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The Town Council meets on Monday,
May 13 at 7 PM. This month’s agenda is light compared to the usual, although
last month provided plenty of surprises when Councilor Dan Slattery decided to
go on the attack against the Rhythm & Roots Festival at the behest of his
constituents in the Arnolda neighborhood.
There are plenty of opportunities
for flare-ups in this month’s agenda, too. If last month was any indication,
this Council term has now reached the point where a monthly battle sparked by
Councilors Slattery, Lisa DiBello or Council boss Tom Gentz is de rigeur.
There is a proposal for expanded
aquaculture in Ninigret Pond on the docket; that could provide an opening for Slattery to raise hell on behalf of his
Arnolda constituents. There’s also an item describing the plans for summer
activities at Ninigret and the efforts by Friends of Ninigret Park to raise
money in support. That could set Slattery off, too. Or Councilor DiBello.
We’ll know Monday night whether any
of these dormant volcanoes blow.
This is Progressive Charlestown’s
regular monthly service where we unravel the Town Council agenda and present it
in the actual order the agenda items will be heard – this Council always
jumbles the published agenda beyond recognition. And of course, I’ve added my
own color commentary and previews.
1. CALL
TO ORDER, Moment of Silence, Pledge of Allegiance
2. ROLL
CALL
Motion
to move items 15a, 7a, 8d, 7b, 8b, 12, 8e, 15b and 18a to be heard
next on the agenda
15. ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND
PROCLAMATIONS
a. Certificate of Achievement for
Benjamin Joseph Nadeau for obtaining the high rank of Eagle Scout
7. UNFINISHED
BUSINESS
a. Discussion and potential action
regarding Church Woods and Shannock Cottages financing and RI
Housing update. COMMENT:
both projects are incorrectly named in the agenda. It’s “ChurchWoods” (one
word) and “Shannock Village Cottages.”
8. NEW
BUSINESS
d. Discussion and potential action regarding a
Presentation of the Shannock Village - Revitalization Management
program by a representative from Bryant Engineering
7. UNFINISHED
BUSINESS
b. Discussion and
potential action regarding Senate Bill 672 and Senate Bill 672,
Sub A (Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems). Comment: this is
one of the many bills that are introduced every year that seek to take some
authority away from municipalities. They usually fail. This one is currently
being “held for further study.” Various town planners, including Charlestown’s
are working on an alternative to this bill that would “study” what rules DEM
adopt if towns were prohibited from having their own rules. I predict that the “further
study” substitute will probably also be held for “further study.”
b. Discussion and
potential action regarding CRMC file number 2010-01-023 (MODIFIED), Walrus & Carpenter Oysters LLC. Comment: this is
the proposed expansion of aquaculture in Ninigret Pond. Charlestown
has a new “aqua-NIMBY” movement
that opposes pond shellfish aquaculture – even though this helps CLEAN the
ponds – when said activity happens within their line of sight. We’ll see if
anyone hates the sight of the already well-established aquaculture operations
on Ninigret enough to come out in opposition. This proposal also calls for
growing and harvesting edible seaweed.
12. CONSENT AGENDA
All items marked with “CA” are to be considered consent
agenda "Consent agenda" ideas are voted on as a bloc without discussion or debate generally because they are non-controversial. If a Councilor (usually Slattery or DiBello) asks for an item to be taken off the consent agenda, that usually means there will be a fight over it. That's what happened last month when Slattery asked for Rhythm & Roots' request for added camping spaces to be taken off the consent agenda.
