TOWN OF WEST WARWICK

 

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

 

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2020

 

7:00 P.M.

 

AGENDA

 

A.         Meeting called to Order by the Town Council President

 

The meeting called to order by Town Council President Gosselin at 7:04 p.m.

 

B.         Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilman Licciardi

 

Councilman Licciardi led the body in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

C.         Prayer led by Council Vice President D’Amico

 

Vice President D’Amico led the body in prayer

 

D.         Roll Call taken by Deputy Town Clerk

 

Members Present:

 

Councilman Licciardi

Councilman Messier

Councilwoman Williamson

Council Vice President D’Amico

Council President Gosselin

 

Members Present: None

 

E.         Quorum on Record Declared by Deputy Town Clerk

 

Others Present: Town Solicitor Williamson

 

F.         Discussion regarding actions and planning pertaining to addressing COVID-19 Virus and the impact on town operations.

 

The Interim Town Manager Knott reported:

 

•     Public Safety: Wastewater Facility and the Department of Public Works are both operational.

•     The Town Hall is operating by appointments and also through a call for services at the entry way.

•     Update on staffing: Fire Department has three (3) personnel that tested positive but asymptomatic and two (2) additional out on quarantine, one (1) police officer tested positive asymptomatic, one (1) Town Hall in quarantine, DPW the same, (2) people in sewer a total of eight (8) people tested positive and four people in quarantine.

•     Majority of the employees have returned to work. Two (2) employees with risk factors had gone to the hospital and were released.           Three (3) DPW workers were hit hard and one (1) still out from DPW.

 

G.        Discussion/Action/Vote of Town Council.

Any matter on this portion of the agenda may be acted upon by way of topic discussion and action by the Town Council with a vote on the record to approve, amend, deny or table the agenda item.

 

 

1.         Resolution (previously tabled) authorizing the transfer of Town property to the Arctic Village Redevelopment Agency

for the purposed sale in support of the Newberry Place Condominium Development located within the Arctic Village Redevelopment District.

 

Motion made by Council Vice President D’Amico, to move the item off the table, seconded by Councilman Messier and approved by a roll call vote:

 

Councilman Licciardi                      Yes

Councilman Messier                        Yes

Councilwoman Williamson             Yes

Council Vice President D’Amico    Yes

Council President Gosselin              Yes

 

Motion made by Council Vice President to move the resolution, seconded by Councilman Messier.

 

Council President Gosselin stated there were unanswered questions regarding appraisal of the land and seconded where are the monies going.

 

Town Planner, Mark Carruolo, began by adding the Town Council President had questions regarding clarification with the proposals and that Arctic Redevelopment Commission powers and duties are set by the Rhode Island General Law 45-32. The Town was approached by a developer who had purchased the Newberry Building and the applicant desired to purchase an abutting Town owned vacant lot (Assessor’s Plat: 6, Lot: 425) to be utilized as parking for the proposed five (5) unit residential condominium development only. The developer received an opinion letter from AMC Appraisal and they were looking for compatible properties within the town and could not find any. They found one in a residential area with an appraisal of $55,000. The developer hired an appraiser by the name of Sweeney Appraisal.     They expanded their search for comparable sales within the region not in West Warwick. They looked at properties in East Providence, Pawtuxet, Warwick and Coventry.           They are developing properties at the highest value which is $60,000 at $10.00 Square foot at 5,955 square foot lot. Came to agreement with the value and the town had property assessed at $39,000. The developer went before the Redevelopment Agency and agreed with the project going forward in exchange of $30,000, and moving forward to the council with the request. Councilwoman stated she has a document that stated the property is assessed at $47,100 not $39,000, and also has concerns and wants to see assurances that the property is going to be used for parking and nothing else. Motion by Councilwoman Williamson to table this resolution for a more robust restrictions with provisions and the flow of the monies. Seconded by Councilman Licciardi approved by a voice vote.           The council agreed on a workshop on this item for Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. via zoom to discuss and answer any questions and restrictions and provision for the resolution.

 

 

2.         Resolution approving the Town Council meeting scheduled for 2021.

The Town Council will meet on the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. per the following schedule. Special Meetings will be held in accordance with Article 4, Section 404 of the Town of West Warwick Town Charter.

 

Motion made by Councilwoman Williamson, seconded by Councilman Licciardi and approved by a roll call vote:

Councilman Licciardi                      Yes

Councilman Messier                        Yes

Councilwoman Williamson             Yes

Council Vice President D’Amico    Yes

Council President Gosselin              Yes

 

 

3.         MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING–

Approval of minutes of the 11/10/2021 and 11/17/2021 Town Council meetings.

