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 29, 2025, at 7:00 PM at the Tiverton Senior Center, 207 Canonicus.

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
David Perry	Deborah G. Janick	Denise M. deMedeiros

Absent

Michael S. Burk

 

Administrator Jones, Solicitor Marcello, 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. Town Administrator – Departments’ Monthly Reports – August 2025

        2. Town Administrator – Police and Fire Department Overtime Reports – August 2025

        3. Treasurer Saurette – August 2025 Budget and Revenue Reports
        4. School Department YTD Budget v. Actual Report – August 2025

 

B. Approval of Municipal Budget Transfers

 

 

C. Approval of Police Department Budget Transfers

 

 

Councilor Janick removed item A-1.

Councilor Committo removed item B.

Councilor deMedeiros removed 4-B-3

 

Councilor Perry motioned to approve the Consent Agenda with the exception of items A-1, A-3 and B.  Seconded by Councilor Perry, the motion passed unanimously.

 

Re: item A-1, Councilor Janick questioned a highlighted area related to Mr. Jim Long under Pplanning Board projects on page 5. Administrator Jones offered to look in it and report back.  

Re: item A-3, Councilor deMedeiros had a question about FY2026 Gaming revenue. Treasurer Saurette explained it represented what was collected so far this year.

Re: item B, Councilor Committo asked about what he thought was a duplicate transfer. Treasurer Saurette explained the spreadsheet showed two different account numbers.

 

Councilor Paull motioned to approve the Consent Agenda items A-1, A-3 and B.  Seconded by Councilor Janick, the motion passed unanimously.

 

5. GENERAL BUSINESS

A. Council Vice President Paull – Discussion on outstanding previously allocated casino gaming funds

Vice President Paull explained his concern over previously allocated unspent funds going back as far as 2021, which included a recreation feasibility study, lower level humidifiers and fireproof cabinets. Treasurer Saurette clarified that in July, an assessment of all closed projects occurred, and anything remaining went back to the gaming fund. The Council discussed several outstanding requests such as $1,500 for dehumidifiers and a $15,000 request for fireproof cabinets. It was agreed to further consult with the DPW and appropriate departments to make plans to reconcile the outstanding items.

 

B. Council President Edwards V 

     1. Discussion and possible vote on allocation of casino gaming funds via Resolution 2025-0031

 

Councilor Paull motioned to approve the allocation of casino gaming funds via Resolution 2025-0031. Seconded by Councilor Perry, the motion passed unanimously.

     2. Discussion and review of municipal and school department casino revenue appropriation request

The Municipal Departments heads and School Department Superintendent and Finance Director delivered and explained the individual budget requests.  Administrator Jones stated that the entirety of the municipal department requests, not including the schools, totaled over $4.3M, which was not tenable. He explained that he would deliver his appropriation recommendations to the Council at the next meeting.

 

On the municipal side, the DPW requests included several vehicles, plows, tractors, a forklift and heavy equipment totaling $1,396,500. Fire Department items totaling $1,040,442 included a pumper, 3 new cars, mini splits (A/C), painting and an oil tank replacement. The Police Department requested items such as vehicles, A/C upgrades, computer replacement, body armor totaling $506,800. Recreation requested $457,500 for various items including Town farm renovation, lighting for Bulgarmarsh field, playground upgrades. Town Hall items included wiring, renovations, and a dispatch project totaling $915,270.

 

School Department requested $1,560,993 to cover items including high school/middle school restrooms, Touchviews, middle school bleachers, high school tennis court and HVAC. 

 

C.  Discussion and possible vote to award contract for the installation of infrastructure wiring at town
      hall not to exceed $60,000.

 

Councilor deMedeiros motioned to award contract for the installation of infrastructure wiring at town hall not to exceed $60,000. Seconded by Councilor Paull, the motion passed unanimously.

 

6. ADJOURNMENT

Councilor deMedeiros motioned to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Janick seconded the motion. The motion unanimously passed. The meeting adjourned at 10: 20 p.m.

 

A True Copy.

 

 

ATTEST______________________________________

                        Joan B. Chabot, CMC    Town Clerk