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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 28, 2026, at 7:00 PM at the Tiverton Town Hall, 343 Highland Road, Tiverton, Rhode Island 02878.
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 | Denise M. deMedeiros | |
| Craig R. Committo | David Perry | Michael S. Burk | Deborah G. Janick |
Solicitor Marcello, Administrator Jones, Town Clerk Chabot, and Deputy Clerk Veegh were also present.
*** Proclamation In Recognition of Dorothy Furtado’s 100th Birthday! ***
President Edwards read an official town proclamation honoring Dorothy Furtado's 100th birthday.
He also presented her with a special federal citation passed along from Congressman Amo, who was unable to attend in person.
4. LOCAL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
1. Standish Boat Yard, 1697 Main Road - presentation related to their business activities and history
Economic Development Commission Chair Jones presented Standish Boat Yard with the Business of the Month award and introduced third-generation owners Jennifer Hilton Kavanaugh and her husband, Andrew Kavanaugh, who came forward to introduce their business and share its historical evolution from Brightman’s Wharf in the late 1800s to a modern marina.
5. 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. July 27, 2026 – Regular Meeting (Councilors Committo, deMedeiros, and Burk abstain, absent)
2. July 27, 2026 – Executive Session (Councilors Committo, deMedeiros, and Burk abstain, absent)
3. August 6, 2026 – Special Meeting (Councilor Janick abstains, absent)
4. August 11, 2026 – Regular Meeting (Councilor Janick abstains, absent)
5. August 24, 2026 – Regular Meeting
6. August 24, 2026 – Executive Session
B. Acknowledge Receipt of Minutes from Boards/Commissions/Committees
1. Economic Development Commission (1)
2. Zoning Board of Review (1)
3. Historical Cemeteries Commission (3)
4. Litter Control Committee (1)
5. Building Code Board of Appeals (1)
6. Board of Canvassers (5)
7. Open Space and Land Preservation (1)
8. Harbor Commission (1)
9. Zoning Revision Committee (3)
C. Acknowledge Receipt of Reports
1. Town Administrator – Departments’ Monthly Reports – August 2026
2. Town Administrator – Police and Fire Department Overtime Reports – August 2026
3. Treasurer Saurette – Budget and Revenue Reports – August 2026
4. School Department - YTD Budget v. Actual Report – August 2026
5. School Department - Preliminary Year-End Financial Results – FY2026
6. School Department – FY2027 First Month Financial Review through July 31, 2026
D. Acknowledge Receipt of Correspondence
1. Town of Richmond – Town Ordinance Amendment – No Knock Registry
2. Town of Little Compton - Resolution requesting the Rhode Island General Assembly and the Executive Office of Housing to recognize the unique challenges facing the Town of Little Compton in the Development of Affordable Housing and to provide support to address these Obstacles
3. Town of Gloucester - Resolution requesting the RI General Assembly to Relieve Cities and Towns of the Unfunded Mandate to Prepare Emergency Action Plans for Privately Owned Dams, and to End the Penalizing of Municipalities for Owner Noncompliance
4. Auditor General – Letter of approval of deficit reduction plan to address school departments' Cumulative deficit of $1,243,427 as of June 30, 2025
5. Letter from Janice Vincent - in opposition to the Friendship Farms II major land development proposal
6. Letter from Katherine Peruzzi - PFAS results and soil dumping at Friendship Farms
7. Letter from Katherine Peruzzi - Request for Immediate Freeze on New Development in PFAS-Impacted Areas / Public Health & Environmental Concerns
8. Letter from Blake Hayden – formal objection to recent actions and proposed abutter approvals related to 61 Highland Court, as well as the ongoing pattern of inconsistent treatment regarding my property at 174 and 214/214R Highland Road
9. Letter from Sandra Van Hof – URI Groundwater Study
10. Letter from Deborah Dutra – request to place decorative cornstalks on 8 sign poles along Quintal Drive
E. Approval of Tax Assessor Abatements – $231.48
F. Approval of Tax Collector Abatements – $20,909.66
Councilor Burk pulled item D-8
Councilor Janick pulled item D-10
Councilor Perry pulled item C-5
Councilor Paull motioned to approve the Consent Agenda except for items C-5, D-8, and D-10. Seconded by Councilor deMedeiros, the motion passed unanimously.
Re: C-5, Councilor Perry commended school finance director Andrade for the work put into the school budgets and specifically highlighted a substantial positive shift in Medicaid reimbursements. While the town had previously plugged in a baseline of $150,000, preliminary results for 2026 showed actual reimbursements coming in at $493,046.
Re: item D-8, Councilor Burk clarified that the item under consideration for 61 Highland Court is a single, one-time special event request for a private wedding. He emphasized that Mr. Hayden is seeking a zoning change for his own property, which requires a completely different administrative process.
Re: item D-10, Councilor Janick questioned the residents’ request to decorate the sign poles. President Edwards confirmed that with the DPW’s consent, the cornstalks were approved and installed.
Councilor Burk motioned to approve Consent Agenda items C-5, D-8, and D-10. Seconded by Councilor Janick, the motion passed unanimously.
Without objection, item 10-I was taken out of order.
I. Administrator Jones – Update on Crandall Road regarding PFAS and Community Meeting
Christopher Lyon, Rhode Island State Director for the USDA, formally presented a $1 million Rural Development grant to help the town address the ongoing PFAS water contamination issue.
Administrator Jones explained phase-one funding will be used to extend the public water line to approximately seven heavily impacted residents on Crandall Road and Campion Road whose wells show contamination levels exceeding 1,600 parts per trillion, making them unsuitable for standard water filtration systems. He stated bids for the water line extension were underway, with specs mandating work to be completed before the first snowfall. He relayed that the number of confirmed contaminated wells in the area has risen to 102 as RIDEM continues to test and re-test wells. To resolve unacceptable delays from the state, RIDEM has subcontracted a new vendor with the goal of deploying 10 water filtration system installations per week starting immediately.
Bob Ouellette with North Tiverton Water added that in areas where water mains already exist, fast-tracked connections for affected homes is being explored.
Mr. Jones introduced resident Dr. D’Amorre, a retired environmental engineer with over 40 years of experience, who has been engaged by the town to assist with the contamination crisis. Dr. D’Amorre is partnering with PARE Engineering to investigate the local fire station as a potential source of the leak. He explained that initial testing shows the fire department's well depth is over 400 feet. His long-term cleanup plan proposes using heavily contaminated private wells as "recovery wells" to continuously pump out, treat, and safely dispose of the tainted groundwater to eventually shrink the contamination zone.
The Administrator shared that Newport Mental Health was offering free group and individual counseling sessions at Fort Barton School to help residents manage the emotional/mental toll of the water crisis. He stated official PFAS updates will be posted to the town website every Tuesday to combat social media misinformation, and a follow-up community meeting at the high school is being planned for mid-to-late October.
It was noted that the town currently has roughly 18 pallets of gallon-sized water jugs remaining from a donation. Residents can pick up water 24/7 at the DPW container, or arrange direct home delivery by contacting council members.
6. PUBLIC COMMENTS REGARDING A COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM OR OTHER TOWN BUSINESS
Resident John Quirk noted his own well tested fine but suggested explicitly inviting U.S. Senators and Representatives to the upcoming PFAS community meeting to maximize funding leverage. Mr. Quirk also emphasized the critical need to fund the Ranger School oil tank protection, warning that unheated oil lines will flow poorly and cause catastrophic boiler damage.
Resident Andrew Walsh raised concerns regarding item 10-D (Axon contract extension). He argued that calling it a "body-worn camera" contract is misleading because it includes broad data bundling and artificial intelligence features. He warned that utilizing AI for legal evidence procedures risks missing critical context, potentially exposing the police department to lawsuits.
Resident Jamie French criticized the council for neglecting standard maintenance outlined in the multi-decade ELUR report for the Bay Street area. She claimed toxic dust containing cyanide, lead, and arsenic threatens health, and the roads need immediate 3-inch milling and resurfacing rather than simple crack sealing. President Edwards rejected her claim that the town caused the contamination, noting it stemmed historically from an oil company, and pointed out that engineering data favored simple crack repair for the capping layers.
