North Kingstown Town Council Meeting - February 6, 2023

The North Kingstown Town Council met on Monday, February 6, 2023, at 7:00 PM in the Town Hall Council Chambers. The meeting covered a public hearing for a liquor license, presentations on the annual audit and capital improvement plan, consent agenda items, reports from the town manager, and several new business items including proclamations and committee appointments. Key decisions included approval of a full alcoholic beverage license for Quonset Tavern, receipt and filing of the FY2022 audit, approval of a five-year contract for automated external defibrillators (AEDs), and adoption of a proclamation declaring April as Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Public Hearing

• Class B-Full Alcoholic Beverage License – Quonset Tavern by the Green Inc. – The council opened and closed the public hearing with no one signed up to speak. A motion to approve the license passed unanimously, welcoming the new business to the town.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Jim McGuinness (412 Chimney Rock Road) presented two items for consideration: (1) a request for the council to support a state bill that would make non-reporting of known or suspected child abuse a felony for mandated reporters, and (2) a suggestion to celebrate Black History Month by honoring Mel Benson, the first Black representative in the Rhode Island State House and a former North Kingstown teacher. He provided documents to the council.
• Councilor Katherine Anderson responded to a piece of correspondence received by the council that espoused white supremacist ideology. She publicly condemned white supremacy in all forms, stating that the council will not tolerate such views.

Discussion Items

• Presentation by Marcum LLP – Annual Audit Report for FY2022 – Kyle Connors, director at Marcum, presented the audited financial statements. The audit opinion was clean, with no material misstatements. Key points:
  • General fund balance increased by $1.5 million, with unassigned fund balance of $12.1 million (13.5% of operating budget).
  • Revenues exceeded budget by $1.5 million, including property taxes $378,000 above budget (98.6% collection rate).
  • Expenditures were $1.1 million under budget.
  • School department fund balance of $6.9 million (9.5% of operating budget), but $1.2 million earmarked for stipends.
  • School lunch fund had a $2.1 million net position, which the auditor recommended reducing to avoid exceeding USDA limits.
  • Water department operating income of $1.3 million; sewer department had a net position deficit of $126,000.
  • Pension plans are state-funded and showed improved funding ratios, but the OPEB plan is only 11% funded with a $18.1 million liability.
  • Recommendations included improving month-end reconciliations for sewer assessments, annual cybersecurity training, and vulnerability testing.
  • Councilors discussed the sewer department’s operating income drop and the school lunch fund surplus. The town manager noted that the sewer deficit is being addressed through appeals and future tie-ins.
• Presentation by the Asset Management Commission – Capital Improvement Program FY2024–FY2028 – Chair Edward Cooney presented the commission’s recommendations. Three major projects were highlighted:
  • New School Buildings: The Rhode Island School Building Authority offers a 52.5% reimbursement rate for new middle school and elementary school projects, but the town must be under contract by December 31, 2023, and complete by December 31, 2028. Estimated cost: $80 million each for a middle school and an elementary school; at the enhanced rate, the town’s share would be $38 million per school, or $104 million if the rate drops to 35%.
  • Public Safety Headquarters: The top priority (ranked #1). Original budget $40–45 million, but a scaled-down version of $21.5–$31.5 million is proposed. The current facility is in poor condition with water damage, cramped spaces, and inadequate equipment capacity.
  • Recreation Center: Proposed 50,000 sq ft first phase ($25 million) plus $15 million for phase two (turf fields). The commission did not rank this as a top priority.
  • Other priorities: water main condition assessment, fire door replacements at library, continued road maintenance, senior center HVAC, and school fire alarm systems.
  • The commission recommended creating a grant writer position, establishing an asset protection fund, and improving town-school collaboration.
  • Councilors discussed the urgency of the school projects due to the reimbursement deadline and the need for the public safety facility. The commission noted that a single bond question might be more effective than multiple questions.

Consent Calendar

• Items 8–17 were on the consent agenda. Councilor Page requested removal of Item 8 (minutes) and Councilor Mandel requested removal of Item 12 (AED contract). The remaining items (9–11, 13–17) were approved unanimously.
• Item 8 – Approval of Minutes (January 9, 2023) – Councilor Page abstained due to absence. The motion to continue the item to the next meeting passed with a possible amendment noted.
• Item 12 – Award of Five-Year Contract for AEDs to Avive Solutions, Inc. ($89,509.53) – Councilor Mandel asked about the number of units (60), placement, and vandalism prevention. Assistant Fire Chief John Lenickry explained that the devices are placed in strategic locations based on cardiac arrest data, are trackable via GPS, and use alarmed cabinets. The contract was approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Public Hearing: Approved Class B-Full Alcoholic Beverage License for Quonset Tavern by the Green Inc. (unanimous).
• Audit Report: Motion to receive and file the FY2022 Annual Audit Report passed unanimously.
• Capital Improvement Plan: Motion to receive and file the CIP FY2024–FY2028 report passed unanimously.
• Consent Agenda Items: Approved Items 9–11, 13–17 (unanimous). Item 8 continued to next meeting. Item 12 (AED contract) approved unanimously.
• Item 19 – Amendments to Town Council Meeting Schedule: Approved to change the April 3 regular meeting to March 27, and the budget hearing from April 17 to April 19.
• Item 20 – Veterans Memorial Scholarship Fund Committee: Approved increasing membership from three to five and appointed Councilor McCoy as the council representative and Brett Mallory as the citizen representative (unanimous).
• Item 21 – Sexual Assault Awareness Month Proclamation: Approved declaring April 2023 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month in North Kingstown (unanimous). Council President Mancini and Councilor Anderson offered apologies for previous hesitation on such proclamations.
• Item 22 – South Gould Island Public Recreation Plan Resolution: Approved a resolution supporting Jamestown’s request to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) to designate South Gould Island for public recreation. The town manager will serve as the point of contact.
• Item 23 – Report on Town Council Office Hours Initiative: Councilor Mandel reported that over five weeks in January, 13 parties attended office hours. He proposed continuing on a monthly basis with both daytime and evening virtual options. The council agreed to let Mandel coordinate the schedule.
• Item 24 – Discussion on Communication with Residents: Councilors discussed ways to improve outreach, including appointing council liaisons to town committees, holding town forums, and using informal channels. The town manager will re-survey committees to determine interest in a liaison.
• Item 25 – Correspondence: Read and acknowledged.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned.