Agenda presented with items in the
actual order they will be heard
 |
| CCA Councilors prepare for meeting |
By Will Collette
As a continuing service to Progressive
Charlestown readers, I’ve taken this month’s Town Council official agenda and
rearranged it so you see the items in their actual presentation order. Every
month, the Council changes its agenda, placing some items higher up and
grouping other items into what’s called a “consent agenda.”
The consent agenda is supposed to be for
noncontroversial items that the Council members can approve by consensus as a
bloc. Included among these items is the likely reappointment of “Injun Joe”Larisa, Charlestown’s Special Counsel for Indian Affairs, who is paid $25,000 a
year just to watch to make sure the Narragansetts don’t do anything suspicious
(or, for that matter, that they don't do anything at all).
Since the CCA firmly controls the Council now, with three CCA Council members (meaning they no longer need Lisa
DiBello’s vote for control), Larisa is assured of reappointment since he is
CCA’s darling and point guy on the CCA’s most important wedge issue.
In the now-routine executive session
before the regular meeting, the Council will discuss the seemingly endless
stream of lawsuits involving the town. Specifically, they will discuss the
recent activity in the lawsuits involving the unpopular Whalerock industrial
wind farm project (click
here and here
for recent Progressive Charlestown articles).
They will also review a pretty amazing
list of ALL the pending litigation involving the town. (Click
here for the full list.) Some of the suits go back quite a while. There is
a 1999 case involving Evelyn Smith and several from 2005 and 2006. But most of
the suits were initiated during the last Town Council’s term. Voters reelected
the majority of the Council members on November 6.
Here is your UNOFFICIAL, but much more
accurate, version of the Council’s Monday agenda.
The
UNOFFICIAL Town Council Agenda for its December 10, 2012 meeting
The regular monthly
meeting of the Charlestown Town Council will be held on December 10, 2012 at
7:00 p.m. at the Charlestown Town Hall, 4540 South County
Trail, Charlestown, RI. The proposed agenda is as follows:
1. CALL TO
ORDER, Moment of Silence, Pledge of Allegiance
2. ROLL CALL
Motion to move item 8b to be heard next on the
agenda.
8. NEW
BUSINESS
b. Discussion and potential
action regarding topics for the Chariho Omnibus Meeting to be held on
January 16, 2013
3. PUBLIC
COMMENT for items not on the Agenda
4. COUNCIL
COMMENTS
5. PERSONS
WISHING TO BE HEARD - None
6. ADMINISTRATOR,
SOLICITOR, COMMISSION REPORTS
a. Town Administrator
b. Town Solicitor
7. UNFINISHED
BUSINESS
a. Discussion and potential
action on Items for Washington County Regional Planning Council December
meeting with state legislators. Current items are Affordable Housing one year
moratorium on for profit comprehensive permits, reconstitution of the LMIH
state study commission, removing State school mandates, and
dredging Quonochontaug Pond
8. NEW
BUSINESS
a. Discussion and potential
action regarding Council Rules and Regulations
c. Discussion and potential
action regarding authorizing the Town Clerk to write a letter to all Commission
Chairs and inform them that if they have any important issues they believe
requires a workshop with the Town Council to please request a workshop meeting
d. Discussion and potential action
regarding the reinstatement of the Town Council Workshops for Citizen Forums
adopted by the Town Council in 2010
9. PUBLIC
HEARINGS - None
10. COUNCIL SITTING AS
BEVERAGE LICENSING BOARD
a. Request from the G.J.S.I.,
INC, d/b/a G.J.S.I. Tavern and Inn for closure from November 29, 2012 through
March 30, 2013.
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, 13a, 13b 15a, 17a, 17b, 17c, 17d,
17e, 17f, 17g, 17h, 17j, 17k, 18a, 18b
11. LICENSES AND PERMITS
“CA” a. Application received from
Small Axe Café for a General Entertainment License at 4820 Old Post Road on
Sundays from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
“CA” b. Approval of events 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:
1. Animal Rescue League of
Southern RI / 3rd Annual Bark in the Park Dog Walk
Ninigret Park Reservation: October 6, 2013
Event: October 6, 2013
Camping: None
Insurance: $1 million
Fee: Waived (Commission Approved)
2. Polar Plunge
Charlestown Town Beach Reservation: January 1,
2013
Event: January 1, 2013
Camping: None
Insurance: $1 million
Fee: Waived (Commission Approved)
13. MINUTES AND REPORTS
“CA” a. Town Council Minutes:
November 13, 2012; November 19, 2012 (Special/Executive)
“CA” b. Reports: Building Official –
October 2012, November 2012; Parks and Recreation Director – November 2012;
Police Chief - October 2012, November 2012; Public Works Director – October
2012, November 2012; Town Clerk – November 2012; Treasurer – October 2012
15. ORDINANCES,
RESOLUTIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS
“CA” a. Resolution establishing
uniform animal control fees
17. APPOINTMENTS AND
RESIGNATIONS
“CA” a. Acceptance of the resignation
of Paula Andersen from the Parks and Recreation Commission
“CA” b. Acceptance of the resignation
of George C. Tremblay from the Planning Commission
“CA” c. Acceptance of the resignation
of Constance D. Vadnais-Baker from the Affordable Housing Commission
“CA” d. Discussion and potential action
regarding the reappointment of Peter D. Ruggiero as Town Solicitor
“CA” e. Discussion and potential
action regarding the reappointment of Robert E. Craven as Assistant Town
Solicitor and Probate Judge
“CA” f. Discussion and potential
action regarding the reappointment of Joseph Larisa as Assistant Solicitor for
Indian Affairs
“CA” g. Discussion and potential
action regarding the reappointment of Margaret Lenihan Steele as
Municipal Court Judge
“CA” h. Reappointment of Linda
Phillips, David Bailey and Richard Hosp to the Budget Commission, terms to
expire in June of 2016.
“CA” j. Appointment of Teresa
Rose to the Parks and Recreation Commission, term to expire January 2016
“CA” k. Acceptance of the resignation
of James E. Sullivan from the Chariho Regional District School
Committee with regret
18. FISCAL MATTERS
“CA” a. Request from Patricia M.
Anderson, Acting Town Administrator for the approval of Sun Graphics as a sole
source vendor based on the requirements of the Town Purchasing Manual, Section
V. Special Procurements, A. Exclusive Service/Sole Source Vendor, for the
purpose of printing the Pipeline.
“CA” b. Request from the Tax Assessor
for abatements in the amount of $7,532.21
14. ANNOUNCEMENTS
a. Board and Commission
vacancies
16. COMMUNICATIONS AND
PETITIONS - None
17. APPOINTMENTS AND
RESIGNATIONS
i. Discussion and
potential action regarding the appointment of Council Liaisons to the following
Commissions: Affordable Housing Commission, Agricultural Preservation, Budget
Commission, Building Commission, Charlestown Historical Society, Chariho Act
Revision Subcommittee, Coastal Pond Management Commission, Conservation
Commission, Cross Mills’ Public Library Board of Trustees, Economic Improvement
Commission, Investment Review Committee, Ocean Special Area Management Plan,
Parks and Recreation Commission, Personnel Appeals Board, Planning Commission,
Senior Citizens Commission, TE@CH (Targeting Excellence at Chariho –
Performance Review Panel), Tri-Town Council Subcommittee, Washington County
Regional Planning Council, Wastewater Management Commission, Zoning Board of
Review
19. LEGAL MATTERS - None
20. ADJOURNMENT