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 Aiello

 

SALUTE TO THE FLAG – Council President Duhamel

 

 

 2.    RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS & MEMORIALS

 

a.     Congratulations – Ocean Lombard, Miss Rhode Island Teen 2025

 

 

 3.    PRESENTATIONS

 

a.     Declaration of Intent to Petition for Recall of an Elected Official

 

 

 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 – 5/5/25 (corrected)

Budget Workshop – 5/15/25

Executive – 5/5/25 (Sealed)

 

        b.     Fiscal Matters

 

        None

 

        c.     Resignations and Appointments

 

1.     Appointments:

a.      Multicultural Committee

b.      Westerly Housing Authority

c.      Planning Board

d.      Westerly 250^th Commission for the Semi Quincentennial

 

 

 6.    PUBLIC HEARINGS (Adv. on 5/26/25 for this time)

 

a.     Proposed FY2025/2026 Water, Sewer and Transfer Station Budgets – Discussion and Possible Action

        (Please bring materials previously submitted)

 

 

1.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance Setting Water Rate Schedules for the 2025-2026 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; adding $100.00 infrastructure improvement fee; Commercial & Industrial - $126.00 per unit Service Charge plus $5.16 per 100 cu. ft. in excess of 4,800 cu. ft. per meter and add $100.00 infrastructure improvement fee; Backflow Preventer testing fee and Cross Connection inspection fee will be contracted vendor cost plus 15%; On/Off charges - $100.00 per site visit; and hourly labor rate for service work increased to $100.00 per hour) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

2.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance Establishing the Sewer Use or Service Charge for Fiscal Year 2025-2026” ($356.00 per unit) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

3.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance Establishing the Ad Valorem Tax on Personal and Real Property for the Fiscal Year 2025-2026” ($0.67 per $1,000 of assessed valuation) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

b.     Proposed Ordinance – An Ordinance in Amendment of Section 217-10 entitled ‘Special Fees and Agreements’ of Article I, Solid Waste Disposal Facility, of Chapter 217 of the Westerly Code of Ordinances entitled ‘Solid Waste’” (Amend §217-10(D) regarding annual permit fee) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

 

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. and 8.b.

 

a.     Resolution Authorizing the Town Manager to Enter into a Contract for Financial Auditing Services with CBIZ CPAs P.C. ($91,000/FY25; $93,500/FY26; $96,000/FY27) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

b.     Vote to Schedule a Special Meeting on Thursday, June 5, 2025 at 6:00 PM – Discussion and Possible Action

 

c.     2024 $18 Million Road Bond – Discussion and Possible Action

1.     DRAFT Cost Estimate

2.     DRAFT Project List

 

d.     Short-term Rental Registration Ordinance – 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 – 6/2/25

 

        c.     Town Manager – 6/2/25

 

        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.   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) Collective Bargaining – IBPO Contract.

 

 

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.