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 19, 2023

6:00 P.M.

(Immediately Following the Sewer Commission Meeting)

 

 

REMOTE PARTICIPATION IS AVAILABLE USING THE LOGIN INFORMATION BELOW:

 

JOIN VIA COMPUTER OR MOBILE APP:   https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3492888261

           

 

JOIN VIA PHONE:       DIAL:  1-646-558-8656 or TOLL-FREE AT 833-548-0282

                                    WHEN PROMPTED, ENTER MEETING ID #3492888261

                                    PRESS # AGAIN TO JOIN THE MEETING

 

YOUTUBE LINK (VIEW ONLY):  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 6:28 P.M.

 

B.         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

 

C.         Quorum on Record Declared by Town Clerk

 

D.        Proclamation Celebrating Twenty-Two Years as a Tree City USA Community

 

The Proclamation was presented by the Council to members of the Jaycee’s and RIDEM.

 

E.         Consent Agenda

01  Approval of the Minutes from the September 5, 2023 Regular Town Council Meeting

02  Approval of the Minutes from the September 12, 2023 Special Town Council Meeting

 

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

           

F.         Appointments and Resignations

01  Request from David Perrotta for Appointment to the Sewer Use Board of Review for term ending October 2026

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of request from David Perrotta for Appointment to the Sewer Use Board of Review for term ending October 2026.                        All Ayes

 

02  Request from Richard Banks for Re-Appointment to the Zoning Board of Review For term ending July 2028

 

J. Licciardi recuses himself.

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by M. Bourget for approval of request from Richard Banks for Re-Appointment to the Zoning Board of Review For term ending July 2028.                  

 

VOTE:

J. Messier – Yes

J. Licciardi - Recusal

M. Bourget – Yes

M. Williamson – Yes

D. Gosselin Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

03  Requests for Appointment to the West Warwick Planning Board as Alternate Member for term ending July 2027

                                    A.         William Malloy III

                                    B.         Derek Read

 

J. Licciardi recuses himself.

 

MOTION made by M. Bourget, seconded by J. Messier to appoint William Malloy III  to the West Warwick Planning Board as Alternate Member for term ending July 2027.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

 

VOTE:

J. Messier – Yes

J. Licciardi - Recusal

M. Bourget – No

M. Williamson – No

D. Gosselin - Yes

 

MOTION FAILS

 

MOTION made by M. Bourget, seconded by M. Williamson to appoint Derek Read to the West Warwick Planning Board as Alternate Member for term ending July 2027.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

 

VOTE:

J. Messier – No

J. Licciardi - Recusal

M. Bourget – Yes

M. Williamson – Yes

D. Gosselin - No

 

MOTION FAILS

 

G.        New Business

01  Memorandum of Agreement between the Town of West Warwick and the International Association of Firefighters Local 1104

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of Memorandum of Agreement between the Town of West Warwick and the International Association of Firefighters Local 1104.                      All Ayes

 

02  Resolution Authorizing the Transfer of Funds to the West Warwick Senior Center in the amount of $10,539.32

 

J. Messier recuses himself. 

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by M. Bourget for approval of Resolution Authorizing the Transfer of Funds to the West Warwick Senior Center in the amount of $10,539.32.                       

 

 VOTE:

J. Messier – Recusal

J. Licciardi - Yes

M. Bourget – Yes

M. Williamson – Yes

D. Gosselin Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

03  Request from the West Warwick High School Girls Basketball Team for Sponsorship in the Amount of $100

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of request from the West Warwick High School Girls Basketball Team for Sponsorship in the Amount of $100.                                All Ayes

 

 

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

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

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

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

 

I.          Public Forum

 

J. Licciardi, of 26 Carlson Circle, states that there is a backstop that belongs to the Town on the property that is being developed across the street from his home.  It was previously private property that was leased to the Town.  He would like for the Town to contact the contractor about the Town getting the backstop back. 

 

M. Knott answers that a letter was sent to the developer’s attorney inquiring. 

 

T. Oates asks the Council to separate business from personal when making appointments to Boards and Commissions. 

 

A. Palazzo, of 5 Robin Lane, asks about the podium and senior tax freeze.

 

J. Licciardi will put the senior tax freeze on the next agenda.

 

A. Palazzo asks if the Town Solicitor’s invoices are up to date.

 

M. Knott confirms that they are up to date.

 

A. Palazzo shares concerns with the Arctic Village Redevelopment Commission.  They were formed to increase tax revenue.  He shares concerns with Thundermist, 183 Washington Street, and Roch’s Market potentially coming off the tax rolls.  He notes that the road construction on Cowesett Avenue is terrible.  He asks the Council to look into state legislation that would prevent the Town Council from selling donated property.  He raises issues with the pension system.

 

R. Banks, of 8 Campbell Street, thanked the Council for re-appointing him to the Zoning Board of Review.

 

P. Villa shares concerns with the requirements of the Arctic Village Redevelopment Commission to notify the public.  He feels people beyond a 200 foot radius would be interested on their agenda items.  He also states that there needs to be civility in Council chambers. 

 

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

01  Exilas v. Elmwood Realty LLC et al  KM-2022-0946

02  Synergy Capital LLC v. West Warwick Zoning Board of Review  KC-2021-1094

03  Helping Hands Community Partners v. West Warwick Zoning Board of Review  PC-2021-06715

04  Franklin Sales & Marketing v. Town of West Warwick  KC-2021-0608

05  NEIT v. Sal Saccoccio (All Cases)  KC-2021-0060

06  West Warwick Public Employee Retirees v. Town of West Warwick  KC-2019-1103

07  Elmwood Realty LLC v. West Warwick Zoning Board of Review  KC-2019-0385

08  Patrick Kelley v. Town of West Warwick  KC-2018-1329

09  Lynn Soscia v. Town of West Warwick   KC 2020-0051

10  Richard Gough v. Town of West Warwick  KC 2014-0640

11  Steven Badessa v. Town of West Warwick  KC 2021-0379

12  Occhipinti v. Town of West Warwick  KC 2023-0293

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Licciardi to move to Executive Session pursuant to

R.I. General Law 42-46-5(a)(2)– Litigation.               All Ayes

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, seconded by M. Williamson to return to open session.                       All Ayes

 

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

 

NO VOTES WERE TAKEN IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.

 

K.         Adjournment

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, seconded by M. Williamson to adjourn the meeting at 7:56 P.M.

                        All Ayes

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Sarah S. Rapose, CMC

Town Clerk