North Kingstown Town Council Meeting Summary – December 19, 2022
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North Kingstown Town Council Meeting – December 19, 2022
On December 19, 2022, the North Kingstown Town Council reconvened after technical difficulties, approved routine and donation consent items, received a wide-ranging town manager project update, approved alcohol license limits and CRMC applications, made numerous appointments, and established trial weekly office hours. The council noted that the school portion of the meeting was recorded and would be posted the next morning.
Consent Calendar
- Items 6, 7, and 10 through 22 were approved by one motion as routine.
- Items 8 and 9 were considered separately: donations totaling $8,555 were accepted with gratitude, including $3,500 from Dave’s Market Charitable Trust, $1,125 from First Baptist Church, $765 from Narragansett Bow Hunters Association, $500 from Michael and Carol Aninsky, $125 from Jacqueline Leblanc, $1,000 each from Laura Evans and Jill Moford for the Beechwood Senior Center, $35 from Suzanne Cole, and $25 from an anonymous donor.
- Animal shelter donations totaling $204 were accepted: $100 from Cena Clark, $74 from Patricia and Thomas Scott, and $30 from Michael Frappier and Kathleen Hawes.
Town Manager’s Project Updates
- Retail marijuana: Following the passage of the referendum, a report on next steps—including an ordinance on locations, requirements, restrictions, and licensing—will be presented at the February 6, 2023 council meeting.
- January 9, 2023: report and proposed action steps on short-term rentals, plus request to approve a contract for a new restaurant at the municipal golf course.
- January 23, 2023: proposals for a new recreation center and renovation of the municipal office building at 100 Fairway Drive.
- FY2024 budget will be presented on March 13, 2023; council deliberations with department heads will follow, with a public hearing on April 17, 2023.
- The renovated North Kingstown Town Hall received a 2022 AIA Rhode Island Design Award for architecture of rehabilitation; credit was given to DBVW Architects, town staff, public works, Tower Construction, subcontractors, and others.
- RIDOT will begin reconstruction of the Davisville Railroad Bridge, including demolition/replacement, sidewalks, barriers, protective screen, utility work, pavement, and detours; completion anticipated May 2024.
- Boston Neck Road repaving from Wickford south will begin March 2023, including ADA ramps and a traffic signal at Hamilton Elementary; work will alternate with Route 2/138 South and finish by summer/early fall.
- Town manager will attend the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns Housing Workshop with Housing Secretary Saul on January 18, 2023, to discuss state-local housing efforts and protecting local zoning/planning rights.
- A resident’s complaint about an unsafe wall/water over the wall in the village led to historically appropriate fencing installed by public works in coordination with the Historic District Commission.
- Water Director Tim Cranston’s presentation to the RI Water Resources Board was praised, and the town’s five-year water plan update was approved through November 17, 2027.
- Open space: The town is working with the Land Conservancy and owners to acquire a 355-acre conservation easement off Tower Hill Road; approximately 60% is wooded swamp. The wetland reserve easement program would pay up to 90% of appraised value, and DEM is being sought for the remaining 10%. The property is connected to adjacent open space, creating about 700 acres of contiguous protected land. A council member stated this was a high priority and that the council would be willing to use reasonable town funds if needed.
- The town website refresh and new .gov address are scheduled to launch January 23, 2023.
Alcoholic Beverage License Limits
- The council approved the 2022-2023 alcoholic beverage license limits: Class A, 4; Class B full, 28; Class B limited beer/wine, 10; Class C, 2; Class D full club, 1. The council noted it can increase limits upon request and expects possible license requests for new buildings at the gateway.
CRMC Applications
- The council found no substantive objection to application 2000-05-97 for Andrew and Megan Felix to construct and maintain a 38-foot section/replacement of an existing boat ramp/dock; the conservation commission and harbor management commission had unanimously approved it.
- The council also found no substantive objection to application 2022-11-064 for the same applicants in the same general area.
Appointments, Reappointments, and Deferrals
- Arts Council vacancy: no applicants; will be re-advertised.
