TOWN OF WEST WARWICK RHODE ISLAND 1170 Main Street West Warwick, RI  02893 (401) 822-9200 www.westwarwickri.org

 

 

WEST WARWICK TOWN COUNCIL

Regular Town Council Meeting

Town Council Chambers

December 7, 2021

6:00 P.M.

 

 

 

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AGENDA WITH ATTACHMENTS CAN BE VIEWED AT:  https://clerkshq.com/westwarwick-ri

 

M I N U T E S

 

*Please Note:  Any matter listed on this agenda may be acted upon by the Town Council*

 

A.         Meeting called to order by the Town Council President at 6:03 P.M.

 

B.         Prayer led by Council

 

C.         The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

 

D.        Roll Call taken by Town Clerk

Present: 

Councilman J. Messier

Councilman M. Bourget

Council Vice President M. Williamson

Council President D. Gosselin

 

Absent: 

Councilman J. Licciardi

Also present: 

Also present:  Town Solicitor Timothy Williamson, Town Manager Mark Knott, Police Chief Ernest Lavigne, Fire Chief Jeffrey Varone, Finance Director Kristen Benoit,

Human Resource Director Sherri Fournier, Tax Assessor Sal Saccoccio Jr., and Town Clerk Sarah Rapose

 

E.         Quorum on Record Declared by Town Clerk

 

F.         Proclamation

01        Proclamation Celebrating Twenty Years as a Tree City USA Community

 

The Proclamation was presented to the Jaycee’s by Town Council President Gosselin.

 

G.        Ordinances

01  First reading of Ordinance Approving A Tax Stabilization/Development Agreement For The Construction And Development Of A Wholesale Food Storage And Distribution Facility With Corporate Offices Located At 40 Keyes Way, West Warwick, Rhode Island Also Identified As Assessor's Plat: 30, Lot: 51

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Messier to move the Ordinance Approving A Tax Stabilization/Development Agreement For The Construction And Development Of A Wholesale Food Storage And Distribution Facility With Corporate Offices Located At 40 Keyes Way, West Warwick, Rhode Island Also Identified As Assessor's Plat: 30, Lot: 51.                

 

William Catauro, President of Quality Foods, was in attendance.   He states that the company currently employs eighty three people.  He would like to double that amount in the next ten years.  All of their employees make more than $15.00 per hour.  They are looking to build a 65,000-70,000 square foot facility.  This is a good central location for their facility.

 

VOTE:  ALL AYES

 

MOTION PASSES

 

H.        Consent Agenda

01  Approval Of The Minutes Of The November 22, 2021 Executive Session

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Messier for approval of the Consent Agenda.

                                    All Ayes

 

I.          Liquor Licenses - Town Council acting as the Liquor Commission

01  Transfer Of Class A Liquor License From L&K Corporation DBA Louise’s Liquors To Rhode Island Wine & Spirits, Inc For Premises Located At 1745 Main Street, Units 10A &10B

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Messier for approval of the transfer of Class A Liquor License From L&K Corporation DBA Louise’s Liquors To Rhode Island Wine & Spirits, Inc for Premises Located At 1745 Main Street, Units 10A &10B.                   All Ayes

 

J.          Business Licenses

01           Request from the West Warwick Jaycees for Tag Day License

02           Request from California Taco Shop for Victualing House License

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Messier for approval of Business Licenses 01-02.

                                    All Ayes

 

K.         New Business

01  Update from the Pawtuxet River Historical Society

 

J. Tellier was in attendance on behalf of the Pawtuxet River Historical Society.  He states that they are planning to hold and open house in April.  The project is 95% complete.  This project has been of no cost to the taxpayers.

 

02  Road Bond/Construction Update From The Director Of Public Works

 

F. Gill provides an update on the paving projects.  The paving projects are nearly complete for the season, and they will be resuming in the Spring.

 

03  Request From The Fire Chief To Apply For Assistance To Firefighters Grants For 2021

 

Chief Varone explains the reason for the grant request.  The current ladder truck for the department is a 1998.  They have spent more than $200,000 on repairs for this truck.  It has been out of service for 2 years since 2015.  He states that it is $1.3 million for a new ladder truck.  This grant would pay for 90% of the cost.  Chief Varone will prepare a memo for approval at a future meeting.

 

04  Request From Wildlife Rehabilitators Association Of Rhode Island For Subsidy Of $4546.00

 

The Council took no action on this request.

 

05  Resolution Establishing A Recreation Committee As An Advisory Committee For The Town Of West Warwick

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, second by M. Williamson to move on the table.               All Ayes

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, second by M. Williamson to move resolution.

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Messier to move resolution with the amendment that the terms of office will expire three years from appointment.             All Ayes

 

06  Resolution In Support Of The RIDEM 2022 Recreation Acquisition And Development Grants

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, second by M. Williamson for approval of resolution in support of the RIDEM 2022 Recreation Acquisition and Development Grants.

 

M. Knott explains that this grant would fund a major overhaul of Crompton Playground.  He shares plans of the proposed changes with the body. 

