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 Scialabba

 

SALUTE TO THE FLAG – Council President Morrone

 

 

 2.    RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS & MEMORIALS

 

        a.     Condolences – Glenn J. Miller

 

        b.     Congratulations – The Westerly High School Junior Varsity Softball Team

 

 

 3.    PRESENTATIONS

 

a.      Tower Street School Reuse Study – Thomas Liguori, Esq. – Discussion

 

 

 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 – 4/17/23 (tabled from 5/15/23), 5/15/23

Workshop – 5/17/23

Executive – 4/17/23 (Sealed), 5/15/23 (Sealed)

 

        b.     Fiscal Matters

 

1.     Resolution Authorizing The Waiver Of Penalty For Late Payments ($469.61)

 

2.     Resolution Awarding Contract For Park Avenue And Vose Street Improvements Project ($484,789.00)

 

        c.     Resignation and Appointments

 

1.    Appointments:

a.    Scott Clairmont, Ad Hoc Westerly Marina Study Committee

 

 

 6.    PUBLIC HEARINGS (Adv. on 5/25/23 and 5/29/23 for this time)

       

a.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance Expanding The Boundaries Of The Westerly Sewer District (Steven M. Stoehr and Melissa A. Stoehr, 4 Laurel Hill Rd (AP 18, Lot 57E)

 

b.     Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG) – Program Year 2022 Application

1.     Resolution Authorizing Submission Of A Community Development Block Grant Application To The Rhode Island Office of Housing And Community Development ($1,331,891.00)

 

c.     Proposed FY2023/2024 Water, Sewer and Transfer Station Budgets

        (Please bring material previously distributed)

 

d.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance Setting Water Rate Schedules For The 2023-2024 Fiscal Year” (Single Unit Residential - $126.00 per unit Service Charge plus $4.36 per 100 cu. ft. in excess of 4,800 cu. ft. per meter; Commercial & Industrial - $126.00 per unit Service Charge plus $5.06 per 100 cu. ft. in excess of 4,800 cu. ft. per meter; Private Fire Hydrant charge per year - $125.00; Public fire hydrant charge per year - $100.00 effective 7/1/2023)

 

e.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance Establishing The Sewer Use Or Service Charge For Fiscal Year 2023-2024” ($356.00 per unit)

 

f.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance Establishing The Ad Valorem Tax On Personal And Real Property For The Fiscal Year 2023-2024” ($0.54 per $1,000 of assessed valuation)

 

 

 

 7.    NEW BUSINESS

 

a.     Resolution In Support Of House Bill H 6324 Entitled, “An Act Relating To Criminal Offenses – Obscene And Objectionable Publication And Shows” – Discussion and Possible Action

 

b .     Resolution In Support Of Senate Bill SB-0598 And House Bill HB-5754 Exempting From Taxation The Real And Tangible Personal Property Of Wood River Health Services, Inc. – Discussion and Possible Action

 

c .     Resolution Authorizing The Town Manager To Enter Into A Brokerage Service Fee Agreement With USI Insurance Services LLC For Risk Management Services – Discussion and Possible Action

 

d.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance In Amendment Of Article XX, Veterans ‘Rolls of Honor’ Memorial Committee Of Chapter 5 Of The Westerly Code Of Ordinances Entitled ‘Boards, Committees And Commissions’” (Amend § 5-89 Officers; quorum; compensation and § 5-90 Duties)

        (Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 6/19/23)

 

e.     Learn365RI – Discussion and Vote to Authorize the Town Manager to Sign the Rhode Island Municipal Education Compact

 

 

 8.    UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

a.     ARPA Funding Allocations – Discussion and Possible Action

 

 

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 – 6/5/23

 

        c.     Town Manager – 6/5/23

 

        d.     Town Solicitor – 6/5/23

               1.  Oral Status on Spring Avenue Extension Right-of-Way – CRMC Hearing

 

        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 – J.G. & R.R. for their Minor Child J.R. v. Westerly, et al., No. 1:21-cv-00056-WES-PAS

b)    §42-46-5(a)(2) Litigation – Trestle Park, LLC v. Town of Westerly, et al. WC-2023-0227

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

 

 

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.