AMENDED AGENDA

 

 

 

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 Duhamel

 

 

 2.    RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS & MEMORIALS

 

a.     Condolence – Ronald J. Gwaltney

 

b.     Condolence – Thomas L. Toscano, Jr.

 

c.     Proclamation – Purple Heart Day, August 7, 2025 and Purple Heart Town, Westerly

 

 

 3.    PRESENTATIONS

 

a.     Community Choice Aggregation Program – Bart Fromuth, FREEDOM energy logistics and Stuart Ormsbee, Colonial Power Group – Discussion and Possible Action

 

        1.  Resolution Authorizing the Town Manager to Enter into an Electric Service Agreement with a Competitive Supplier as Part of the Community Choice Aggregation Program – Discussion and Possible Action

 

        2.  Community Choice Aggregation, Indicative Price Proposals

 

        3.  Colonial Power Group, Electric Service Agreement Template

 

        4.  23/24-62 Resolution Authorizing the Town Manager to Enter into a Contract with Colonial Power Group, Inc. for Professional Services Related to the Development and Implementation of a Community Choice Aggregation Program (adopted 3/18/2024)

 

 

 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 – 7/7/25 (amended), 7/21/25

Executive – 5/19/25 (Sealed); 6/2/25 (Sealed)

 

        b.     Fiscal Matters

 

1.     Resolution Authorizing Payment to The Law Office of Cameron & Mittleman LLP (Litigation Matters - $5,397.91)

 

        c.     Resignations and Appointments

 

         None

 

 

 6.    PUBLIC HEARINGS

 

               None

 

 

 7.    UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

               None

 

 

 8.    NEW BUSINESS

 

Suspend Town Council Rules of Procedure – Rule 9(d) – Council Operations to Discuss and Consider the Following Items:  8.a., 8.b., 8.c., 8.d., 8.e., 8.f., and 8.g.

 

a.     Resolution in Opposition to Pending State Firearms Legislation (reference to Rhode Island Bills H5436 and RI S359) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

b.     Resolution Authorizing the Town Manager to Enter into a Contract with Community Infrastructure Partners LLC to Develop and Implement a Lead Service Line Replacement Program – Discussion and Possible Action

 

        1.  Lead Service Line (LSL) Replacement, Informational PowerPoint (previously presented on 7/21/2025)

        2.  Lead Service Line (LSL) Replacement, Master Partnership Agreement Summary

        3.  Lead Service Line (LSL) Replacement, Master Professional Services Agreement

 

c.     Resolution Requesting the State of Rhode Island Department of Transportation to Prioritize the Addition of Sidewalks and Restoration of Curb Reveal on Church Street (Route 216) – Discussion and Possible Action 

 

d.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance in Amendment of Chapter 21 of the Westerly Code of Ordinances Prohibiting Roadway, Sidewalks, and Infrastructure in Napatree Point – Discussion and Possible Action

        (Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 8/18/25)

 

e.     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’” (Amend §238-50. Obedience to stop signs) – Discussion and Possible Action

        (Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 8/18/25)

 

f.     Rules of Procedure to Govern 2024-2026 Town Council – Amend Rule 3(a) – Order of Business and Agenda by eliminating (10) Citizens’ Comments/Councilors’ Response and updating Adjournment from (11) to (10); Amend Rule 7(a) – Liaisons by eliminating “Appointments Subcommittee (Municipal)”; Rule 8(d) – Appointments/Application Review Process by having the full Council review applications and may conduct an interview with each applicant; and Rule 11(a) and Rule 11(f)(2)(a) – Citizens’ Comments by eliminating the second Citizens’ Comments/Councilors’ Response and removing the Topic Violation of agenda items only on the first Citizens’ Comments – Discussion and Possible Action

 

g.     Westerly Code of Ordinance §145-25 Entitled “Residential Zone Short-Term Rental Registration” – Schedule date and time of workshop – Discussion and Possible Action

        1.  Proposed Ordinance

        2.  Chapter 2066 Ordinance (passed on 9/23/2024)

 

 

 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 – 8/4/25

 

        c.     Town Manager – 8/4/25

 

        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 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.   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.