William J. Aiello, President;                Philip M. Overton, Vice President

Councilors Kevin J. Lowther, II, Joy L. Cordio, Dylan J. LaPietra, Mary E. Scialabba, Robert L. Lombardo

Shawn Lacey, Town Manager;           Law Firm of William J. Conley, Jr., Town Solicitor

Mary L. LeBlanc, MMC, Town Clerk;             Patrick J. Falcone, Town Sergeant

 

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 Lombardo

 

SALUTE TO THE FLAG – Council President Aiello

 

 

2.     RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS & MEMORIALS

 

a.     Proclamation – “Veterans of Foreign Wars Day” – September 29, 2024

 

 

3.     PRESENTATIONS

 

a.     Final Report – Former Bradford School Site Study Committee (Ad Hoc)

 

 

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 – 9/9/24

 

        b.     Fiscal Matters

 

1.     Resolution Authorizing the Waiver of Penalty for Late Payments ($985.12)

 

2.     Resolution Authorizing the Waiver of Penalty for Late Payments ($50.00)

 

3.     Resolution Authorizing Deletion to Tax Rolls ($6,737.43)

 

4.     Resolution Authorizing the Addition to the Pro-Rated Tax Rolls ($12,622.01)

 

        c.     Resignations and Appointments

 

1.     Resignation:

        a.     Nicholas Carr, Board of Finance

 

2.     Appointments:

a.     Town Council Liaison – Housing Authority

b.     Conservation Commission

c.     Zoning Board – Auxiliary Member

 

 

6.     PUBLIC HEARINGS (Adv. on 9/16/2024 for this time)

 

a.     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

 

        1.   Planning Board Recommendation filed 7/22/2024

 

        2.   Short-Term Rental Boundary Map

 

3.     Correspondence in opposition to proposed amendments received from:

a.     Carolyn R. Duksta

b.     Colleen Szarek

c.     Pam Cornelio

d.     Lisa Ferraro (1 of 2)

e.     Lisa Ferraro (2 of 2)

f.     David Robinson

g.     Manny Capellan

h.     Donna Parssinen

i.      Partridge Snow & Hahn - Michael L. Mineau, Counsel

 

7.     UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

            None

 

 

8.     NEW BUSINESS

 

a.     Resolution Authorizing the Town Manager to Enter into A Contract with Fuss & O’Neill, Inc. for Professional Services Related to Planning Assistance for the Pawcatuck River Aquatic Connectivity at Potter Hill Dam Project – Discussion and Possible Action

 

        1.  Amended Agreement for Professional Services

 

 

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 – 9/23/24

 

        c.     Town Manager – 9/23/24

 

        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)(5) – Land Acquisition – Discussion or consideration related to the Acquisition of Real Property for public purposes wherein advanced public information would be detrimental to the interest of the public

b)    §42-46-5(a)(2) Litigation – Trestle Park, LLC v. Westerly Planning Board et al., and Westerly Post Road 16 LLC, WC-2024-0190 

c)    §42-46-5(a)(2) Litigation – Trestle Park, LLC v. Westerly Zoning Board et al., and Westerly Post Road 16 LLC, WC-2023-0577 

d)    §42-46-5(a)(2) Litigation – Trestle Park, LLC v Dyann Baker, et al, WC-2023-0227 

 

 

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.