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Saturday, March 17, 2012

Detailed video links for March 12 Council meeting

by Tom Ferrio
I would have rather paddled around Green Hill Pond finding goose nests but I decided we should close out Sunshine Week by providing our readers detailed links to our Town Council meeting video.

Having the meeting off-site has evidently complicated the process of producing the ClerkBase video so I spent half the day Saturday watching the entire Council meeting again (so you won't have to!) and capturing links so our readers can find the video for specific agenda items.


While I was doing it I decided to provide separate links for each speaker at the lighting ordinance hearing. I added commentary in a few places to try to help our readers know what was discussed before watching a video segment.


TOWN COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING – March 12, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.
Charlestown Elementary School, 363 Carolina Back Road, Charlestown, RI
Video  1. CALL TO ORDER, Moment of Silence, Pledge of Allegiance

2.         ROLL CALL
Motion to move items 7a, 8a and 9a to be heard next on the agenda.

7.         UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Video a.   Presentation of a Hometown Hero to RICAN

8.         NEW BUSINESS
Video a.   Discussion and potential action regarding asking volunteers to be trained in the proper method of “oiling” Canadian Geese eggs that is approved by the United States Humane Society and other groups interested in humanely reducing the Canadian Geese population in Charlestown
GeesePeace website referred to in the talk.

9.         PUBLIC HEARINGS
Video  a.   Public hearing and potential action regarding Ordinance 347 amending Chapter 218 Zoning, Section 75 Nuisances, D Lighting and Chapter 155 Nuisances, Article III Lighting, Section 15.
Video Start of Gentz Comments and reading of 14 page letter objecting to “lighted football stadium” and saying “commercial activities” are prohibited
Video Tom Gentz saying no one else can talk about sports lighting
Video Ruth Platner discussion of the ordinance and requested changes since it was posted
Video Demo of Parshield ®
Video Janice Falcone, General Stanton Inn
                Video Motel is like an apartment/condo, no one is going to inspect this stuff,
                Video Planning has literature saying lights on motion detectors are safer than lights that are on
Video Forrester Safford
Video Frank Glista, Economic Improvement Commission Chair, presenting business petition
Video Ann Cook, Chamber of Commerce, comments including criticism of lights giving false sense of security
Video Bonnie (could not catch name), Frosty Drew Treasurer
Video Francine Jackson, Frosty Drew Observatory Director
Video Paula Andersen, Park and Rec Commission Chair
Video Charlie Vandemoer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Video Scott MacNeill, media director of Frosty Drew Observatory, lighting and security
Video Dr. Lew Johnson, suggested three changes
Video Larry Dunn, Frosty Drew Board of Directors
Video Lisa DiBello, comment on freedom of speech on blogs
Video Rob Lyons, local businessman, advocating “education, not regulation”
Video Cathy Collette, expressing support for ordinance
Video Holly Eaves, member of Frosty Drew Board, expressing support
Video Beth Richardson, specific questions on ordinance wording, discussion with Platner on sodium vapor lighting, Platner explanation that temporary lighting for Ninigret festivals would not be regulated
Video Tom Ferrio, advocating carrot rather than stick
Video Frank Glista, returning to add to previous comments
Video Peter Ruggiero explaining residential exemption
Council Comments
Video Marge Frank
Video Tom Gentz
Video Discussion of next steps to revise the ordinance, possible grants, etc.
Video Dan Slattery trying to help with Tom Ferrio’s example issue

3.         PUBLIC COMMENT for items not on the Agenda
Video Forrester Safford, celebrating Chariho track team setting new national record in 4x1 relay

4.         COUNCIL COMMENTS
Video Dan Slattery speaking at length about the motivation for the four Ninigret Park motions under New Business on the agenda
Video Gregg Avedisian arguing that the statements were more appropriate for that agenda item, Lisa Dibello expressing concern about lighting grant, about not promptly getting letter about Ninigret wind turbines, and about allegations about “replacing the police chief”
Video Peter Ruggiero replying to DiBello’s Police Chief memo and Town Administrator badge concerns and Bill DiLibero explaining the badge
Video Marge Frank commenting on beach facilities progress, the DEM progress on denitrification rules,
Video Tom Gentz on union negotiation progress, concern about not receiving letter about Ninigret park wind generation prohibition.
Video Ron Areglado expressing astonishment and outrage that it wasn’t made public sooner that wind turbines at Ninigret Park were not legally feasible.

