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 Aiello

 

 

 2.    RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS & MEMORIALS

 

        RATIFY AND CONFIRM:

 

a.     Appreciation – Charles H. Holdredge, III

 

 

 3.    PRESENTATIONS

 

               None

 

 

 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 – 12/18/23

Special – 12/18/23

Executive – 12/4/23 (Sealed), 12/18/23 (Sealed)

 

        b.     Fiscal Matters

 

1.     Resolution Authorizing Payment To The Law Office Of Cameron & Mittleman LLP (Litigation matters - $9,514.05)

 

        c.     Resignations and Appointments

 

        None

 

 

 6.    PUBLIC HEARINGS (Adv. on 1/1/2024 for this time)

 

a.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance Transferring Funds From General Fund Unreserved Fund Balance And Transfer Station Enterprise Fund Unreserved Fund Balance For Prior Year Unpaid Bills In Accordance With Article 3-1-7 (d) Of The Westerly Town Charter” – Discussion and Possible Action

       

b.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance Transferring Funds From School General Fund Unreserved Fund Balance, Fund 1010 For Prior Year Unpaid Bills In Accordance With Article 3-1-7 (d) Of The Westerly Town Charter” – Discussion and Possible Action

       

c.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance Transferring Funds From General Fund Unreserved Fund Balance For Capital And Restricted Appropriation Prior Year Deficits In Accordance With Article 3-1-7 (d) Of The Westerly Town Charter” – Discussion and Possible Action

       

 

 7.    NEW BUSINESS

 

a.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance In Amendment of Article V, ‘Traffic Control Signs, Signals, Markings and Devices,’ Of Chapter 238 Of The Westerly Code Of Ordinances Entitled ‘Vehicles And Traffic’” (Installation of Stop Signs At The Intersection of Robin Hollow Lane and Castle Way)

        (Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 1/22/2024)

 

b.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance In Amendment Of Chapter 229 Of The Westerly Code Of Ordinances Entitled ‘Taxation’” (§229-2. Residence exemption for the elderly)

        (Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 1/22/2024)

 

c.     Rules Of Procedure To Govern 2022-2024 Town Council – Discussion and Possible Action

        (Vote to Reschedule from 1/22/2024 to Special Meeting on 1/16/2024)

 

1.   Memorandum From William J. Conley Jr., Esq., Town Solicitor – Re:  Council Rules of Procedure 11 – Public Comment

 

 

 8.    UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

a.     Proposed Ordinances – Re: Cannabis Retail Sales – Discussion and Possible Action

       

1.   Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance In Amendment Of Part II Of The Town Of Westerly Code Of Ordinances Entitled, “General Legislation” Chapter 260 Entitled “Zoning” Article XI Entitled “Development Standards For Particular Uses” And Attachment 11 Entitled “Zoning District Use Tables” To Permit Cannabis Retail Sales

a.     Draft 1

b.     Draft 1N

c.     Draft 2

d.     Draft 2N

e.     Draft 3

f.     Draft 3N

g.     2022 Westerly Zoning Map

h.     Dossier on Cannabis History and Information

 

2.   Proposed Ordinance - “An Ordinance In Amendment Of Part II Of The Town Of Westerly Code Of Ordinances Entitled, “General Legislation” Chapter 68 Entitled “Alcoholic Beverages” To Include Cannabis

 

3.   Proposed Ordinance - “An Ordinance In Amendment Of Part II Of The Town Of Westerly Code Of Ordinances Entitled, “General Legislation” Chapter 179 Entitled “Parks And Public Areas” To Address Alcohol And Drug Use

 

 

 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 – 12/4/23, 12/18/23, 1/8/24

 

        c.     Town Manager – 12/4/23, 12/18/23, 1/8/24

 

        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 Watch Hill Conservancy v. Town of Westerly, et al – C.A. No.: WM- 2023-0190.

b)    §42-46-5(a)(2) Litigation – Weekapaug Fire District v. Town of Westerly, et al – C.A. No.: PC- 2023-06295.

c)    §42-46-5(a)(2) Litigation – Weekapaug Fire District v. Town of Westerly, et al – C.A. No.: PM- 2023-06573.

d)    §42-46-5(a)(2) Possible Litigation- So-called Lighthouse Road.

 

 

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.