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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

North Kingstown Town Council Meeting – June 13, 2022

Town Council — Monday, June 13, 2022

BodyNorth Kingstown, Rhode Island

SessionTown Council

DateMonday, June 13, 2022

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 2:45:12

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:22

One, two.

0:23

Can you hear?

0:43

I have seven o'clock.

0:48

Good evening, North Kingston.

0:49

I'd like to call this meeting to order at 7 o'clock for the North Kingstown Town Council.

0:55

Town Council meeting Monday, June 13th.

0:58

Pursuant to Rodland General Laws 42-46-6C.

1:03

Notice this meeting for the post of the Secretary of State's website.

1:20

So with that, let's salute the flag.

1:22

Thank you.

1:47

Thank you, everybody.

1:53

What I'm going to suggest we do tonight.

1:56

Usually the agenda as presented is how we have done agendas in the past for uh proclamations and special reports.

2:06

But what I'd like to do tonight is move uh public comment up to right now before any other business.

2:14

So, Madam Clerk, do we have the public comment sheet?

2:19

Yes, we do.

2:20

Can we get that?

2:24

Thank you.

2:28

Thank you.

2:36

So we do have a fair number of people who are going to speak, and we certainly want to hear what you have to say.

2:41

However, we also have 63 items on our agenda.

2:44

So I'm going to ask that you keep it to three minutes.

3:07

Brian O'Dell, 152 Salisbury Avenue, North Kingstown.

3:12

My wife and I have been married for 39 years.

3:15

I believe we compliment each other pretty perfectly.

3:18

But we disagree quite a lot.

3:20

She wants to paint the hallway green.

3:22

I want blue.

3:22

She wants rice for dinner.

3:24

I want potatoes.

3:25

That's pretty typical though, right?

3:27

I'm sure you don't agree on everything with your partners either.

3:30

So you can understand my amazement when I discovered that our three Democratic Town Council members had voted in lockstep over 750 times since being elected.

3:40

Wow.

3:41

Over 750 times.

3:43

Not one disagreement.

3:45

That seems statistically impossible to not have a difference of opinion on any issue.

3:49

Perhaps there's something wrong.

3:51

Are you guys okay?

3:52

Blink twice if you want us to get you some help.

3:55

I mean, you surely must have dog uh disagreed when the vote came up to spend $700 per square foot to renovate the town hall building.

4:02

That's just crazy.

4:03

Does it have imported Italian marble floors and gold-plated toilets?

4:07

Or was it because the contractor is a friend?

4:10

I can't wait to see it when I stop by to pay my property taxes that have increased again.

4:14

Two consecutive tax hikes while the town and school department sit on nearly 30 million dollars in surplus dollars.

4:20

A number that continues to grow.

4:26

Like now, you're falling all over yourselves to prepare a declaration in support of the new state gun legislation in a state that ranks 49th in gun-related deaths per year.

4:35

Yet you refuse to consider a similar proclamation and support of the bill that closes the loophole in state laws that allows teachers, coaches, and other school personnel from having sexual relations with students as young as 14.

4:50

That seems unconscionable in the context of what is happening with the multiple incidents of sexual misconduct in NK schools.

5:00

You also blocked a request to freeze extraneous school department expenditures until we all know the outcome of the pending school lawsuits.

5:04

Since then, the lawsuits have predictably grown in number with a potential financial burden growing.

5:09

And the town's insurance carrier has already announced that they will be increasing the premiums for NK by 20% because of these lawsuits as a start.

5:17

All the while, the school committee continues its spending spree, investing in controversial curriculum materials, which include pornography, throwing out existing materials that have helped NK students excel.

5:27

Not anymore.

5:28

Recent reports show NK student results are declining while this is happening, especially for our boys.

5:34

And soon the school department will be asking for a multi-million dollar bond referendum for new schools as they neglect maintenance on the existing ones.

5:41

You know, it helps their case for new schools if the existing ones are falling apart.

5:46

I had been slightly encouraged to hear Mr.

5:48

McKay suggests that bipartisan committees be formed to address important issues or to make recommendations on filing important town or school roles.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Public Safety██████████████████████████26%

Public Comment██████████████14%

Budget Equity Analysis███████████11%

Procedural████████8%

School Committee Appointment██████6%

Personnel Matters██████6%

Asset Management██████6%

Education Funding███3%

Charter Review███3%

Summary of Proceedings

North Kingstown Town Council Meeting – June 13, 2022

The North Kingstown Town Council met on June 13, 2022, at the Beechwood Senior Center. The meeting included significant public comment, discussion and votes on a special investigation report, a charter review commission report, a gun violence awareness proclamation, consent agenda approvals, reports from the town manager and finance director, and numerous appointments and routine new business items.

