IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Town Council preview for November 9

“Hearing” on drug rehab center proposal to continue

By Will Collette

The Council decision has already been made, but not
officially

If the Charlestown Town Council had not decided last month to postpone consideration of the plan to put a prayer-based residential addiction treatment center into the iconic General Stanton Inn, this months’ Town Council meeting would take about 15 minutes.

But because Teen Challenge, the Pentecostal drug treatment program proposing the new use for the Inn, decided to come to the October meeting without legal representation and just “wing it” on their own, the issue was bumped to Monday’s Council meeting.

Town Solicitor Peter Ruggiero told the Council at the October meeting that he recommended postponing the public hearing to consider the project in order to preserve Teen Challenge’s due process rights, and the Council readily agreed. 

However, it was less a matter of concern for Teen Challenge than it was fear of giving the drug rehab group grounds to go to court.

As Town Council President Tom Gentz (also a Charlestown Citizens Alliance leader) put it, “We need to do this right… The value in doing this right is we don’t have to do it again and again.”

I think everyone in Charlestown understands exactly what Gentz means – the Teen Challenge proposal is toast. 

"Hell may be hot, Tom, but it's a dry heat."

That was clear as soon as the Planning Commission voted unanimously to “advise” the Council to reject the proposal. 

It will be a cold day in Hell when Gentz fails to follow the lead of the CCA Party’s real leader, Planning Commissar Ruth Platner.

They just want to make sure this doesn’t end up in protracted litigation like the Whalerock wind turbine proposal that was finally ended when Charlestown bought the land for open space, thus ending the project.

I have suggested that we learn a different lesson from the Whalerock debacle. Let's cut right to the chase. 

If the Teen Challenge plan goes down, as I think everyone knows it will, Charlestown needs a Plan B to save the Inn. Charlestown needs the General Stanton Inn to serve as an anchor for Cross' Mills, our historic center of town. The best way to preserve the Inn and make sure it becomes an asset that boosts our history, arts, culture, tourism and local business is for the town to buy it.

Using the same reasoning we have applied to dealing with other town priorities such as preserving open space and providing recreational activity, the voters should be presented with a bond referendum for historic preservation starting with the General Stanton Inn.

I would really like to hear from anyone who has a reasoned argument against that approach.

The rest of the Council agenda is so thin that it will take only minutes to complete. The “public hearing” on the drug rehab program proposal could take hours.

Here is the town’s official agenda with their links to supporting documents.

Charlestown Town Council Regular Meeting 11/9/2015 7:00 PM Council Chambers Town Hall   4540 South County Trail   Charlestown, RI 02813