 

Motion made by Council Vice President D’Amico, seconded by Councilwoman Williamson.

Amend Item #9 from the November 10, 2020 Town Council Meeting to read as follows: “Councilwoman did not recuse herself from this item and casted her vote but recused herself from Item T due to it was her business.” Also, Item #11 it reads: She recommends hiring a project manager who is not a town employee to investigate which is incorrect and should read “to run this project of this nature.”

 

Approved by a roll call vote as amended:

 

Councilman Licciardi                      Yes

Councilman Messier                        Yes

Councilwoman Williamson             Yes

Council Vice President D’Amico    Yes

Council President Gosselin              Yes

 

 

4.         CONSENT AGENDAS - License Applications:      

 

a.         (New) Business License – Amanda Ramsay dba Ramsay’s Cleaning Service LLC – 907 Main Street Lower Level

b.         (New) Business License - Patricia Keenan dba G.L. Solutions for Bookkeeping Inc. – 26 Glendale Drive

c.         (New) Business License - Tina & David Kilkenny – 8 Locust Dr.

d.         (New) Business License – Envoy Mortgage, Ltd – 231 Quaker Lane Ste. A

e.         (Renewal) Business License – Galina Shaposhnik dba Galina Sewing Studio – 231 Quaker Lane

f.          (Renewal) Business License - Stephens Auto Sales – 35 Quaker Lane

g.         (Renewal) Business License – SC Parkview Terrace LLC - 72 Gough Ave.

h.         (Renewal) Business License – Larry Mageau dba B&B Cylinder Head  - 320 Washington St.

i.          (Renewal) Constable License – Bruce Fitzgerald - 138 Tanglewood Dr.

j.          (Renewal) 24 Hour Victualing House License – Speedway LLC dba Speedway 2819- 346 Providence St.

k.         (Renewal) Theatrical and Performance License - KMJ Inc. dba The Hour Bar – 1193b Main St.

l.          (Renewal) Theatrical and Performance License – Portuguese Holy Ghost Society – 11 Ventura St.

m.        (Renewal) Theatrical and Performance License – Boneheads Wing Bar Corp. dba Bone Heads Wing Bar – 131 Washington St.

n.         (Renewal) Theatrical and Performance License – Portuguese Instructional Recreational Club – 918 Main St.

o.         (Renewal) Mechanical Amusement License - Portuguese Instructional Recreational Club – 918 Main St.

p.         (Renewal) Theatrical and Performance License – Post 2 – 2 Legion Way

q.         (Renewal) Theatrical and Performance License – Portuguese American Citizens Club – 97 East Main St.

r.          (Renewal) Theatrical and Performance License – Bills Place Restaurant – 707 Main St.

s.         (Renewal) Theatrical and Performance License - Phenix Sportsmen Club – 715 Main St.

t.          (Renewal) Sunday & Holiday- Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. dba Dollar Tree # 08552 – 272 Cowesett Ave.

u.         (Renewal) Victualing House - Dollar Tree Stores, Inc. dba Dollar Tree # 08552 – 272 Cowesett Ave.

 

Motion made by Council Vice President D’Amico, seconded by Councilman Licciardi.

 

Let the record show that Councilman Messier recused himself from Item #4 Consent Agendas.

 

Amend Item T & U to read as “New” and not “Renewal”.

 

Approved by a Roll Call Vote as amended:

 

Councilman Licciardi                      Yes

Councilman Messier                        Yes

Councilwoman Williamson             Yes

Council Vice President D’Amico    Yes

Council President Gosselin              Yes

 

 

5.         Ordinance 2020-19 - (second reading) – (sponsored by Councilman Messier) –

An ordinance amending Appendix C Traffic Ordinances of the Code of Ordinances of the Town of West Warwick.

 

•     (Andrews Ave.)  - Stop sign for traveling north on Andrews Ave. at with intersection of Rathbun St. and stop sign for traveling South on Andrews Ave. at intersection with Rathbun St.

 

Motion made by Council Vice President D’Amico, seconded by Councilman Messier and approved       by a Roll Call Vote:

 

Councilman Licciardi                      Yes

Councilman Messier                        Yes

Councilwoman Williamson             Yes

Council Vice President D’Amico    Yes

Council President Gosselin              Yes

 

 

6.         Ordinance 2020-21 – (first reading) – (Sponsored by Council Vice President D’Amico)

An ordinance amending Chapter 4 Animals and Fowl Sections 4-11 Definitions and 4-21 Maximum  number of dogs and cats permitted per residence; Exception; Penalty of the Code of Ordinances of the Town of West Warwick.

