1.     6:15 P.M.  CALL TO ORDER

 

Present:   Pres. Duhamel, Vice Pres. Giorno

                 Councilors Cioffi, Aiello, Cooke, Ahern, McCuin

                 T. Mgr. Rooney, Act. T. Sol. Pecchia

                 Co. Clk. Giordano, T. Sgt. Falcone

                 Cameron Moore, Town Council Student Representative

 

Absent:    T. Sol. Conley

 

        INVOCATION – Councilor Cioffi

 

SALUTE TO THE FLAG – Council President Duhamel

 

 

 2.    RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS & MEMORIALS

 

Motion by Mr. Aiello, Seconded by Ms. Cioffi, that the following resolution be adopted:  (Voted Unanimously)

 

a.     Condolences – Joseph Cimalore, Jr.

 

     The family of Joseph Cimalore, Jr. was present to accept the resolution, read aloud by Councilor Ahern.

 

RATIFY AND CONFIRM:

 

Motion by Mr. Aiello, Seconded by Ms. Cioffi, to ratify and confirm the following resolution:  (Voted Unanimously)

 

b.     Congratulations – Joseph Vacca, Recipient of the Youth Coach of Distinction Award

 

 

3.     PRESENTATIONS

 

        None

 

 

 4.    CITIZENS COMMENTS

 

     Sign-Up Sheets will be available at the Council Meeting for any citizens wishing to be heard.  Citizens who do not sign up to speak will have an opportunity to be heard following the individuals listed on the sign-up sheet.

 

     When addressing the Council, please state your name and address; please conduct yourself in an orderly and respectful fashion.  The comments of citizens accessing this portion of our meeting are neither adopted nor endorsed by this body, but heard as requested.  If the matter is scheduled for a public hearing, the comments shall be deferred to that agenda item. 

 

a.     Hatsy Moore, 32 Yosemite Valley Rd - re:  Private Roads; does not agree with Town Solicitor's opinion; previous solicitor opined that if Town has assumed maintenance of road then it is an implied acceptance

 

b.     Theresa Cavalier, 15 Canterbury Dr - re: Plastics Ordinances; would like clarity if other ordinances (Styrofoam containers and balloons) will come before Council for discussion

 

c.     Angela Goethals, 7 Granite St - re: School Building Committee; need t foster collaborative effort between Town Council, School Committee and School Building Committee going forward?

 

COUNCILORS’ RESPONSE

 

     Councilor Duhamel responded to Citizens’ Comments, stating that the School Building Committee will be meeting this Saturday at 9:00 a.m. at State Street School with an invitation to the Council, tomorrow evening at Babcock Hall, and again next Saturday.  He also noted that twelve plans are being evaluated.  He further stated that there was no support to move forward with the straws-on-demand ordinance; that the Council might want to visit the ordinances pertaining to Styrofoam cups and balloons; and that private roads might become an agenda item.

 

     Councilor Giorno responded to Citizens’ Comments, stating that there is a lot of work going forward with the School Building Committee; that there is collaboration among the three committees; and that she is very hopeful that a good plan will be produced that will be acceptable to everyone.

 

     Town Manager Rooney responded to Councilor Cooke’s concern with private roads stating that, of the 93 private roads, 10 are controversial, and that, of those 10, there are resolutions on all but Michael’s Way along with three others being represented by an attorney and a portion of Yosemite Valley Road.

 

 

 5.    CONSENT CALENDAR

 

        a.     Approval of Minutes

 

Committee of the Whole – 3/2/20

Regular – 2/24/20

Executive – 2/24/20; 3/2/20 (Sealed)

Special – 2/14/20 (Amend Minutes Previously Adopted)

 

Motion by Mr. Aiello, Seconded by Mr. Cooke, to amend the February 14, 2020 Special Meeting minutes previously adopted by adding the statement read into the record by Councilor Aiello.  (So Voted 6 to 1 – Councilor McCuin dissented)

 

Motion by Mr. Aiello, Seconded by Mr. Cooke, that the aforesaid minutes be accepted and approved as printed and amended and that the Executive Session minutes be sealed.  (So Voted 6 to 1 – Councilor McCuin dissented)

 

        b.     Fiscal Matters

 

Motion by Mr. Aiello, Seconded by Mr. McCuin, that the following resolutions be adopted:  (Voted Unanimously)

 

a.     19/20-67 Resolution Authorizing The Waiver Of Penalty For Late Payments ($992.30)

 

b.     19/20-68 Resolution To Ratify And Confirm The Signing Of The Lease Agreement Between The Town Of Westerly And PACE Organization Of Rhode Island

 

        c.     Appointments and Resignations

 

1.     Appointments:

        a.     Planning Board – Full Member

 

     No action was taken on the aforesaid appointment.

 

        b.     Board of Finance – Full Member

 

     Councilor Giorno nominated Timothy Clifford Burns for appointment to the Planning Board.

 

A vote was taken on the nomination of Timothy Clifford Burns of 3 Sarah Lane for appointment to the Board of Finance to fill the unexpired term of Justin J. Steven, term expiring September 2020 and the motion carried.  (Voted Unanimously)

 

        c.     Westerly Veterans’ Organizations – Council Liaison

 

     Council President Duhamel appointed Councilor Suzanne K. Giorno and Councilor William J. Aiello, as Council Liaisons to the Westerly Veterans’ Organizations for a term expiring November 2020.

