WEST WARWICK TOWN COUNCIL

Town Council Meeting

Town Council Chambers

May 12, 2026

6:00 P.M.

(Or immediately following 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 6:09 PM.

 

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 - Present

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 from the May 5, 2026 Regular Town Council Meeting

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Licciardi for approval of the Minutes from the May 5, 2026 Regular Town Council Meeting.                       All Ayes

                       

G.     Town Council Acting as the Sewer Commission

01    Adoption of the Fiscal Year 2027 Wastewater Treatment Facility Budget

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for Adoption of the Fiscal Year 2027 Wastewater Treatment Facility Budget.               All Ayes

 

H.     Ordinances

01    Second Reading of Ordinance #2026-4 Amending Chapter 11 – Motor Vehicles and Traffic,
Article II – Operation, Section 47 – Motor Vehicles Restricted Routes and Appendix C –Traffic Ordinances – June Court

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of Ordinance #2026-4 Amending Chapter 11 – Motor Vehicles and Traffic, Article II – Operation, Section 47 – Motor Vehicles Restricted Routes and Appendix C – Traffic Ordinances – June Court.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

 

J. Licciardi – Yes

J. Messier – Yes

M. Dennison – Yes

M. Williamson – Yes

D. Gosselin – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

02    First Reading of Ordinance #2026-5 Amending Chapter 15 – Wastewater – Section 15-18 – Annual Sewage System User Charges

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier to move Ordinance #2026-5 Amending Chapter 15 – Wastewater – Section 15-18 – Annual Sewage System User Charges to second reading.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

 

J. Licciardi – Yes

J. Messier – Yes

M. Dennison – Yes

M. Williamson – Yes

D. Gosselin – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

 

I.        Business Licenses

01    Request from Kent County Coffee LLC dba Dunkin for a 24-Hour Victualing License

02    Request from Matthew Herd for an Event License at 100 Factory Street on June 14, 2026

03    Request from Michael Antonucc of XWA Entertainment for an Event License at 100 Factory Street on May 24, 2026

04    Request from Brick Conventional LLC for an Event License at 100 Factory Street for June 26-28, 2026

05    Request from AJ’s Inc dba AJ’s Restaurant for a Victualing License

 

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

                                    All Ayes

 

J.       New Business

01    Resolution Adopting the FY2027 Budget for the Civic Center Enterprise Fund in the amount of $863,071.00

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of Resolution Adopting the FY2027 Budget for the Civic Center Enterprise Fund in the amount of $863,071.00.

ROLL CALL VOTE:

 

J. Licciardi – Yes

J. Messier – Yes

M. Dennison – Yes

M. Williamson – Yes

D. Gosselin – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

02    Resolution Adopting the Final Municipal Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2027 in the amount of $131,905,134

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of Resolution Adopting the Final Municipal Operating Budget for Fiscal Year 2027 in the amount of $131,905,134.

ROLL CALL VOTE:

 

J. Licciardi – Yes

J. Messier – Yes

M. Dennison – Yes

M. Williamson – Yes

D. Gosselin – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

03    Discussion/Action – Request from the Fire Department for the Purchase of a Bucket Truck for the Communications Division

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Licciardi to table.                     All Ayes

04    Discussion/Action: Consideration of Application for Local Tax Exemption from Project Hand Up

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for consideration of Application for Local Tax Exemption from Project Hand Up.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

 

J. Licciardi – No

J. Messier – Yes

M. Dennison – No

M. Williamson – No

D. Gosselin – No

 

MOTION FAILS

05    Resolution Requesting the General Assembly Amend RIGL 44-3-3 Property Exempt – To exempt the Property of Project Hand Up from Taxation

 

NO ACTION WAS TAKEN ON THIS ITEM.

06    School Building Committee Update

 

M. Knott states that the School Building Committee is meeting again on June 3^rd at 4pm.  The Payan Street project is still underway.  Mobilization of the other school projects is being planned.  There was a community engagement session the previous week that was sparsely attended.  The information shared at the meeting is available on the School Building Committee website. 

07    Resolution Awarding the Route Efficiency Study and Redistricting Analysis for the School Building Projects

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier for approval of Resolution Awarding the Route Efficiency Study and Redistricting Analysis for the School Building Projects in the amount of $39,650.                         All Ayes

 

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

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

06    Zoning Board of Review – Appointment to fill vacancy as an alternate member for term ending July 2030

 

L.       Upcoming Town Council Meetings and Events

June 2, 2026 - Regular Town Council Meeting

June 6, 2026 -Eco-Depot – West Warwick Civic Center

June 16, 2026 – Regular Town Council Meeting

M.   Public Forum

           

D. Gosselin shares that other municipalities have introduced new legislation regarding the new Zoning laws.  Senator Burke has stated that that he is willing to introduce legislation on West Warwick’s behalf if the Council is interested.

 

M. Williamson thanks everyone who worked on the budget including the School Department. 

 

N.     Executive Session – Council may vote to move to Executive Session pursuant to R.I. General Law 42-46-5 (a)(2)– Litigation and R.I. General Law 42-46-5 (a) (5) Sale or Lease of Public Property

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Messier to move to Executive Session pursuant to R.I. General Law 42-46-5 (a)(2)– Litigation and R.I. General Law 42-46-5 (a) (5) Sale or Lease of Public Property.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

 

J. Licciardi – Yes

J. Messier – Yes

M. Dennison – Yes

M. Williamson – Yes

D. Gosselin – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

01    NEIT vs. Saccoccio et al

02    Negotiation with American Tower for a lease for the Factory Street Communications Tower

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, seconded by J. Licciardi to return to open session.            All Ayes

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, seconded by J. Licciardi to seal the minutes of executive session.                All Ayes

 

NO VOTES WERE TAKEN       

 

O.     Adjournment

 

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

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Sarah S. Rapose, MMC

Town Clerk

Agenda posted May 8, 2026, at the West Warwick Town Hall, the West Warwick Senior Center, the West Warwick Public Library, on ClerkBase, and electronically filed on the Secretary of State’s website in accordance with the Open Meetings Act.

 

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