Resident Annabella Camps supported capital funding for the school food service vehicle and oil tank safety but contested the $28,505 high school tennis court drainage project, calling it a "luxury item." Councilor Janick clarified that the drainage project protects a previous $100,000 tennis court renovation and is heavily offset by a $32,000 U.S. Tennis Association grant. She also urged the council to build a complete sidewalk along Bulgarmarsh Rd. to protect parents and children walking alongside high-speed traffic. Councilor Paull responded that a high school senior is currently pushing the initiative for a project, and the timeline is formally slotted within the state's 5-year transportation plan.
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS (ADVERTISED) – Discussion and possible votes, subject to meeting all legal requirements
A. Aurora Goodland/Tiverton Land Trust, 3228 Main Road – Request approval of Class F One-Day Liquor
License for Hicks Farm Fundraiser event on October 2, 2026 from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM (SPE-173)
President Edwards opened the public hearing. No one presented to speak, and the hearing was closed.
Councilor Paull motioned to approve the Class F One-Day Liquor License for the Hicks Farm Fundraiser event on October 2, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM. Seconded by Councilor Perry, the motion passed unanimously.
B. Elizabeth Corsetti, 61 Highland Court – Requesting approval of Sound Variance for wedding on October 3,
2026 (rain date October 4, 2026) from 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM (SPE-187)
President Edwards opened the public hearing. No one presented to speak, and the hearing was closed.
Councilor Paull motioned to approve the requested Sound Variance for a wedding on October 3, 2026 (rain date October 4, 2026) from 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM. Seconded by Councilor Perry, the motion passed unanimously.
C. Jim Long/Street Legal CEO Club, 216 Progress Road – Requesting approval of Entertainment, Victualling and
Class BV Liquor Licenses, hours of operation Sunday 7:00 AM to 1:00 AM (ANN-26-3) (LIQ-23-1)
President Edwards opened the public hearing. No one presented to speak, and the hearing was closed.
Councilor Paull motioned to approve the requested Entertainment, Victualling and Class BV Liquor Licenses, hours of operation Sunday 7:00 AM to 1:00 AM, subject to all legal requirements. Seconded by Councilor deMedeiros, the motion passed unanimously.
8. BOARD OF LICENSING– Discussion and possible votes, subject to meeting all legal requirements
Directions to view licensing applications: 1) Click on https://tivertonri.portal.opengov.com/search ,
2) Click Records and then type in the record number listed on the agenda, 3) Click on the highlighted record to view the application
A. Karan Goswami/Daily Stop Mart, 11 Hurst Lane – Request approval for new Tobacco License (ANN-26-2)
Councilor Paull motioned to approve the new Tobacco License, subject to all legal requirements. Seconded by Councilor Janick, the motion passed unanimously.
9. APPOINTMENTS & RESIGNATIONS– Discussion and possible votes
A. Acknowledgement of resignation/retirement
1. John Chelo from the Budget Committee, effective 9/23/2026
Councilor Paull motioned to accept Mr. Chelo’s resignation with regret. Seconded by Councilor Burk, the motion passed unanimously.
B. Juvenile Hearing Board - (7) Member Board (3) Year Terms (1) Alternate Vacancy
1. Timothy Backstrom, 63 Massey Road - Requests appointment for term ending 10/15/2027
Mr. Backstrom was interviewed by the council.
Councilor deMedeiros motioned to waive policy and proceed to appointment. Seconded by Councilor Janick, the motion passed unanimously.
Councilor deMedeiros motioned to appoint Timothy Backstrom to the Juvenile Hearing Board for a term ending 10/15/2027. Seconded by Councilor Janick, the motion passed unanimously.
C. Open Space and Land Preservation Commission - (9) Member Board (3) Year Terms (2) Vacancies
1. Anja Josuweit, 40 Furey Avenue - Requests appointment for term ending 4/15/2027 or 4/15/2028
D. Zoning Board of Review - (7) Member Board (5) Year Terms (2) Alternate Vacancies
1. Anja Josuweit, 40 Furey Avenue - Requests appointment to Alternate position for term ending
7/15/2027
Ms. Josuweit was unavailable for interview – items 9-C and 9-D would be added to the next meeting agenda.
10. GENERAL BUSINESS
A. School Department – Update regarding calculation of Out-of-District placement of CTE students
Superintendent Haskins and School Finance Director Andrade briefed council on a Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) ruling that voids long-standing regional tuition agreements with neighboring East Bay communities. Moving forward, tuition costs must be set strictly using a state statutory formula. Because the rate calculation guidance was sent well after the budget was finalized, the town faces an unbudgeted deficit shortfall of $780,618 for FY27. Districts are required to pay for transportation on top of tuition, creating an additional double financial burden. RIDE ruled the law took effect on July 9, 2021; thus, the receiving districts can hit Tiverton with retroactive back-tuition claims from FY21 through FY25.
Tiverton is fighting the ruling through a joint administrative appeal and has sent a formal request to its state delegation requesting emergency legislation to protect towns from retroactive debt caused by state delays, enforce advanced timelines for future changes, and restore local authority to form voluntary regional compacts.
B. School Department – Discussion and possible vote on FY27 Capital Funding requests and proposed
Resolution 2026–0024
1. High school tennis court drainage and court equipment - $28,505
2. Ranger Elementary School oil tank protection - $50,000
3. Food service program vehicle - $30,000
Superintendent Haskins explained the three items, declaring them immediate safety and operational needs. He emphasized that the town must spend at least 50% of its $12 million five-year capital plan by December 2028 to maintain eligibility for state housing aid reimbursement.
Councilor Perry motioned to approve Resolution 2026–0024. Seconded by Councilor Paull, the motion passed unanimously.
C. Police Chief Costa – Discussion and possible vote to appoint retired Police Lt. Jonathan Cunningham
to the Reserve Officer Corps (R.O.C.)
Chief Costa relayed that Lieutenant Cunningham recently retired after 18 years of service to the Tiverton Police Department. His paperwork was complete, and when the impending physical results are ready, he will be officially sworn in by the town clerk.
Councilor Paull motioned to appoint retired Police Lt. Jonathan Cunningham to the Reserve Officer Corps, subject to the medical physical. Seconded by Councilor Perry, the motion passed unanimously.
D. Police Chief Costa – Discussion and possible vote to extend contract with AXON for Body Worn Cameras
Chief Costa opened discussion, explaining the state-mandated body-worn cameras in 2022. The proposed five-year contract bundles multiple existing contracts (body-worn cameras, tasers, and signal features) under one umbrella to streamline billing, yielding an estimated $262,546 in savings.
Solicitor Marcello confirmed he had reviewed the contract and highlighted that the town retains the right to cancel the contract at any time if funding is not successfully appropriated.
Randall Rose from Rhode Islanders for Personal Privacy spoke, arguing that body cameras make up less than 10% of the cost, while over 80% is hidden in the bundled "Officer Safety Plan." He raised concerns about conflicts of interest regarding Axon providing VR training, noting corporate-backed field AI systems can be heavily biased.
Following requests from multiple councilors to fully review the contract language and transparency breakdown, the consensus was to continue the matter to their next meeting.
Councilor Burk motioned to continue this until our next regular meeting with a more detailed descriptive agenda item to relate to what the contract includes. Seconded by Councilor Janick, the motion passed unanimously.
E. Recreation Chair Gilfillen – Discussion and possible vote on approval of Commemorative Item Dedication
Policy and Municipal Facilities Naming Policy
Recreation Chair Gilfillen and Harbor Commission Co-Chair Stewart presented collaborative plans to establish a unified process for residents requesting commemorative items (e.g., bricks, walkways, plaques, and benches). Items will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis depending on the specific structural capacity and aesthetic design standard limits of each town facility. President Edwards strongly advocated for the council to retain final decision-making authority to prevent controversial or inappropriate installations.
Council members debated whether individuals being commemorated must have a direct local connection to Tiverton, as well as how specific design standards will be handled for different town locations. A primary concern was long-term maintenance. The policy states that donors are responsible for significant damage repairs or intensive restoration, or they must surrender the location at the end of the item's natural lifecycle.
