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

December 2, 2025

6:00 P.M.

(Immediately following Joint School Meeting)

 

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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 6:15 P.M.

 

B.         Prayer led by Council

 

C.         Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

 

D.         Roll Call taken by Town Clerk

Councilman Mark Dennison - Present

Councilman Jason Licciardi - Absent

Councilman Jason Messier - Present

Council Vice President Maribeth Williamson - Present

Council President David Gosselin - Present

 

E.         Quorum on Record Declared by Town Clerk

 

F.         Consent Agenda

01     Approval of the Minutes of the November 18, 2025, Town Council Meeting

 

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

                                    All Ayes

 

G.        Business Licenses

01     Request from U Recycle Again for Donation Bin License at Church of Christ the King

02     Request from Sacred Heart Church for a Raffle License

03     Request from Vlads Auto Center LLC for a Filling Station License

04     Request from Vlads Auto Center LLC for a Victualing License

05     Approval of Parade License for Santa Tour on December 14, 2025

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of the Business Licenses.

                                    All Ayes

 

H.        New Business

01     October 2025 Monthly Finance Report

 

Kristen Benoit, Finance Director, gives the following report:

 

Current year tax collections total $36,859,509.54 which is 53.38% of the budget for current year taxes. To date, two quarters have been collected. The next quarter is due January 15th . Prior year tax collections total $195,324.70. Also, This line has been adjusted by $318,093 for the 60-day rule that was accrued back to Fiscal Year 2025. That adjustment represents collections from July and August 2025. Overall, the revenues are at 43.60%, which is 10.27% higher than anticipated 4 months into the fiscal year. This is mainly attributed to strong tax collections, higher than expected Building and Town Clerk revenues and the receipt of the Distressed Communities and Tangible State Aid payments in full for the year. Expenditures are trending under budget at 29.85%. This is 3.48% lower than what is expected 4 months into the fiscal year. Nearly all of the operating departments are running on target or slightly below budget. The Civic Center has current operating expenditures of $304,701.43 and operating revenues of $204,974.58. The majority of summer camp revenue is collected prior to camp starting on 6/16 but the bulk of the expenditures for summer camp appear after 7/1. The bank balance as of 11/21/2025 is $ 8,333,265.21 We earned an additional $9,052.30 in interest on the $3,000,000 invested in the interest-bearing sweep account with Citizen’s bank for the month of October bringing the balance to 3,363,234.37.

 

02     Consideration of Request from the Police Department for the Purchase of Ballistic Vests in the Amount of $26,163.00

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of Request from the Police Department for the Purchase of Ballistic Vests in the Amount of $26,163.00.                All Ayes

 

03     Consideration of Tax Cancellations in the amount of $30,653.18 as Requested by the Tax Assessor

 

D. Gosselin recuses himself from the Tax Cancellation for 4 Monte Clair Drive.

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, seconded by M. Dennison for approval of Tax Cancellation for 4 Monte Clair Drive.

 

VOTE:

D. Gosselin – Recusal

J. Messier – Yes

M. Dennison – Yes

M. Williamson – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, seconded by M. Williamson for approval of Tax Cancellation for Quaker West Corp.

 

VOTE:

D. Gosselin – Yes

J. Messier – Yes

M. Dennison – Yes

M. Williamson – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

04     Resolution Authorizing Bid Award to JR Construction Solutions LLC for Construction of New Roof and Parapet Walls at Town Hall, the Police Department, and Fire Department in the amount of $315,000

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of Resolution Authorizing Bid Award to JR Construction Solutions LLC for Construction of New Roof and Parapet Walls at Town Hall, the Police Department, and Fire Department in the amount of $315,000.     

 

VOTE:

D. Gosselin – Yes

J. Messier – Yes

M. Dennison – Yes

M. Williamson – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

           

05     Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Hardware and Software to Improve Network Infrastructure in the amount of $218,228.99

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of Resolution Authorizing the Purchase of Hardware and Software to Improve Network Infrastructure in the amount of $218,228.99.

 

VOTE:

D. Gosselin – Yes

J. Messier – Yes

M. Dennison – Yes

M. Williamson – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

06     School Building Committee Update

 

Mark Knott, Town Manager, shares that the next School Building Committee meeting is being held on December 10^th at 4 P.M. at the West Warwick High School Library.  This is the final planning meeting for the Payan Street project.  They plan to go out to RFP after the new year.  They discussed gap financing at the last meeting. 

 

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

06     Pawtuxet River Authority – Appointment to fill vacancy for three-year term

 

J.          Upcoming Town Council Meetings and Events

January 6, 2026

January 20, 2026

 

K.         Public Forum

 

John Loiselle, of 77 East Main Street, shares concerns about the speed on East Main Street.  There was a pedestrian hit in front of his house.  There are no speed limit signs. 

 

D. Gosselin states that it is a State road, but they are working on getting speed limit signs put up and assessing the street lighting. 

 

E. Lavigne, Police Chief, states that there will be a crosswalk sting operation and speed enforcement patrol on East Main next week. 

 

L.         Adjournment 

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, seconded by M. Dennison to adjourn the meeting at 6:43 P.M.            

                                    All Ayes

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Sarah S. Rapose, MMC

Town Clerk