CALLTO ORDER, MOMENT OF SILENCE, PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ROLL CALL Roll Call PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Continuation of a Public Hearing and Potential Action Regarding Ordinance #371 - Chapter 218, Zoning Map Amendment (An Application from Teen Challenge New England, Inc., for the Property Known as the General Stanton Inn, Located at 4115 Old Post Road, Assessor’s Map 13, Lot 1, Pursuant to Section 218-12 of the Charlestown Zoning Ordinance, for Use of the Parcel as a “Halfway House”) a. Planning Comm adv GSI b. Teen Challenge prohibited use change appl c. #371 Angelo and Janice Falcone Living Trust Zoning Ad d. Teen Challenge Public Notice 10-13-15 PH wsdisplay e. Teen Challenge Public Notice 11-9-15 PH wsdisplay PUBLIC COMMENT for items not on the Agenda COUNCIL COMMENTS ADMINISTRATOR, SOLICITOR, COMMISSION REPORTS A. Town Administrator B. Commission Reports COUNCIL SITTING AS BEVERAGE LICENSING BOARD Motion to sit as the Beverage Licensing Board A. Public Hearing and Potential Action Regarding the Following Applications for Beverage License: Agenda Item Printout a. Nordic Lodge Bev Lic Renewal 15 b. Rippys Bev Lic Renewal 15 c. Birdmar Bev Lic Renewal 15 d. Willows Bev Lic Renewal 15 e. MGMR Bev Lic Renewal 15 f. Charlestown Package Store Bev Lic Renewal 15 g. Wilcox Bev Lic Renewal 15 h. Famous Bev Lic Renewal 15 i. Old Mill Bev Lic Renewal 15 j. Breachway Grill Bev Lic Renewal 15 k. GJSI Bev Lic Renewal 15 l. Downey Weaver Bev Lic Renewal 15 m. Rathskeller Bev Lic Renewal 15 n. Bev Lic ad Motion to open the public hearing Motion to close the public hearing Motion to grant subject to receipt of all required paperwork and that stipulations and rules and regulations as required by the Liquor Control Administration and the Town Council B. Discussion and Potential Action to Set the Following Cap on Beverage Licenses Within the Town of Charlestown: C. Discussion and Potential Action Regarding a Request from the Charlestown Willows for Their Annual Closure on September 14, 2015 and Reopening on May 28, 2016 a. Willows closure 15-16 Motion to adjourn as the Beverage Licensing Board ANNOUNCEMENTS A. Board and Commission Vacancies a. Vacancies as of 11-9-15 CONSENT AGENDA Motion to accept, approve and place on file the following as the consent agenda: "CA" A - "CA" N "CA" A. Town Council Minutes: 1. October 7 (Special) a. 2015-10-7 2. October 13 (Special and Regular) a. 2015-10-13 Exec b. 2015-10-13 "CA" B. Reports: 1. Building Official - October 2015 a. Bldg Report Oct 15 2. Public Works Director – October 2015 a. DPW OCT 15 b. CRCC MONTHLY REPORT 3. Town Clerk - October 2015 a. Clerk's Monthly Report Oct 15 4. Treasurer's Report - September 2015 a. September 2015 5. Wastewater - September 2015 a. WASTEWATER MANAGER'S REPORT SEPT 9-OCT 9 “CA” C. Discussion and Potential Action Regarding the Applications Received for General Entertainment Licenses for the Following Beverage License Holders. (May be Done as One Motion or Individually.) All Applications Are in Order. a. Birdmar 10-15 b. Willows 10-15 c. MGMR 10-15 d. Nordic Lodge 10-15 e. Wilcox 10-15 f. Breachway 10-15 g. GJSI 10-15 h. Downey Weaver 10-15 i. Rathskeller 10-15 "CA D. Discussion and Potential Action Regarding the Approval of the Renewal of a Retail Firearms Dealer’s License for the Following Businesses, Subject to Receipt of All Required Local Approvals and State and Federal Licenses: a. Top guns renewal appl 10-27-15 b. Wright's Pistol Smithing renewal appl 10-29-15 "CA" E. Endorsement of the Coastal Ponds Commission's Advisory Letter and Forwarding of the Same to the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) Regarding the Applications of Jason Peet #2015-09-030 and RI Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM) #2015-09-012 or Take Any Other Action Relative Thereto. a. Pages from 2015 Peet-F b. Pages from 2015 Peet-2 c. 2015 DEM EQIP Ninigret d. Aquaculture Permit Comments 10-5-2015 e. CRMC Extension Request - Jason Peet 2015-09-030 & DEM 2015-09-012 f. CRMC Extension Approval 2015-09-030 (Jason Peet) g. CRMC Extension Approval 2015-09-012 (DEM Fish & Wildlife) "CA" F. Appointment of a Special Police Officer as Recommended by the Chief of Police and RI Municipal Police Training Academy Certified, Terms to Expire in January of 2016: Jamie Quattromani a. Chief's recommendation SPO Quattromani "CA" G. Acceptance of the Resignation of Lara Wibeto from the Juvenile Hearing Board, with Regret a. Wibeto resign JHB 10-19-15 "CA H. Appointment of Bruce Loeckler and James Cole to the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Association Wild and Scenic Study Committee, Terms to Run Concurrent with Council Term a. BPL Wild and Scenic Study Committee b. WPWC Wild and Scenic appl Cole, James "CA" I. Award of the Burdickville Road Survey and Engineering Bid to Dowdell Engineering, Inc. for an Amount Not to Exceed $33,950.00, as Budgeted in Line Item 01.990.9980.000, and Authorization of the Town Administrator and Town Treasurer, Each, to Take Any and All Such Actions, and Execute and Deliver Such Certificates, Receipts or Other Documents as May be Necessary to Carry into Effect the Foregoing, or Any Other Action Relative Thereto a. BURDICKVILLE SURV & ENG AWARD b. Burdickville Surveying & Engineering c. Burdickville Rd Engineering and Survey Bid File d. Dowdell e. McMahon f. Commonwealth g. Bryant h. Beta i. CDR “CA” J. Award of the Brush Chipper Bid to Vermeer Northeast for an Amount Not to Exceed $74,682.00, as Budgeted in Line Item 01.990.9962.000, and Authorization of the Town Administrator and Town Treasurer, Each, to Take Any and All Such Actions, and Execute and Deliver Such Certificates, Receipts or Other Documents as May be Necessary to Carry into Effect the Foregoing, or Any Other Action Relative Thereto a. BRUSH CHIPPER AWARD 15 b. Brush Cutter fiscal note c. Brush Chipper Bid file "CA" K. Award of the Double Recycling Stations for Use at Charlestown Parks and Recreation Facilities to Recycle Away LLC for an Amount Not to Exceed $41,508.00, as Budgeted in Line Item 01.990.9970, and Authorization of the Town Administrator and Town Treasurer, Each, to Take Any and All Such Actions, and Execute and Deliver Such Certificates, Receipts or Other Documents as May be Necessary to Carry into Effect the Foregoing, or Any Other Action Relative Thereto a. RECYCLING TRASH STATIONS AWARD 15 b. Dbl Recycling Stations bid file c. Double Recycling Stattions - FY16 "CA" L. Discussion and Potential Action Regarding the Purchase of a 2016 AWD Ford Utility Interceptor from MHQ and Equipped with a Computer System from DMY, LLC for an Amount Not to Exceed $31,398.00, as Budgeted in Line Item 01.990.9991, and Authorization of the Town Administrator and Town Treasurer, Each, to Take Any and All Such Actions, and Execute and Deliver Such Certificates, Receipts or Other Documents as May be Necessary to Carry into Effect the Foregoing, or Any Other Action Relative Thereto a. Building Official Vehicle FY16 b. MHQ - Building Official Vehicle 2016 "CA" M. Request from the Tax Assessor for Abatements in the Amount of $1308.16 a. 2015-10 b. Oct 2015 Abatements "CA" N. Acceptance of White Pines Trail, as a Town Road for Maintenance and Repair, Subject to Review of the Deeds, Easements and Releases of Lien by the Town Solicitors, and Provision of the Cash Bonds and Fees in the Amount of $52,250.00 a. White Pines Trail acceptance Planners memo b. White Pines Trail acceptance DPW memo ADJOURNMENT