The consensus was to approve the Commemorative Item Dedication Policy. The municipal facilities naming portion of the item was struck as the backup was missing from the package; it will be revisited later.
Councilor President Edwards V motioned to approve the Commemorative Item Dedication Policy. Seconded by Councilor deMedeiros, the motion passed unanimously.
F. Vice President Paull – Discussion and possible vote to install stop sign at intersection of Kenyon Road and
Hope Street
Vice President Paul and Councilor Burk brought forward the request due to neighborhood safety concerns and close-call accidents. Chief Costa noted that while the neighborhood had few documented accidents, cars routinely roll through without stopping. The council agreed to table the issue for a month to allow the Chief and DPW Director to review the neighborhood's traffic patterns and return with a formal ordinance recommendation.
G. Councilor Committo – Discussion and possible vote regarding Hometown Heroes Banners for utility poles
Councilor Committo introduced an initiative to install military veteran recognition banners on local utility poles. He detailed ongoing discussions with utility companies regarding permissions, noting the town would be responsible for putting them up, storing them, and maintaining them. The council voiced broad support for him to keep moving forward with the paperwork.
H. Councilor Committo – Discussion and possible vote regarding moratorium on PFAS areas
The council engaged in a lengthy, heated debate regarding a temporary 120-day moratorium on new construction/development in areas lacking public water service due to ongoing well water contamination. Solicitor Marcello advised that a moratorium must be backed up by explicit scientific data, warning that an overly broad, town-wide freeze would likely face immediate legal challenges from developers. Ultimately, the council directed the solicitor to draft multiple alternative versions of a potential zoning ordinance for review
I. Administrator Jones – Update on Crandall Road regarding PFAS and Community Meeting
The item was addressed earlier in the meeting.
J. Councilor Burk / Administrator Jones – Discussion to advertise for an ordinance change to the Two Rod Way
Parking ordinance
The council discussed the proposed ordinance change regarding parking on the public access road leading out to Jack's Island. Vehicle parking is creating emergency access concerns. The intent is to restrict parking to the east side of the road to keep the pathway clear. While the road provides state-defined public access, some questioned whether the mandates require allowing motor vehicles. Council agreed to refer the matter to the police chief and DPW director to evaluate the physical size of the road and review the regulations before bringing it back to the council at the next meeting.
11. EXECUTIVE SESSION
A. Solicitor Marcello - R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(2) Litigation: BCP Properties, LLC v. Town of Tiverton
Planning Board by and through its Members, Town of Tiverton by and through its Finance Director
(C.A. No. NC-2026-0394)
B. Solicitor Marcello – R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(2) Potential litigation regarding tax treaty with Twin River
Tiverton, LLC
C. Administrator Jones - R.I. Gen Law § 42-46-5(a)(2) Collective Bargaining – Discussion related to proposed
Memorandum of Understanding with United Steelworkers AFL-CIO, CLC on behalf of Local 14845
Councilor Edwards V motioned to enter into Executive Session for agenda items 11-A, 11-B, and 11-C. Seconded by Councilor Janick, the motion passed unanimously.
The Council entered a closed executive session at approximately 10:45 p.m.
The Council returned to open session at approximately 11:19 p.m.
Councilor deMedeiros motioned to seal the minutes of Executive Session. Councilor Perry seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Solicitor Marcello reported that items 11-A, 11-B, and 11-C were discussion only; no votes were taken.
12. GENERAL BUSINESS (CONT.)
K. Administrator Jones – Discussion and possible vote to ratify proposed Memorandum of Understanding with
United Steelworkers AFL-CIO, CLC on behalf of Local 14845
Councilor deMedeiros motioned to ratify the proposed Memorandum of Understanding with United Steelworkers AFL-CIO, CLC on behalf of Local 14845. Councilor Perry seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
13. ADJOURNMENT
Councilor deMedeiros motioned to adjourn the meeting. Councilor Perry seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.
The meeting adjourned at 11:20 p.m.
A True Copy.
ATTEST______________________________________
Joan B. Chabot, CMC, Town Clerk