WEST WARWICK TOWN COUNCIL

Regular Town Council Meeting

Town Council Chambers

November 19, 2024

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 6:32 p.m.

B.         Roll Call taken by Town Clerk          

            Councilman Mark Dennison - Present

            Councilman Jason Licciardi - Present

            Councilman Jason Messier - Present

            Council Vice President Maribeth Williamson - Present

            Council President David Gosselin - Present

           

C.         Quorum on Record Declared by Deputy Town Clerk

 

D.         Consent Agenda

            01        Approval of the minutes of November 12, 2024, Town Council Meeting

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of the Consent Agenda.

            All Ayes

           

 

E.         Ordinances

01         Second Reading of an Ordinance Related to Camping on Public Property

 

M. Williamson stated she is unsure of the ordinance and doesn’t approve of the 20 days that bring us To Christmas and is not sure of what procedures are in place.

 

M. Knott, Town Manager stated that there is a template for each department to complete them mission it takes a team effort. The Police and Fire Chief participate in what needs to be done. There are some things that need to be discussed regarding the process and adequate notice that would be done with the police department and also proper storage of any material there is a draft protocol.

 

J. Messier stated the Town Council received a letter from the Statewide Outreach Coordinator they used the word raids and have concerns regarding the safety of both Police and Fire personnel do not agree with the 20-day process and the homeless getting arrested.

 

D. Gosselin replied that the ordinance has nothing to do with the homeless and regarding camping on public property.

 

Public Comment:

 

Anthony W. Bryce stated that he is homeless and that he collects $1,000 a month and cannot afford rent and has no choice but to live in the woods.

 

Tom Benoit, stated he has been homeless and is now staying with a friend temporarily and paying $400.00 a month and has been on a waiting list for housing for four years and is still waiting.

 

Johnathan Dogado, from 194 Cowesett Avenue and is working with HEZ and speaks on a personal capacity. Johnathan addresses the council and asks what efforts are being made by the council to connect with the State and Federal agencies to create some sort of housing project that would prevent the criminalization of homelessness here in West Warwick.

 

Derek Read – 62 Andrews, shared his concerns regarding the campment.

 

Wendy Boudreau – 34 Pawtuxet Terrace, asked the council what services the council is offering the folks in the encampment and also the fines and punishments or is the municipal court judge going to offer the Social Services.

 

M. Knott replied that in the past when he was the liaison to the municipal court the judge would offer a continuance when the person would accept help outside of the court. The court would provide Social Services the same thing in District Court that help facilitate people in getting assistance and deferring the judgement until that time the person complying and making positive strides then The judge would offer continuance before providing any judgment such as a fine. The goal of this was not A revenue maker it is not the fines it is about the deterrence of the activity that you’ve all spoken of.

 

Chief Varone stated he had a meeting with the community partners obviously this was the topic of discussion. Few things that were brought out was we would be displacing disable individuals and addition the people doing the counseling have a build a rapport over the years and has concerns rapports. The rapport diminishing and wants to work no matter which way it goes and also the Community partners want to work with us going forward and would like to see the council at the meetings within the open meeting guidelines are part of the concern.

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier to move Ordinance #2024-22 Chapter 12 – Offenses – Miscellaneous, Article 1. In General, Section 12-XX-Unauthorized Camping on Public Property.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

J. Licciardi – YES

J. Messier – NO

M. Dennison – YES

M. Williamson – NO

D. Gosselin – YES

 

MOTION PASSES

 

F.         Business Licenses

            01        Request from the West Warwick Wizards Athletic Awards Association for a Raffle License

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of the raffle license.

            All Ayes

 

            02        Request from The Cleanery for a Laundry License and Holiday Sales License

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of the Sunday Sales license.

            All Ayes

 

            03        Request from Belly Busters LLC for a Mobile Food Establishment License

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of the Mobile Food Establishment license.

            All Ayes

 

 

            THEATRICAL PERFORMANCES SHOWS & EXHIBITIONS LICENSE

            01        American Legion Post 2 dba April 12, 1924- 2 Legion Way

            02        Bills Place – 707 Main Street

            03        Cowesett Inn Inc. dba Cowesett Inn – 226 Cowesett Avenue

            04        Kmj Inc. dba The Hour Bar – 1193 B Main Street

            05        Tom Arruda dba JJ’s Café – 289 Cowesett Avenue

            06        L.A. Cafe, Inc. dba LA Café - 245 Washington Street

            07        Millonzies Bar & Grill – 11 Curson Street

            08        Phenix Sportsmens Club – 715 Main Street

            09        Portuguese Holy Ghost Society - 11 Ventura Street

            10        Portuguese American Sports Club – 12 Bridge Street

            11        Portuguese American Citizens Club – 97 East Main Street

            12        Portuguese Instructional Club dba P.I.C.- 918 Main Street

            13        721 Quaker Lane dba Condesa Mexican Restaurant – 721 Quaker Lane

            14        293 PVD LLC dba Boomerangs RoadHouse – 293 Providence Street

            15        Deborah’s Down the Road Inc. – 826 Main Street

            16        The Forewest Clubhouse Inc Dba West Warwick Country Club – 335 Wakefield Street

            17        Condesa – 721 Quaker Lane

            18        The Falls Event Enter LLC – 3 Bridal Avenue

            19        Unforgettable Events Party Hall – 1745 Main Street

            20        Grand View Event Venue – 53 Providence Street

            21        Toast n’ Tap – 45 Quaker Lane

 

 Let the record show that M. Williamson and J. Messier recused themselves from theatrical performances and show exhibitions.