Public Comments & Testimony

Brian O'Dell criticized the three Democratic council members for voting in lockstep over 750 times, questioned spending $700/sq ft on town hall renovations, and accused the council of ignoring school sexual abuse while focusing on gun legislation.
Tom Vriety supported the gun violence awareness proclamation, citing his transition from NRA supporter to advocate for gun safety.
Richard Welch criticized the late release (5 p.m. the day of the meeting) of Judge McGuirl's report, calling it a lack of transparency.
Melissa Devine and Kathleen Garino voiced strong support for the gun violence proclamation, emphasizing the need for common-sense gun laws.
Matthew McCoy detailed recent state gun safety bills passed by the House and urged council to pass the resolution, noting endorsements from law enforcement.
Stacy Weinstein warned that the proclamation should not be a “check in the box” and urged continued community action.
Megan Riley called the timing of the proclamation “political theater” and a distraction from the school sexual abuse scandal; she noted that four employees are on administrative leave and two lawsuits are pending.
Timothy Conlin, attorney for abuse victims, commended the council for commissioning the independent report and urged implementation of Judge McGuirl’s recommendations, especially counseling for victims.
Ralph Luna objected to spraying by a company in Bissell’s Cove, asking the town manager to follow up.
Jane Hennedy invited residents to a Juneteenth event at Casey Farm on June 19.
Jim McGuinn requested the town council reschedule the June 27 meeting to discuss school safety, referencing the 2007 North Kingstown Safety Committee recommendations.
Kim Lanaway, a teacher, criticized the proclamation as useless and raised concerns about drug overdoses and weapons in schools.
Ann Gertman supported the proclamation, noting gun violence is the leading cause of death for children.
Joe Vento supported the proclamation.
Mary Warburton supported the proclamation, recounting the impact of mass shootings.
Lisa Andrews urged passage of the resolution.
Susan Patris opposed the proclamation, arguing it does nothing and that “a good guy with a gun” is the best defense.

Special Business

Judge McGuirl’s Report on School Investigation – Council President Mancini introduced the report, noting the judge met with over 50 individuals at no additional cost. The report found that no student ever reported the fat-testing to a teacher, coach, or administrator. Council members expressed dismay and discussed recommendations: Kerry McKay insisted on a “never again” rule that no staff be alone with a student; Mary Brimer called for freezing a portion of the school surplus to settle claims and fund counseling; she also highlighted unequal pay for female coach Kayla Schulter. The council voted unanimously (5-0) to receive the report and forward it to the school committee for a formal response.

Charter Review Commission Report – Chairman John Gibbons presented recommendations. After debate:

Article 1 (powers, allowing lease of property) and Article 3 (extending lease limit from 10 to 25 years) were approved by voice vote.
Article 4, Section 405 (department heads appoint subordinates) was deleted (approved) because it conflicts with the town manager’s authority.
Article 5 (requiring advice and consent of council for town manager appointments) was not approved; Kerry McKay opposed it, supported by the majority.
Article 7 (removing town manager and heads from Planning Commission) was approved.
Article 8 (Asset Management Commission funding) was discussed at length; the council decided not to send it to voters, accepting the town manager’s view that current budgeting is more transparent.
Article 13 (mandatory charter review every 10 years) was approved.
An administrative amendment allowing ministerial changes by unanimous council vote was approved.

Gun Violence Awareness Proclamation – Councilor Anderson read the resolution declaring June as Gun Violence Awareness Month in North Kingstown. Councilor McKay opposed, citing hypocrisy and lack of strategy; Councilor Brimer said it was ineffective without targeting; Councilor Page supported it. Vote: Anderson (yes), Brimer (no), McKay (no), Page (yes), Mancini (yes) – passed 3-2.

Consent Calendar

Items 8–39 were approved in one motion, except items 21 and 28 removed by councilors.

Item 8: Approval of minutes from April 25 and May 16, 2022.
Items 9–39: Routine financial, bid awards, license renewals, donations, and resignations.
Council removed Item 21 (police vehicle purchase) for discussion; after explanation of a single-vehicle accident causing a total loss, it was approved.
Item 28 (entertainment license for Gregg’s Restaurant) was removed by Councilor Brimer and approved after clarifying no public hearing was required.

Reports

Town Manager (Ralph Mollis): Reported Wickford Village placed #1 in USA Today’s “Best Historic Small Town” (to be announced June 17); library renovations nearing completion; progress on community choice aggregation; exploring Airbnb regulations; core vocabulary board installed at McGinn Park; town hall renovations on schedule for occupancy after Labor Day; motor vehicle tax eliminated by state, saving $11,000 in printing/postage.
Finance Director (Jim Lather): Reported a $2.1 million surplus ($1.3M after fund balance), only 7 properties left on tax sale; FEMA reimbursement of $160,000 for snowstorm; $34,000 health insurance rebate; clarified that a 20% liability premium increase is not due to the school lawsuits but to overall pool factors.

