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

 

        None

 

 

 3.    PRESENTATIONS

 

a.     Wastewater Facility Plan Update – John Tobia, Jacobs Engineering – Presentation Only

 

1.     Nitrogen Reduction Upgrades, Project Orientation and Update

2.     Debt Service Data                                                                                                       

 

 

 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 – 1/6/25 (tabled from 1/27/25); 1/27/25

Executive – 1/6/25 (Sealed)

 

        b.     Fiscal Matters

 

        None

 

        c.     Resignations and Appointments

 

1.   Town Council Liaison Appointment:

a.     Washington County Regional Planning Council

 

2.     Resignation:

        a.     David S. Reis, Harbor Management Commission

 

3.     Appointments:

a.     Economic Development Commission

b.     Board of Recreation

c.     Architectural Review Board

d.     Board of Assessment Review

e.     Planning Board

f.     Concerts on the Beach

g.     Packer of Fish

h.     Director of Soldiers’ & Sailors’ Graves

i.      Municipal Land Trust

j.      Wood-Pawcatuck Wild and Scenic Rivers Stewardship Council

 

 

 6.    PUBLIC HEARINGS (Adv. on 2/3/25 for this time)

 

a.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance in Amendment of Article II, Exemption for Elderly Persons, of Chapter 229 of the Westerly Code of Ordinances entitled ‘Taxation’” (§229-2. Residence exemption for the elderly and totally disabled) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

 

 7.    UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

a.      Westerly Marina Study – Refer to Economic Development Commission for Report Summary, Recommendations, Evaluate Improvement Options, Evaluate Lease Options – Discussion and Possible Action

 

b.      Housing Committee – Possible Appointment of a Permanent Committee to Study Senior Housing, Affordable Low- and Moderate-Income Housing – Discussion and Possible Action

 

 

 8.    NEW BUSINESS

 

a.     Resolution Confirming Westerly Town Council Support for Infrastructure Improvements and Commuter Rail at the Westerly Train Station – Discussion and Possible Action

 

b.     Resolution Creating a Committee to Be Known as Westerly 250^th Commission for the Semi Quincentennial – Discussion and Possible Action

 

c.     RIDE Stage II Submittal for Westerly Public Schools (WPS) Capital Improvements 5 Year Plan – Discussion and Possible Action

 

 

 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 – 1/27/25, 2/10/25

 

        c.     Town Manager – 1/27/25, 2/10/25

 

        d.     Town Solicitor – 2/10/25

 

        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.   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 – Weekapaug Fire District v Town of Westerly, et al, PM-2023-06573

b)    §42-46-5(a)(2) Litigation – Weekapaug Fire District v Town of Westerly, PC-2023-06295

 

 

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.