North Kingstown Town Council Meeting - August 24, 2022

The North Kingstown Town Council met on Wednesday, August 24, 2022, at 6:45 PM at the Beechwood Senior Center. The meeting covered a wide range of topics including recognition of kidney donors, a public hearing for a secondhand license, public comments on various issues, consent agenda items, town manager reports, advisory board survey results, follow-up on the McGuirl report, water main extensions, appointments, and discussion of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Town and School Department. The council also addressed the resignation of a School Committee member and set a special meeting to fill the vacancy.

Consent Calendar

• Items 7-34 (Approved with removals): The council approved a consent agenda covering routine items including approval of minutes (July 18, 2022), tax abatements, donations, bid awards (fire command vehicle, police radios, facilities assessment), supplemental school appropriation, license transfers, holiday sales renewals, grant acceptance, meeting schedule amendment, .gov domain authorization, bond reduction, first readings of fee schedule amendments, stop sign amendment, and tax exemption addition. Items 11, 13, 15, 23, 24, and 27 were removed for separate discussion.
• Item 11 (Resignation from Conservation Commission): Councilor Brimer expressed concern about the appointee’s attendance at planning board meetings. The council approved the resignation with a request to follow up on attendance.
• Item 13 (Police Radios): Councilor McKay questioned the $37,029.50 cost for ten portable radios. Police Chief explained the radios are 14 years old and failing, and the cost includes accessories and batteries. The item was approved.
• Item 15 (Supplemental School Appropriation): The school department received an additional $278,000 in state aid. Councilor McKay questioned whether this could be redirected, but the Town Manager explained it must go to the school and does not affect maintenance of effort. Approved.
• Items 23 & 24 (BLM RI PAC Event): Applicant Danielle Walsh confirmed the event is a Black Lives Matter Rhode Island fundraiser with 45 RSVPs. Councilor Brimer noted the use of public property for candidate promotion but approved with a request for a police detail if needed. Approved.
• Item 27 (Fire Department Grant): Fire Chief Scott Cattell explained the $951,000 federal grant (90% federal, 10% town) for 88 portable radios, 29 mobile radios, and 15 mobile repeaters. The town’s share is $84,808. Approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Randy Wheatman (40 Sanford Ave): Urged the council to appoint Bob Jones to the School Committee vacancy, citing the charter’s intent to select the next highest vote-getter.
• Sarah Lee Norton (West Cove Drive): Commented on Item 48 (MOU), suggesting the MOU may no longer be needed and that decisions should wait until new personnel are in place.
• Susan Erickson (96 Mesa Drive): A teacher asked the council to appoint a School Committee member who will be fair to teachers, advance contract negotiations, address teacher shortages, and prioritize student welfare.
• Ed Cooney (22 House in Court): Supported the facilities assessment bid (Item 14) and the appointment of Anthony Miccolis to the Asset Management Commission (Item 42).
• Michael Carter (85 Ocean Woods Drive): Described the VFW’s October Vets event (beer garden, band, 5K run) on October 1, 2022.
• Rick Salzman (511 Fletcher Road): Criticized the Zoning Board’s August 9th decision to allow two cows on a substandard lot, arguing the board did not apply URI standards or the eight criteria for special use permits. He asked the council for oversight.
• Sue Day (511 Fletcher Road): Supported her husband’s comments and added that the Zoning Board did not evaluate the request using the URI standards, and that the applicant called them “outdated.”
• Richard Welch (8 Arrow Lane): Raised concerns about poor audio at streamed meetings, planning board attendance, asked if the recreation building would be on the ballot, and requested better town signage.
• Kathleen Garino (139 Summit View Lane): Thanked Jake Mather for his service and asked that the new School Committee member prioritize children’s best interests, safety, critical thinking, diversity, and balanced academics/athletics/arts.
• Vicky Ferrara (570 Fletcher Road): Supported the Salzmans’ zoning concerns and asked the council to consider wetlands on the property. Also requested handicap-accessible porta-johns at playgrounds.
• Richard Corcoran (89 Fletcher Road): Questioned the council’s ability to oversee the Zoning Board and expressed concern that the board’s decision was subjective rather than fact-based, leading to potential appeals costs.
• Patrick Murray (83 Nepal Road, Narragansett): Introduced himself as a candidate for Senate District 36.

