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TOWN OF WEST WARWICK

RHODE ISLAND

1170 Main Street

West Warwick, RI 02893

(401) 822-9200 www.westwarwickri.org

Seal

WEST WARWICK TOWN COUNCIL

Regular Town Council Meeting

Town Council Chambers

June 18, 2024

6:00 P.M.

(Immediately following the Sewer Commission)

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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 6:36 P.M.

B. Roll Call taken by Town Clerk

Councilman Mark Dennison – Present

Councilman Jason Licciardi - Present

Councilman Jason Messier - Absent

Council Vice President Maribeth Williamson - Present

Council President David Gosselin - Present

C. Quorum on Record Declared by Town Clerk

D. Consent Agenda

01 Approval of the minutes from the June 4, 2024 Regular Town Council Meeting

02 Approval of the minutes from the June 4, 2024 Executive Session

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

E. Ordinances

01 Second Reading of Ordinance #2024-5 Repealing the Existing Zoning Ordinance and Adopting a Revised Zoning Ordinance of the Town of West Warwickk

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Licciardi for approval of Ordinance #2024-5 Repealing the Existing Zoning Ordinance and Adopting a Revised Zoning Ordinance of the Town of West Warwick.

ROLL CALL VOTE:

J. Licciardi – Yes

M. Dennison – Yes

M. Williamson – Yes

D. Gosselin – Yes

MOTION PASSES

02 First Reading of Ordinance #2024-6 Amending Appendix C - Traffic Ordinances – Gough Avenue

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by M. Dennison for approval of Ordinance #2024-6 Amending Appendix C - Traffic Ordinances – Gough Avenue.

ROLL CALL VOTE:

J. Licciardi – Yes

M. Dennison – Yes

M. Williamson – Yes

D. Gosselin – Yes

MOTION PASSES

03 First Reading of Ordinance #2024-7 Amending Chapter 11, Motor Vehicles and Traffic, Section 47 - Motor Vehicle Restricted Routes and Appendix C – Traffic Ordinances – Campbell Street

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by M. Dennison for approval of Ordinance #2024-7 Amending Chapter 11, Motor Vehicles and Traffic, Section 47 - Motor Vehicle Restricted Routes and Appendix C – Traffic Ordinances – Campbell Street.

ROLL CALL VOTE:

J. Licciardi – Yes

M. Dennison – Yes

M. Williamson – Yes

D. Gosselin – Yes

MOTION PASSES

04 First Reading of Ordinance #2024-8 Amending Appendix C – Traffic Ordinances – Quaker Drive

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by M. Dennison for approval of Ordinance #2024-8 Amending Appendix C – Traffic Ordinances – Quaker Drive.

ROLL CALL VOTE:

J. Licciardi – Yes

M. Dennison – Yes

M. Williamson – Yes

D. Gosselin – Yes

MOTION PASSES

05 First Reading of Ordinance #2024-9 Amending Appendix C- Traffic Ordinances – New London Turnpike

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by M. Dennison for approval of Ordinance #2024-9 Amending Appendix C- Traffic Ordinances – New London Turnpike.

AMENDED MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by M. Dennison to table. All Ayes

F. Business Licenses

01 Renewal of Laundry Licenses

A. Thorpes Laundromat, Inc.

B. Tumble Town 2 LLC

C. SMR Enterprise

D. Arctic Laundromat LLC

E. Ray’s Polyclean, Inc.

F. Spin It Laundromat Inc.

G. Ocean State Laundry of West Warwick

H. Dry Clean New City LLC

I. 24/7 Laundry

02 Filling Station License Renewals

A. Sam’s Food Store

B. Cumberland Farms, Inc. #3814

C. Cumberland Farms, Inc. #3860

D. Cumberland Farms, Inc. #3876

E. Cumberland Farms, Inc. #3807

F. American Mart

G. Stop-N-Go Gas

H. Speedway #02819

I. Quaker Lane Gas LLC

J. Providence Street Shell

K. Trillium Real Estate West Warwick

L. Cowesett Sun Service

M. Main Street Gas Station

N. Savers Mart III

03 Pistol & Revolver License Renewals

A. Arquebus Co. Retail Gun shop

B. Heritage Gun & Coin Co. Inc.

04 Request from Vape King Inc. dba Vape King Smoke Shop for a Holiday Sales License

05 Request from New England Frozen Lemonade for a Hawker & Peddler License

06 Request from Lucia Correia for an Amplifier/Loudspeaker, Theatrical Performances & Exhibitions License for event to be held on July 20, 2024 at 86 Summit Avenue

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

G. Appointments and Resignations

01 Request from Francis J. Flynn for appointment to the Planning Board as Alternate Member for term ending July 2027

J. Licciardi recuses himself.

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by M. Dennison for approval of request from Francis J. Flynn for appointment to the Planning Board as Alternate Member for term ending July 2027.