Motion to accept approve and place on file the following as
the consent agenda: 11a, 11b, 13a, 13b, 16a, 17a, 18b, 18c, 18d, 18e, 18f, 18g,
18h, 18i, 18j, and 18l
“CA”
a. Approval of the following events at Ninigret Park with a recommendation from the
Parks and Recreation Commission, subject to review of contracts by the Town
Solicitor, receipt of all applicable paperwork and insurance and that all event
details are satisfactorily met by the Parks and Recreation Director:
Park Reservation: 7/19/13
Camping: No
Insurance: $1 million is no alcohol served. If approved for
alcohol service: $1 million general liability plus $2 million alcohol
Fee: $50.00
“CA”
b. Approval of the following events to occur within the Town of Charlestown per RIGL
§31-12-12(a):
1. Ocean State Tour de Cure
Event: June 2, 2013
Route (Charlestown): Shannock Rd to South County Trl and
Kings Factory Rd to Shumankanuc Hill Rd to Buckeye Brook Rd
13. MINUTES
AND REPORTS
“CA” a. Town Council Minutes:
“CA” b. Reports:
Building Official – April 2013 (reports almost $2.5 million in construction activity in
April, which is a big improvement); Police Chief – April 2013; Public Works Director – April 2013; Town Clerk (Deaths are outpacing births by a margin of 16 to 12, putting
us on track for another year of negative population growth in keeping with the CCA Party’s anti-child policy) – April 2013; Treasurer – March 2013
16. COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS
“CA” a. Memo from Jay Primiano, Parks and Recreation
Director, containing summer employee recommendations. Comment: Councilor Lisa DiBello usually challenges anything
that Primiano proposes so expect a beef or two here.
17. APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS
“CA” a. Appointment of Constance Bercovici to the Ninigret Park Dog Park Facility Subcommittee,
term to expire in November of 2013
18. FISCAL MATTERS
“CA” b. Award of Professional Trade Services – Carpentry
bid to C & C Investments at $50.00 per hour, with funding to come from
the Building and Grounds Professional Services line item (01.630.6065) as
budgeted
“CA” c. Award of Professional Trade Services – Electrician
bid to Brookside Electric, Inc. at $55.00 per hour, with funding to come
from the Building and Grounds Professional Services line item (01.630.6065) as
budgeted
“CA” d. Award of Professional Trade Services – HVAC
Maintenance and Repair to CAM HVAC & Construction at $75.00 per hour,
with funding to come from the Building and Grounds Professional Services line
item (01.630.6065) as budgeted
“CA” e. Award of Professional Trade Services – Painting
bid to V & M Construction at $50.10 per hour, with funding to come
from the Building and Grounds Professional Services line item (01.630.6065) as
budgeted
“CA” f. Award of Professional Trade Services – Plumbing
bid to Stedman & Kazounis at $77.50 per hour, with funding
to come from the Building and Grounds Professional Services line item
(01.630.6065) as budgeted
“CA” g. Award of the Septic Pumping bid to Diffley &
Daughters Septic in the amount of $.125 cents per gallon, with funding to
come from the Building and Grounds Professional Services line item (01.630.6065)
as budgeted
“CA” h. Award of the Heating Fuel and Maintenance
Service bid to Ginger’s Service Station for heating fuel, with a $.05
per gallon markup over the “Tank Car Price”, based on the Providence Journal of
commerce Log Tank Car Prices, $68.00 per hour for regular hourly service and
$85.00 per hour for night, weekend and holiday service, with funding to come
from 01.620.6020 for fuel and 01.620.6040 for maintenance and repairs
“CA” i. Award of the Professional Well and Pump
Service bid to A.B. Hoxie, Inc. in the amount of $96.00 per hour for a
tech, $48.00 per hour for a tech helper, $144.00 per hour for emergencies,
$72.00 per hour for an emergency helper and $90.00 per hour average, with
funding to come from the Building and Grounds Professional Services line item
(01.630.6065) as budgeted
“CA” j. Approval of residential tree debris
amnesty at the CRCC from May 14, 2013 through June 14, 2013, for tree
debris resulting from Storm Nemo
“CA” l. Award of the Construction
Materials and Services, with a recommendation from the Director of Public
Works (funding as budgeted to come from the General Fund)
 |
| Will Slattery object to Ninigret Park activities again? |
e. Review and discussion for potential
action the proposed fundraising actions for 2013, as proposed
by the Friends of Ninigret Park Subcommittee. Comment: this could be a surprise subject for a
big fight because it involves human beings having fun in Ninigret Park.