Discussion Items

CRMC Application for Rome Point LLC (Item 42): Allowed replacement of oyster cages with low-profile floating baskets. Harbor Management Commission recommended no substantive objection. Approved.
CRMC Application for Allen Harbor (Item 43): Modified existing mooring field with no increase in boat count. Approved.
RIDOT Construction Agreement (Item 44): For traffic signal work along Boston Neck Road. Approved; note that the agreement still used the old state name “Providence Plantations.”
EB PILOT Amendment (Item 45): Second amendment to payment-in-lieu-of-tax agreement with Electric Boat for a new plant, expected to bring $4.3 million over 19 years. Approved.
Vote Ordering Tax, Vote of Appropriation (All funds, Library, School), Vote to Apply for Funds – all approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

Judge McGuirl Report: Received and forwarded to school committee for response.
Charter Review Amendments: Voters will consider changes to Articles 1, 3, 4 (Sec. 405), 7, and 13, plus the administrative amendment provision.
Gun Violence Awareness Month: Proclamation passed 3-2.
Appointments:
- Councilor Mancini appointed to Superintendent Screening Committee; recommendation to also appoint Town Manager Mollis (approved).
- Peter Healey reappointed to Building Code Board of Appeals (5-0 vote due to 12+ years).
- Economic Development Advisory Board – tabled for re-advertisement.
- Groundwater Committee: Ahren Cohen and Richard Graefe reappointed.
- Information Technology Advisory Committee – tabled for re-advertisement.
- Leisure Services Advisory Committee: Five members reappointed (Shore, Lemieux, Andrews, Reilly, Linnane).
- Personnel Board: Thomas Reilly appointed.
- Planning Commission: Meg Kerr appointed (3-2 vote over Kevin Bernardo).
- Probate Judge: Brian Fielding reappointed.
- Wickford Advisory Committee – tabled for re-advertisement.
- Wickford Village Design Guidelines Committee – no applicants, tabled.
- Zoning Board of Review: Three members reappointed (Wietman, Kliever, Warren).

Meeting Transcript

One, two. Can you hear? I have seven o'clock. Good evening, North Kingston. I'd like to call this meeting to order at 7 o'clock for the North Kingstown Town Council. Town Council meeting Monday, June 13th. Pursuant to Rodland General Laws 42-46-6C. Notice this meeting for the post of the Secretary of State's website. So with that, let's salute the flag. Thank you. Thank you, everybody. What I'm going to suggest we do tonight. Usually the agenda as presented is how we have done agendas in the past for uh proclamations and special reports. But what I'd like to do tonight is move uh public comment up to right now before any other business. So, Madam Clerk, do we have the public comment sheet? Yes, we do. Can we get that? Thank you. Thank you. So we do have a fair number of people who are going to speak, and we certainly want to hear what you have to say. However, we also have 63 items on our agenda. So I'm going to ask that you keep it to three minutes. Brian O'Dell, 152 Salisbury Avenue, North Kingstown. My wife and I have been married for 39 years. I believe we compliment each other pretty perfectly. But we disagree quite a lot. She wants to paint the hallway green. I want blue. She wants rice for dinner. I want potatoes. That's pretty typical though, right? I'm sure you don't agree on everything with your partners either. So you can understand my amazement when I discovered that our three Democratic Town Council members had voted in lockstep over 750 times since being elected. Wow. Over 750 times. Not one disagreement. That seems statistically impossible to not have a difference of opinion on any issue. Perhaps there's something wrong. Are you guys okay? Blink twice if you want us to get you some help. I mean, you surely must have dog uh disagreed when the vote came up to spend $700 per square foot to renovate the town hall building. That's just crazy. Does it have imported Italian marble floors and gold-plated toilets? Or was it because the contractor is a friend? I can't wait to see it when I stop by to pay my property taxes that have increased again. Two consecutive tax hikes while the town and school department sit on nearly 30 million dollars in surplus dollars. A number that continues to grow. Like now, you're falling all over yourselves to prepare a declaration in support of the new state gun legislation in a state that ranks 49th in gun-related deaths per year. Yet you refuse to consider a similar proclamation and support of the bill that closes the loophole in state laws that allows teachers, coaches, and other school personnel from having sexual relations with students as young as 14. That seems unconscionable in the context of what is happening with the multiple incidents of sexual misconduct in NK schools.

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