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 – The Westerly High School Boys Swim Team, RI Interscholastic League 2023 First Place Championship

 

 

 3.    PRESENTATIONS

 

a.     CPower Battery And Community Choice Aggregation – Bart Farmouth and Phillip Ciulla, Colonial Power Group

1.     Community Choice Aggregation Program

2.     Budgetary Review of CPower’s Energy Storage as a Service Officer for the Town of Westerly – WWTP

3.     Letter of Intent

4.     Mutual Nondisclosure 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 – 6/19/23

Special – 6/14/23 (tabled from 7/10/23)

 

        b.     Fiscal Matters

 

1.     Resolution Authorizing The Town Manager To Enter Into A Contract With Rowse Architects For Architectural/Engineering Services For The Town Hall Window Replacement ($33,000.00 – ARPA Account)

 

        c.     Appointments and Resignations

 

1.     Appointments:

        a.   Multicultural Committee

        b.   Public Works Committee

        c.   Board of Finance

        d.   Packer of Fish

        e.   Affordable Housing Study Committee (Ad Hoc)

        f.    Westerly Marina Study Committee (Ad Hoc)

 

 

 6.    PUBLIC HEARINGS (Adv. on   7/17/23   for this time)

 

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)

 

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’”

 

 

 7.    NEW BUSINESS

 

a.     Resolution Authorizing The Town Manager To Enter Into A Contract With Fuss & O’Neill, Inc. For Professional Services Related To Planning Assistance For The Pawcatuck River Aquatic Connectivity At Potter Hill Dam Project – Discussion and Possible Action

 

b.     Resolution Of The Town Of Westerly Opposing Senate Bill 2023-137 And House Bill 2023-H5201 Relating To Towns And Cities – Relief Of Injured And Deceased Fire Fighters And Police Officers Presumption For Heart Disease And Hypertension – Discussion and Possible Action

 

c.     Subsidy Requests – Request To Set Policy That Subsidy Requests Be Accompanied By Corresponding Financial Disclosures – Discussion and Possible Action

 

d.     Status Of Ad Hoc Affordable Housing Study Committee, Ad Hoc Former Bradford School Site Study Committee, and Ad Hoc Westerly Marina Study Committee – Discussion and Possible Action

 

e.     Residential Zone Short-Term Rental Registration Ordinance (§145-25) – Refer to Planning Board for Review and Recommendation

 

f.     Fees In Lieu Of Construction For The Creation Of Additional Low- And Moderate-Income Dwelling Units – Refer to Planning Board and Ad Hoc Affordable Housing Study Committee for Review and Recommendation

 

 

 8.    UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

               None

 

 

 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 – 7/24/23

 

        c.     Town Manager – 7/24/23

 

        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)(2) Litigation – Watch Hill Fire District; and The Watch Hill Conservancy v. Town of Westerly, et al. WC-2023-0190 – Status and Potential Hiring of Outside Legal Counsel

b)    §42-46-5(a)(2) Litigation – In the Matter of Spring Avenue, CRMC No. 20-11-84

c)    §42-46-5(a)(2) Litigation – Roger Hall v. Town of Westerly - C.A. No.: WC-2017-0109

 

 

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.