Narragansett Town Council Regular Meeting – May 28, 2026
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Narragansett Town Council Regular Meeting – May 28, 2026
Note: The agenda was posted on May 28, 2026, but the meeting was held on June 1, 2026, as indicated in the minutes and transcript. The date provided for this summary is May 28, 2026 per instruction.
The Narragansett Town Council met on Monday, June 1, 2026, at 7:03 PM in the Assembly Room. All five council members were present. The meeting included a proclamation, an extensive Town Manager performance review, public comment, several unanimous votes, and discussions on affordable housing, beach security, and the Narrow River dredging project.
Proclamation – Gaspee Day
- Council read and adopted a proclamation recognizing June 9th as Gaspee Day, commemorating the 1772 burning of the HMS Gaspee, an early act of rebellion leading to the American Revolution.
Town Manager’s Update
- The RFP for the Homeowner Rental Incentive Program has been posted and advertised.
- The RFP for affordable housing on town-owned parcels (Boston Neck Road) is complete and will be posted June 5th, pending council approval (Item F.1).
- The town received a $2,000 grant from the RI250 Commission for two events on August 22, 2026: a historic float parade and a Sunset Soirée at Kinney Bungalow.
- Improvements at the Scarborough Wastewater Treatment Facility have resolved odor issues; the plant is operating optimally.
- Regarding a May 19th town beach incident, the Town Manager assured the council it was a targeted gang-related attack, not random violence. Police Chief Rekas provided further details later.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Edward Famiglietti (170 Boston Neck Road) expressed disapproval of the council’s efforts to relax zoning regulations and raised concerns about the Middle Bridge property, alleging neglect and “demolition by neglect.”
- Patrick Dougherty (9 Flint Drive) criticized a local Facebook page run by Dr. Alba for spreading misinformation and asked the council to take action to “take back our town.”
- Karen Shabshelowitz (63 Wanda Street) criticized the council for conducting the Town Manager’s evaluation without public input, and questioned the town’s focus on student renters and tourists over families.
- Sue Amoruso (111 West Bay Drive) announced that the Friends of the Narragansett Library purchased a privacy pod for the library to provide additional quiet space.
- Carolyn Petrocelli (74 Rockland Street) asked why a resolution from the Planning Board on legislation (House Bill 8004) had not been placed on the council agenda, and provided copies to the council.
- John Hanley (10 Wilderness Drive) expressed full support for Town Manager Tierney and praised his leadership.
Consent Calendar
- B.1/B.2 – Approval of Minutes: Approved (Motion: Durkin/Vignali; Vote: 4-0; President Menzies abstained as he was not present at the previous meeting).
- E.1 – Waiver of Interest: Approved as part of the Consent Agenda (Motion: Durkin/Vignali; Vote: 5-0).
Discussion Items
C.1 – Town Manager Performance Review
- The council reviewed Town Manager James Tierney’s performance for the period November 5, 2024 to May 31, 2026.
- President Menzies presented a high-level summary: the average overall score was 3.6 out of 5 (meets/exceeds expectations). Council members provided written feedback across nine categories.
- Strengths highlighted included leadership, fiscal management, and responsiveness. Areas for improvement included communication clarity and consistency.
- Mr. Tierney gave a detailed report on accomplishments since 2019, including settling collective bargaining agreements, improving police and fire department ratings, securing grants, and maintaining strong bond ratings.
- The council will discuss Mr. Tierney’s contract in a future executive session.
F.1 – Affordable Housing RFP
- Motion to instruct the Town Manager to issue an RFP for development of affordable housing on town-owned lots N-L 22 and N-O-5 (approx. 2.5 acres at Boston Neck and Old Boston Neck Road).
- Council discussed conservation easement concerns; the Affordable Housing Trust Collaborative researched deeds and found no easements on those parcels. The RFP requires respondents to conduct their own title search.
- Councilor Menzies suggested the town conduct its own title search first to avoid burdening respondents.
