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

April 5, 2022

6:00 P.M.

(Immediately following the Budget Public Workshop)

 

 

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YOUTUBE LINK:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGK1k6co83ptCoD6hYWSMxA

 

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 6:22 P.M.

 

B.         Roll Call taken by Town Clerk          

Councilman Jason Licciardi - Present

Councilman Jason Messier - Absent

Councilman Mark Bourget - Present

Council Vice President Maribeth Williamson - Present

Council President David Gosselin- Present

 

C.         Quorum on Record Declared by Town Clerk

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Licciardi to move New Business 01 up for immediate consideration.                  All Ayes

 

01              Discussion of sale or lease of Payan Street property to Child, Inc.

Michelle Wolstenholme and Attorney Robert Brooks was in attendance on behalf of Child Inc.  M. Wolstenholme gives a background of the program.  They are looking to improve their facility.  They currently lease the land for $1 per year and would like to purchase the property. 

 

M. Knott states that they will have an appraisal in approximately two weeks. 

 

T. Oates, 6 Colonial Way, states that the property was donated for youth recreation by one of his ancestors.  He references the current assessments. 

 

A. Palazzo, 5 Robin Lane, is concerned that there was no supporting documentation attached to the agenda.  He feels that putting this on the ballot in May is too soon. 

 

D. Gosselin explains that this was placed on the agenda to begin discussions with Council. 

 

D.        Consent Agenda

01        Approval of the minutes from the March 8, 2022 Workshop

02        Approval of the minutes from the March 15, 2022 Regular Town Council Meeting

03        Approval of the minutes from the March 21, 2022 Budget Workshop

04        Approval of the minutes from the March 28, 2022 Budget Workshop

05        Approval of Additions to the Tax Roll as requested by the Tax Assessor

06        Approval of Cancellation of Taxes as requested by the Tax Assessor

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Licciardi for approval of Consent Agenda Items 01-06.              All Ayes

                       

E.         Licenses

01        Request from Azo’s Pizza for Victualling License

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by M. Bourget for approval of request from Azo’s Pizza for a Victualling License.               All Ayes

         

F.         Appointments and Resignations

01  Request from James Mitchell for re-appointment to the West Warwick Public Library Board of Trustees for term ending February 2025

 

MOTIon made by M. Williamson, second by M. Bourget for approval of request from James Mitchell for re-appointment to the West Warwick Public Library Board of Trustees for term ending February 2025.                         All Ayes

 

02  Requests for appointment to the West Warwick Public Library Board of Trustees for term ending February 2025

 

MOTION made by J. Licciardi, second by M. Williamson to appoint Mary Halloran to the West Warwick Public Library Board of Trustees for term ending February 2025. 

 

Discussion ensues relative to the two applicants.  It is determined that the Library Board of Trustees will interview the two candidates and make a recommendation to the Town Council.

 

M. Williamson withdraws her second to the motion.

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by M. Bourget to table.                       All Ayes

 

03  Request from Nathan Hunter for appointment to the Recreation Committee for term ending February 1, 2024

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by M. Bourget for approval of request from Nathan Hunter for appointment to the Recreation Committee for term ending February 1, 2024.                   All Ayes

 

G.        New Business

01  Discussion of sale or lease of Payan Street property to Child, Inc.

 

This item was considered earlier in the meeting. 

 

02  Legal Counsel to report on Building Office, Planning Board, and Zoning Board of Review functions and procedures

 

This item will be considered at the April 26^th meeting. 

 

02  Approval of request from the Fire Chief for the purchase of a Pierce 85-foot Tower Ladder

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by M. Bourget for approval of request from the Fire Chief for the purchase of a Pierce 85-foot Tower Ladder.               All Ayes   

03  Approval of Memorandum of Understanding between the Town of West Warwick and the International Brotherhood of Police Officers Local 312

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by M. Bourget for approval of Memorandum of Understanding between the Town of West Warwick and the International Brotherhood of Police Officers Local 312.

                                                            All Ayes

 

04  Approval of request from the Police Chief for the purchase of Four 2022 Police Interceptor Utility AWD Vehicles in the amount of $152,737.40

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by M. Bourget for approval of request from the Police Chief for the purchase of Four 2022 Police Interceptor Utility AWD Vehicles in the amount of $152,737.40.

