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 LaPietra

 

SALUTE TO THE FLAG – Council President Morrone

 

 

 2.    RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS & MEMORIALS

 

        RATIFY AND CONFIRM:

 

        a.     Congratulations – Westerly Armory Restoration, Inc.

               Alexis Ann                                   Amanda Nall

                Shawn M. Lacey                         William Siano

 

        b.     Congratulations – Joseph Nigrelli, Sr., 2023 Dante Person of the Year

 

        c.     Congratulations – 2023 Westerly High School Athletic Hall of Fame

               Elizabeth Harrington Ayala        Charles H. Holdredge, III

               Austin Cilley                               Jeremy Octeau

               Kevin Conway                           Trisha Rosso

               Deborah Godbout                      John Wulforst (Posthumously)

 

        d.     Proclamation – “Nurses Week, Hospital Week, and Ten Days of Gratitude Week” – May 4-13, 2023

 

 

 3.    PRESENTATIONS

 

        a.     Presentation – RI Advisory Commission on Historic Cemeteries (RIACHC) – Lawrence P. Hunter, Washington County Commissioner

 

 

 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, 5/1/23

Special – 4/26/23

Executive – 5/1/23 (Sealed)

 

        b.     Fiscal Matters

 

1.     Resolution Authorizing Deletion To Tax Rolls ($2,017.94)

 

        c.     Resignation and Appointments

 

1.     Appointments:

 

a.     Licensing Board

b.     Conservation Commission

c.     Public Works Committee

d.     Board of Finance

e.     Harbor Management Commission

f.     Ad Hoc Affordable Housing Study Committee

g.     Ad Hoc Westerly Marina Study Committee

h.     Ad Hoc Former Bradford School Site Study Committee

i.      Town Council Liaison Appointments:

        1.   Harbor Management Commission

        2.   Ad Hoc Former Bradford School Site Study Committee

        3.   Ad Hoc Affordable Housing Study Committee

        4.   Ad Hoc Westerly Marina Study Committee

 

 

 6.    PUBLIC HEARINGS

 

               None

 

 

 7.    NEW BUSINESS

 

a.     2022 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Application – Discussion and Possible Action

        (Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 6/5/23)

 

b.     ARPA Funding Allocations – Discussion and Possible Action

 

c.     Proposed FY2023/2024 Water, Sewer and Transfer Station Budgets – Discussion and Possible Action

        (Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 6/5/2023 and refer to 5/17/23 Workshop)

 

d.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance Setting Water Rate Schedules For The 2023-2024 Fiscal Year” ($126.00 per unit Service Charge plus $4.36 per 100 cu. ft. in excess of 4,800 cu. ft. per meter) – Discussion and Possible Action

        (Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 6/5/2023 and refer to 5/17/23 Workshop)

 

e.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance Establishing The Sewer Use Or Service Charge For Fiscal Year 2023-2024” ($235.00 per unit) – Discussion and Possible Action

        (Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 6/5/2023 and refer to 5/17/23 Workshop)

 

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) – Discussion and Possible Action

        (Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 6/5/2023 and refer to 5/17/23 Workshop)

 

g.     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) – Discussion and Possible Action

        (Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 6/5/2023)

 

 

 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 – 5/15/23

 

        c.     Town Manager

 

        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

 

 

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.