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 – Mental Health Awareness Month, May 2025

 

b.     Observation – Memorial Day, May 26, 2025

 

c.     Proclamation – International Firefighters’ Day, May 4, 2025

 

        RATIFY AND CONFIRM:

 

d.     Proclamation – National Police Week, May 11-May 17, 2025 and Peace Officers Memorial Day, May 15, 2025

       

 

 3.    PRESENTATIONS

 

a.     Public Utility Water Storage Tanks Maintenance Program Presentation

 

b.     Tower Street Community Center – Update

 

 

 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

Executive – 3/3/25 (Sealed)

 

        b.     Fiscal Matters

 

1.     Resolution Authorizing Deletion to Tax Rolls ($5,285.53)

 

2.     Resolution Authorizing Payment to Thomas F. Morgan, M.D. (Litigation Matter - $5,000.00)

 

        c.     Resignations and Appointments

 

1.     Appointments:

a.      Multicultural Committee

b.      Planning Board

c.      Harbor Management Commission

 

 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.

 

a.     Resolution Authorizing The Disbursement of Opioid Settlement Funding to the Westerly Ambulance Corps ($95,373.44) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

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

        (Please bring materials previously submitted)

(Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 6/2/2025)

 

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

        (Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 6/2/2025)

 

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

        (Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 6/2/2025)

 

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

        (Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 6/2/2025)

 

c.     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

(Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 6/2/2025)

 

 

 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 – 5/19/25

 

        c.     Town Manager – 5/19/25

 

        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 – 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.