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 LaPietra

 

SALUTE TO THE FLAG – Council President Aiello

 

 

2. RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS & MEMORIALS

 

a. Proclamation – ALS Awareness Month, May 2024

 

b. Proclamation – National Police Week, May 12-May 18, 2024 and Peace Officers Memorial Day, May 15, 2024

 

c. Proclamation – Mental Health Month, May 2024

 

d. Celebration – Memorial Day, May 27, 2024

 

 

3. PRESENTATIONS

 

a.     Ad Hoc Affordable Housing Study Committee – Captain Theodore Lee Rice, Co-Chair and Nicholas Scola, Co-Chair – Discussion and Possible Action

 

1. Reconsider Committee’s timeline to October 1, 2024

 

 

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 – 5/6/24

 

        b.        Fiscal Matters

 

None

 

        c.  Resignations and Appointments

 

1. Resignation:

     a. Brian Lumnah, Westerly Housing Authority

 

 

6.     PUBLIC HEARINGS

 

                None

 

 

7.     NEW BUSINESS

 

Suspend Town Council Rules Of Procedure – Rule 9(d) – Council Operations To Discuss And Consider The Following Item:  7a.

 

a. Resolution Of The Westerly Town Council Authorizing The Town Manager To Participate In The Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank Sewer Tie-In Loan Fund Program – Discussion and Possible Action

 

b. Proposed FY2023/2024 Water, Sewer and Transfer Station Budgets – Discussion and Possible Action

   (Please bring materials previously submitted)

(Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 6/3/2024)

 

1. Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance Setting Water Rate Schedules For The 2024-2025 Fiscal Year” (Single Unit Residential - $126.00 per unit Service Charge plus $4.46 per 100 cu. ft. in excess of 4,800 cu. ft. per meter; Commercial & Industrial - $126.00 per unit Service Charge plus $5.16 per 100 cu. ft. in excess of 4,800 cu. ft. per meter; increase Cross Connection inspection $85.00 per location) – Discussion and Possible Action

(Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 6/3/2024)

 

2. Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance Establishing The Sewer Use Or Service Charge For Fiscal Year 2024-2025” ($356.00 per unit) – Discussion and Possible Action

(Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 6/3/2024)

 

3. Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance Establishing The Ad Valorem Tax On Personal And Real Property For The Fiscal Year 2024-2025” ($0.64 per $1,000 of assessed valuation) – Discussion and Possible Action

(Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 6/3/2024)

 

c. Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance In Amendment Of Part II Of The Town Of Westerly Code Of Ordinances Entitled, “General Legislation” Chapter 238 Entitled “Vehicles And Traffic” Article VI Entitled “Operation Of Vehicles” To Prohibit Operation Of Low-Speed Vehicles.” (Add §238-51. Low-Speed Vehicles) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

d. Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance In Amendment Of Section 145-25, Residential Zone Short-Term Rental Registration, Of Chapter 145 Of The Westerly Code Of Ordinances Entitled ‘Housing Standards’” – Discussion and Possible Action

 

e. Rules of Procedure To Govern 2022-2024 Town Council – Proposed Amendments – Discussion and Possible Action

1. Amend Rule 6(a) to Redefine Rules of Order:  Conduct of Debate

2. Amend Rule 8 – Appointments by Removing Requirement to List Board Vacancies on Council Agendas

3. Amend Rule 11 – Citizens Comments regarding Topic Violations

4. Add Rule 18 on Use of E-mail Communications

 

f. Possibility of Adding a Town Council Liaison to the Planning Board – Discussion Only

1. Westerly Code of Ordinances – Article V of Chapter 5 – Planning Board

2. Planning Board Project Status Report

 

 

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. Planning Board Recommendation, received 5/8/2024

 

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

 

b. Resolution By Westerly School Committee Seeking An Internal Audit Of The Town’s Payroll Department – Update

1. Correspondence To TIAA From Whelan Corrente & Flanders LLP, dated May 9, 2024

2. Correspondence From Dr. Mark Garceau, dated May 9, 2024

3. Correspondence To TIAA From Whelan Corrente & Flanders LLP, dated April 24, 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 – 5/20/24

 

        c.        Town Manager – 5/20/24

 

        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.