 

MOTION made by J. Licciardi, seconded by M. Dennison for approval of theatrical performances and show exhibitions.

 

            All Ayes

 

            DANCE/LIVE BAND LICENSE RENEWALS

            01        American Legion Post 2 Dba April 15, 1924 - 2 Legion Way

            02        Club Frontenac – 1143 Main Street

            03        Kmj Inc. dba The Hour Bar – 1193 B Main Street

            04        LA Café Inc. dba LA Café – 245 Washington Street

            05        Phenix Sportsmen’s Club – 715 Main Street

            06        Portuguese Holy Ghost Society – 11 Ventura Street

            07        Portuguese Instructional Club Dba P.I.C – 918 Main Street

            08        Portuguese Sports Club– 12 Bridge Street

            09        293 PVD LLC dba Boomerangs Roadhouse – 293 Providence Street

            10        The Falls Event Center LLC – 3 Bridal Avenue

 

Let the record show that M. Williamson and J. Messier recused themselves from dance/live band.

 

MOTION made by J. Licciardi, seconded by M. Dennison for approval of dance live band.

 

            All Ayes

 

 

            RENEWAL OF CONSTABLE LICENSES

01                Nicole Knott

02                Thomas Oates

03                David Johnson

04                Charles Davey

05                A. Joseph Houle III

06                Jason Allard Jr.

07                Keith Medeiros

08                Jeff Caldwell

09                Robert Assalone

10                Josua Martins

11                Paul Ambrose Lague

12                Elsie Curtis

 

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by M. Dennison for approval of the constable licenses.

            All Ayes

 

G.         Appointments and Resignations

01        Request from Timothy Sullivan for Appointment to the West Warwick Zoning Board of Review as a full member

 

NO ACTION WAS TAKEN

 

H.         New Business

01        Approval of Sale of Surplus Vehicle(s) on GovDeals

 

M. Knott stated that it’s for (1) surplus vehicles a 1991 Chevy K 500 from D.P.W.

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of the Sale of Surplus Vehicle(s) on GovDeals.

 

            All Ayes

 

 

02        Proclamation Declaring November as Lung Cancer Awareness Month

 

M. Knott received a request from the Lung Cancer Association to pronounce November as Lung

Cancer Awareness month.

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of the Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

 

                        All Ayes

 

03        School Building Committee Update

 

M. Knott stated that the Plans Community Conversation for tomorrow night has been rescheduled to December 18, at 6:00 p.m. at the High School Auditorium. The reason for the rescheduling was for recommendations and more commensurate with the expected budget available to fulfil many needs and still on target to have the proposal and plans submitted to the Department of Education in February.

 

 

04        Resolution Approving Change order to Bid Award 2025-1 to Beausoleil Bros. for the

Crompton Playground (2024-88)

 

M. Knott stated the bid award to Beausoleil Bros. in the amount of $390,000. Two items came forward: The first one the extension of a retaining wall and the second one was to subbase the port in place. The additional cost is $3600 for the total of $41,600 there will be no additional funding. The DEM and the ARPA funds that were approved will stay in budget.

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of the Change order Bid Award 2025-1 to Beausoleil Bros.

 

                        All Ayes

 

05        Resolution Awarding the Bid for On-Call Roadway Improvement Project Contract (2025-03)

 

M. Knott stated he spoke with Jim Geremia regarding the funding service and flexibility as we move forward. The RFP that was advertised and received six responses and Jim and his crew looked over all the bids and recommended that the bid should be awarded to the lowest bidder Venango Materials of Johnston for a two-year period if approved. Then it would come back for funding sources and a list of street names.

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of the Bid for On-Call Roadway Improvements Project Contract (2025-03).

 

                        All Ayes

 

 

06        Resolution Authorizing Payment for the Purchase of Two (2) 2024 F-150 Pick Up Trucks

 

Director of DPW Jeff Cadwell, stated that he looking to replace the foreman vehicle and the Park and Recreation vehicle. The two vehicles are on the way out and the body is rotted. The two vehicles will have plows put on for the winter.

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of the Purchase of Two (2) 2024-F-150 Pick Up Trucks.

 

                        All Ayes

 

 

07        Approval of 2025 Town Council Meeting Schedule

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of the 2025 Town Council Meeting Schedule.

 

                        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 a 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

07        West Warwick 250^th Commission

08        Pawtuxet River Authority – Appointment to fill vacancy for unexpired term ending June 2026

           

 

J.          Public Forum

Council President Gosselin began by apologizing to the Town Council and the Town of West Warwick and would like to recognize and a moment of silence for the passing of two wonderful gentlemen David Perry who brought the West Warwick Caboose to the town West Warwick and many other great things and also Paul Richards who served on many boards like the Recreation Committee, Parks and Recreation committee and also the Board of Canvassers.

 

Derek Read, 62 Andrews Ave., began by questing the Town Manager, Knott regarding the drainage issued at Industrial Lane and if the town retrieved the plans from the engineer that drew them

 

M. Knott stated there are no firm updates regarding this matter moving forward from the town perspective as of today. Regarding the plans there is no information as of tonight and also it does not have the answer for what the town responsibility is at this time.

                       

K.         Adjournment

MOTION made by J. Messier, seconded by J. Licciardi to adjourn the meeting at 8:04 p.m.

 

                               All Ayes

Respectfully submitted,

Paula Iannitelli

Deputy Town Clerk