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 17, 2024

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 6:39 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 Town Clerk

 

D.         Consent Agenda

01  Approval of the minutes from the September 3, 2024 Town Council Meeting

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of the minutes from the September 3, 2024 Town Council Meeting.             All Ayes

           

E.         Ordinances

01  Second Reading of Ordinance #2024-15 Amending Article VII – Tobacco Dealers License and Sales Regulations

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of Ordinance #2024-15 Amending Article VII – Tobacco Dealers License and Sales Regulation.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

J. Licciardi – Yes

J. Messier – Yes

M. Dennison – Yes

M. Williamson – Yes

D. Gosselin – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

02  Second Reading of Ordinance #2024-17 Authorizing the Town of West Warwick to Finance the Acquisition of Public Safety, Public Works, and Recreation Vehicles and Equipment by the Issuance of Not More Than $2,500,000 General Obligation Bonds and/or Notes Therefor

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of Ordinance #2024-17 Authorizing the Town of West Warwick to Finance the Acquisition of Public Safety, Public Works, and Recreation Vehicles and Equipment by the Issuance of Not More Than $2,500,000 General Obligation Bonds and/or Notes Therefor.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

J. Licciardi – Yes

J. Messier – Yes

M. Dennison – Yes

M. Williamson – Yes

D. Gosselin – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

           

F.         Business Licenses

01  Request from Unforgettable Events Party Hall for an Amplifier/Loudspeaker and Theatrical Performances, Shows, and Exhibitions License for premises located at 1745 Main Street Unit 5

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier to continue to the October 1, 2024 Town Council meeting.                    All Ayes

 

02  Request from Amanda Rose Flynn for a Private Detective License

03  Request from Show Me Reptiles for an Event License for event to be held October 6, 2024 at 100 Factory Street

04  Request from Community Marketing for an Event License for event to be held November 22-24^th at 100 Factory Street

05  Request from Community Marketing for an Event License for event to be held January 19, 2025 at 100 Factory Street

06  Request from the American Legion for a Raffle License

07  Request from Rise and Grind for a Mobile Food Establishment License

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, seconded by M. Williamson for approval of Business Licenses 02, 04, 05, 06, 07.                               All Ayes

 

J. Messier recuses himself from Business License 03.

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by M. Dennison for approval of Business License 03.

 

VOTE:

J. Messier – Recusal

J. Licciardi – Aye

M. Dennison – Aye

M. Williamson – Aye

D. Gosselin – Aye

 

MOTION PASSES

 

G.         Appointments and Resignations

01  Resignation of Robert J. Fleury from the Pawtuxet River Authority

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier to accept the resignation of Robert J. Fleury from the Pawtuxet River Authority, with regret.                 All Ayes

 

H.         New Business

01 Approval of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Town of West Warwick and Local 2045 – RI Council 94, AFSCME, AFL-CIO for Fiscal Years 2025-2027

 

NO ACTION WAS TAKEN ON THIS ITEM.

 

02        Discussion/Action – Homeless Encampments AND

 

M. Dennison wanted the whole Council present to discuss this item.  He feels that it is a big issue that is eating away at the town.  There is a large group of people who have created a safety concern.  He notes the proximity of homeless encampments to schools and recreation areas.  He receives calls and emails daily.  He visited the encampment at Flat Top Park.  He found drug paraphernalia.  The homeless in this area have been offered services.  He would like to see the Council take acation.

 

M. Knott states that the town has been working with various agencies towards a solution.  It is going very slow.  He states that there are flaws in the local ordinance.  He had an internal meeting last Monday.  Chief Varone did some mapping of encampments with numbers. 

 

Kathy Shultz states that the solution is housing.  Many shelter projects have closed.  There needs to be a regional approach. 

 

J. Licciardi states that it cannot continue like this.  People do not feel safe. 

 

M. Williamson feels that an alternative needs to be offered.  There needs to be a plan.

 

Vin Marzullo, of 28 Crossland Road, states that this is a complicated issue.  He suggests getting the League of Cities and Town’s involved.  He agrees it needs to be a regional approach.

 

Gail Loud, of 297 Washington Street, feels that the homeless will help with cleanup if asked. 

 

Father Flemming, of 20 Washington Street, states that you can’t force the homeless to take action.  The people deserve a safe community. 

