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 Scialabba

 

SALUTE TO THE FLAG – Council President Aiello

 

 

2.     RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS & MEMORIALS

 

        RATIFY AND CONFIRM:

 

a.     Congratulations – Nicholas M. Castagna, 2024 Dante Person of the Year

 

 

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 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 – 6/3/24

Executive – 6/3/24 (Sealed)

 

        b.     Fiscal Matters

 

1.     Resolution Authorizing Deletion to Tax Rolls ($854.58)

 

        c.     Resignations and Appointments

 

        None

 

 

6.     PUBLIC HEARINGS

 

        None

 

 

7.     NEW BUSINESS

 

a.     Request for Exemption from RIGL § 3-7-19. Objection by Adjoining Property Owners – Proximity to Schools and Churches – Wow Sushi, Inc., 114 Granite Street, Unit 14, Seeking Application for Class B-Limited Beverage License – Discussion and Possible Action

 

Suspend Town Council Rules of Procedure – Rule 9(d) – Council Operations to Discuss and Consider the Following Item:  7b.

 

b.     Resolution Authorizing Expenditure from the Town Manager Contingency Account for The Purchase of a Memorial Gravestone for The Old Town Plot Located in River Bend Cemetery ($14,825.50) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

c.     Resolution Authorizing the Town Manager to Enter into a Contract with BETA Group, Inc. for Soil Testing Services for 328 Atlantic Avenue ($12,250.00) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

d.     Resolution of the Westerly Town Council Authorizing the Town Manager to Enter into a Solar Ground Lease Agreement with Kearsarge Energy for the Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Land Development Project – Discussion and Possible Action

1.     Finalist Recommendations for Solar Landfill RFP

2.     Solar Development Price Comparison

3.     Contract 23-71 RFP, Solar Ground Lease Agreement

 

e.     Resolution of the Town Council Authorizing the Town Manager to Enter into a Purchase and Sale Agreement with The Town of Stonington, Connecticut for The Purchase of Property Commonly Known As 29 Noyes Avenue, Pawcatuck, Ct  – Discussion and Possible Action

 

f.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance Authorizing the Transfer of Funds from the Water Department to Human Resources for Employee Vaccinations” ($1,997.00) – Discussion and Possible Action

               (Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 7/1/2024)

 

 

8.     UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

a.     Ice Skating Rink Property, 61 Main Street – Discussion and Possible Action

1.     Term Sheet for Skating Rink Transfer

2.     Correspondence from Matthew L. Lewiss, President, Congregation Sharah Zedek

 

b.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance in Amendment of Article VI, Operation of Vehicles, of Chapter 238 of the Westerly Code of Ordinances Entitled ‘Vehicles and Traffic’” (Add §238-51. Low-Speed Vehicles) – Discussion and Possible Action

(Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 7/1/2024)

 

c.     Possible Road and Sidewalk Bond, Up to Eighteen Million Dollars ($18,000,000.00) – Discussion and Possible Action

1.     Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Westerly Authorizing Local Question for the Ballot of the General Election to be Held on November 5, 2024 (Up to $18 Million Road and Sidewalk Improvement Bond) – Discussion and Possible Action

2.     Financial Impact Statement

 

d.     Possible Amendments to The Town Charter – Discussion Only

1.     Proposed Amendments Submitted by Advisory Charter Revision Commission

2.     Proposed Amendments Submitted by Residents

 

 

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 – 6/17/24

 

        c.     Town Manager – 6/17/24

 

        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.   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 – Robert J. Broccolo, Sr. v. Town of Westerly et al. – C.A. No.: WC-2024-0137

b)    §42-46-5(a)(2) Litigation – Roger Hall vs. Town of Westerly – Washington County Case No.: 2017-0109

 

 

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.