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

 

WEST WARWICK TOWN COUNCIL

Special Town Council Meeting

Town Council Chambers

July 25, 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.         Meeting called to order by the Town Council President at 6:00 P.M.

 

B.         Roll Call taken by Town Clerk          

Present:

Councilman Jason Licciardi

Councilman Jason Messier – arrived at 6:17 P.M.

Councilman Mark Bourget

Council Vice President Maribeth Williamson

Council President David Gosselin

 

C.         Quorum on Record Declared by Town Clerk

 

D.        New Business

01        Consideration of recommendations for Charter Amendments proposed by the Charter Review Committee and Staff

 

Council reviews recommendations presented by the Charter Review Committee and Staff. 

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, second by M. Williamson to consider charter amendments to Sections 403, 1903, 2203, and 1502 of the Charter.                     All Ayes

 

MOTION made by M. Bourget, second by J. Messier for the following amendments to section 1502 of the Charter as follows:

 

1502. Director qualification.

The director of public works shall be a person who has graduated from a recognized college or university with a bachelor's degree in courses emphasizing engineering, construction, business, or public administration and who has had no less than three (3) years' experience in the public works field, in private industry, or in a government agency or other relevant job experience as deemed appropriate by the Town Council. 

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

J. Licciardi – Yes

J. Messier – Yes

M. Bourget – Yes

M. Williamson – Yes

D. Gosselin – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, second by M. Bourget for the following amendments to section 2203 of the Charter as follows:

 

2203. Codification and revision of ordinances.

The town council, within two (2) years following the effective date of this Charter and at least every five (5) years thereafter, shall cause to be prepared a revision or codification of the ordinances of the town which are currently in effect and are appropriate for continuation as local laws of the town, as needed.   Such revision or codification shall be prepared under the supervision of the town solicitor, but the council may authorize the solicitor to contract for the services of persons or organizations experienced in the performance of such work.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

J. Licciardi – Yes

J. Messier – Yes

M. Bourget – Yes

M. Williamson – Yes

D. Gosselin – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Messier for approval of amendments to section 1903 of the charter, as follows:

 

1903. Vacancies.

A vacancy shall exist in the school committee if a member dies, resigns, ceases to meet the qualifications for membership, is recalled, or is convicted of a felony or a crime of moral turpitude and has exhausted all appeals from said conviction. Any vacancy in the membership of the school committee which occurs less than two years prior to the next general election shall be filled by the Town Council until the next general election, when the office shall be filled for the unexpired term thereof, provided that person selected to fill said vacancy shall be a member of the same political party as the person whose position they are selected to fill.  In the event that the school committee member was unaffiliated, the Council may appoint any qualified elector who is unaffiliated or a member of any recognized political party.   Any vacancy in the membership of the school committee shall be filled by the council until the next regular town election, when the office shall be filled for the unexpired term thereof, provided that that [that the] person selected to said vacancy shall be a member of the same political party as the person whose position he or she is elected to fill.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

J. Licciardi – No

J. Messier – Yes

M. Bourget – Yes

M. Williamson – Yes

D. Gosselin – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

MOTION made by M. Bourget, second by J. Messier for amendments to section 403 of the Charter as follows:

 

403. Vacancies.

(A)  A vacancy shall exist in the town council if a member dies, resigns, ceases to meet the qualifications for membership, is convicted of a felony or a crime of moral turpitude and has exhausted all appeals from said conviction, or is absent from four (4) consecutive months of council meetings, unless such absences are excused by a majority vote of the whole council membership, with reasons therefore [therefor] stated at [the] time and appearing in the journal of the meetings from which the council member was excused. Any vacancy in the membership of the Town Council which occurs less than two years prior to the next general election shall be filled by the Town Council until the next general election, when the office shall be filled for the unexpired term thereof, provided that person selected to fill said vacancy shall be a member of the same political party as the person whose position they are selected to fill.  In the event that the Council member was unaffiliated, the Council may appoint any qualified elector who is unaffiliated or a member of any recognized political party. 

(B)   If a vacancy shall occur in the town council one (1) year  two (2) years or more prior to the regular election, a special election shall be called by the town clerk to take place within sixty (60) days after such vacancy has occurred, in the manner prescribed by state law. Any vacancy in the membership of the town council that shall occur less than one (1) two (2) years calendar year prior to the regular election shall be filled for the unexpired term by the remaining members of the town council, provided that the one chosen by the town council to fill such vacancy shall be of the same political party as the prior incumbent, such political party allegiance to be verified in writing to the president of the town council by the town party committee of such political party.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

J. Licciardi – No

J. Messier – Yes

M. Bourget – Yes

M. Williamson – Yes

D. Gosselin – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

02        Consideration of a resolution authorizing a public referendum in November to opt out of the State’s Licensing of marijuana retail establishments in West Warwick

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, second by J. Licciardi for approval of resolution authorizing a public referendum in November to opt out of the State’s Licensing of marijuana retail establishments in West Warwick.                    All Ayes

 

03        Approval of Charter Questions and Ballot Wording for the November 8, 2022 Statewide General Election

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, second by J. Licciardi for approval of the ballot question language.

                                                All Ayes

 

 

E.         Adjournment

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, second by J. Licciardi to adjourn at 8:41 P.M.                    All Ayes

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Sarah S. Rapose, CMC

Town Clerk