Motion made by Council Vice President D’Amico, seconded by Councilman Messier and approved by a Roll Call Vote:

 

Councilman Licciardi                      Yes

Councilman Messier                        Yes

Councilwoman Williamson             Yes

Council Vice President D’Amico    Yes

Council President Gosselin              Yes

 

 

7.         DISCUSSION/ACTION

 

a.         Recognition from Secretary of the State, Nellie Gorbea, for an extraordinary job by election workers during three unprecedented elections.

 

Town Clerk, Marianne Kelly placed this item on agenda and wanted to recognize her department along with Nellie Gorbea’s letter. Council President Gosselin read the letter into the record and also stated that during the Primary and General Election Nellie Gorbea was impressed with the setup and how the election was handled and thank you for a great job to the Town Clerk’s Office, Civic Center, Board of Canvassers and all departments that were involved.          

 

b.         Consideration of an Employment Agreement Addendum for Interim Town Manager Mark Knott

 

Approved by a roll call vote:

 

Councilman Licciardi                      Yes

Councilman Messier                        Yes

Councilwoman Williamson             Yes

Council Vice President D’Amico    Yes

Council President Gosselin              Yes

 

c.         2022 Budget Timeline

 

The Finance Director, Kristen Benoit, presented the budget timeline. The Town Council had no issues with the timeline.

 

8.         APPOINTMENT

 

1.         Appointment to the West Warwick Housing Authority with a term to expire on 11/2025

 

Council President Gosselin moved the name of Debra Tocco, seconded by Council Vice President D’Amico and approved by a roll call vote:

 

Councilman Licciardi                      Yes

Councilman Messier                        Yes

Councilwoman Williamson             Yes

Council Vice President D’Amico    Yes

Council President Gosselin              Yes

 

 

2.         Appointment to the Arctic Redevelopment Commission with a term to expire on 10/1/2025

 

Council Vice President D’Amico moved the name of James Marsh, seconded by Council

President Gosselin and approved by a roll call vote:

 

Councilman Licciardi                      Yes

Councilman Messier                        Yes

Councilwoman Williamson             Yes

Council Vice President D’Amico    Yes

Council President Gosselin              Yes

 

 

3.         Appointment to the Zoning Board of Review (alternate member) with a term to expire 7/2025

 

Moved by Councilwoman Williamson, seconded by Council Vice President D’Amico. Councilwoman Williamson believes there was another applicant that apply for this position     and only see one application and would like to table this matter to the next council meeting, seconded by Council Vice President D’Amico and approved by a roll call vote:

 

 

Councilman Licciardi                      Yes

Councilman Messier                        Yes

Councilwoman Williamson             Yes

Council Vice President D’Amico    Yes

Council President Gosselin              Yes

 

 

9.         UPCOMING APPOINTMENTS:

a.         Sewer Use Board of Review: one (1) Alternate member vacancy with a term to expire on 10/2021, & (1) vacancy with a term to expire 10/2023

b.         Pension Committee: three (3) vacancies with terms to expire in 2022, 2023 and 2024

c.         Zoning Board of Review: one (1) Alternate member with a term to expire 7/2025

d.         Pawtuxet River Authority: one (1) vacancy with a term to expire 6/30/2023

e.         West Warwick Housing Authority: one (1) vacancy with a term to expire 11/2025

f.          Arctic Redevelopment Commission: one (1) vacancy with a term to expire 10/1/2025

g.         West Warwick Public Library Trustees – one (1) term to expire 02/2021

h.         Recreation Committee – one (1) vacancy

i.          Juvenile Hearing Board – one (1) vacancy – term to expire 12/2024 

 

10.       PUBLIC COMMENT:

 

Designated portion of Town Council’s open meeting for Citizens to address comments to the Town Council relating to matters affecting the public business. (RIGL 42-46-2 (3) and RIGL 42-

46-2 (6)).

 

Comments will only be addressed to the Town Council who will take them under advisement.

 

When addressing the Town Council, please state your name and address; please conduct yourself in an orderly and respectful fashion. The comments of citizens accessing this portion of the

meeting are neither adopted nor endorsed by this body but heard as requested.

 

Members of the Town Council, being the duly elected public body as identified in RIGL 42-46-2 (3) have no obligation to respond to the Public’s Comments.

 

 

•     Pete Cotrell – 25 Nowicki Street, began by asking back in August he reached out to Council President Gosselin regarding the stop sign on West Street and wanted to know where this stood. Councilman Messier reponded by forwarding this request to Major Archibald with all the details to go before the Traffic Committee.

 

                              

11.       ADJOURN  

 

Councilman Messier made the motion to adjourn, seconded by Councilwoman Williamson and approved by a voice vote.

 

 

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:11 p.m.