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 Niemeyer

 

SALUTE TO THE FLAG – Council President Duhamel

 

 

 2.    RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS & MEMORIALS

 

a.     Congratulations – Westerly’s Rhody Waverunners, 16U 2025 Girls Fastpitch Softball State Champions

 

b.     Congratulations – Washington Trust Company, 225^th Anniversary

 

        RATIFY AND CONFIRM:

 

c.     Congratulations – The Westerly Hospital, 100^th Anniversary

 

d.     Congratulations – American Legion, Harold W. Merrill, Post #16

 

 

 3.    PRESENTATIONS

 

               None

 

 

 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 – 8/18/25

 

        b.     Fiscal Matters

 

1.     Resolution Authorizing the Waiver of Penalty for Late Payments ($66.80)

 

        c.     Resignations and Appointments

 

1.     Appointments:

a.     Conservation Commission

b.     Planning Board

 

 

 6.    PUBLIC HEARINGS (Adv. on 9/1/25 for this time)

 

a.     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

 

        1.  Correspondence from Attorney Gerald J. Petros representing the Watch Hill Fire District (“WHFD”) and The Watch Hill Conservancy (“WHC”) in opposition to the Proposed Ordinance.

       

 

 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. and 8.f.

 

a.     Resolution Authorizing the Town Manager to Enter into a Contract with Pare Corporation for Engineering Design Services for Pierce Street Infrastructure Improvements Project ($163,942.00) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

 

b.     Resolution Authorizing the Town Manager to Enter into a Contract with Narragansett Improvements Company for White Rock Kayak Launch Road Improvements Project ($83,333.40) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

c.     Purchase and Sales Agreement Authorizing the Town Manager to Enter into a Purchase and Sales Agreement for Properties Located at 332-338 Atlantic Avenue, Plat 167, Lot 43 and Landlocked Property Off of Atlantic Avenue, Plat 166, Lot 16 – Purchase and Sales Agreement Attached Hereto and Incorporated Herein  – Discussion and Possible Action

 

d.     Purchase and Sales Agreement Authorizing the Town Manager to Enter into a Purchase and Sales Agreement for Properties Located at 364-374 Atlantic Avenue – Purchase and Sales Agreement Attached Hereto and Incorporated Herein  – Discussion and Possible Action

 

e.     Resolution of the Town of Westerly in Support of the Coastal Resources Management Council’s (CRMC) Possible Designation of Atlantic Avenue as a CRMC Recognized Right-Of-Way (ROW)  – Discussion and Possible Action

 

f.     Resolution of the Town of Westerly in Support of the Coastal Resources Management Council’s (CRMC) Possible Designation of Breach Drive as a CRMC Recognized Right-Of-Way (ROW)  – 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 – 9/8/25

 

        c.     Town Manager – 9/8/25

 

        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 and

 

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.