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 Van Dover

 

SALUTE TO THE FLAG – Council President Duhamel

 

 

 2.    RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS & MEMORIALS

 

a.        Proclamation – Lung Cancer Action Week, Second Week in May

 

b.    Proclamation – Pride Month, June 2025

 

c.     Proclamation – Neighbor Day, Sunday, May 18, 2025

      

d.    Proclamation – Victory in Europe Day, May 8, 2025

 

       RATIFY AND CONFIRM:

 

e.    Congratulations – 2025 Westerly High School Athletic Hall of Fame

       Elmer Cornell (Posthumously)        Hannah Dobson

       John Chiaradio                                Logan Hellwig

       Liz Cruso                                          Frank Abate, Jr.

      

f.     Congratulations – 2025 Westerly High School Music Hall of Fame

       Jennifer Christina                            Ray Steadman

       Charles Cofone                                Krista Martin

       Larry Fisher                                      Frank Pendola

       Sandra Irving                                   Alfred Wood

 

 

 3.    PRESENTATIONS

 

a.    Proposed FY2025/2026 Water & Sewer and Transfer Station Fund Budgets

       Presented by Finance Board per Town Charter – Discussion and Possible Action

       (See material under separate cover)

 

 

 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 – 4/7/25

Budget Workshop – 4/9/25, 4/16/25, 4/21/25

Special – 4/16/25, 4/22/25

 

        b.    Fiscal Matters

 

                    None

 

        c.     Resignations and Appointments

 

1.    Resignation:

a.     Paula Brouillette, Board of Finance, effective 5/31/2025

 

 

 6.    PUBLIC HEARINGS (Adv. on 4/23/25 for this time)

 

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

1.     Resolution Authorizing Submission of a Community Development Block Grant Application to The Rhode Island Office of Housing and Community Development ($8,033,000.00)

2.     Letter from Planning Board Chair, Matthew O’Neil

 

 

 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., and 8.c.

 

a.    Resolution Requesting Westerly’s Delegation to the General Assembly Submit Legislation to Amend RIGL § 3-7-27 – Insurance Requirements to Include the Town of Westerly (Town of Westerly be named as an additional insured on certificates of insurance) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

b.    Resolution of the Town of Westerly in Support of 2025 House Bill – H5634 Defending Affordable Prescription Drug Costs Act – Discussion and Possible Action

 

c.     Resolution of the Town of Westerly in Support of Senate Bill S-57 and House Bill H-5393 Regarding the Maintenance of Sidewalks – 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 – 5/5/25

 

        c.     Town Manager – 5/5/25

 

        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) Litigation – Watch Hill Fire District et al. v. Town of Westerly et al. – C.A. No.: WM-2023-0190

 

 

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.