Town Council meeting preview

Could be the fastest Charlestown Town Council meeting of all time

By Will Collette

Since the Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA Party) assumed control of every elected position in the town, the actual governing of the town has shifted from Town Hall to the private, secret meetings of the CCA Party Steering Committee where the real decisions are made. Out of sight and sound of the public.

This has made the meetings of the key town bodies controlled by the CCA Party – the Town Council, Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals – pretty boring affairs, since all the decisions have been made.

This has meant shorter and less substantive meetings. Instead of drawn out and often contentious three hour and longer marathons, meetings are shorter and shorter.

This Monday, I predict perhaps the shortest Town Council meeting ever since there is virtually nothing of great import on the agenda. Except maybe the new ordinance that specifies what kind of numbers you need to put in front of your property or the planned installation of a stop sign inside Ninigret Park (traffic there can be hell during rush hour).

Seriously. Check out the official agenda below and see if there’s anything there that can’t be dispensed with in a matter of minutes.

Well, one-party rule sure makes meetings a whole lot easier when you don’t have to deal with things like debate or dissension.

Charlestown Town Council Regular Meeting 1/11/2016 7:00 PM Council Chambers Town Hall   4540 South County Trail   Charlestown, RI 02813
CALL TO ORDER, Moment of Silence, Pledge of Allegiance ROLL CALL Roll Call PROCLAMATIONS A. Proclamation for Carole Dolock in Recognition of Her Years of Service on the Juvenile Hearing Board PUBLIC COMMENT for items not on the Agenda COUNCIL COMMENTS ADMINISTRATOR and COMMISSION REPORTS A. Administrator Report B. Commission Reports ANNOUNCEMENTS A. Board and Commission Vacancies a. Vacancies as of 1-11-16 PUBLIC HEARINGS A. Public Hearing and Potential Action Regarding Ordinance #372 – Chapter 93-6, Buildings, Numbering Of; Display; Penalties a. Charlestown Numbering Letter b. #372 Chapter 93-6 Buildings, Numbering of Display Penalties c. #372 Numbering of Buildings ad Motion to open the Public Hearing FISCAL MATTERS A. Discussion and Potential Action Regarding the Authorization of Town Staff to Apply for a Coastal Watershed Restoration Grant through the EPA Southeast New England Program to Provide Funding for Regional and Local Watershed Restoration Projects a. MJD agenda request NEW BUSINESS A. Discussion and Potential Action Regarding the Approval of the Installation of One (1) Stop Sign in Ninigret Park at the Intersection of Park Lane and the Access Road to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Kayak Launch Area, or Take Any Other Action Relative Thereto a. Ninigret Park Stop Sign CONSENT AGENDA Motion to accept, approve and place on file the following as the consent agenda: “CA” A - “CA” P "CA" A. Town Council Minutes 1. December 9 (Agenda) a. 2015-12-9 2. December 14 (Executive and Regular) a. 2015-12-14 Exec b. 2015-12-14 "CA" B. Reports 1. Building Official - December 2015 a. Cost Summary Report December 2015.pdf 2. Police Chief - December 2015 a. Police report Dec 15 3. Public Works Director - December 2015 a. DPW Report Dec 15 b. CRCC MONTHLY REPORT 4. Town Clerk - December 2015 a. Clerk's Monthly Report Dec 15 5. Treasurer's Report - November 2015 a. Nov 2015 6. Wastewater - November 2015 a. WASTEWATER MANAGER'S REPORT 12-9-15 NOV 10-DEC 8 "CA" C. Discussion and Potential Action Regarding Reappointments to Agricultural Preservation: John Patrick Barrett and Susan W. Barrett, as Alternates, Terms to Expire in January of 2017 a. Barrett, John Patrick reappt Ag Pres 12-23-15 b. Barrett, Susan reappt Ag Pres 12-23-15 "CA" D. Discussion and Potential Action Regarding a Reappointment to the Conservation Commission: Grace Klinger, Term to Expire in January of 2019 a. Klinger, Grace reappt Conservation 12-21-15 "CA" E. Discussion and Potential Action Regarding the Reappointment of Justin Vail as Harbormaster, Term to Expire in January of 2017 a. Vail, Justin reappt Harbormaster 12-28-15 "CA" F. Discussion and Potential Action Regarding the Reappointment of Assistant Harbormasters, Applications Received from Lawson Durfee and Rick Soderberg , Term to Expire in January of 2017 a. Durfee, Lawson reappt Asst Harbormaster 12-31-15 b. Soderberg, Rick reappt Asst Harbormaster 12-23-15 "CA" G. Discussion and Potential Action Regarding Reappointments to the Parks and Recreation Commission: Donna M. Deyorio and Timothy Quillen, Terms to Expire in January of 2019 a. Deyorio, Donna reappt P and R 12-31-15 b. Quillen, Timothy reappt P and R 1-6-16 "CA" H. Discussion and Potential Action Regarding Reappointment to the Tax Assessment Review Commission: Thomas Frost, Term to Expire in January of 2019 a. Frost, Thomas reappt Tax Board 1-4-16 "CA" I. Discussion and Potential Action Regarding Reappointments to the Wastewater Management Commission: Barbara Lutzel and Peter Ogle, Terms to Expire in January of 2021 a. Lutzel, Barbara reappt WMC 12-23-15 b. Ogle, Peter reappt WMC 12-23-15 "CA" J. Appointment of Constables as Recommended by the Chief of Police, Terms to Expire January 2017: "CA" K. Appointment of Traffic Constables as Recommended by the Chief of Police, Terms to Expire January 2017: Todd Allen, Gary Bellows, William Bennett, Raymond Dussault, Dennis Evans, Kevin Gallup, Eric Linacre, Matthew Manni, Paul Pepler, Keith Place, Shawn Richards, Patrick Strickland, Lawson Durfee and Peter Yee "CA" L. Appointment of Special Police Officers as Recommended by the Chief of Police and RI Municipal Police Training Academy Certified, Terms to Expire in January of 2017: Kathleen A. Currier, Justin J. Habershaw, Christopher Lyman, Jamie Quattromani, Lauren Matarese and Paul M. Gentile "CA" M. Appointment of Denise Rhodes to the Chariho RYSE Building Committee a. Rhodes, Denise appt to RYSE Bldg Comm 1-6-16 "CA" N. Acceptance of the Resignation of Constance D. Vadnais-Baker from the Planning Commission, with Regret a. Vadnais-Baker resign PC 1-4-16.pdf "CA" O. Approval of the Request from the Tax Assessor for Abatements in the Amount of $ 1516.50 a. 2015-12 b. Dec 2015 Abatements "CA" P. Award of the Rubberized Asphalt Chip Seal Bid to All States Asphalt, Inc. for an Amount Not to Exceed $89,732.20, ($4.60 Per Square Yard for 19,507 Square Yards) as Budgeted in Line Item 01.990.9961.000, with the Remainder of the Funds in the Capital DPW Asphalt Resurfacing Account (01.990.9961.000), be Available to Extend the Mileage of Improved Roads, Using the Cost-Per-Square Yard Price, ($4.60) with the Total Cost Not to Exceed the Budgeted Amount of $150,000.00 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. BITUM AWD RACS 2015-16 b. RACS bid file c. Rubberized Asphalt Chip Seal FY16 ADJOURNMENT