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

September 5, 2023

6:00 P.M.

 

 

 

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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 6:05 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 - present

 

E.         Quorum on Record Declared by Town Clerk

 

MOTION made by J. Licciardi, seconded by J. Messier to move Public Forum up for immediate consideration.                             All Ayes

 

M.        Public Forum

J. Licciardi proposes a special Council meeting on September 12, 2023 to discuss the recent activities at the Arctic Gazebo. 

 

D. Gosselin would like to know what the Council’s options are. 

 

T. Oates, of 6 Colonial Way, asks where the man that was arrested at the gazebo got the needles from.

 

This cannot be answered due to the pending criminal investigation.  

 

T. Oates states that there needs to be more enforcement.  There are many nip bottles and cigarette butts.  It is easy to see people drinking in public.  He suggests that the police actively enforce the ordinance. 

 

A. Palazzo, of 5 Robin Lane, states there are pictures on social media of needles, people on drugs, defecating in pubic.  This is a safety hazard.

 

Dennis, of Legris Ave, shares concerns with the litter in the streets.

 

Rebecca Allard, of 183 Factory Street, and Susan Degnan of 137 Phenix Avenue are crossing guards.   They state that they received raises, but not everyone received the same raise.

 

M. Knott will look into this.

 

R. Fleury, of 83 Curson Street, shares that the river walk and Saint James school are in disrepair.  This is inviting crime.  They need more community policing. 

 

D. Read, of 62 Andrews Avenue, feels that the crossing guards should be paid the same rate as a construction detail.  $14.85 an hour is a slap in the face.  He feels the gazebo should be closed.  It is a safety hazard.  He is concerned with the drug and alcohol use.  They need to stop the meals and Narcan from being delivered there.

 

M. Ferrucci, owner of Ferrucci’s, states that the gazebo has become a horrible eye sore.  They are loitering and destroying town property.  They have stolen items from his restaurant bathroom.  Something needs to be done.

 

S. Tabek, of 12 Gendron Street, agrees with all of the concerns that have been shared.  He feels the gazebo needs to be shut down.  They have been working for 20 years to improve Arctic.  A lot of positive things have happened.  It is all being wiped away.

 

T. Oates asks about the Payan Street property.

D. Gosselin answers that they are still in negotiations. 

 

J. Read, of 62 Andrew’s Avenue, agrees that the gazebo needs to be shut down.  It is a safety hazard.  It is unfair to the taxpayers, and also a liability.

 

Stacy Levin, of 567 Smithfield Road, works for Parent Support Network.  She helps provide services for many West Warwick residents.  There is a shortage in rental housing.  She hopes to have some options for some unsheltered residents in the coming weeks.  Arresting homeless people only compounds the problem. 

 

A.  Palazzo states that DPW did a good job on the front steps of Town Hall.  He shares concerns with the sidewalks on New London Avenue.  He commends the work done on the sidewalks on Gough Avenue.  There is a dip in the road at the intersection of Cowesett Avenue and Narragansett Avenue.  He suggests closing the gazebo.  It is a health hazard.  He asks if the Town Solicitor is up to date on his invoices.  He asks about the podium.

 

B. Mollohan, of Monterey Drive, states that he is negotiation with Cardi’s furniture to get new chairs for the Town Council chambers. 

 

J. Licciardi leaves the meeting at 7:11 P.M.

 

F.         Consent Agenda

01        Approval of the Minutes from the August 15, 2023 Regular Town Council Meeting

02        Cancellation of Taxes in the Amount of $26,997.08 as requested by the Tax Assessor

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of the consent agenda.                     All Ayes

           

G.        Ordinances

01        Second Reading of Ordinance 2023-20 Amending Chapter 13 – Planning and Development Article I

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of Ordinance 2023-20 Amending Chapter 13 – Planning and Development Article I.                       

