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 20, 2022

6:00 P.M.

 

 

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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 Vice-President at 6:02 P.M.

 

B.         Prayer led by Council

 

C.         Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

 

D.        Roll Call taken by Town Clerk          

Councilman Jason Licciardi - Present

Councilman Jason Messier - Present

Councilman Mark Bourget - Present

Council Vice President Maribeth Williamson - Present

Council President David Gosselin - Absent

 

E.         Quorum on Record Declared by Town Clerk

 

F.         Consent Agenda

01        Approval of Minutes from the December 5, 2022 Special Town Council Meeting

02        Approval of Minutes from the December 6, 2022 Regular Town Council Meeting

03        Cancellation of Taxes in the amount of $4,054.05 as requested by the Tax Assessor

 

MOTION made by J. Licciardi, second by J. Messier for approval of the Consent Agenda.          All Ayes

 

G.        Ordinances

01        Second Reading of Ordinance Amending Sections 2, 3, and 5 of the West Warwick Zoning Code of Ordinances; continued from November 1, 2022

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, second by J. Licciardi for approval of Ordinance Amending Sections 2, 3, and 5 of the West Warwick Zoning Code of Ordinances.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

J. Licciardi – Yes

J. Messier – Yes

M. Bourget –  Yes

M. Williamson –  Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

02        Second Reading of Ordinance Amending Chapter 5 Buildings, Section 5-7, Chapter 7, Fire Protection and Prevention, Section 7-27 State Code Adopted and Chapter 9, Housing and Residential Structures and Premises, Section 9-1 Codes Adopted of the Code of Ordinances of the Town of West Warwick

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, second by M. Bourget for approval of ordinance Amending Chapter 5 Buildings, Section 5-7, Chapter 7, Fire Protection and Prevention, Section 7-27 State Code Adopted and Chapter 9, Housing and Residential Structures and Premises, Section 9-1 Codes Adopted of the Code of Ordinances of the Town of West Warwick.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

J. Licciardi – Yes

J. Messier – Yes

M. Bourget – Yes

M. Williamson – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

H.        Liquor Licenses – Town Council acting as the Liquor License Commission

01        Consideration of expired Liquor Licenses

            A.         JJ’s Café; 289 Cowesett Avenue

            B.         M&M Food Service LLC dba Millonzi Bar and Grille; 11 Curson Street

            C.         Eastside Pub & Grub Inc. dba Miss Cranston Diner & Grill; 45 Quaker Lane

J. Messier recuses himself.

 

S. Rapose, Town Clerk, explains that JJ’s Café and M&M Food Service LLC have come into compliance.  The only outstanding license is Eastside Pub & Grub Inc. 

 

Council advises the Town Clerk to have the police deliver correspondence to Eastside Pub & Grub stating that their license will be posted on the January 3, 2023 agenda for revocation if they are not in compliance. 

 

I.          Appointments and Resignations

01        Request from Albert Heroux for Re-Appointment to the Pension Board for term expiring 11/18/2025

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, second by M. Bourget for approval of request from Albert Heroux for Re-Appointment to the Pension Board for term expiring 11/18/2025.               All Ayes

 

02        Request from Colleen Flynn for Appointment to the Board of Canvassers and Registration for six-year termCanv

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, second by M. Bourget for approval of request from Colleen Flynn for Appointment to the Board of Canvassers and Registration for six-year term.             All Ayes

 

J.          New Business

01        November Financial Report from the Finance Director

 

K. Benoit reports the following:

 

Current year tax collections total $35,891,120.11 which is 52.85% of the budget for current year taxes. We have collected two quarters, however quite a few taxpayers pay their entire tax bill when they receive it. This skews the amount expected to be collected 5 months into the fiscal year. This smooths out as further quarters are collected. Prior year tax collections total $559,293.23 which is equal to 37.29% of the budgeted amount. This line will be adjusted by $182,934 for the 60-day rule and accrued back to Fiscal Year 2022. Overall, the revenues are at 49.74%, which is higher than the expected 41.67%. This is mainly attributed to strong tax collections and higher than expected Building revenues. Expenditures are trending under budget at 39.64%. This is 2.03% below the expected 41.67%. The Civic Center has current operating expenditures of $278,411.23 and operating revenues of $314,886.08. I have also attached a breakdown of the pension costs, so we can easily see how we are trending since our conversion to MERS. I am also attaching an updated Capital analysis. The bank balance as of 11/30/2022 is $22,176,838.46. The FY 2022 Audit is wrapping up and the Tax Sale process will begin in late January. We have been placed on the conversion schedule to upgrade our tax collection and assessing software. We are scheduled for late February for a go-live date.

 

02        Approval of West Warwick Winter Fest Event to be held on January 7, 2023

 

M. Knott explains the event to the Council.  There will be a Christmas Tree bonfire.  Rain date is proposed of January 21, 2023.

 

03        Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Two (2) Fisher Polycast Sanders in the amount of $15,000

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, seconded by J. Licciardi for approval of resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Two (2) Fisher Polycast Sanders in the amount of $15,000.                      All Ayes

 

04        Discussion regarding the lease or sale of 30 Payan Street to Child, Inc

 

M. Knott states that he and T. Williamson are meeting with the CEO and CFO of Child Inc. on Thursday morning.  He will report to Council at the next meeting.

           

K.         Upcoming Appointments

01        Sewer Use Board of Review – Appointment to fill a vacancy as an alternate member for three-year term

02        Sewer Use Board of Review – Appointment to fill a vacancy as a regular member for three-year term

03        Board of Assessment and Review – Appointment to fill a vacancy as a regular member for term ending March 2024

04        Board of Canvassers – Appointment to fill vacancy as a regular member for a six-year term.  Applicants must be a registered Democrat to apply.

05        West Warwick Housing Authority – Appointment or Re-appointment for five-year term expiring November 2027

 

L.         Public Forum

 

M. Bourget shares his frustrations with the Greenbush Elementary parking/traffic issues. 

 

J. Licciardi also sat in traffic at Greenbush Elementary School recently.  He suggests a crossing guard may be helpful.

 

M.        Adjournment

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, seconded by J. Licciardi to adjourn at 6:40 P.M.    All Ayes

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Sarah S. Rapose, CMC

Town Clerk