North Kingstown Town Council Meeting - May 16, 2022

The North Kingstown Town Council held a regular meeting on Monday, May 16, 2022, at 7:00 PM at the Beechwood Senior Center. The meeting covered public hearings on alcoholic beverage licenses, approval of a consent agenda with several routine items, discussion on a tide gauge suggestion and furniture funding, reports from the Town Manager and Finance Director, and setting the homestead exemption for the upcoming fiscal year. A lawsuit regarding the Wickford Elementary School redevelopment was also noted.

Public Hearings

• Item 4: Class B-Full Alcoholic Beverage License (new) for Little Rhody LLC, dba Jiggers South, 640 Boston Neck Road. The public hearing was opened and closed with no testimony, and the license was approved unanimously.
• Item 5: Class B-Full Alcoholic Beverage License and Victualling License (temporary expansion of premises) for West Passage Brewing Company LLC, dba West Passage Brewing Company, 7835 Post Road. The public hearing was opened and closed with no testimony, and the license was approved unanimously.

Consent Calendar

• Items 7 through 33 were approved as a block with the exception of items 10 and 20, which were removed for separate discussion by Councilman McKay. The consent agenda included approval of minutes, donations, grants, purchases, contracts, licenses, and other routine matters.

Public Comments

• Council President Mancini congratulated Wickford Middle School students Sadie McCann and Juliana Williams for being among 20 winners of the Rhode Island short story competition (out of 175 submissions). No other public comments were made.

Discussion Items

• Item 10 – Wickford Waterfront Improvement Project / Tide Gauge Suggestion: Councilman McKay proposed installing a visible tide gauge (e.g., a pole or totem) in Wickford Harbor to provide real-time visual data on high water levels, arguing it would help verify claims about sea-level rise and protect property values. He initially suggested it be part of the BETA Group contract but later agreed to pursue it separately. The council approved the contract extension for BETA Group ($125,555.00) with the understanding that the tide gauge idea would be explored independently.
• Item 20 – Furniture Purchase for 80 Boston Neck Road: Councilman McKay asked why the $87,541.82 purchase for furniture was being funded through borrowed bond proceeds rather than from the reserve fund. Town Manager and Finance Director explained the money had already been borrowed and cannot be repaid for five years. The purchase was approved.
• Wickford Elementary School Lawsuit: Councilman McKay and others expressed disappointment over a lawsuit filed by a group of residents to block the redevelopment of Wickford Elementary School. The lawsuit challenges a 5-0 Zoning Board decision. Council members noted the project has been in development for 10 years and urged public support.

Town Manager’s Report (Item 34)

• Memorial Day commemoration on May 30: wreath laying at 9 AM, parade at 10 AM, ceremonies at 11 AM, followed by a hot dog roast.
• Wickford nominated for USA Today’s 2022 Best Historic Small Town Travel Award; currently in 3rd place (voting ends June 6).
• Homestead exemption applications for next year will be accepted after current tax bills are sent (deadline missed by some residents).
• Hired Ronian Associates for schematic design of improvements at 100 Fairway Drive (municipal office building).
• Possible one-year acceleration of motor vehicle tax phase-out; monitoring state budget.
• Library renovations on schedule, no closure expected; open house planned for mid-to-late June.
• New trash/recycling receptacles placed in Wickford and Wilson Park; renovated restrooms now open; concession stand at town beach expected by Memorial Day.

Finance Director’s Report (Item 35)

• Finance Director Jim Lathrop corrected a typo: tangible property projection should be $3.2 million (not $3.0 million), raising projected surplus to about $1.1 million.
• Current bond rate for recent borrowing is approximately 2% (20-year money).
• Energy contracts expire in December; current rate is 7 cents/kWh versus National Grid’s recent winter rate of 26 cents; renegotiation underway.
• Motor vehicle tax elimination would save $12,000 annually in postage.
• New finance team member Tim McDavitt hired.

Key Outcomes

• Public hearings on items 4 and 5: Approved unanimously.
• Consent agenda (items 7-33, except 10 and 20): Approved unanimously.
• Item 10 – BETA Group contract extension: Approved, with direction to explore a separate tide gauge project.
• Item 20 – Furniture purchase: Approved.
• Item 36 – Homestead Exemption: Set at 5% for Fiscal Year 2022/2023, as recommended by the Town Manager. The tax rates will be set at the June meeting; anticipated residential rate: $14.06 per thousand (down from $17.50), commercial: $15.96 per thousand, tangible: $17.50 per thousand, motor vehicles pending state action. Approved unanimously.
• Correspondence: Noted and received.