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 Healy

 

SALUTE TO THE FLAG – Council President Duhamel

 

 

 2.    RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS & MEMORIALS

 

a.     Congratulations – David Thompson, Town of Westerly Tax Assessor – Retirement

 

b.     Congratulations – David A. Sayles, Recognition of Efforts in Coordinating Honor Flights

 

c.     Congratulations – Kayla Edgar, Ian Shepherd, and Brianna Puglia, Representing Rhode Island in the Special Olympics World Winter Games

 

d.     Appreciation – John “Jack” Armstrong

 

 

        RATIFY AND CONFIRM:

 

e.     Appreciation – “National Vietnam War Veterans Day” – March 29, 2025

 

 

 3.    PRESENTATIONS

 

a.     FY2025-2026 Budget Submittal – Finance Board Recommendations Submitted Per Town Charter Sec. 3-1-4(c) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

b.     460 Bradford Road, Former Bradford Dye Association (BDA) Site – Aurora Leigh, First National Development R.I., LLC – Discussion

 

c.     Rhode Island Energy – Energy Prices – Discussion

 

 

 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 – 3/3/25, 3/17/25

 

 

        b.     Fiscal Matters

 

1.     Resolution Authorizing the Waiver of Penalty for Late Payments ($58.60)

 

2.     Resolution Authorizing Payment to The Law Office of Cameron & Mittleman LLP (Litigation Matters - $1,912.49)

 

 

        c.     Resignations and Appointments

 

1.     Resignation:

        a.     John D. Armstrong, Planning Board

 

2.     Appointments:

a.     Licensing Board

b.     Board of Recreation

c.     Appraiser of Dog Damage

 

 

 6.    PUBLIC HEARINGS (Adv. on 3/31/2025 for this time)

 

a.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance Establishing a Permanent Housing Committee” – Discussion and Possible Action

 

b.     Notice of DEM Wastewater Facilities Plan Amendment

 

 

 7.    UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

               None

 

 

 8.    NEW BUSINESS

 

a.     Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) – Program Year 2023-2024 Application – Discussion and Possible Action

        (Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 5/5/25)

 

 

 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 – 4/7/25

 

        c.     Town Manager – 4/7/25

 

        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 – Trestle Park, LLC v. Trestle Park, LLC, v. Dyann Baker, in her capacity as the Finance Director of the Town of Westerly, and William J. Aiello, Joy L. Cordio, Dylan L. LaPietra , Kevin J. Lowther, II, Edward P. Morrone, Philip M. Overton, JR, Mary E. Scialabba, in their official capacities as Members of the Westerly Town Council, and Westerly Post Road 16, LLC and Danteri D Limited Partnership, WC-2023-0227.

 

b)   §42-46-5(a)(2) Litigation – Trestle Park, LLC v. Town of Westerly Zoning Board of  Review et al., WC-2023-0577.

 

c)   §42-46-5(a)(2) Litigation – Trestle Park, LLC v. Town of Westerly Planning Board, et al., WC-2024-0190.

 

 

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.