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 Niemeyer

 

SALUTE TO THE FLAG – Council President Duhamel

 

 

 2.    RECOGNITIONS, AWARDS & MEMORIALS

 

        None

 

 

 3.    PRESENTATIONS

 

        None

 

 

Suspend Town Council Rules of Procedure – Rule 3 – Order of Business and Agenda to move to Item #7.a. to Discuss and Consider Continuing the Matter to a September 21, Workshop.

 

 

 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 – 8/31/26

 

 

        b.     Fiscal Matters

 

1.     Resolution Authorizing the Waiver of Penalty for Late Payments ($515.84)

 

2.     Resolution Authorizing the Waiver of Penalty for Late Payments ($941.92)

 

 

        c.     Resignations and Appointments

 

1.     Appointments:

a.     Veterans ‘Rolls of Honor’ Memorial Committee

b.     Conservation Commission

c.     Juvenile Hearing Board

d.     Planning Board

 

 

6.     PUBLIC HEARINGS

 

               None

 

 

 7.    UNFINISHED BUSINESS

 

a.     Short-Term Rental Registration Ordinance – Discussion and Possible Action

1.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance in Amendment of Part II of the Town of Westerly Code of Ordinances Entitled, “General Legislation” Chapter 260 Entitled, “Zoning” Attachment 11 Entitled “Zoning District Use Tables” and Article XI Entitled “Development Standards for Particular Uses” to Allow Hosted and Unhosted Short Term Rentals in Certain Zones. Short-Term Rentals – Discussion and Possible Action

2.     Town Solicitor Memorandum Regarding Short-Term Rentals / Non-Conforming Use

3.     City of Newport Short-Term Rental Ordinance

4      Additional Considerations for the Short-Term Rental Ordinance

5.     Short-Term Rental Zoning Amendments

6.     2026 Short-Term Rental List with Zoning Districts

7.     Short-Term Rental Map

8.     2022 Westerly Zoning Map

 

 

 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.     November 3, 2026 General Election Local Question Relating to Revision of the Westerly Town Charter: “Shall Section 15-2-2 (b) of the Westerly Town Charter be amended to provide newspaper publication of proposed ordinances in a summary format in a newspaper of general circulation when newspaper publication is required by state law and further amended to provide for electronic notice of a proposed ordinance when newspaper publication is not required by state law?” - Discussion

 

b.     An Action Plan to Improve Public Notifications and Easy Public Usage of Town Resources – Discussion and Possible Action

 

c.     Resolution of the Town of Westerly in Support of the Coastal Resources Management Council’s (CRMC) Possible Designation of Egret Lane as a CRMC Recognized Right-Of-Way (ROW)  – Discussion and Possible Action

 

d.     Resolution Awarding Contract for Margin Street Pump Station Protection Rebid Project (Dubon Masonry Construction, LLC – approximate amount of $244,800.00) – Discussion and Possible Action

 

e.     Proposed Ordinance – “An Ordinance in Amendment of Article I, Door-To-Door Sales, of Chapter 202 of the Westerly Code of Ordinances Entitled ‘Retail Sales’” (Amend §202-13. No Solicitation List) – 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 – 9/14/26

 

        c.     Town Manager – 9/14/26

 

        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.