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 10:00 a.m. on the day of the meeting in order to be entered into the record of the meeting.

 

 

1.      CALL TO ORDER

 

INVOCATION – Councilor Overton

 

SALUTE TO THE FLAG – Council President Aiello

 

 

2.     RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS & MEMORIALS

 

        a.     Condolence – Louis J. Masucci, Sr.

 

        b.     Congratulations – Lois and Bruce Miner of Mary D’s Antiques, Retirement

 

        c.     Congratulations – The Chorus of Westerly, Celebration of European Tour

 

        d.     Proclamation – Purple Heart Day, August 7, 2024 and Purple Heart Town, Westerly

 

       

3.     PRESENTATIONS and

 

a.     Wastewater Facility Plan Amendment by Jacobs Engineering – Edwin Castilla and Bill Cotter – Presentation Only

 

 

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 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.  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 (Councilors may have up to five (5) minutes to respond

to Citizens’ Comments, should not engage in discussions between Councilors,

shall maintain decorum, and shall refrain from personal attacks and disparaging

remarks.  A level of decorum is the expected standard.)

 

 

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 – 7/1/24 (amended), 7/15/24

 

        b.     Fiscal Matters

 

1.     Resolution Authorizing Deletion to Tax Rolls ($3,730.74)

 

2.     Resolution Authorizing Corrections to the Water Accounts Department Accounts Receivable ($5,765.63)

 

        c.     Resignations and Appointments

 

1.     Resignation:

        a.     Austin Trefes, Economic Development Commission

 

2.     Appointments:

        a.     Washington County Regional Planning Council

 

 

6.     PUBLIC HEARINGS

 

        None

 

 

7.     UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

a.     Motion to Rescind Approval of Motion to Censure to Schedule Hearing made at the July 15, 2024 Regular Meeting

 

b.     Motion to Admonish Council Member Conduct occurring at the June 3, 2024 Regular Town Council Meeting

 

c.     Ad Hoc Affordable Housing Study Committee Report, dated June 1, 2024 – Received for Informational Purposes Only

 

 

8.     NEW BUSINESS

 

Suspend Town Council Rules of Procedure – Rule 9(d) – Council Operations to Discuss and Consider the Following Items:  8.a. and 8.b.:

 

a.     Resolution Authorizing the Town Manager to Enter into A Contract with Coldmasters, Inc. for the Replacement of a Boiler (Not to Exceed $145,050.00) – Discussion and Possible Action

1.     Contract

 

b.     Resolution of the Westerly Town Council Authorizing the Town Manager to Enter into Contractual Agreements with the Rhode Island Clean Water Finance Agency and Rhode Island Housing to Participate in the Sewer Tie-In Loan Fund Program – Discussion and Possible Action

 

c.     Resolution Awarding Contract for the Maple Avenue Retaining Wall Construction Project (DiCenzo, Inc. – Not to Exceed $80,510.00) – Discussion and Possible Action

1.     Bid Tabulation

 

d.     American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding Request – The Colonial Theatre School, Inc. ($7,500.00) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

e.     Petition for Road Abandonment – Terminus of James Street – Sean C. Donohue, Esq., representing Richard and Margaret Caster, Petitioners – Discussion and Possible Action

        (Refer to the Planning Board for review and recommendation)

 

f.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance 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’” – Discussion and Possible Action

        (Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 8/19/2024)

 

g.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance in Amendment of Article I, State Building Code, of Chapter 90 of the Westerly Code of Ordinances Entitled ‘Building Construction’” (§90-4. Fees) – Discussion and Possible Action

        (Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 8/19/2024)

 

 

9.     COMMUNICATIONS & REPORTS

(Backup materials for the following reports can be viewed on the Town of Westerly website at www.westerlyri.gov.  Written communication is not considered an agenda item.)

 

        a.     Liaison Reports

 

        b.     Town Council – 8/5/24

 

        c.     Town Manager – 8/5/24

 

        d.     Town Solicitor

 

        e.     Town Clerk

 

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

               1.  Agenda Referral List

 

        g.     Requests of Town Manager by Councilors

 

        h.     Requests of Town Solicitor 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.  Comments shall be open to agenda items and any Town Government matter over which the Council has supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power.  Other matters may be heard by a majority vote of the Council.

 

COUNCILORS’ RESPONSE (Councilors may have up to five (5) minutes to respond to Citizens’ Comments, should not engage in discussions between Councilors, shall maintain decorum, and shall refrain from personal attacks and disparaging remarks.  A level of decorum is the expected standard.)

 

 

11.   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.