Councilor Slattery could decide to rekindle last month’s Battle for Ninigret Park Redux; Councilor DiBello could decide to weigh in
simply because she usually opposes anything coming out of Parks and Recreation.
15. ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND
PROCLAMATIONS
b. Introduction and first reading of Ordinance #357 amending Chapter 158 – Parks, Beaches and Recreation
Area: Smoking Prohibitions, to be advertised for public hearing on June 10, 2013.
See this recent article on cigarette butts and their effect on marine ecology. It’s already
town policy to discourage smoking at town beaches.
18. FISCAL MATTERS
3. PUBLIC COMMENT for items not on the Agenda
4. COUNCIL
COMMENTS
5. PERSONS
WISHING TO BE HEARD
6. ADMINISTRATOR,
SOLICITOR, COMMISSION REPORTS
b. Town
Solicitor
c. Commission
Reports
c. Discussion
and potential action regarding Council support of the lowered Chariho budget
as proposed by the Chariho School Committee, as this budget is
funded the same as last year’s Chariho budget. Comment: read more detail here. Given that the vote is on Tuesday and this meeting will be held on Monday, even if the Council enthusiastically supports the revised Chariho budget, it will be too late to make any difference.
8. NEW
BUSINESS
a. Discussion and potential action
regarding House Bill 5953 and Senate Bill 815 (Renewable Energy
Facilities). COMMENT: this
is the legislation that would streamline permitting of wind turbines on farms –
read here for more detail.
c. Discussion and potential action
regarding House Bill 5498 and Senate Bill 0337 (Ethics
Commission)
9. PUBLIC
HEARINGS
a. Public
hearing and potential action regarding Ordinance
#355 amending Chapter 192, Taxation, Article V. Tax Relief for
Disabled Persons
b. Public
hearing and potential action regarding Ordinance
#356 amending Chapter 192, Taxation, Article IA. Additional
Elderly Low Income Tax Benefit Programs
COMMENT: these are two good ordinances (for a change).
#355 states that once a person has qualified for a town property tax credit by
proving they are permanently and totally disabled, they won’t have to keep
re-applying every year. #356 boosts town tax credits to the very low-income
elderly.
10. COUNCIL
SITTING AS BEVERAGE LICENSING BOARD
a. Discussion
and potential action regarding notification from the Charlestown
Package Store, Inc. of a transfer of stock ownership
b. Discussion
and potential action regarding an application received from the Charlestown Rathskeller Tavern,
Inc. for a Class BV Full Beverage License, to apply to premises
located at 489A Old Coach Road, Charlestown RI 02813, to be
advertised for public hearing on June 10, 2013. Designated premises: The main
restaurant building and patio adjacent to the tavern entrance on the east side,
including the small deck, bocce court and horseshoe court areas; from the
southeast corner of the restaurant, to include the spring house, the sauna area
and fire pit; the grounds located southwest of the main entrance (west side) to
approximately two hundred (200’) feet south of the employee parking lot; the
open porch and deck on the west side of the restaurant; and from the north side
of the restaurant up to the stone wall located approximately ten (10) feet from
Old Coach Road. Hours of operation: Monday through Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00
a.m. and Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m.
14. ANNOUNCEMENTS
a. Board
and Commission vacancies
15. ORDINANCES,
RESOLUTIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
c. Discussion
and potential action regarding a Resolution of
the Town Council Allowing the Use of Purchasing Contract Alliances. COMMENT: this
resolution is pretty vague. It should be tightened up and the purpose behind it
ought to be explained. However, since it comes at the very end of this Council’s
actual agenda, there may not be time for the attention it merits.
18. FISCAL
MATTERS
k. Discussion
and potential action regarding a request from the Chariho Post
Graduation Committee
for a donation to the Chariho Regional
High School Green & White Up All Night 2013 Event
19. LEGAL MATTERS –
None
20. ADJOURNMENT
