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 Lowther

 

SALUTE TO THE FLAG – Council President Aiello

 

 

 2.    RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS & MEMORIALS

 

a.     Condolence – Genevieve S. Kurdziel

 

 

 3.    PRESENTATIONS

 

a.     U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - 460 Bradford Road (former Bradford Dyeing Association/BDA site)

 

 

 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

 

 

 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 – 1/8/24

Special – 1/16/24

Executive – 1/8/24 (Sealed)

 

        b.     Fiscal Matters

 

1.     Resolution Authorizing The Addition To The Tax Rolls ($40.57)

 

2.     Resolution Authorizing Deletion To Tax Rolls ($712.79)

 

3.     Resolution Authorizing The Waiver of Penalty For Late Payments ($113.91)

 

        c.     Resignations and Appointments

 

1.     Resignations

        a.  Mark Doescher, Jr., Ad Hoc Former Bradford School Site Study Committee

 

2.     Appointments:

        a.     Economic Development Commission

        b.     Planning Board

 

 

 6.    PUBLIC HEARINGS (Adv. on 1/15/2024 for this time)

 

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’” (§238-50. Obedience to stop signs. – Installation of Stop Signs At The Intersection of Robin Hollow Lane and Castle Way) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

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.) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

 

 7.    NEW BUSINESS

 

a.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance In Amendment of Article VII, ‘Stopping, Standing and Parking, Of Chapter 238 Of The Westerly Code Of Ordinances Entitled ‘Vehicles And Traffic’” (§238-66. Parking prohibited or restricted in designated areas – Amend two-hour parking restriction on Bay Street to three-hour parking restriction between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., from May 15 to October 1)

        (Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 2/12/2024)

 

 

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 Include Cannabis Retail Sales

 

a.     Draft 6

b.     Draft 7

c.     Draft 8

d.     2022 Westerly Zoning Map – revised

e.     2022 Westerly Zoning Map

 

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.  Written communication is not considered an agenda item.)

 

        a.     Liaison Reports

 

        b.     Town Council – 1/22/24

 

        c.     Town Manager – 1/22/24

 

        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

 

        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 limited to agenda items only. 

 

COUNCILORS’ RESPONSE

 

 

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.