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

February 1, 2022

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.         The meeting was called to order at 6:05 P.M by Council President Gosselin.

 

B.         Roll Call taken by Town Clerk

Present:  Council President Gosselin, Council Vice President Williamson, Councilman Messier, and Councilmen Bourget.

Absent:  Councilman Licciardi          

              

C.         Quorum on Record Declared by Town Clerk

 

D.        Ordinances

01        First reading of Ordinance Amending Appendix C - Traffic Ordinances of the Code of Ordinances of the Town of West Warwick

 

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Messier for approval of first reading of ordinance Amending Appendix C - Traffic Ordinances of the Code of Ordinances of the Town of West Warwick.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

M. Bourget: Yes

J. Messier:  Yes

M. Williamson:  Yes

D. Gosselin:  Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

E.         Consent Agenda

01        Approval of minutes

a.         January 18, 2022 Executive Session

b.         January 18, 2022 Regular Town Council Meeting

 

02        Cancellation of Taxes as requested by the Tax Assessor

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Messier for approval of Consent Agenda Items 01 and 02.All Ayes

 

F.         Liquor License - The Town Council acting as the Liquor Commission

01        Request from Warwick Hotel Partners LLC dba Spring Hill Suites for a Class BV Liquor License

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Messier for approval of request from Warwick Hotel Partners LLC dba Spring Hill Suites for a Class BV Liquor License.                       All Ayes

 

G.        Appointments and Resignations

01        Appointments to the Recreation Committee

a.         Paul Richards for term ending 2/1/2024

b.         Christopher Messier for term ending 2/1/2024

c.         Michael Gauvin for term ending 2/1/2024

d.         Vincent Marzullo for term ending 2/1/2025

e.         Derek Read for term ending 2/1/2025

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Messier for approval of appointments to the Recreation Committee.                      All Ayes

 

02        Consideration of requests for appointment to the Planning Board for term ending July 2026

 

D. Gosselin would like to see Jessica moved from an alternate member to a permanent member.  He would like to see R. Coutu appointed as the alternate member. 

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Messier to appoint Jessica to the Planning Board for term ending July 2026. 

 

Council determined that this vacancy was not advertised on three consecutive agendas.  They would like to consider changing that requirement on the next agenda. 

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Messier to vacate the previous motion.                       All Ayes

 

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

 

03        Request from Cindy Ferri for appointment to the Pension Committee for term ending 11/18/2023

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Messier for approval of request from Cindy Ferri for appointment to the Pension Committee for term ending 11/18/2023.               All Ayes

 

04        Request from Derek Read for appointment as Tree Warden

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Messier to appoint Derek Read as Tree Warden.

                                    All Ayes

 

H.        New Business

01        Report from Legal Counsel to the Town Council regarding Medrecycler

 

A. Difiore reports the background of the case.  He explains the timeline of Medrecycler’s application process.  Currently, the Department of Environmental Management has denied their application.  Therefore, there is nothing pending before the Town of West Warwick. 

 

02        Report from the Tax Assessor relating to the Elderly Tax Exemption

 

S. Saccoccio reviews the elderly tax exemption.  Currently there are approximately 1,800 Seniors that are utilizing the exemption.  The total cost to the Town is $472,000.  Discussion ensues relative to other communities, and possible changes to the exemption.  If the Council chooses to make any changes it will be addressed during the budget cycle. 

 

03        Resolution Authorizing Payment for the Services of the Police Navigator (Clinician) from American Rescue Plan Funds

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Messier for approval of resolution authorizing payment for the services of the police navigator (Clinician) from American Rescue Plan Funds.           All Ayes

 

04        Resolution Authorizing Select Part-Time, Non-Union Employees of the Civic Center/Ice Rink to Receive a Salary Increase for 2022

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Messier for approval of resolution authorizing select part-time, non-union employees of the Civic Center/Ice Rink to receive a salary increase for 2022.                All Ayes

 

05        Resolution Authorizing Payment for Replacement of Banner Brackets in Business Districts from American Rescue Plan Funds

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Messier for approval of resolution authorizing payment for replacement of banner brackets in business districts from American Rescue Plan Funds.

                                    All Ayes

 

06        Memorandum of Agreement (Addendum to 21-24 CBA) Regarding Fleet Assistant Mechanic

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Messier for approval of memorandum of agreement (Addendum to 21-24 CBA) regarding Fleet Assistant Mechanic.                   All Ayes

 

07        Approval of Request from the Police Chief for Purchase of Four Police Vehicles in an Amount not to Exceed $163,801.55

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Messier for approval of request from the Police Chief for purchase of four police vehicles in an amount not to exceed $163,801.55.              All Ayes

 

08        Resolution Requesting the Town of West Warwick’s General Assembly Delegation to Support the Installation of a “Luso-Americans Veterans Monument” at the Rhode Island Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Messier for approval of resolution requesting the Town of West Warwick’s General Assembly Delegation to support the installation of a “Luso-Americans Veterans Monument” at the Rhode Island Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery.         All Ayes

 

09        Claim from Linda David in the amount $302.00

 

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

 

10        Request from National Grid and Verizon New England for Installation of a New P9-50 and Installation of New Pad Mount Transformer on Archambault Avenue

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Messier for approval of request from National Grid and Verizon New England for Installation of a New P9-50 and Installation of New Pad Mount Transformer on Archambault Avenue.                All Ayes

 

I.          Upcoming Appointments

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

02        Pension Committee - (1) vacancies with terms to expire on 11/18/2023

03        Board of Assessment and Review – (1) re-appointment with term to expire 3/2025

04        Board of Canvassers – (1) re-appointment with term to expire 3/2028

05        West Warwick Public Library Trustees – (2) re-appointments with terms to expire 2/2025

06        Tree Warden

07        Planning Board (1) vacancy with term to expire 7/2026

 

J.          Public Forum

 

M. Bourget commends the DPW and Police for their handling of the blizzard. 

 

M. Williamson notes that the communication from DPW was excellent. 

 

D. Lopez, of East Greenwich, asks what would happen if Medrecycler decided to move locations.

 

A. DiFiore answers that they would need to start the approval process over. 

 

A. Palazzo, of 5 Robin Lane, asks about the conex boxes located outside of the Medrecycler facility.  He shares concerns with the elderly exemption, Riverpoint playground remediation, snow on sidewalks, and suggests that the town needs a Veteran Affairs Coordinator.  He commends the DPW for their handling of the blizzard. 

 

D. Read, of 62 Andrew’s Avenue, suggests getting a machine to clean the snow off the sidewalks. 

 

P. Cottrell adds that there may be a swale mower with attachments to remove snow on sidewalks. 

 

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

01        Malicious Damage to Town Property

02        Calci v. West Warwick KC 2016-0776

 

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

 

L.         Adjournment

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, second by M. Williamson to adjourn at 8:18 P.M.             All Ayes

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

_______________________________________

Sarah S. Rapose, CMC, Town Clerk