- Vote: 5-0 (Motion: Durkin/Colonies).
F.2 – Beach Security Meeting
- Motion to direct the Town Manager to schedule a meeting with all stakeholders (police, fire, DPW, parks & rec, etc.) to review beach security, maintenance, and operations for pre- and post-season periods.
- Councilor Vignali introduced the item, citing the May 19th stabbing incident and the need for proactive measures. Police Chief Rekas provided an update: one suspect (Willie Medina) arrested, gang-affiliated, no local victims or suspects.
- Chief Rekas reported that on the day of the incident, staffing included 9 officers on the beach from 11 AM to 3 PM. The stabbing occurred at 3:03 PM; officers responded within one minute.
- Council discussed communication with schools, social media messaging, and visible adult presence. Councilors Colonies and Vignali were designated as council liaisons.
- Vote: 5-0 (Motion: Durkin/Vignali).
F.3 – Town Council Updates Section
- Motion to add a “Town Council Updates” section to future agendas after the Town Manager’s Update.
- Councilors emphasized transparency and the ability to share information on their activities as liaisons to boards and committees.
- Vote: 5-0 (Motion: Durkin/Torrealday).
F.4 – Narrow River Dredging Meeting
- Motion to direct the Town Manager to schedule a meeting with representatives from South Kingstown and North Kingstown to discuss the Narrow River dredging project.
- President Menzies noted that permitting is nearly complete, and funding discussions need to begin with neighboring towns. Councilors Menzies and Durkin were designated as liaisons.
- Vote: 5-0 (Motion: Durkin/Torrealday).
G.1 – VMware Renewal
- Approved renewal of VMware Foundation Subscription for one year from Zones, LLC for $22,176.
- Vote: 5-0 (Motion: Durkin/Colonies).
H.1 – Auditing Services Bid Award
- Awarded bid to CBIZ CPAs, P.C. for five fiscal years: $102,000 (FY26), $104,500 (FY27), $107,000 (FY28), $109,600 (FY29), $112,200 (FY30). First year is binding; subsequent years at town’s discretion.
- Vote: 5-0 (Motion: Durkin/Colonies).
I.1 – Budget Second Reading
- Read, passed, and adopted the Appropriation Ordinance for FY 2026-2027 as a second reading.
- Vote: 5-0 (Motion: Durkin/Colonies).
J.1 – Library Funding Resolution
- Adopted a resolution supporting H7691 and S2812, advocating for full state aid to libraries at 25%.
- Vote: 5-0 (Motion: Durkin/Vignali).
J.2 – Historic District Commission Appointment
- Appointed Pamela McCue to the Narragansett Historic District Commission for a three-year term expiring January 1, 2029.
- Vote: No vote needed (Motion: Colonies/Durkin; President Menzies appointed).
J.3 – Victualler License for The Beachfront Scoop
- Approved a Victualler License for The Beachfront Scoop LLC, located at 1 Angell Road, subject to state and local regulations.
- Vote: 5-0 (Motion: Durkin/Torrealday).
Key Outcomes
- All motions passed unanimously (5-0) except for minutes (4-0 with one abstention).
- The Town Manager’s performance was reviewed; a future executive session will address his contract.
- The RFP for affordable housing on Boston Neck Road will be published June 5, 2026.
- A stakeholder meeting on beach security will be organized, with Councilors Colonies and Vignali as liaisons.
- A meeting with North and South Kingstown regarding Narrow River dredging will be scheduled; Menzies and Durkin are liaisons.
- The FY 2026-2027 budget was adopted on second reading.
- A resolution supporting increased state library funding was adopted.
- The meeting adjourned at 9:10 PM.