 

Rheannon Lovell, of Smithfield, used to be a resident of West Warwick.  She could not afford to stay in West Warwick.  She works at RI Coalition to end the Homeless.  70% of the homeless in West Warwick are residents.  Homelessness is on the rise.  It has increased 500% since 2019.  More shelter options need to be created.  If you sweep and encampment, it will end up somewhere else. 

 

J. Licciardi states that it is not a homeless problem, it is a behavior problem. 

 

Michelle Brophy states that more supportive housing is needed.  The State and municipalities need to work together. 

 

Don Cote, of 94 Shippee Avenue, is a father.  He wants the encampments to be moved away from the schools. 

 

Kathy Shultz states that people do not ask to be addicts.  She will see if she can get some needle exchange outreach for the area.  This needs to be a regional response. 

 

Tom Oates, of 6 Colonial Way, suggests using grants to refurbish the buildings on Howard Avenue.    

 

Jon Delgado, of 194 Cowesett Avenue, works for HEZ.  There is a housing crisis.  There are between 60-70 people that are homeless in West Warwick.  He states that it costs $120,000 per year to house someone at the ACI.  He suggests a tiny home project. 

 

Joseph Simas agrees that it is a behavior problem.  People are not abiding by the law. 

 

John Read states that people need to want to help themselves.  He stresses the safety of the town’s people.  If something catastrophic happens, who pays the bill?

 

Paul Villa, 15 Janet Drive, states that there is an open border.  Americans need to come first.  There needs to be penalties for everyone who breaks the law. 

 

M. Dennison feels the issue is greater than the town.  He suggests forming a Task Force.

 

MOTION made by M. Dennison, seconded by J. Licciardi to vacate encampments from Town property.  

 

Tim Williamson, Town Solicitor, notes Chapter 11 of RI general law.  Where will the homeless go when they get out of jail?

 

J. Caldwell, DPW Director, states that the average homeless encampment cleanup costs between $5,000 and $8,000.  This is a significant expense that is not budgeted for. 

 

M. Knott suggests establishing a response team made up of Police, EMS, EMA, DPW, and Thrive.  He suggests they increase their presence to discourage bad behavior. 

 

Discussion of legal options ensues. 

 

M. Williamson suggests forming the response team while strengthening the ordinance. 

 

M. Dennison feels they should create a task force.  He would like an ordinance prepared for the next meeting.  He suggests a date of November 5^th for enforcement for when the ordinance goes into effect. 

 

M. Williamson agrees that the task force should start the “beat” immediately. 

 

T. Williamson will draft an ordinance for the next meeting. 

 

Wendy Beaudreau, of 34 Pawtuxet Terrace is willing to work with Police, Fire, and DPW.  She invites the Council to visit the encampments. 

 

AMENDED MOTION made by M. Dennison, seconded by J. Licciardi to vacate encampments on Town property by December 2^nd, and directs the Town Manager and Town Solicitor to draft and ordinance for the October 1^st meeting.                    All Ayes

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Licciardi to direct a task force made up of personnel from the Police, EMS, EMA, and DPW to begin visiting encampments immediately.             All Ayes

 

03        School Building Committee Update

 

M. Knott reports that the School Building Committee is holding a Community Conversation meeting tomorrow at 6pm at the West Warwick High School.  This is the first public engagement. 

 

04        Request from Narragansett Electric for Pole Installation on Fairmont Street

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of request from Narragansett Electric for Pole Installation on Fairmont 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

07  West Warwick 250^th Commission

           

 

J.          Public Forum

 

J. Licciardi feels that Child Inc. owes the town money for the time that they occupied the Payan Street property after their lease expired. 

 

D. Read, of 62 Andrews Avenue, worked with Parks and Recreation this past week on the landscape project at the Civic Center and Ice Rink.  He states that they are very hard workers.  It was a pleasure working with them. 

 

D. Gosselin thanks KC Concrete, Reads Landscaping, Sodco, and Parks and Recreation for their work on the project. 

 

M. Dennison agrees.  They did a great job. 

 

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

01  RI Council 94, AFSCME, AFL-CIO

02  Gough v Town of West Warwick KC-2014-0640

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, seconded by M. Williamson to move to executive session pursuant to R.I. General Law 42-46-5 (a)(2)– Collective Bargaining or 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. Messier to seal the minutes of executive session.           

                                                All Ayes

 

NO VOTES WERE TAKEN.

                       

L.         Adjournment

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, seconded by J. Licciardi to adjourn the meeting at 10:41 P.M.

                                    All Ayes

 

Respectfully submitted,

Sarah S. Rapose, MMC

Town Clerk