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 Lombardo

 

SALUTE TO THE FLAG – Council President Aiello

 

 

 2.    RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS & MEMORIALS

 

a.     Congratulations – Bradford Citizens Club, 100^th Anniversary

 

b.     Proclamation – “Extra Mile Day” - November 1, 2023

 

       

 3.    PRESENTATIONS

 

a.     Advisory Charter Revision Commission

        1.     Final Report / Review of Changes from Draft Report – Jean L. Gagnier, Chair

        2.     Review of Commission Proposed Text of Ballot Questions – Mark Berardo, Esq.

 

 

 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 – 8/7/23

Special – 8/15/23

Executive – 8/7/23 (Sealed)

 

        b.     Fiscal Matters

 

1.     Resolution Authorizing The Waiver Of Penalty For Late Payments ($458.78)

 

2.     Resolution Authorizing Payment To The Law Office of Cameron & Mittleman, LLP (Litigation matters - $12,353.69)

 

3.     Resolution Accepting Donation For The JoAnne Lombardo Grills Memorial Bench ($1,457.75)

 

        c.     Resignations and Appointments  

 

1.     Resignation:

a.     Allison Van Etten, Juvenile Hearing Board

 

2.     Appointments:

a.     Liaison Appointments

 

 

 6.    PUBLIC HEARINGS (Adv. on 9/4/23 for this time)

 

a.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance In Amendment Of Chapter 121 Of The Westerly Code Of Ordinances Entitled ‘Fee Schedule’” (Antique and Second Hand Shops) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

b.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance In Amendment Of Chapter 150 Of The Westerly Code Of Ordinances Entitled ‘Junkyards’” (Antique and Second Hand Shops) – Discussion and Possible Action

       

c.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance In Amendment Of Article II, Issuance Of Licenses, Of Chapter 158 Of The Westerly Code Of Ordinances Entitled ‘Licensing’” (Antique and Second Hand Shops) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

       

 7.    NEW BUSINESS

 

a.     Petition from Narragansett Electric and Verizon New England, Inc. for New Pole Locations on Wagner Road (WR# 30819469) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

b.     Resolution Of The Westerly Town Council Declaring Its Intent For The Town Of Westerly To Transfer Ownership Of Certain Streetlights To The State Of Rhode Island Department Of Transportation – Discussion and Possible Action

 

c.     Letter and Non-Binding Recommendations Of The Westerly Harbor Management Commission Regarding Ownership Of The Watch Hill Lighthouse Property – Discussion and Possible Action

 

d.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance In Amendment Of Article VI ‘Use Of Public Sewers And Drains’ Of Chapter 206 Of The Westerly Code Of Ordinances Entitled ‘Sewers’” (§206-39. Charges for dumping trucked sewage – increase fee from $0.06 to $0.08 for each gallon dumped into the system, the origin of which is within the limits of the Town of Westerly and increase fee from $0.07 to $0.10 for each gallon dumped into the system, the origin of which is outside the limits of the Town of Westerly)

        (Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 9/25/23)

 

       

 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 – 9/11/23

 

        c.     Town Manager – 9/11/23

 

        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

b)    §42-46-5(a)(2) Litigation – Weekapaug Fire District v. Town of Westerly C.A. No.: WC-1994-0321

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

 

 

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.