                                                            All Ayes

 

05  Approval of request from the Police Chief for the purchase of new duty weapons in the amount of $66,310.16

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Licciardi for approval of request from the Police Chief for the purchase of new duty weapons in the amount of $66,310.16.                 All Ayes

 

06  Consideration of the Locking of Playgrounds

 

D. Gosselin asked for this to be put on the agenda.  He requests the Council and Parks and Recreation get together to discuss unlocking the baseball fields so they can be utilized by families during daylight hours. 

 

M. Bourget agrees. 

 

J. Licciardi also agrees.  The fields should be available for use.

 

J. Caldwell states that they have had problems in the past with people taking bicycles, motorcycles and cars on the field.  In Natick they have had an issue with dogs on the fields. 

 

Discussion ensues. 

 

F. Gil suggests unlocking the fields on a trial basis. 

 

M. Williamson suggests making the back field in Natick a dog park.

 

D. Read suggests only opening a select few fields.  He is concerned with the damage to fields.

 

07  Resolution authorizing payment for the irrigation systems for McCarthy Field from the American Rescue Plan Funds

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Licciardi for approval of resolution authorizing payment for the irrigation systems for McCarthy Field from the American Rescue Plan Funds.                       All Ayes

 

08  Update on the Sales and Revenue generated from the sale of surplus equipment with GovDeals

 

M. Knott updates the body.  He reviews the increase in profits since utilizing GovDeals for the sale of surplus equipment.

 

09  Authorization for the Town Manager and Solicitor to respond with the Town’s vote regarding pending Opioid litigation settlements of individual lawsuits based upon the recommendations of our legal representative in the related matters

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. LIcciardi for authorization for the Town Manager and Solicitor to respond with the Town’s vote regarding pending Opioid litigation settlements of individual lawsuits based upon the recommendations of our legal representative in the related matters.                 All Ayes

 

10  Announcement by Councilman Licciardi relative to Town Easter Egg Hunt to be held at Maise Quinn School on Saturday, April 16^th at 9:30 A.M.

 

J. Licciardi announces that there will be an Easter Egg hunt at Maise Quinn School on Saturday, April 16^th at 9:30 A.M.  He notes that this is funded by a donation from Balise. 

                       

H.        Upcoming Appointments

01        Sewer Use Board of Review – Appointment to fill a vacancy as an alternate member with a term to expire October 2024

02        Sewer Use Board of Review – Appointment to fill a vacancy as a regular member with term to expire October 2023

03        Board of Canvassers – Appointment to fill vacancy of Republican Alternate member with term to expire March 2028

04        West Warwick Public Library Trustees – (2) Appointments or re-appointments as a regular member with terms to expire February 2025

05        West Warwick Recreation Committee member vacancy with term to expire February 2024

 

I.          Public Forum

 

J. Licciardi asks the Department of Public Works to update the Council on the status of opening the fields. 

 

T. Oates, of 6 Colonial Way, suggests working out a deal with Child Inc for closer to the property value.

 

A. Palazzo, of 5 Robin Lane, suggests an elderly tax freeze.  He is concerned with the sex offender notification process.  He received notice in his mailbox.  He asks the Council to support House Bill H7632 and H7349.  He is concerned with the itemizing of the Town Solicitor’s Bills.  He sites the Open Meetings Law for public forum.  He is concerned that the Council is being misled about their rights to speak.

 

J. Licciardi asks about the sex offender notification system.

 

Chief Lavigne reviews the proper notification protocols. 

 

T. Oates, of 6 Colonial Way, feels that Rhode Island needs a violent offenders registry.  He has a situation on his road that he is concerned with.

 

D. Read, of 62 Andrews Avenue, states that the price of concreate is high.  The Council needs to increase the sidewalk budget.  He shares concerns with speeding on Andrew’s Avenue. 

 

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

 

01  New England Institute of Technology v. Salvatore Saccoccio as Tax Assessor and Town of West Warwick; Court ordered mediation

                        A. KC 2011-0645

                        B. KC 2012-0287

                        C. KC 2014-0712

                        D. KC 2015-0116

                        E. KC 2016-0244

                        F. KC 2017-0162

                        G. KC 2019-0224

                        H. KC 2019-0892

                        I. KC 2020-0276

                        J. KC 2021-0060

02  State Opioid Litigation Matters

                        A. Teva Pharmaceuticals

                        B. Allergan Pharmaceuticals

                        C. Mallinckrodt et al

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

I.          Adjournment

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Licciardi to adjourn at 9:02 P.M.                        All Ayes

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

_____________________________________

Sarah S. Rapose, CMC, Town Clerk