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

J. Messier – Yes

M. Bourget – No

M. Williamson – Yes

D. Gosselin – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

02        Second Reading of Ordinance 2023-21 Amending Section 19 – Variances and Section 21 – Notice and Hearing Requirements of the Zoning Code

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of Ordinance 2023-21 Amending Section 19 – Variances and Section 21 – Notice and Hearing Requirements of the Zoning Code.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

J. Messier – Yes

M. Bourget – No

M. Williamson – Yes

D. Gosselin – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

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

01        Request from The Social Club for a New Class BV Liquor License

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of request from the Social Club for a New Class BV Liquor License.                All Ayes

 

I.          Business Licenses

01        Request from Music Magick for a Secondhand Dealer’s License

02        Request from Coventry Theater Ensemble for a Bazaar/Raffle License

03        Request from Sacred Heart Church for a Bazaar/Raffle License

04        Request from River Point Advent Christian Church for a Craft Fair License

05        Request from 2 Guys Brewin for a Hawker & Peddler License

06        Request from Dry Clean New City LLC for a Laundry License

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of the business licenses.                   All Ayes

 

J.          Appointments and Resignations

01        Request from Robert Fleury for appointment to the Pawtuxet River Authority for term ending June 30, 2026

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, seconded by M. Williamson for approval of request from Robert Fleury for appointment to the Pawtuxet River Authority for term ending June 30, 2026.                        All Ayes

 

02        Resignation of Derek Read from the Recreation Committee and as Tree Warden

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier to accept the resignation of Derek Read from the Recreation Committee and as Tree Warden.                                    All Ayes

 

The Council thanks D. Read for his service to the Town.

 

K.         New Business

01        June 2023 (FY23) Monthly Finance Report

 

K. Benoit reads the following report to Council:

 

Current year tax collections total $65,654,105.81 which 101.03% of the budget for current year taxes and 97.76% of the levy. This is before the 60-day rule collections are recorded. Prior year tax collections total $1,007,379.05 which is equal to 67.16% of the budgeted amount. This includes the adjustment of $231,870 for the 60-day rule that was accrued back to Fiscal Year 2022. This number has been trending downward each year and further justifies the reduction in the FY 2024 budget. This, also, is before the 60-day rule collections are recorded. Overall, the revenues are at 101.96% (100.8% after School State Aid passthrough overage backed out) , which is higher than the expected 100%. This is mainly attributed to strong tax collections and higher than expected Building, Clerk and Finance revenues and more than anticipated state pass-through Telephone tax. This does not include any year-end adjustments for the 60-day rule or other audit adjustments that may occur. Expenditures are 100.16% of the budget. With the School State Aid passthrough overage backed out, we expended 99.06% of the budget. The Civic Center has year-end operating expenditures of $675,105.61 and operating revenues of $716,863. I have also attached a breakdown of the pension costs, so we can easily see how we have been trending since our conversion to Mers. The bank balance as of 06/30/2023 is $7,004,779.45.

 

02        Discussion of Amendments to Resolution 2013-180 Appendix B – Fees and Charges of the Town of West Warwick

 

A. Difiore explains the proposed changes to the body. No action was taken.

 

03        Consideration of Community Calendar as Requested by Councilman Messier

 

J. Messier suggests a community calendar with school and town events. 

 

Town staff will coordinate with the School Department.

 

04        Request from WWEWG Hockey for Annual Golf Tournament Sponsorship

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of request from WWEWG Hockey for Annual Golf Tournament Sponsorship in the amount of $100.               All Ayes

 

 

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

04        Pawtuxet River Authority – Appointment or Re-appointment for three-year term expiring June 2026

05        Planning Board – Appointment to fill vacancy as alternate member for term ending July 2027

06        Tax Assessment Board of Review -Appointment to fill a vacancy for three-year term

07        Zoning Board of Review - Appointment or Reappointment for five-year term expiring July 2028

08        Arctic Redevelopment Commission – Appointment or Reappointment for five-year term expiring October 2028

 

M.        Public Forum

 

Ana Coia, of 44 West Street, feels that the gazebo is a trigger for drug addicts.  It leads to crime and is unsafe. 

 

N.        Adjournment

MOTION made by J. Messier, seconded by M. Bourget to adjourn at 7:57 P.M.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Sarah S. Rapose, CMC

Town Clerk