1.  6:05 P.M.  CALL TO ORDER

 

Present:   Pres. Duhamel, Vice Pres. Scialabba

                 Councilors Niemeyer, Healy, LaPietra, Van Dover, Aiello

                 T. Mgr. Lacey, Co. Clk. LeBlanc, T. Sgt. Falcone

 

Present via zoom:  T. Sol. O’Toole

 

INVOCATION – Councilor Healy

 

SALUTE TO THE FLAG – Council President Duhamel

 

 

 2.    RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS & MEMORIALS

 

a.     Proclamation – ALS Awareness Month, May 2026

 

     Mr. David Brannick was present to accept the resolution, read aloud by Councilor Healy. 

 

b.     Proclamation – National Small Business Week, May 3-May 9, 2026

 

     No one was present to accept the resolution, read aloud by Councilor Scialabba.

 

 

 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. 

 

a.     Jean Gagnier, 6 Narragansett Ave – re: Invited everyone to planting of Town’s Liberty Tree in Wilcox Park on Friday, April 24, 2026; re: Suspending of Town Council Rules of Procedure – Rule 9(d); re: Item #8a – Resolution regarding Second Amendment Right

 

b.     Maurice Devine, 10 Brown Dr – re: #8a – Resolution regarding Second Amendment Right

 

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.)

 

     Councilors responded to Citizens’ Comments concerning the Resolution regarding Second Amendment Right and suspending of Town Council Rules of Procedure, Rule 9(d).

 

 

 5.    CONSENT CALENDAR

 

        a.     Approval of Minutes

Regular – 4/6/26

Budget Workshop – 4/9/26

 

     Councilor LaPietra requested that the April 6, 2026 Regular Meeting minutes be amended by striking language which states that Town Manager Lacey distributed a copy of the map showing the proposed locations of the bike docking racks because he and several other Councilors do not recall receiving the document. 

 

Motion by Mr. Aiello, Seconded by Ms. Van Dover, that the aforesaid April 6, 2026 Regular Meeting minutes be accepted and approved as amended.  (So Voted 6 to 1 – Councilor Scialabba dissented)

 

Motion by Mr. Aiello, Seconded by Ms. Scialabba, that the aforesaid April 9, 2026 Workshop Meeting minutes be accepted and approved as printed.  (Voted Unanimously)

 

        b.     Fiscal Matters

 

Motion by Mr. Aiello, Seconded by Ms. Van Dover, that the following resolutions be adopted.  (Voted Unanimously)

 

1.     25/26-75 Resolution Authorizing the Deletion to the Tax Rolls ($11,014.80)

 

2.     25/26-76 Resolution Authorizing Payment to the Law Office of Cameron & Mittleman LLP (Litigation Matters - $807.50)

 

        c.     Resignations and Appointments

 

1.   Resignation:

a.     Elaine Temel, Multicultural Committee

 

Motion by Ms. Van Dover, Seconded by Mr. LaPietra, that the aforesaid resignation be accepted with regret and that the Council Clerk be directed to send a letter of appreciation to Ms. Temel.  (Voted Unanimously)

 

b.     Captain Jason Jarvis, Harbor Management Commission

 

Motion by Ms. Van Dover, Seconded by Mr. Aiello, that the aforesaid resignation be accepted with regret and that the Council Clerk be directed to send a letter of appreciation to Mr. Jarvis.  (Voted Unanimously)

 

c.     Leonard Frank Saponare, Zoning Board

 

Motion by Ms. Van Dover, Seconded by Mr. Aiello, that the aforesaid resignation be accepted with regret and that the Council Clerk be directed to send a letter of appreciation to Mr. Saponare.  (Voted Unanimously)

 

 

 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., 8.b., 8.c., and 8.d.

 

Motion by Ms. Scialabba, Seconded by Ms. Van Dover, that Rule 9(d) of the Town Council Rules of Procedure, which states, “Any matter of new business, which has been considered favorably by the Council, will be moved to the following meeting for consideration,” be suspended in order to discuss and consider the following – Item 8.a.:  (So Voted 6 to 1 – Council President Duhamel dissented)

 

a.     25/26-77 Resolution of the Town of Westerly, Rhode Island in Opposition to Rhode Island House Bills H7035, H7755, H8068, H8071, and H8075 (Second Amendment Right) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

Motion by Ms. Van Dover, Seconded by Mr. LaPietra, that the aforesaid resolution be adopted. 