- Assessment Board: Stephen Borowick reappointed.
- Charter Review Commission: reappointed John Gibbons, Anthony McCollis, James Halley, Sarah Lee Norton, and Randy Wheatman; council noted Gibbons’ service since 2006 and special expertise.
- Conservation Commission: Mary Kelly Phil appointed to Meg Kerr’s unexpired term; Stacey Weinstein appointed to a term ending 2025.
- Economic Development Advisory Board: James Halley’s appointment was deferred to January 9, 2023, to allow another interested person to apply.
- Groundwater Committee: James Halley’s appointment was continued to January 9, 2023.
- A reappointment for Mr. Gentile was approved; item 34 was deferred/readvertised for another month.
- Work Advisory Committee: Carrie Colb appointed after discussion; she is the elected president of the Wickford Village Association and meets the business-owner requirement.
- School Building Committee: Kim Page was reappointed as the council’s representative, and she agreed to serve.
Weekly Office Hours
- On a motion by Councilor Larry Mandel, the council established trial weekly office hours at Town Hall for one council member to meet with constituents: Tuesdays from 10 to 11 a.m. during January, using the first floor conference room at 80 Boston Road. Council members supported the trial, noted it was not required for all five members, and cautioned that discussions must avoid creating a rolling quorum and should steer residents to town departments and staff where appropriate.
Correspondence and Closing
- Councilor Katie Anison was absent with the flu; the council wished her a speedy recovery and encouraged flu shots.
- Correspondence received included a letter from the Land Conservancy of North Kingstown, a request from Joseph Gentile for reappointment to the Historic District Commission, and a concern from Serena Mason about a light on Anquatucket.
- The council adjourned after wishing the public happy holidays and a healthy 2023.
Meeting Transcript
I just want to make sure we have sound. So we're going to reconvene the town council meeting in November, I'm sorry, December 19th. My understanding is that we resolved our technical problems. Okay. And then for those people who miss the school portion of the meeting, uh, we are going to put that up. Um when are we going to put that up, if you know, Madam Clerk? Tomorrow morning. So tomorrow morning. So that is that did work uh here and we have a recording of it. Um and um for those interested, they can watch it tomorrow morning, and I do apologize for the uh uh technical challenges today. Uh we are on item uh the consent agenda, and that is items six through twenty-two. All items on the consent agenda are considered to be routine by the town council and will be acted by one motion. There'll be no separate discussion of these items unless a council member or citizen so requests. So I was thinking here you used to have a a thing where he would um basically um remove the the items for donations and and you know, basically say that thank you to those folks. And I thought that really actually was a a good precedent. Um however, my computer has turned into a giant paperweight, uh so I am unable to look at who were the recipients of So I will do that for you then. That is looks like to be items eight and nine. Um let me pull that out. Um, thank you. I got a two mat. Thank you though. Uh with that, I'll understand a motion to approve items six, uh seven and ten through twenty-two. Okay. Aye. Any opposed? The ayes have it. So ma'am, you're all set. Yes. Um so items eight and nine are uh some donations. The town received eight thousand five hundred and fifty-five thousand donations, including uh thirty-five hundred dollars from Dave's market uh charitable trust. Uh eleven hundred and twenty-five do dollars from the first Baptist Church. Uh Narragans of Bo Bow Hunters Association, seven sixty-five. Michael and Carol Aninsky, five hundred, j uh Jacqueline Leblanc, a hundred and twenty-five dollars. Lisa uh Bert Bertett, I think that's how you pronounce it. Varnin. The Beechwood Senior Center received a thousand dollars from Laura Evans. And they received another thousand dollars from Jill Moford. $35 from Suzanne Cole. And $25 from an anonymous. So with gratitude, the town accepts $8,555. And I'll take a motion to approve that. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? The ayes have it. And then for the animal shelter, we did receive uh three donations. Cena Clark for $100. Patricia and Thomas Scott, $74. Michael Frappier and Kathleen Hawes, uh $30. And with that, the town accepts their $204 with gratitude.
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