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 Aiello

 

SALUTE TO THE FLAG – Council President Duhamel

 

 

 2.    RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS & MEMORIALS

 

a.     Condolence – Raymond Capalbo

 

b.     Congratulations – Allyson Faubert, Girl Scout Gold Award

 

c.     Proclamation – Pride Month, June 2026

 

 

 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 – 5/18/26

Workshop – 5/18/26

Executive – 5/4/26 (sealed)

 

        b.     Fiscal Matters

 

1.     Resolution Authorizing Payment to the Law Office of Cameron & Mittleman LLP (Litigation Matters - $4,590.00)

 

        c.     Resignations and Appointments

 

1.     Resignation:

        a.     Seth M. Logan, Westerly Housing Committee

 

2.     Appointments:

a.     Licensing Board

 

 

 6.    PUBLIC HEARINGS (Adv. on 5/23/26 for this time)

 

a.     Proposed FY2026/2027 Water, Sewer, and Transfer Station Budgets – Discussion and Possible Action

        (Please bring materials previously submitted)

 

1.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance Setting Water Rate Schedules for the 2026-2027 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; hourly labor rate for service work increased to $125.00 per hour; and hourly labor rate for water meter repairs during work hours shall be $50.00 per hour) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

2.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance Establishing the Sewer Use or Service Charge for Fiscal Year 2026-2027” ($400.00 per unit) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

3.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance Establishing the Ad Valorem Tax on Personal and Real Property for the Fiscal Year 2026-2027” ($1.08 per $1,000 of assessed valuation within the sewer locus and $0.15 per $1,000 of assessed valuation outside of the sewer locus) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

 

 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., 8.f., 8.g., 8.h., and 8.i.

 

a.     Resolution Authorizing the Town of Westerly to Enter Into a Two-Year Contract with The Law Firm of William J. Conley, Jr. to Provide Legal Services to the Town of Westerly – Discussion and Possible Action

1.     Current Two-Year Contract, July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2026

2.     Proposed Two-Year Contract, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2028

 

b.     Resolution Authorizing the Town Manager to Enter Into a Lease Agreement with the United States Postal Service for the Parking Lot at 11 High Street, Assessor’s Plat 56, Lot 80 ($7,524.00) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

c.     Resolution Authorizing the Westerly Multicultural Committee to Assume Permanent Responsibility for Neighbor Day – Discussion and Possible Action

 

d.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance Repealing Article XI, Neighbor Day Committee, Of Chapter 5 of the Westerly Code of Ordinances entitled ‘Boards, Committees and Commissions’” – Discussion and Possible Action 

(Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 6/22/2026)

 

e.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance in Amendment of Article II, Board of Recreation, Of Chapter 5 of the Westerly Code of Ordinances entitled ‘Boards, Committees and Commissions’ (Amend § 5-4, Creation; functions, by eliminating language charging the Board of Recreation to work with the Neighbor Day Committee to coordinate activities for Neighbor Day events)” – Discussion and Possible Action

(Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 6/22/2026)

 

f.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance Repealing Article XVIII, Bike Path and Cycling Advisory Commission, Of Chapter 5 of the Westerly Code of Ordinances entitled ‘Boards, Committees and Commissions’” – Discussion and Possible Action

(Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 6/22/2026)

 

g.     American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding Request – Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce – Discussion and Possible Action

 

h.     Potter Hill Mill Dam – Discussion

 

i.      Town-Owned Property – 302-308 Atlantic Avenue (Pondside Parking Lot) – Discussion and Possible Action

1.     Lot Operations and/or Potential Lease

2.     Referral to Board of Recreation for Current and Future Uses

 

 

 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 – 6/1/26

 

        c.     Town Manager – 6/1/26

 

        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.   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.