VOTE:

J. Licciardi – Recusal

M. Dennison – Yes

M. Williamson – Yes

D. Gosselin – Yes

MOTION PASSES

H. New Business

01 May 2024 Finance Reports

K. Benoit gives the following report:

Current year tax collections total $66,440,913.82 which is 100.83% of the budget for current year taxes. We have collected all quarters and trending approximately 9% higher than expected. Prior year tax collections totals $859,281.78 which is equal to 66.10% of the budgeted amount. This line has been adjusted by $388,262.80 for the 60-day rule and accrued back to Fiscal Year 2023. Overall, the revenues are at 100.5%, which is higher than the expected 91.67%. This is mainly attributed to strong tax collections and higher than expected Building, Finance and Town Clerk revenues. Expenditures are trending nearly as expected at 91.83%. This is .16% above the expected 91.67%. There are a few variables contributing to this. The variables net out to bring us within .16% of our target. Some examples of that are as follows: 100% of Senior Center appropriation, debt service and longevity have been paid. However, many of the operating department budgets and General Government are trending at or below the expected 91.67%, including pension expense. The Civic Center has current operating expenditures of $656,255.43 and operating revenues of $659,252.51. The bank balance as of 6/14/2024 is $4,227,551.26. We earned an additional 188,206.68 on the $6,000,000 in the interest-bearing sweep account with Citizens as of 5/31. We have also earned $334,875.52 as of 5/31 in interest on our ARPA funds invested at Centerville Bank.

02 Abatement of Taxes in the Amount of $34,419.60 as requested by the Tax Collector

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by M. Dennison for abatement of taxes in the amount of $34,419.60 as requested by the Tax Collector. All Ayes

03 Discussion/Action – Consideration of Truck Lease for the Department of Public Works

K. Benoit explains that there is an opportunity to add a DPW truck to the lease at a good rate.

No action was taken.

04 Adoption of the FY2025 Civic Center Enterprise Fund

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by M. Dennison for adoption of the FY2025 Civic Center Enterprise Fund. All Ayes

05 Resolution Authorizing an Agreement for Curbside Collection of Soft Recycling Between the Town of West Warwick and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island

MOTION made by M Williamson, seconded by M. Dennison for approval of resolution Authorizing an Agreement for Curbside Collection of Soft Recycling Between the Town of West Warwick and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island. All Ayes

06 Approval of the Collective Bargaining Agreement Between the Town of West Warwick and the Local 1104 – International Association of Fire Fighters

M. Knott states that this is a three-year contract. Salary increases are as follows:

July 1, 2024 – 2%

January 1, 2025 – 2%

July 1, 2025 – 2%

January 1, 2026 – 2%

July 1, 2026 – 2%

January 1, 2027 – 2%

Fiscal impacts are $364,000 for FY2025, $371,000 for FY2026, and $602,000 for FY2027. The contract adds Juneteenth as a holiday, and adds an additional 2 firefighters to staff Rescue 3 in July of 2026.

D. Gosselin thanks M. Knott, M. Williamson, and both unions for working collaboratively on this contract.

M. Williamson adds that Chief Varone and S. Fournier were instrumental in negotiating this agreement.

MOTION made by M Williamson, seconded by M. Dennison for approval of the Collective Bargaining Agreement Between the Town of West Warwick and the Local 1104 – International Association of Fire Fighters. All Ayes

07 Approval of the Collective Bargaining Agreement Between the Town of West Warwick and the Local 312 – International Brotherhood of Police Officers

M. Knott states that this is a three-year contract. Salary increases are as follows:

July 1, 2024 – 3%

January 1, 2025 – 3%

July 1, 2025 – 2%

January 1, 2026 – 2%

July 1, 2026 – 2%

January 1, 2027 – 2%

Fiscal impacts are $404,000 for FY2025, $274,000 for FY2026, and $282,000 for FY2027.

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by M. Dennison for approval of the Collective Bargaining Agreement Between the Town of West Warwick and the Local 312 – International Brotherhood of Police Officers. All Ayes

08 Discussion/Action - Consideration of Potential Charter Amendments

Council discusses potential amendments. They will continue discussion at the next Council meeting.

09 Crompton Playground Update

M. Knott states that they have a bid opening on July 1st. He expects to have a recommendation to Council at the July 9th meeting.

10 School Building Committee Update

M. Knott states that they are currently working on a website and communication plan. Tecton is working on the stage 2 plan.

11 Request from the Pawtuxet River Authority for Annual Contribution of $7,000

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Licciardi for approval of request from the Pawtuxet River Authority for Annual Contribution of $7,000. All Ayes

12 Request from Narragansett Electric – Verizon New England Inc. for Pole Placement on Crawford Street

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by M. Dennison for approval of request from Narragansett Electric – Verizon New England Inc. for Pole Placement on Crawford Street.

All Ayes

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

04 School Building Committee – Architectural, Engineering, Construction Experience Needed

05 Tree Warden – Must be a Licensed Arborist

06 Recreation Committee – Appointment to fill vacancy for three-year term

08 Planning Board - Appointment to fill vacancy as an alternate member for term ending July 2027

09 Pawtuxet River Authority - Appointment or Re-Appointment for three-year term

10 Planning Board – Appointment or Re-Appointment for five-year term

11 Zoning Board – Appointment or Re-Appointment for five-year term

12 West Warwick 250^th Commission

J. Public Forum

There was no public comment.

K. Adjournment

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Licciardi to adjourn at 7:47 P.M. All Ayes

Respectfully submitted,

Sarah S. Rapose, MMC

Town Clerk