1.     6:05 P.M.  CALL TO ORDER

 

MEETING WAS CONDUCTED VIA ZOOM

 

Present:   Pres. Duhamel

                 T. Mgr. Rooney

 

In Attendance Remotely:   Vice Pres. Giorno,

                                            Councilors Cioffi, Aiello, Cooke, Ahern, McCuin

                                            T. Sol. Conley

 

Absent:    Co. Clk. Giordano

                 T. Sgt. Falcone

                 Cameron Moore, Town Council Student Representative

 

INVOCATION – Councilor Cioffi

 

SALUTE TO THE FLAG – Council President Duhamel

 

 

 2.    RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS & MEMORIALS

 

               None

 

 

 3.    PRESENTATIONS

 

a.     COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Outbreak – Update by Town Manager

1.     Ratify and Confirm the State of Emergency Declaration by Town Manager

 

        Present:  Chief of Police Shawn Lacey

 

     Town Manager Rooney addressed his State of Emergency Declaration noting adjustments that have been made at Town Hall and for providing services to the public by appointment only and through the online and drop-box systems.  He noted that he, along with the Chief of Police, is relaxing the ban on the use of plastic bags by retailers at this time due to the inability to obtain paper bags from China.  He stated that the Town is working cooperatively with the National Guard going throughout the community visiting the part-time residents who have come to their vacation homes from other states to issue the mandated self-quarantine notice.  He noted that the Emergency Management Director is handling food and the delivery of food in conjunction with the Senior Center, Meals on Wheels, Johnnycake and WARM Shelter, and is also the point of contact at the hospital.

 

     Chief Lacey stated that some retailers and restaurants are using plastic bags because of the difficulty in purchasing paper bags due to the pandemic; therefore, the ban on the use of plastic bags has been relaxed.  He stated that retailers are requesting that reusable bags be cleaned prior to each use.  He further stated that businesses are being checked hourly for their counts of the number of people in the stores at one time. He noted that vehicular traffic throughout Rhode Island is less than ten percent of what it usually is on a normal given day; that on Saturday, six teams consisting of a National Guardsman and a police officer went door-to-door throughout Watch Hill, Misquamicut, Weekapaug and Shelter Harbor notifying residents with New York plates of the fourteen day quarantine order; that now with the new order, which includes anyone coming from out of state, they are checking the entire town; and that the State Police have set up check points on several highways in Town to monitor out-of-state vehicles coming into Westerly.  He noted that his department is fully staffed; that the call volume level is being maintained; that it is limited on PPE and hoping to receive more; that there are 113 new cases of the virus in Rhode Island with Westerly at 6 cases; that 1,000 tests a day are expected in the next few days, which will cause an uptick in cases.  He felt that eighty percent of the populations was complying with the Governor’s order to stay home.

 

     Discussion was held regarding clarification on the relaxing of the ban on the use of plastic bags and the monitoring of vehicles travelling to and from Rhode Island.  

 

Motion by Mr. Cooke, Seconded by Mr. McCuin, to ratify and confirm the State of Emergency Declaration issued by the Town Manager.  (Voted Unanimously)

 

2.     Governor’s Executive Order regarding Public Meetings and Public Records Request – Town Solicitor Conley

 

     Town Solicitor Conley clarified the Governor’s Executive Order of March 16^th that modifies the provisions of the Open Meetings Act and the Access To Public Records Act.  He stated that the modification to the Open Meetings Act allows the Council to conduct its meetings by telephone, audio or video conferencing with the condition of real time view by the public and real time access at no cost to the public.  He stated that the Order limits the meetings and the agenda topics to essential items only, which would be matters necessary for continued government operation or to meet deadlines set by law or regulation.  He further stated that the Order extends the time to respond to requests under the Access To Public Records Act to an additional twenty business days due to the Coronavirus and that the time for appeal by the requestor has been extended an additional ten days.

 

     Town Solicitor Conley clarified the matters that, in addition to the Council, would be essential to several boards and commissions.