 

VOTE – ALL AYES

MOTION PASSES

 

07  Resolution Authorizing The Financing Of The Acquisition Of Public Safety Equipment And Vehicles Through A Lease Purchase Agreement In A Principal Amount Not To Exceed $340,000; Authorizing The Execution And Delivery Of A Lease Agreement And Related Instruments, And Determining Other Matters In Connection Therewith

 

K. Benoit explains that this needs to go out to bid.  The funding was already approved in July. 

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, second by M. Williamson for approval of Resolution Authorizing The Financing Of The Acquisition Of Public Safety Equipment And Vehicles Through A Lease Purchase Agreement In A Principal Amount Not To Exceed $340,000; Authorizing The Execution And Delivery Of A Lease Agreement And Related Instruments, And Determining Other Matters In Connection Therewith.                              All Ayes

 

08  Request From National Grid For Approval Of Installation Of New P3-50 +/- 50’ From Existing P3 On Energy Way

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, second by M. Williamson for approval of request from National Grid for installation of new P3-50 +/- 50’ From Existing P3 On Energy Way.               All Ayes

 

L.         Upcoming Appointments

01  Sewer Use Board of Review - (1) Alternate member vacancy with a term to expire on 10/2024, and (1) vacancies with a term to expire 10/2023

02  Pension Committee - (2) vacancies with terms to expire on 11/18/2024

03  Juvenile Hearing Board (3) vacancies with terms to expire 12/2021

04  Tree Warden

05  Recreation Committee – (1) Vacancy for School Committee Member

 

 

M.        Public Forum

 

J. Messier shares that Thomas William Rogerson passed away.

 

M. Williamson reports that the swings are down at the Factory Street Playground.

 

J. Caldwell explains that they removed the swings due to vandalism.  The playground has been heavily vandalized. 

 

Council would like to address this on the next agenda.

 

S. Carron, of 12 Nicole Drive, is concerned because his vehicle damage claim was denied.  Discussion ensues relative to the claim.  Council would like to address this on the next agenda.

 

A. Palazzo, of 5 Robin Lane, states that the trash was not picked up on Natick Road this past week.  He shares concerns about various paving projects.  He encourages coordination between the paving company and utility companies.  He recommends the Town have a Veterans Affairs Coordinator.  He shares concerns with all of the open litigation cases and the length of time it is taking for them to resolve.

 

N.        Executive Session – Council may vote to move to Executive Session pursuant to R.I. General Law 42-46-5 (a)(2)– Litigation

01  KC 2021-0608: Franklin Sales & Marketing v. WW

02  KC 2021-0537: E.W. Audet & Sons Inc v. Immunex RI Corp

03  KC 2021-0060: NEIT v. Saccoccio (ALL CASES)

04  KC 2021-0056: Natco v. Saccoccio

05  KC 2021-0055: Natco v. Saccoccio

06  KC 2021-0053: Natco v. Saccoccio

07  KC 2020-0374: Natco v. Saccoccio

08  KC 2020-0373: Natco v. Saccoccio

09  KC 2020-0372: Natco v. Saccoccio

10  KC 2020-0726: Adamonis v. Gold et al

11  KC 2019-1103: WW Public Employees Retirees v. WW

12  KC 2019-1055: Dimartino v. WW ZBR

13  1:19-cv-00222: Five Five Plus LLC v. WW

14  KC 2019-0583: Cioffi v. WW

15  KM 2019-0557: Jordan Realty RIGP v. Gonsalves

16  KC 2019-0385 Elmwood Realty LLC v. WW ZBR

17  PC 2019-10009: Neronha v. WW

18  18-33863 Neighbors Legacy Holding (Texas Bankruptcy)

19  KC 2018-1329 P. Kelley v. WW

20  KC 2018-1325 Cambio v. Faria et al

21  KC 2018-1016 Fed. Nat’l Mort. Assn. v. Bank of NY

22  PC 2018-1332: Northern RI Radiology v. Neighbors Health

23  KC 2017-0543 Roxanne Schaefer v. West Warwick

24  KM 2017-0482 Fed. Nat’l Mortgage Assoc. v. J. Christman

25  PC 2017-1685 Bayview Loan v. R. Williams et al

26  KC 2016-0776 Calci v. WW         

27  KC 2015-0036 Ashley Hahn v. West Warwick

28  KC 2014-0381 John Muro v. ZBR of West Warwick

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, second by M. Williamson to move to Executive Session pursuant to R.I. General Law 42-46-5 (a)(2)– Litigation.                All Ayes

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Messier to return to open session.            All Ayes

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Messier to seal the minutes of executive session.

                                                All Ayes                                  

 

O.        Adjournment

MOTION made by J. Messier, second by M. Williamson to adjourn at 9:14 P.M.             All Ayes

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

______________________________

Sarah S. Rapose, CMC, Town Clerk

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agenda posted December 2, 2021 at the West Warwick Town Hall, the West Warwick Senior Center, the West Warwick Public Library, on ClerkBase, and electronically filed on the Secretary of State’s website in accordance with the Open Meetings Act.

 

The public is welcome to any open meeting of the Town Council.  If communication assistance (readers/interpreters/captions) is needed or any other accommodation to ensure equal participation, please contact the Town Clerk’s Office at least three (3) business days prior to the meeting at (401)822-9201.

 

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