Planning Board – Meeting Minutes
Tuesday, December 7, 2021 - 6:00 p.m.

Westerly Town Hall | Town Council Chambers 45 Broad Street, Westerly, RI 02891

(Governor Daniel J. McKee’s Executive Order 20-46 expired on July 23, 2021,

thereby requiring public bodies to meet in person.)

Please be advised this meeting was held in-person. All Planning Board members must be physically in attendance for purposes of a quorum. Members of the public were welcomed and encouraged to attend in-person. Zoom video conferencing was provided for the public’s convenience, per Town Manager Mark J. Rooney’s Executive Order 21- 001 dated July 8, 2021.

 

 

A. CALL TO ORDER –

 

Mr. Hopkins called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

 

B. ROLL CALL AND ATTENDANCE

 

Members present:           Chair Justin M. Hopkins, IV, Vice Chair Richard W. Constantine, Secretary Christopher K. Lawlor, and Members Andrew Delisio and Kevin Lowther

 

Members absent: Member Joseph M. Montesano and Auxiliary Member Tabitha Harkin

 

Staff present:                   Assistant Solicitor for Planning & Zoning Atty. Scott Levesque, Town Planner Nancy Letendre, Principal Planner Alyse Oziolor, Information Technology Technician Lanny Fuller, and Minute Taker Stephanie J. LaSota

 

Town Council Liaison Phillip M. Overton was absent.

 

C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

1. November 2, 2021 – Mr. Lawlor made a motion to approve the November 2, 2021 meeting minutes as submitted. Mr. Delisio seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

 

D. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA

 

            There were no changes to the agenda.

 

E. OLD BUSINESS

 

1.      Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Review, discussion, and possible action by the Planning Board on recommendations for the Capital Improvement Program.

Ms. Letendre advised that the CIP document was amended based on research and discussion with the Director of Finance and questions the Board had at the November 16 special CIP meeting. She said the document is in a format for presentation to the Town Manager. She reminded the Board that certain items were removed from the capital list as they were considered operational, and this reflects the recommendations. Ms. Letendre added that the relationship between the CIP and Comprehensive Plan is improving. She said there are more details included in the recommendations, such as three recreation projects and the design funds for the wastewater treatment facility being on the CIP list and potentially to be funded with help from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Mr. Constantine commented on the Town Hall and reiterated Mr. Montesano’s points from the previous meeting, that there is more work to be done in the Town Hall building, especially on the exterior facade to maintain its historical significance. He suggested that the Board recommend that in the future the Town take a critical look at the Town Hall building. Ms. Letendre advised the Board to make that a separate recommendation and correspondence to the Town Council and Town Manager and that discussion on the Town Hall building be placed on the December 21 agenda.

Mr. Lawlor read into the record from the Planning staff memo to the Planning Board dated December 1, 2021 for the December 7, 2021 meeting and titled “2022-2026 Capital Improvement Program (CIP)” that consistent with Town Code Chapter 22 – Finance and Fiscal Matters; Article II. Capital Improvement Program, the Planning Board provides these recommendations to the Town Manager and the Board of Finance on the Town Department capital requests. In preparing this recommendation, the Planning Board: • Defined requests as “capital improvement projects” and determined the consistency between the capital projects and the 2020-2040 Comprehensive Plan, including three sections of content titled; 1. General Findings, 2. Capital Improvement Projects, and 3. Projects Recommended for ARPA funds. Mr. Constantine seconded the recommendation to the Town Manager. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

 

F. NEW BUSINESS

 

1.      Rules of Procedure Review, discussion, and possible action by the Planning Board on revisions to the Rules of Procedure.

 

Ms. Letendre reviewed the revisions to the Rules of Procedure made last year. She recommended new changes for this year. Mr. Constantine suggested the Board add a solicitor’s report to the order of business. Mr. Hopkins asked the Board how they felt about material delivery for meetings this year. Mr. Lawlor commended staff for getting application materials and meeting information to Board members in a timely manner. There was some general discussion of the schedule.

 

Mr. Constantine made a motion to approve the Rules of Procedure revisions as presented by the Town staff with the changes to number 18. Order of Business as discussed. Mr. Lawlor seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

 

2.      RIDEM Recreation Grant Application Endorsement Review, discussion, and possible action by the Planning Board on endorsing 3 projects for inclusion in the 2022 RIDEM Recreation Acquisition and Development Grant Program application.

Ms. Letendre corrected the agenda that there are four projects to endorse, not three. In a Planning staff memo to the Planning Board dated December 1, 2021 it was written that the Westerly Recreation Board, during its November 16, 2021 meeting, recommended four (4) projects for application to this grant program: 1. Cimalore Walking Trail, 2. Gingerella Walking Trail, 3. Cimalore Softball Field Lights, and 4. River Center Development. Ms. Letendre gave a brief description of the information included in the memo.

Mr. Lawlor read into the record that the Planning Board hereby determines that the four (4) projects endorsed by the Westerly Recreation Board for inclusion in the 2022 RIDEM Recreation Acquisition and Development Grant Program application are consistent with the 2020-2040 Town of Westerly Comprehensive Community Plan and the Board provides its endorsement of grant submissions for the projects. These projects include the following: 1. Cimalore Walking Trail, 2. Gingerella Walking Trail, 3. Cimalore Softball Field Lights, and 4. River Center and made a motion that the Planning Board hereby approves the letter of support addressed to Town Council as presented during the December 7, 2021 Planning Board Special Meeting. Mr. Delisio seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

 

G. ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER’S REPORT

 

            There was no report.

 

H. CONFIRMATION OF QUORUM FOR NEXT REGULAR MEETING

 

1.      December 21, 2021 Regular Meeting Members of the Planning Board are asked to notify the Administrative Officer if they will not be present at the next regular meeting. The following topics are anticipated to be discussed:

⁕Terranova Subdivision – 5 Berry Drive

 

I. ADJOURNMENT –

Mr. Lowther made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 6:27 p.m. Mr. Constantine seconded the motion. The motion CARRIED by unanimous vote with no abstentions.

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

Stephanie J. LaSota

Minute Taker