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.     Congratulations – Mikenlee Santos, Westerly 250^th Anniversary Essay Writing Competition Winner

 

b.     Congratulations – Samantha Giorno, Westerly 250^th Anniversary Essay Writing Competition Winner

 

c.     Celebration – America 250^th Time Capsule, “Fourth of July 2126”

 

RATIFY AND CONFIRM:

 

d.     Congratulations – Joseph “Joe” Miceli, Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce 2026 Citizen of the Year

 

e.     Congratulations – Angela Thoman-Miller, Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce 2026 Key Award

 

f.     Recognition – Ellison “Tarzan” Brown

 

 

 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

 

               None

 

        b.     Fiscal Matters

 

1.     Resolution Authorizing the Waiver of Penalty for Late Payments ($822.71)

 

2.     Resolution Authorizing the Waiver of Penalty for Late Payments ($60.38)

 

        c.     Resignations and Appointments

 

1.     Appointments:

a.     Westerly Housing Authority

b.     Municipal Land Trust

 

 

 6.    PUBLIC HEARINGS (Adv. on 5/30/26, 6/6/26, & 6/13/26 for this time)

 

a.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance In Amendment of Chapter 1439 of The General Ordinances of the Town of Westerly Entitled ‘Re-Enact and Re-Adopt Chapter 1242 Entitled ‘The Westerly, Rhode Island, Zoning Ordinance of 1998’, as Amended” – Discussion and Possible Action

 

        PUBLIC HEARINGS (Adv. on 6/13/26 for this time)

 

b.     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 

 

c.     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

 

d.     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

 

 

 7.    UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

a.     Possible Amendments to Westerly Town Charter – Discussion and Possible Action

 

 

RECESS REGULAR MEETING AND CONVENE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE WORKSHOP

 

 

RECONVENE REGULAR MEETING

 

 

 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., and 8.h.

 

a.     Resolution of the Town of Westerly in Support of Rhode Island Senate Bill 2481 (Unauthorized Occupation of Residential or Commercial Property – Commonly Referred to as Squatting) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

b.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance Repealing Article XV, Public Works 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 7/13/2026)

 

c.     Memorandum from Town Solicitor Conley, dated June 17, 2026 – re: Data Centers (Limiting Data Centers) – Discussion and Possible Action 

 

d.     Proposed Pickle Ball Court – Refer to Board of Recreation for Evaluation of Pickle Ball Court – Discussion and Possible Action

 

e.     Potter Hill Mill Dam – Submittal of a Formal Letter to RIDEM Requesting a Meeting to Discuss Possible Options of Turning Over the Dam to the State of RI – Discussion and Possible Action

 

f.     Senior Housing – Refer to Westerly Housing Committee – Discussion and Possible Action

 

g.     Short-Term Rental Registration Ordinance– Discussion Only 

 

h.     Westerly Housing Authority, Term Limits – 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 – 6/22/26

 

        c.     Town Manager – 6/22/26

 

        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.   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.