seconded by Councilor Burk, the motion passed unanimously.
8. GENERAL BUSINESS
A. Tom Ramotowski, Conservation Commission – Discussion on the need for the Town to regulate and
to phase out the use of underground heating oil tanks
Mr. Ramotowski, Chair of the Conservation Commission, spoke of concerns of deteriorating underground oil tanks as a threat to the Town's underground water sources. He explained that in 2024-2025, the Commission sent letters to local heating oil delivery companies to determine if deliveries were still being made. He stated the response rate to the letters was about 50%, yet clearly indicated such deliveries were in fact being made. She added that some companies were evasive, raising concerns they might still be delivering oil to these hazardous sites.
Councilor Committo, also a retired fire marshall, said he did not believe delivery for underground tanks was legal. He thought the fire department had kept a list of the removed underground tanks.
Mr. Ramotowski questioned the legal basis for ordering people to remove tanks sans an ordinance. Council President Edwards V declared this should be under the purview of RIDEM. Mr. Ramotowski agreed, but declared that DEM has historically ignored the matter and no longer keeps lists of anything under 1,100 gallons.
The council debated the legal implications of potentially prohibiting deliveries to these tanks and the necessity of an ordinance to ensure their safe retirement.
Solicitor Marcello confirmed that any such liability would lie with the property owner and not the Town. He also recommended that before limiting oil deliveries to existing underground tanks, he would want to ensure there was good legal basis.
The Council agreed to conduct further research in collaboration with the fire department and DEM to clarify existing regulations and identify the number of tanks still in use before determining next steps.
B. Tom Ramotowski, Conservation Commission – Discussion on status of Tiverton Landfill and Recycling
Committee
Mr. Ramotowski, Chair of the Conservation Commission, started discussion noting discrepancies between the town's website and the Secretary of State's records concerning the committee's existence and membership.
President Edwards V explained that as the landfill closed, the committee became obsolete, and had retained only one member.
Mr. Ramotowski noted that per the Charter, the Conservation Commission was the charge which of monitoring the environmental impact of the town landfill and solid waste management. He said it might make sense to dissolve the committee and revert the responsibilities back onto the Conservation Commission. President Edwards V agreed, suggesting advertising to amend the ordinance, making the DPW director the recycling coordinator, thereby having Conservation work in coordination with DPW on the recycling.
C. Council President Edwards - Discussion and possible vote to schedule and advertise for public hearing
for possible amendments to the Tiverton Code of Ordinance Chapter 66, Section 66-102 related to
the recycling committee
Councilor Burk motioned to schedule and advertise for public hearing possible amendments to the Tiverton Code of Ordinance Chapter 66, Section 66-102 related to the recycling committee. Seconded by Councilor Perry, the motion passed unanimously.
D. Economic Development Commission/Chair Jones – North End and Industrial/Business Park
Subcommittee Submission of final report
Economic Development Commission Chair Jones, prefaced the presentation explaining the Subcommittee grew out of a confluence of issues related to new state legislature encouraging low and moderate income housing construction that put Tiverton in the crosshairs of development, and especially North Tiverton because of its available water and sewer, sparking numerous citizen concerns over the wave of building proposals.
Councilor Burk, as Chair of the Subcommittee, presented the final report aimed at revitalizing the North End of Tiverton. He explained the purpose was a coordinated strategy to achieve a vibrant Main road community while supporting sustainable economic development within the Tiverton Business Park. He acknowledged that little time was spent on the Business Park portion, suggesting, as discussed before, to have Rhode Island Ready come before us, and offer opportunities for Council consideration.
He stated the goals were to guide the redevelopment of the area, promote streetscape signage, public enhancements, support small business development and retention, encourage infill development, expand
opportunities for sustainable economic development in the Business Park, promote infrastructure upgrades and ensure the future development aligns with the Comprehensive Plan.
He detailed the six chapters that covered a project overview and approach, existing conditions, market analyses, issues and opportunities, recommended strategies and case studies, and implementation and funding strategies.
Mr. Burk noted the plan had been placed on the town’s website for public review. He stressed the necessity of hiring a full time Planner and hoped the plan would not be simply shelved. He stated the he intended to come back in the near future to request the authority to move forward.
E. Administrator Jones – Update on Tiverton Staff/Employee Appreciation Day (August 29, 2025)
Administrator Jones updated Council on the recently held Staff/Employee Appreciation Day, which he described as well received by the employees. He clarified that the total cost for the event was around $700.00 and the food had been donated. He planned to make it an annual event.
9. ADJOURNMENT
Councilor Perry motioned to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Janick seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:19 p.m.
A True Copy.
ATTEST______________________________________
Joan B. Chabot, Town Clerk