WEST WARWICK TOWN COUNCIL

Regular Town Council Meeting

Town Council Chambers

March 18, 2025

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 6:05 P.M.

 

A.     Prayer led by Council

 

B.      Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag

 

C.      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

           

D.     Quorum on Record Declared by Town Clerk

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson seconded by J. Messier to move New Business 05 up for immediate consideration.                        All Ayes

 

05        Resolution Requesting the General Assembly to Enact Legislation Authorizing the Town of West Warwick to Finance the Construction, Improvement, Renovation, Alteration, Furnishing and Equipping of Public Schools and School Facilities in the Town

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of Resolution Requesting the General Assembly to Enact Legislation Authorizing the Town of West Warwick to Finance the Construction, Improvement, Renovation, Alteration, Furnishing and Equipping of Public Schools and School Facilities in the Town.                        All Ayes

 

E.      Consent Agenda

01    Approval of the Minutes from the February 4, 2025 Town Council Meeting

02    Approval of the Minutes from the February 12, 2025 Joint Town Council and School Committee Meeting

03    Approval of the Minutes from the February 25, 2025 Town Council Meeting

04    Approval of the Minutes from the March 4, 2025 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 Fight Factory RI LLC for an Amplifier/Loudspeaker Permit and a Theatrical Performances, Shows, and Exhibitions License

02    Request from Massage Nirvana and Bodywork for a Body Works Service License

03    Renewal of Private Detective Licenses

A.      James Ayer

B.      Deboarh Clemente Seastrom

C.      Norman Houle

D.     Anne-Marie Houle

E.      Juan Navarro

F.       Stephen McGrath

G.     Ivonne Rivas

H.     Gary Hardy

I.        Amanda Rose Flynn         

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of the business licenses subject to inspections and payment of taxes.               All Ayes

 

G.     Appointments and Resignations

01    Request from Giuseppe Lancellotta for appointment to the West Warwick 250^th Commission

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of request from Giuseppe Lancellotta for appointment to the West Warwick 250^th Commission.                 All Ayes

02    Request from Renee Grandchamp for appointment to the West Warwick 250th Commission

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of request from Renee Grandchamp for appointment to the West Warwick 250^th           Commission.               All Ayes

 

H.     New Business – Votes may be taken

01    February 2025 Monthly Finance Report

 

K. Beniot, Finance Director, shares the following report:

 

Current year tax collections total $52,095,891.62 which is 78.29% of the budget for current year taxes. We have collected three quarters and are trending slightly ahead of expected. Prior year tax collections total $629,330.47 which is equal to 48.41% 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. This line will increase as we get closer to the Tax Sale scheduled for May 9th . Overall, the revenues are at 73.62%, which is higher than the expected 66.67%. This is mainly attributed to strong tax collections and higher than expected Finance, Building and Town Clerk revenues. Expenditures are trending under budget at 62.93%. This is 3.74% below the expected 66.67%. 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 $414,625.04 and operating revenues of $295,741.11. The bank balance as of 2/28/2025 is $ 13,440,220.84. We earned an additional $9,400.98 in interest on the $3,000,000 in the interest-bearing sweep account with Citizen’s bank for the month of January. We also earned $422,863.73 in interest on our ARPA funds invested at Centerville Bank as of January 2025.

02    Cancellation of Taxes in the Amount of $313.31 as Requested by the Tax Assessor

MOTION made by J. Messier, seconded by M. Dennison to table.             All Ayes

 

03    Approval of Livescan Fingerprint Computer Replacement

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of Livescan Fingerprint Computer Replacement.             All Ayes

 

04    Resolution Authorizing the Filing of Rhode Island Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program Application

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of resolution Authorizing the Filing of Rhode Island Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program Application.                     

                                                All Ayes

 

05    Resolution Requesting the General Assembly to Enact Legislation Authorizing the Town of West Warwick to Finance the Construction, Improvement, Renovation, Alteration, Furnishing and Equipping of Public Schools and School Facilities in the Town

 

This item was considered previously in the meeting.

06    Request from the Fire Department to Purchase 41 Self Contained Breathing Paks

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of request from the Fire Department to Purchase 41 Self Contained Breathing Paks.                      All Ayes

 

07    Request from the Fire Department to Purchase a New Rescue Truck

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of request from the Fire Department to Purchase a New Rescue Truck.                    All Ayes

 

08    Request from the Fire Department to Re-allocate Funds from Ambulance Billing to the Community Paramedicine Program

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of request from the Fire Department to Re-allocate Funds from Ambulance Billing to the Community Paramedicine Program.

                        All Ayes

 

09    Discussion/Action – Engineering of the Apparatus Floor at Fire Station One

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Licciardi for approval of funding for the engineering of the Apparatus Floor at Fire Station One.                 All Ayes

 

10    Request from Deering Middle School Players for Program Advertisement

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J.Messier for approval of request from Deering Middle School Players for Program Advertisement in the amount of $100.                       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

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

 

J.       Upcoming Town Council Meetings

            March 24, 2025 Budget Workshop

            April 1, 2025 Budget Public Hearing

            April 1, 2025 Regular Town Council Meeting

            April 8, 2025 Budget Public Hearing

            April 22, 2025 Regular Town Council Meeting

 

K.      Public Forum

 

There was no public comment.

 

L.       Adjournment

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, seconded by J. Licciardi to adjourn the meeting at 6:42 P.M.        All Ayes

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Sarah Rapose, MMC

Town Clerk