Livestream: https://westerlyri.gov/TownCouncilLive

Live Broadcast:  PEG RI-TV Channel 18 (Cox) or Channel 29 (Verizon)

 

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

All comments must be received no later than 12:00 noon on the day of the meeting in order to be entered into the record of the meeting.

 

 

1.      CALL TO ORDER

 

INVOCATION – Councilor Lowther

 

SALUTE TO THE FLAG – Council President Morrone

 

 

 2.    RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS & MEMORIALS

 

        a.     Congratulations – Westerly Police Department – 150^th Anniversary

 

        RATIFY AND CONFIRM:

 

b.     Congratulations – Betty-Jo Cugini-Greene, Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce 2023 Citizen of the Year Award

 

c.     Congratulations – Ruth Tureckova, Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce 2023 Key Award Recipient

 

       

 3.    PRESENTATIONS

 

a.     Rhode Island Housing – Amy Rainone, Director, Government Relations & Policy, James Comer, Deputy Executive Director and Senator Victoria Gu – Discussion

 

b.     Wastewater Treatment Plant – Jacobs Engineering – Discussion

1.     PowerPoint – Progressive Design-Build Delivery for WWTF Upgrades

2.     Westerly Wastewater Treatment Facility – Agreement

 

 

 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.  Citizens will have up to ten (10) minutes and one opportunity to speak.  The comments of citizens accessing this portion of our meeting are neither adopted nor endorsed by this body but heard as requested.  Comments shall be limited to agenda items only.  If the matter is scheduled for a public hearing, the comments shall be deferred to that agenda item. 

 

COUNCILORS’ RESPONSE

 

 

 5.    CONSENT CALENDAR (all items are considered routine and can be approved by one motion; however, if discussion is necessary on any item, it can be moved to “New Business”)

 

        a.     Approval of Minutes

Regular – 6/5/23

Special – 6/14/23

Executive – 6/5/23 (Sealed), 6/19/23 (Sealed)

 

        b.     Fiscal Matters

 

1.     Resolution Authorizing The Addition To The Tax Rolls ($120.96)

 

2.     Resolution Authorizing Deletion To Tax Rolls ($120.96)

 

3.     Resolution Authorizing Payment To Paula M. Cuculo, Esq. (Litigation matters - $1,000.00)

 

        c.     Resignation and Appointments

 

               1.     Resignations:

a.     John R. Tregenza, III, Ad Hoc Westerly Marina Study Committee

b.     Kenneth F. Swain, Board of Assessment Review 

 

 

 6.    PUBLIC HEARINGS

       

        None

 

 

 7.    NEW BUSINESS

 

a.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance In Amendment Of Chapter 2035 Of The General Ordinances Of The Town Of Westerly Entitled ‘An Ordinance Setting Water Rate Schedules For The 2023-2024 Fiscal Year’” (Increase Backflow Preventer Testing Fee and Cross Connection Inspection Fee from $47.00 to $54.00)

        (Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 7/24/23)

 

b.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance In Amendment In Amendment Of Article V ‘Exemption For Qualified Veterans, Prisoners Of War, Gold Star Parents And Visually Impaired Persons’ Of Chapter 229 Of The Westerly Code Of Ordinances Entitled, ‘Taxation’”

        (Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 7/24/23)

 

 

 8.    UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

a.     Resolution Of The Westerly Town Council Welcoming The Golden Rule Peace Boat To Rhode Island In Support Of A World Free of Nuclear Weapons – Discussion and Possible Action

        (Tabled from 6/19/23)

 

 

9.     COMMUNICATIONS & REPORTS

(Backup materials for the following reports can be viewed on the Town of Westerly website at www.westerlyri.gov)

 

        a.     Liaison Reports

 

        b.     Town Council – 7/10/23

 

        c.     Town Manager – 7/10/23

 

        d.     Town Solicitor

       

        e.     Town Clerk

 

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

 

        g.     Requests of Town Manager by Councilors

 

 

10.   CITIZENS COMMENTS

 

     When addressing the Council, please state your name and address; please conduct yourself in an orderly and respectful fashion.  Citizens will have up to five (5) minutes and one opportunity to speak.  The comments of citizens accessing this portion of our meeting are neither adopted nor endorsed by this body but heard as requested. 

 

 

COUNCILORS’ RESPONSE

 

 

11.   POSSIBLE EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

The Council may vote to go into executive session for discussion and/or action regarding those items of business exempt from open meetings under Rhode Island General Laws §42-46-4 and:

 

a)    §42-46-5(a)(1) Personnel – Job Performance, character, or physical or mental health

b)    §42-46-5(a)(2) Litigation – Watch Hill Fire District; and The Watch Hill Conservancy v. Town of Westerly, et al. WC-2023-0190

c)    §42-46-5(a)(2) Litigation – Town of Westerly v. One Parcel of Realty, Commonly Known as 460 Bradford Road Located at Parcel ID 15, Lot 14, and BPF Realty, LLC - C.A. No. WC-2018-0298

 

 

12.   ADJOURNMENT

 

 

 

42-46-6(b)  “…Nothing contained herein shall prevent a public body, other than a school committee, from adding additional items to the agenda by majority vote of the members.  Such additional items shall be for informational purposes only and may not be voted on except where necessary to address an unexpected occurrence that requires immediate action to protect the public or to refer the matter to an appropriate committee or to another body or official.

 

 

INDIVIDUALS REQUESTING INTERPRETER SERVICES FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED MUST CALL 348-2505 IN ADVANCE OF THE HEARING DATE.

 

 

The Town Council agenda and supporting documents can be accessed on the Town of Westerly website at www.westerlyri.gov.