 

Motion by Ms. Van Dover, Seconded by Mr. LaPietra, that the main motion be amended to substitute the original resolution with Resolution SubA that includes the Senate bills.  (Voted Unanimously)

 

A vote was taken on the main motion, as amended, and the motion carried.  (Voted Unanimously)

 

Motion by Ms. Healy, Seconded by Mr. LaPietra, that Rule 9(d) of the Town Council Rules of Procedure, which states, “Any matter of new business, which has been considered favorably by the Council, will be moved to the following meeting for consideration,” be suspended in order to discuss and consider the following – Item 8.b.:  (Voted Unanimously)

 

b.     25/26-78 Resolution Authorizing the Town Manager to Enter Into a Purchase and Sales Agreement with Joy Fellowship Assembly of God, Inc. to Purchase 77-79 Bowling Lane, Plat 22, Lot 5E, for Purposes of a Community Basketball Court (not to exceed $65,000.00) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

Motion by Ms. Healy, Seconded by Mr. Aiello, that the aforesaid resolution be adopted.  (Voted Unanimously)

 

Motion by Ms. Healy, Seconded by Ms. Van Dover, that Rule 9(d) of the Town Council Rules of Procedure, which states, “Any matter of new business, which has been considered favorably by the Council, will be moved to the following meeting for consideration,” be suspended in order to discuss and consider the following – Item 8.c.:  (Voted Unanimously)

 

c.     25/26-79 Resolution of the Town of Westerly Opposing Proposals to Increase the Legal Size and Weight of Commercial Motor Vehicles – Discussion and Possible Action

1.     Safety Data, Infrastructure Cost Research, and Environmental Impact Information

 

Motion by Ms. Healy, Seconded by Ms. Van Dover, that the aforesaid resolution be adopted.  (Voted Unanimously)

 

d.     Resolution Authorizing the Town Manager to Enter Into a Contract with Rockwell Amusements & Promotions, Inc./New England Rides & Amusements, Inc. to Provide Family-Oriented Amusement Rides, Carnival Games, and Carnival Food Booths at Wuskenau Beach, Pondside Area – Discussion and Possible Action

 

Present:  Caswell Cooke, Jr., Executive Director, Misquamicut Beach Association (MBA)

 

     Mr. Cooke responded to Council questions from the Council regarding the proposal’s possible interference with the drive-in theatre, public restroom facilities, Rockwell Amusements & Promotions employee housing, notification to Misquamicut Fire District, responsibility for electricity costs, letter of support from Misquamicut Business Association, ticket prices, parking, and the Town receiving 15% of ticket sales. 

 

Motion by Mr. LaPietra, Seconded by Mr. Aiello, that the aforesaid resolution be continued to the May 4, 2026 Regular Meeting.  (Voted Unanimously)

 

 

 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

 

1.     250^th Commission for the Semi Quincentennial – Children’s event held in Wilcox Park on Saturday, April 18, 2026, was a fun event for all; Drone Show scheduled for May 2, 2025  (Councilor Niemeyer)

 

2.     Economic Development Commission – April 14, 2026 meeting not held due to lack of quorum  (Councilor Van Dover)

 

3.     Planning Board – Felt that the Town will never reach the 10% requirement for LMI by the way it is set up by the State; next meeting on April 21, 2026  (Councilor Van Dover)

 

4.     Harbor Management Commission – Commission wants to be part of the design of the former water slide property  (Council President Duhamel)

 

        b.     Town Council

 

1.     Item #13 4/20/26 – From RIDOT – re: Disposition of Surplus State Land; land adjacent to 2480 Post Road – Responding to Councilor Van Dover, Town Manager explained that the State has to offer the Town of Westerly right of first refusal before offering the property to Ring’s End lumber company.  He stated that the Town has no interest in the property.

 

        c.     Town Manager

 

1.     Congressional Directed Spending Requests – Councilor Niemeyer requested that the Council receive a summary of the Congressional Directed Spending requests that was submitted to Congress  (Councilor Niemeyer)

 

2.     Item #3 4/20/26 – Invitation from Save the Bay’s New Rights-of-Way Monitoring Program, Volunteer Opportunity May 2 – May 11, received from Catie Alves, Ph.D. of Save the Bay – Councilor Van Dover explained that Save the Bay is recruiting volunteers to monitor rights of way to ensure the shoreline is open, safe and accessible to all. 

 

        d.     Town Solicitor

 

                       None

 

        e.     Town Clerk

 

                       None

 

        f.     Agenda Referrals and Backlog Agenda (Items to be assigned to future agendas)

 

        None

 

g.     Requests of Town Manager by Councilors

 

1.     Potter Hill Dam – Responding to Councilor LaPietra, Town Manager Lacey reported that a meeting was held today and the Town did not secure any federal funding for the project.

 

     Council President Duhamel stated that the aforesaid matter will be placed on an agenda.

 

        h.     Requests of Town Solicitor by Councilors

 

        None

 

 

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.

 

a.     Maurice Devine, 10 Brown Dr – re: Resolution regarding Second Amendment right – thanked Council for adopting Resolution SubA

 

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.)

 

     Councilors responded to Citizens’ Comments regarding Mr. Devine’s education on the Second Amendment right.

 

 

11.   ADJOURNMENT

 

        7:34 P.M.  Voted Unanimously to adjourn.    

 

 

     Details of the aforesaid proceedings are available on video on the Town of Westerly website.