 

        b.     FY2020-2021 Budget Submittal

Finance Board recommendations submitted per Town Charter Sec. 3-1-4(c)

 

Present:   Dyann Baker, Finance Director

 

Motion by Mr. Cooke, Seconded by Mr. McCuin, that the Finance Board’s recommended FY2020-2021 Budget, as presented, be accepted.  (So Voted 6 to 0 – Councilor Aiello absent due to digital link being disconnected at 7:12 p.m.)

Councilor Aiello’s digital link reconnected at 7:15 p.m.

 

 

 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. 

 

Active participation by members of the public will be accessible by calling one of the following numbers during the scheduled meeting:

 

1-929-205-6099  Meeting ID: 363 004 676

1-877-853-5257  Meeting ID: 363 004 676

1-888-475-4499  Meeting ID: 363 004 676

 

Written public comment can be submitted prior to the meeting by emailing mleblanc@westerlyri.gov.

(Pursuant to Governor Gina M. Raimondo Executive Order 20-05, dated March 16, 2020)

 

a.     Jeffery Gardner, 227 Shore Rd – re: Spoke in support of Resolution 7b under New Business; submitted a letter to be entered into the record of these proceedings

 

b.     Gina Fuller, 19 Moriah Dr, District Manager of Southern RI Conservation District – re: Spoke in support of Resolutions 7a and 7b under New Business, submitted a letter to be entered into the record of these proceedings

 

c.     Christopher J. Fox, Executive Director, Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association, 203 Arcadia Rd, Hope Valley, RI – re: Spoke in support of Resolution 7a under New Business; submitted a letter to be entered into the record of these proceedings

 

 

COUNCILORS’ RESPONSE

 

     Councilor Aiello noted the receipt of letters and emails regarding the aforesaid issues.

 

 

 5.    CONSENT CALENDAR

 

        a.     Approval of Minutes

 

Regular – 3/9/20

Executive – 3/9/20 (Sealed)

Emergency – 3/20/20

 

Motion by Mr. Cooke, Seconded by Ms. Giorno, that the aforesaid minutes be accepted and approved as printed and that the Executive Session minutes be sealed.  (Voted Unanimously)

 

        b.     Fiscal Matters

 

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

 

1.     19/20-71 Resolution Authorizing The Addition To The Pro-Rated Tax Roll ($441.25)

 

2.     19/20-72 Resolution Authorizing Deletion To Tax Rolls ($363.86)

 

3.     19/20-73 Resolution Authorizing Corrections To The Water And Sewer Accounts Department Accounts Receivable (Sewer Abatement - $306.00)

 

 

 6.    PUBLIC HEARINGS

 

        None

 

 

 7.    NEW BUSINESS

 

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

 

Motion by Mr. Aiello, Seconded by Mr. McCuin, to suspend the Town Council Rules as aforesaid.  (Voted Unanimously)

 

a.      19/20-74 Resolution Authorizing The Town Manager To Proceed In Working To Submit A Regional Grant Application To The USDA NCRS 2020 Watershed And Flood Prevention Operations (PL-566) Program

 

Present:  Lisa Pellegrini, Director of Development Services

 

     Ms. Pellegrini stated that the aforesaid program is one hundred percent federally funded and that no match is required.

 

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

 

b.     Resolution Authorizing Funding For The Non-Federal Cost Share Match Of The USACOE (US Army Corps of Engineers) Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Project For Winnapaug Pond

 

Present:  Lisa Pellegrini, Director of Development Services

 

     Statement received from Arthur R. Gantz, M.S., President of the Salt Ponds Coalition, in support of securing local match for dredging and eelgrass restoration of Winnapaug Pond.

 

  Discussion was held regarding the possibility of grant funds not being available.

 

Motion by Mr. Cooke, Seconded by Ms. Giorno, that the aforesaid resolution be referred to the April 6, 2020 Committee of the Whole Workshop for further discussion.  (Voted Unanimously)

 

 

 8.    UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

               None

 

 9.    COMMUNICATIONS & REPORTS

 

               None

 

 

10.   ADJOURNMENT

 

        7:55 P.M.  Voted Unanimously to adjourn.

 

 

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