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 LaPietra

 

SALUTE TO THE FLAG – Council President Duhamel

 

 

 2.    RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS & MEMORIALS

 

        RATIFY AND CONFIRM:

 

a.     Appreciation – Edith “Edie” Jacobson, 50^th Anniversary at the Westerly Senior Center

 

 

 3.    PRESENTATIONS

 

a.     Draft Marketing Plan – Update – Douglas Brockway, Chair, Economic Development Commission

1.     Draft Plan Discussion

 

 

 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 – 2/2/26

 

        b.     Fiscal Matters

 

1.     Resolution Authorizing Deletion to Tax Rolls ($813.95)

 

        c.     Resignations and Appointments

 

1.     Resignations:

a.   Robert M. Serra, Multicultural Committee

b.   Christopher Lawlor, Planning Board

 

2.     Appointments:

a.     Planning Board

b.     Board of Assessment Review

 

 

 6.    PUBLIC HEARINGS (Adv. on 2/14/26 for this time)

 

a.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance Establishing A General Business Registration Requirement for All Businesses in the Town of Westerly Entitled ‘Business Registration’” – Discussion and Possible Action

 

b.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance in Amendment of Article I, Qualifications and Employment, of Chapter 45 of the Westerly Code of Ordinances Entitled ‘Police Department’” – 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., and 8.e.:

 

a.     Resolution in Support of Rhode House Bill H7224 (2026 – An Act Relating to Towns and Cities – Award of Municipal Contracts (Increase small purchase threshold to $25,000 for construction projects and $10,000 for non-construction municipal purchases) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

b.     Resolution in Support of Rhode Island House Bill H-7049 and Senate Bill S-2147 – Adjusting Primary Election Day to Wednesday after Labor Day – Discussion and Possible Action

 

c.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance Establishing Policy for the Display of Flags and Symbols by the Town of Westerly”

        (Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 3/16/26)

 

d.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance In Amendment of Article II, Exemption for Elderly and Totally Disabled Persons, of Chapter 229 of the Westerly Code of Ordinances entitled ‘Taxation’”

        (Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 3/16/26)

 

e.     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’”

        (Order Adv. for Public Hearing on 4/6/26)

 

 

 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 – 2/23/26

 

        c.     Town Manager – 2/23/26

 

        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.