Meeting Transcript
All righty. Good evening, everyone. The time is now seven oh three PM, and today's day is June first, twenty twenty six, and we are here for a regularly scheduled town council meeting. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. Um okay, there we go. So before we get started, we are going to I'm gonna make a request to move open forum to after the town manager's review. So that way, in case anyone wants to or decides not to say anything, they have the ability to speak during open forum on that matter, if they so choose. So with that, I'd like to make a motion. Is there a second? Second. All those in favor? Aye. Aye. Any opposed? Motion passes five zero. Thank you. And back to announcements and presentations. The first item on the agenda is a proclamation for Gaspy Day, June 9th, and I will read it. Whereas on June 9th, 1772, in the waters of Narragansett Bay, a courageous and defying act of resistance took place when Rhode Island Patriots attacked, boarded and burned the British schooner HMS Gaspy in defiance of oppressive British rule, and whereas the Gaspy affair arose from growing colonial outrage over the aggressive anti-smuggling enforcement tactics of the Royal Navy, whose actions disrupted commerce, infringed upon civil liberties, and intensified resentment among the people of Rhode Island and the American colonies, and whereas the destruction of the HMS Gaspey marked one of the earliest and most significant acts of armed rebellion against Great Britain, serving as a pivotal moment that escalated colonial tensions and helped pave the path toward the American Revolution and the eventual birth of the United States of America. And whereas as our nation commemorates the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of American independence, it is especially fitting to honor Rhode Island's vital contributions to the founding of our country and to educate future generations about the sacrifices and determination that secured our liberty. Now, therefore, be it proclaimed that the Narragansett Town Council on behalf of the town of Narragansett hereby recognizes June 9th as a day to commemorate the historic burning of the HMS GASP and its enduring significance in American history. And be it further proclaimed that the residents of Narragansett are encouraged to reflect upon this remarkable chapter in Rhode Island history to celebrate our state's important role in the movement toward American independence and to participate in observances recognizing the spirit of patriotism and freedom that defines our nation. And we will assign that today. So next we have the town manager's update. Pass it off to Jim. Good evening, members of the council, folks here this evening, and those who are watching from home. We have a few updates. The RFQ for the homeowner rental incentive program has been posted and has been advertised. Qualified entities will uh respond to it. This was approved by the council several weeks ago. And we also will invite other entities that we feel could be fitting for this. It's an RFP for the affordable housing for two pieces of uh town-owned property on Boston Neck Road and Old Boston Neck Road. The RFP is completed. It'll be posted on June 5th, and uh this is on the agenda for this evening, but the project is completed and will be posted upon approval uh after this evening. The Rhode Island 250 municipal grant funding. The town submitted a grant application for the opportunity for funding for the Rhode Island 250 Commission, and Narragansett is hosting two events celebrating the 250th anniversary of our country on Saturday, August 22nd. A historic float parade along Boone Street and a sunset soiree and casino night at the historic Kinney Bungalow on Point Judith Road. Town was notified that we have been awarded a 2,000 grant to assist with these events. The wastewater treatment facility located uh by Scarborough State Beach. As we all know, we sustained some difficulties with the processing and odor control this past summer in 2025, and we take responsibility for that, and we've been constantly achieving uh trying to achieve a solution to the problem, and we are confident that the plant is operating optimally right now. We are prepared and if determined that it is needed to increase staffing throughout the summer, we have a commitment from uh all the folks at uh Wastewater that they will staff if necessary to provide any additional services. We've been meeting with the consultant and continuing upgrading the plant, and I feel comfortable that uh we are prepared for the summer, and so that we won't experience what we did last summer. The incident at Narragansett Town Beach on the uh May 19th. Unfortunately, incidents like this have been reported in Narragansett, Middletown Rhode Island, Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, Long Beach, New Jersey, and so on. And it's a disturbing trend of unruly conduct. I can assure you that this was not a random act of violence. This was targeted for a specific group, gang affiliates. I am going to invite Chief Recus up to speak on this matter as a follow-up to the press releases and social media postings. I've shared this information regarding the incident and the staffing levels with the town council, and they've requested that I share these with the public. And I will call on the chief when the agenda item comes up that was sponsored by Ms.
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