5.         PERSONS WISHING TO BE HEARD

6.         ADMINISTRATOR, SOLICITOR, COMMISSION REPORTS
Video a.   Town Administrator, his written report plus a response to Mr. Areglado’s remarks.
b.   Town Solicitor (none)
Video Lillian Arnold, Conservation Commission Chair,

7.         UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Video b.   Smoking Ban at the Town Beaches

8.         NEW BUSINESS
Video b.  (tabled until April 9) Discussion and possible action regarding the formation of a Stakeholder Commission to work with a vendor to redesign the Ninigret Park Master Plan to be comprised of a member of the Budget Commission, a member of the Conservation Commission, a member of the Economic Improvement Commission, a member of the Parks and Recreation Commission, a member of the Planning Commission, a representative from Frosty Drew Observatory, a representative from U.S. Fish and Wildlife, a representative from the Ninigret Park Neighborhood Community, a representative from the Chamber of Commerce, the Town Planner, the Director of Parks and Recreation, and the Town Solicitor

Video c.   Discussion and possible action regarding honoring Bob Schiedler’s efforts in helping establish the Ninigret Park Dog Park by naming the building used at the dog park after him

d.   (tabled until April 9) Discussion of and potential action regarding a Memorandum of Understanding the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a Ninigret Park Stakeholder

e.   (tabled until April 9) Discussion of and potential action regarding the addition of two documents to the ClerkBase information system that will provide town residents with the background information on the legal, ethical, and moral responsibilities that the Town agreed to when it accepted the land transfer from the Federal Government that became Ninigret Park

f.   (tabled until April 9) Discussion of and potential action regarding a Memorandum of Understanding with Ninigret Park Stakeholders the Frosty Drew Observatory and all Abutters to Ninigret Park

Video g.   Discussion of and potential action regarding a letter to Charlestown Legislators in opposition of House Bills 7617, 7618, 7619 and 7620

9.         PUBLIC HEARINGS
b.   Ordinance #346 amending Chapter 218 Zoning Map Change, AP 13 Lot 96 – Ranalli, Henry J. & Nancy McNall from C1 to R40 originally ordered advertised for the March 12, 2012 meeting has been withdrawn by the applicant.

10.       COUNCIL SITTING AS BEVERAGE LICENSING BOARD - None

11.       LICENSES AND PERMITS
 “CA” a.  Approval of 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 be satisfactorily met by the Parks and Recreation Director: (list removed here, available on ClerkBase)
 “CA” b.  Approval of an application received for a General Entertainment License from Small Axe CafĂ© - Hours of Indoor Entertainment: Sunday, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Wednesday, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
“CA” c.  Approval of an application received for a Flea Market License and a General Entertainment License from General Joseph Stanton Inn – Hours of Indoor Entertainment: Daily, 8:00 p.m. – 12:00 Midnight

12.       CONSENT AGENDA All items marked with “CA” are to be considered consent agenda
Motion to accept, approve and place on file the following as the consent agenda: 11a, 11b, 11c, 13a, 13b, 17a, 17b, 17c, 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d and 18e

13.       MINUTES AND REPORTS
“CA” a.  Town Council Minutes: February 8; February 13 (Executive and Regular Sessions)       
“CA” b.  Reports: Building Official, February 2012; Chief of Police, February 2012; Parks and Recreation Director, February 2012; Public Works Director, February 2012; Town Clerk, February 2012; Treasurer, January 2012; Wastewater Management, February 2012

14.       ANNOUNCEMENTS
a.   Board and Commission vacancies
b.   Voter ID requirement

15.       ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
Video  a.   Resolution in support of Legislative Amendments to RIGL §17-11-1 “An Act Relating to Elections – Voting Districts and Officials”
b.   Resolution in support of introduction and passage of legislation authorizing School Committees to utilize bus monitors at their discretion. (Video stops before this agenda item but the Council voted to support this resolution.)

16.       COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS - None

17.       APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS
“CA” a.  Appointment of Megan Berndt and Lara Wibeto to the Juvenile Hearing Board, terms to expire in February of 2015.
“CA” b.  Reappointment of Kim E. Freni to the Board of Canvassers, term to expire in March 2018.
“CA” c.  Reappointment of Robert Krause to the Coastal Ponds Management Commission, term to expire in March 2015.

18. FISCAL MATTERS
“CA” a.  Approval of Abatements totaling $1,758.21 as requested by the Tax Assessor.
“CA” b.  Approval of the Rubberized Asphalt Chip Seal Bid Award to All States Asphalt, Inc. for an amount of $83,699.00 to come from line item 01.990.9961 as budgeted.
“CA” c.  Approval of the Charlestown Elementary School Sign Bid Award to Robson Corporation for an amount not to exceed $25,000 with funds to come from impact fees.
“CA” d.  Approval of the Professional Vendor Services Bid Award for Charlestown Beach to Johnny Angels Clam Shack in the amount of $4,504 and Blue Shutters Beach to Johnny Angels Clam Shack in the amount of $4,504 from May 2012 through September 2012.

Video  e.  Approval of Beach fees as recommended by the Parks and Recreation Commission:
(Proposed fees removed from here because there were changed during discussion - article here.)

19.       LEGAL MATTERS - None

20.       ADJOURNMENT