Discussion Items

• Item 36 – Advisory Boards/Committees Survey: Town Manager Ralph presented results of a survey of advisory committee members. 63 responses (30-40% participation). 94% were satisfied with interaction with town staff; 62% with council interaction. 75% felt no additional direction needed. 50% were split on sending reports to council and on council liaisons. The council discussed possibly letting the next council decide on liaisons, and considered having staff gather further feedback on board relevance.
• Item 37 – Follow-up Letter to School Committee on McGuirl Report: Councilor Anderson proposed sending a follow-up letter requesting a written response to the recommendations in Judge McGuirl’s report. The council voted to send the letter, with a deadline for the school committee to respond after their August 30th meeting, and to make the response public by September 18th before the school committee’s September 20th meeting.
• Item 38 – CRMC Application for Boat Ramp Expansion: The council approved a “no substantive objection” to the town’s application to expand the concrete launching ramp and construct a new public boating facility at 8150 Post Road. The project is expected to cost around $700,000, with 75% grant funding from DEM/U.S. Fish and Wildlife. The town’s portion includes in-kind services. No funding is budgeted for FY2023; the council will need to approve funding later.
• Item 39 – Water Main Extension for Pinewood Village Apartments: Approved with nine conditions, including no in-ground irrigation. The water system has supply surplus; fire marshal required a two-hour firewall. The project is for 88 two-bedroom units in 22 buildings on the former Bald Hill Nursery site.
• Item 40 – Water Main Extension for Reynolds Farm North: Approved with nine conditions similar to Item 39. Fire Chief clarified that previous concerns about road access and parking have been addressed through signage and cooperation with the developer.
• Item 41 – Rescission of Appointment to Board of Canvassers: Councilor Brimer moved to rescind the appointment of Susan Patras and appoint Julia McKay as alternate member. Approved.
• Item 42 – Asset Management Commission Appointment: Anthony Miccolis appointed to fill the unexpired term of Edson Place. Approved.
• Items 43-47 – Other Appointments: No applicants for the Economic Development Advisory Board (Item 43), Information Technology Advisory Committee (Item 45), Wickford Advisory Committee (Item 46), and Wickford Village Design Guidelines Committee (Item 47); these will be re-advertised. Robert McGill was appointed to the Groundwater Committee (Item 44).
• Item 48 – MOU between Town and School Department: Councilor McKay argued that the town finance director and manager should have read access to the school’s general ledger for transparency. Town Manager Ralph agreed but noted state law gives the school autonomy. The council decided to revisit the issue in October after the new superintendent and school finance director are in place, with the aim of amending the MOU to provide read access.
• Item 49 – Resignation of Jake Mather from School Committee: The council discussed the process to fill the vacancy. Solicitor Matt advised against appointing someone at the meeting due to potential open meetings law violations. The council voted to advertise for letters of interest by September 9th and hold a special meeting on September 14, 2022 at 5:30 PM to make the appointment. Candidates who are currently on the ballot may be appointed, but they would need to withdraw by September 16th if they wish to allow their party to replace them on the ballot.

Key Outcomes

• Approved licenses: Secondhand license for Elizah Lily's Second Chances; entertainment and exhibition licenses for VFW, Recreation Department, Glimmer of Hope Foundation, and Black Lives Matter RI PAC.
• Approved grants and bids: Fire Department command vehicle ($45,530), police radios ($37,029.50), facilities condition assessment ($30,000), and acceptance of the 2021 Assistance to Firefighters Grant ($951,000 federal, $84,808 town).
• Approved water main extensions: Pinewood Village Apartments and Reynolds Farm North, each with nine conditions.
• School Committee vacancy: The council will hold a special meeting on September 14, 2022 at 5:30 PM to appoint a replacement for Jake Mather. Letters of interest are due by September 9, 2022.
• Follow-up on McGuirl report: The council will send a letter to the School Committee requesting a written response by September 6, 2022, to be made public by September 18, 2022.
• MOU discussion: The council will revisit the MOU with the school department in October 2022, after new school leadership is in place, to push for read access to the school’s general ledger.
• Appointments: Julia McKay to the Board of Canvassers; Anthony Miccolis to the Asset Management Commission; Robert McGill to the Groundwater Committee.
• CRMC application: No substantive objection approved for the town’s boat ramp project; funding to be determined later.