WEST WARWICK TOWN COUNCIL

Regular Town Council Meeting

Town Council Chambers

January 21, 2025

6:00 P.M.

(Immediately following the Previous Meeting)

 

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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 6:32 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 Town Clerk

 

D.        New Business

01        School Building Committee Update

 

Town Manager Knott states that the final community engagement meeting is being held on January 22nd at 6PM in the high school media center.  There will be a joint Town Council and School Committee meeting on February 12, 2025 to vote on the stage II submission to RIDE

 

02        Bond Issue Plan for School Projects:  Discussion of Town’s Bonding Capacity and Tentative Amount to Bond for the RIDE Stage II Submission    

 

A representative from Hilltop Securities presents the Town’s bonding capacity.  He shares several options available to the town for a potential school bond. 

 

03        December 2024 Monthly Finance Report

 

K. Benoit, Finance Director, shares the following statement:

 

“Current year tax collections total $37,530,663.28 which is 56% of the budget for current year taxes. We have collected two quarters, however quite a few taxpayers pay their entire tax bill when they receive it. This skews the amount expected to be collected 4 months into the fiscal year. This smooths out as further quarters are collected. Prior year tax collections total $519,768.79 which is equal to 40% of the budgeted amount. This line has been adjusted by $206,334.06 for the 60-day rule and accrued back to Fiscal Year 2024. Overall, the revenues are at 53%, which is higher than the expected 50%. This is mainly attributed to strong tax collections and higher than expected Finance, Building and Town Clerk revenues. Expenditures are trending under budget at 47%. This is 3% below the expected 50%. Most of the operating departments are running on target or slightly above budget. A budget amendment will be processed in April to reallocate funds set aside for negotiations to the respective departments. The Civic Center has current operating expenditures of $335,132.42 and operating revenues of $274,033.23. The bank balance as of 1/13/2025 is $ 12,271,091.08. We earned an additional $9,713.48 in interest on the $3,000,000 in the interest-bearing sweep account with Citizens bank for the month of October. We have also earned $402,699.10 in interest on our ARPA funds invested at Centerville Bank as of November 2024”

 

E.         Consent Agenda

01        Approval of the Minutes from the January 7, 2025 Regular Town Council Meeting

 

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

                                                All Ayes

 

F.         Business Licenses

01     Request from West Warwick Civic Center for a Raffle License

02     Request from Community Marketing LLC for an Event License for Event to be Held at 100 Factory Street on March 8, 2025

03     Request from Community Marketing LLC for an Event License for Event to be Held at 100 Factory Street on April 12, 2025

04     Request from Community Marketing LLC for an Event License for Event to be Held at 100 Factory Street on May 3, 2025

05     Request from Community Marketing LLC for an Event License for Event to be Held at 100 Factory Street on September 27, 2025

06     Request from Community Marketing LLC for an Event License for Event to be Held at 100 Factory Street on October 25, 2025

07     Request from Community Marketing LLC for an Event License for Event to be Held at 100 Factory Street on November 22, 2025 and November 23, 2025

08     Request from Community Marketing LLC for an Event License for Event to be Held at 100 Factory Street on April 13, 2025

09     Renewal of Rooming House License for Picard Associates

10     Renewal of Rooming House License for Plaza Apartments

11     Renewal of Rooming House License for Synergy Capital LLC

12     Renewal of Rooming House License for Cross Roads Rhode Island

 

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

                                                            All Ayes

 

G.        Appointments and Resignations

01        Request from Paul Ventura for Re-Appointment to the Juvenile Hearing Board for term ending December 2028

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of request from Paul Ventura for Re-Appointment to the Juvenile Hearing Board for term ending December 2028.                  

                                                            All Ayes

 

02        Request from James Mitchell for Re-Appointment to the West Warwick Public Library Board of Trustees for term ending February 2028

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of request from James Mitchell for Re-Appointment to the West Warwick Public Library Board of Trustees for term ending February 2028.                                       All Ayes

 

03        Request from Nancy Leblanc for Re-Appointment to the Board of Canvassers for term ending March 2031

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of request from Nancy Leblanc for Re-Appointment to the Board of Canvassers for term ending March 2031.            All Ayes

 

04        Request for Appointment to the Board of Canvassers as Republican Alternate for term ending March 2031

A.      Thomas Oates

B.      Karen Simpson

C.      James Plaziak

 

MOTION made by J. Licciardi, seconded by J. Messier to appoint Thomas Oates to the Board of Canvassers as Republican Alternate for term ending March 2031.               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     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

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

09     Juvenile Hearing Board – Appointment or Re-Appointment for term ending December 2028

10     West Warwick Public Library Board of Trustees – Appointment or Re-Appointment for term ending February 2028

11     Board of Canvassers Republican Alternate – Appointment to fill vacancy for term ending March 2031

        

I.          Public Forum

 

There were no public comments.

 

J.          Adjournment

MOTION made by J. Messier, seconded by J. Licciardi to adjourn at 7:18 P.M.                All Ayes

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Sarah S. Rapose, MMC

Town Clerk