1.  6:02 P.M.  CALL TO ORDER

 

       Present:   Pres. Duhamel, Vice Pres. Scialabba

                       Councilors LaPietra, Niemeyer, Healy, Van Dover, Aiello

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

 

        Absent:    T. Sol. Conley

                       

        Also Present:    M. Davy, Assistant Town Manager

                                 Sara Hassell, Finance Director

 

 

 2.    PUBLIC HEARING (Adv. on 4/9/25 & 4/16/26 for this time)

 

        a.     Proposed FY2026/2027 Budget – Formal Adoption

 

Motion by Mr. Aiello, Seconded by Ms. Healy, that the public hearing be opened.  (Voted Unanimously)

 

     Participants:  Maria Bernier, President, Board of Trustees, Westerly Library and Wilcox Park, 44 Broad St – re: Thanked Town for financial support; Lee Eastbourne, Executive Director, Jonnycake Center, 23 Industrial Dr – re: Provided an update on the Center’s operational year and services provided and thanked the Town for its continued support; Rachel Jones, Chief, Westerly Ambulance Corps, 30 Chestnut St – re: Thanked Council for restoring $50,000 and continued support; Brigitte Hopkins, Executive Director, Westerly Library and Wilcox Park, 44 Broad St – re: Thanked Council for continued financial support

 

     Council President Duhamel entered into the record correspondence from the following individuals regarding the subsidy for the Westerly Public Library and Wilcox Park:  Robert Chiaradio, Lori Wycall

 

     Councilor LaPietra explained his reason for not voting in favor of the FY2027 budget, stating that he cannot vote in favor of the local school appropriation that requests an increase in its operating budget and continues to run a surplus every year.  He also felt that there needs to be a reduction in administrative staffing.

 

     Councilor Van Dover explained her reason for not voting in favor of the FY2027 budget, stating that she wished she could vote on the municipal budget and the school budget separately because she is in favor of the municipal budget but not the increase in the school budget.  She stated that she too agrees that the school administrative staffing is top heavy.

 

Motion by Mr. Aiello, Seconded by Mr. Niemeyer, that the public hearing be closed and the FY2026/2027 General Government Budget, as presented by the Finance Board and as further adjusted by the Town Council, along with the budget resolutions included within, be adopted.  A poll vote was taken as follows and the motion carried:  (So Voted 5 to 2 – Councilors LaPietra and Van Dover dissented)

 

                                                YES                                         NO

 

                                             Aiello                                       LaPietra

                                             Niemeyer                                Van Dover

                                             Healy

                                             Scialabba

                                             Duhamel

 

 

 3.    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.

 

        None

 

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.)

 

     None

 

 

 4.    ADJOURNMENT

 

        6:32 P.M.  Voted Unanimously to adjourn.

 

 

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