 

 

 6.    PUBLIC HEARINGS

 

        None

 

 

 7.    NEW BUSINESS

 

a      19/20-69 Resolution Of The Town Of Westerly In Support Of Legislation to Move The September Primary to Wednesday When It Falls In The Same Week As Labor Day

 

Motion by Mr. Aiello, Seconded by Mr. Cooke, that the aforesaid resolution be adopted.  (Voted Unanimously)

 

Suspend Town Council Rules Of Procedure – Rule 9(8) – Committee Of The Whole Requirement To Discuss And Consider Action On The Following Item:

 

Motion by Ms. Ahern, Seconded by Ms. Giorno, to suspend the Town Council Rules of Procedure as aforesaid.  (Voted Unanimously)

 

b.     19/20-70 Resolution In Support Of Rhode Island Senate Bill 2698 And House Bill 7912 (“An Act Relating To Animals & Animal Husbandry”)

 

     Discussion was held regarding the aforesaid resolution in support of two bills that would strengthen the animal cruelty/abuse law, and the professional liability when pro bono attorneys and law students represent such cases.   

 

Motion by Mr. Cooke, Seconded by Mr. McCuin, that the aforesaid resolution be adopted.  (Voted Unanimously)

 

 

 8.    UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

               None

 

 

 9.    COMMUNICATIONS & REPORTS

 

        a.     Liaison Reports

 

1.     Chamber of Commerce – Business After Hours to be held at Ocean Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram on Post Road on March 11^th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.; expressed condolences on the passing of Angela Smith; Fusion Event to be held May 8^th at Velvet Mill in Stonington  (Councilor Giorno)

 

2.     Veterans – DAV representatives are present at Town Hall on the last Friday of each month to assist veterans with information on benefits; National Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Day is March 29^th and all Vietnam veterans are invited to an appreciation day at the Westerly Armory at 1 p.m.  (Councilor Giorno)

 

3.     School Building Committee – Meetings scheduled for Tuesday, March 10^th at Babcock Hall at 5 p.m., Saturday, March 14^th at State Street School at 9 a.m., Tuesday, March 17^th at Babcock Hall at 5 p.m. and Saturday, March 21^st at 9 a.m.  (Council President Duhamel)

 

        b.     Town Council – 3/9/20

 

1.     Community Development Block Grant (CDGB) – Councilor Aiello reported that he and Councilor Cooke attended a Community Development Block Grant meeting today and will be meeting later this week; will have more information.

 

        c.     Town Manager - None

 

        d.     Town Solicitor – 3/9/20

 

1.     Item #1 3/9/2020 – Memorandum from Law Office from Town Solicitor William J. Conley, Jr. – re: Private Roads – Assistant Town Solicitor Pecchia addressed the aforesaid memorandum, which is attached hereto and made a part of the record of these proceedings.  She stated that, although a deed was recorded, the road was not publicly accepted by action of the Council.  She referred to RIGL §24-2-1, which defines the process for acceptance of roads.

 

2.     Item #2 3/9/2020 – Memorandum of Law from Town Solicitor William J. Conley, Jr. – re: Disposition of Public Property (R.I.G.L. §24-2-1) – Assistant Town Solicitor Pecchia addressed the aforesaid memorandum, which is attached hereto and made a part of the record of these proceedings.  She stated that the Town has ownership of properties on Tarrapat Drive through a Collector’s Deed and has two options for conveyance of same - 1) the Town can only convey what it owns through a Collector’s Deed and is entitled only to the back taxes, and 2) the Town can sell the properties at fair market value, but would have to appear in Superior Court to obtain clear title to the properties by foreclosing on the Collector’s Deeds. 

 

     Council President Duhamel directed that the Engineering Department determine the location of the lots and the location of the wetlands and that the Town Solicitor provide the cost to clear the title to the properties in order for the Council to make a decision.

 

        e.     Town Clerk - none

 

        f.     Agenda Referrals and Backlog Agenda (Items to be assigned to future agendas)

 

1.      Berming at Wastewater Treatment Plant – Councilor Ahern requested that the Utilities Superintendent attend a workshop to discuss the aforesaid matter with the Council. 

 

2.     Department of Motor Vehicles – Councilor Cioffi requested that the Council discuss the removal of the Department of Motor Vehicles from Town Hall at a workshop.

 

3.     Tarrapat Drive – Councilor Aiello requested that this matter be discussed at a workshop.

 

4.     Age Friendly Community – Councilor Aiello requested that the aforesaid matter be referred to the next meeting for a presentation by Laurel Holmes.

 

        g.     Requests of Town Manager by Councilors

 

1.     Town-owned Properties – Councilor Cioffi requested that the Council be provided with a list of Town-owned properties.

 

2.     Westerly Senior Citizens Lease – Councilor Cioffi requested that the Center be provided with a copy of the signed lease.

 

 

10.   ADJOURNMENT

 

        7:20 P.M.  Voted Unanimously to adjourn.

 

 

     Details of the aforesaid proceedings are available on video on the Town of Westerly website.