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

Absent

Deborah G. Janick

Solicitor Kirsch, Administrator Jones, and Town Clerk Chabot were also present.

4. LEGISLATIVE DELEGATION

                Presentation of Flags

                Update on potential legislation for 2027 General Assembly Session

Representative Edwards began by presenting three Rhode Island state flags for the town's fire stations. He also presented a large U.S. flag that flew over the United States Capitol, provided via Congressman Gabe Amo, to celebrate the country's upcoming 250th anniversary.

He briefed Council on bills that successfully passed – HB 7298 that allows the town to apply different property tax rates. HB 8025 permits the institution of a special real estate tax for seniors. HB 8026 repealed a previous $400 cap, allowing Tiverton to grant a tax credit of "$400 or greater" for qualified veterans, which also extends to unmarried widows or widowers. HB 8580 reduces the number of tax assessors for the North Tiverton Fire District from six to four following the 2026 meeting. He mentioned that HB 8029, which aimed to provide a tax break for mobile homes, successfully passed the House but stalled and died in a Senate committee. He relayed that several town-specific housing bills failed to make it out of the House because they were solely directed at Tiverton. Because matching bills were introduced by Coventry and Lincoln, there were plans to reintroduce the legislation next year as a statewide initiative to help all rural and suburban communities lacking infrastructure.

President Edwards V asked about potential funds available resulting from an executive order passed by Health and Human Services for the Rhode Island Rural Community Health Network Initiative. Rep. Edwards replied in favor of the legislation that will help rural communities like Tiverton. He noted he serves on a national agricultural task force through the NCSL (National Conference of State Legislatures), which promoted the policy.

5. LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT

1. Bajah’s Cat Café, 137 Main Rd. – presentation related to their business activities and history. 

President Edwards V introduced this spotlight as a new initiative to make Tiverton more business-friendly by getting to know local owners and promoting their operations.

Amanda Souza, owner of Bajah’s Cat Café, highlighted successfully reached a five-year milestone operating her business in Tiverton. he highlighted the realities of running a small business in town and proposed several ways Tiverton could become genuinely more business-friendly, especially in the north Tiverton area. Stressing the need for predictability, she said unexpected changes in zoning rules, permitting, or building requirements cause severe financial hardships for small entrepreneurs. She proposed introducing a town liaison, a welcome packet, clear checklists, or a small business advisory committee to guide owners through legal hurdles. Ms. Souza advocated for making the area a walkable destination rather than a thoroughfare people just drive through. She suggested aesthetic improvements like planters, benches, better lighting, and clear parking signs. She lamented that despite hosting diverse community events (book clubs, game nights, crochet groups) and serving fresh coffee for 5 years, many residents are unaware the business exists. She urged the town to create a central, positive platform to celebrate local achievements. She also reminded residents that supporting local businesses means physically walking through the door and spending money rather than just liking social media posts.

When prompted by the Council to explain her business, Amanda clarified that the café is a full-service coffee shop completely separated from the animals. She also announced that she successfully secured the necessary fire and building permits to officially launch an on-site cat rescue branch starting September 1st to better assist the local animal population.

Councilor Burk pointed out that many of Ms. Souza’s ideas and goals match the North Tiverton Revitalization Committee plan that was presented to the council the previous fall. The speaker was encouraged to review the plan on the town's website, and upcoming meetings with the town planner were noted. He suggested reaching out to other nearby businesses —including Family Ties, Spring Primavera, and the Underground Culture Smoke Shop—who have expressed interest in creating a small business association to foster community connection and collaboration. He encouraged her to speak with Renee Jones, the Economic Development Commission chair.

President Edwards V suggested leveraging existing resources from the Newport County Chamber of Commerce to help create a group specifically focused on supporting businesses in North Tiverton.

Councilor members emphasized the need to shift public attention toward local achievements rather than focusing entirely on negative social media posts. They acknowledged the town's current zoning, building permit, and inspection processes can be difficult and lengthy for small business owners and expressed a commitment to work alongside the planner and administrator to design a simpler, clearer process.

6. 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.

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

Resident Pete Walsh addressed the Tiverton Town Council regarding the local PFAS water contamination issue. He expressed intense frustration over living with a contaminated well for 10 years, the plummeting value of his property, and the mixed, confusing messages residents have received from different officials regarding whether local fire stations ever used PFAS-containing foam.

Administrator Jones responded that they are actively coordinating with the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and the Department of Health (DOH), noting that 120 tests have been conducted to map the boundaries of the contamination gradient. He noted an upcoming community meeting where the DOH will demonstrate how to properly administer highly specific, multi-vial water sampling tests to avoid cross-contamination. The town plans to use its own funds to distribute testing kits to neighbors living just outside the state's designated boundary lines. He acknowledged state-approved vendor backlogs for installing reverse osmosis water filtration systems. In the interim, they offer delivered bottled water coolers and separate gym-pass arrangements for impacted families to shower safely, noting that PFAS is primarily harmful when directly ingested. He highlighted a fast-tracked engineering blueprint to run a clean municipal water line near the fire station area, though they clarified that actual implementation will eventually require millions in state and federal funding.

Several council members reinforced shared concerns and full commitment to resolution.

Mr. Walsh suggested creating a dedicated, centralized town website to document factual water safety updates—modeled after systems used for long-term contamination sites in Merrimack, New Hampshire—which council members promised to look into.

Sandra Van Hoff from 254 Fairwood Drive shared her concerns regarding the ongoing PFAS contamination emergency, asking for clarification on water testing processes as well as procedures for residents who live outside current boundary zones, emphasizing people are still drinking well water due to a lack of options while awaiting clarity on how far the contamination extends.

Administrator Jones clarified that the Department of Health will be demonstrating how to perform the complex water testing process, as it is much more intensive than a standard pool test. He confirmed the approved $125,000 allocation is strictly for engineering and creating a blueprint modeling plan to eventually pipe water to the affected homes, rather than immediate pipe installation, which will ultimately require millions in funding.

Council members discussed how PFAS is a massive, widespread issue embedded in many household and industrial products. They note that state and environmental agencies (DEM) face significant backlogs in providing filtration systems and finalized contamination gradient maps.

Meredith Mucci from East Road expressed frustration regarding long-term usage and transparency around harmful chemicals, like those from Dow Chemical and Roundup. She states that local towns should have stood up against these companies sooner. Emphasizing the importance of civic engagement and duty, she suggested having an official town-managed communication social media page with a format that serves purely to display town schedules and agendas without a comments section.

Michelle Reffelt of Cala Ave. shared her experience performing a water contamination test for her sister on Crandall Road, describing the multi-vial process and instructions as highly intense and confusing. She suggests training a designated group of community members, volunteering herself, to visit homes and conduct tests for others.

8. APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS– Discussion and possible votes

                A. Dog Park Committee - (5) Member Board (3) Year Terms (2) Vacancies

9. BOARD OF LICENSING - Discussion and possible votes, subject to meeting all legal requirements

10. GENERAL BUSINESS

11. ADJOURNMENT

Councilor deMedeiros motioned to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Perry seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. 

A True Copy.

ATTEST______________________________________

                          Joan B. Chabot, CMC, Town Clerk