North Kingstown Town Council Meeting - May 22, 2023

The North Kingstown Town Council held its regular meeting on Monday, May 22, 2023, at 7:00 PM in the Town Hall Council Chambers. The meeting was called to order by Council President Gregory A. Mancini, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and a brief announcement about the upcoming Memorial Day observance on May 29th. No members of the public signed up for public comment.

Consent Calendar

• Items 11 through 20 were approved unanimously as part of the consent agenda. These included routine approvals such as license renewals, permit authorizations, and a letter of resignation from the Library Board of Trustees.
• Several items were removed from the consent agenda for separate discussion: Item 6 (Food Pantry lease extension), Items 7-10 (IT-related expenditures), and Item 21 (Transfer Station fee schedule).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made.

Discussion Items

• Items 7-10: Cybersecurity Update and IT Expenditures: Town Manager Ralph provided an update on the ransomware cyber attack that occurred on April 22, 2023. He stated the town was 99% operational, with no personal data of employees or residents compromised. The town partnered with Envision Technology Advisors for forensic audit, threat remediation, and data privacy assistance. Council members discussed the need for improved cybersecurity measures, including moving to Microsoft Government cloud, upgrading firewalls, and enhancing phishing protection. The expenditures (totaling approximately $12,350 for forensic audit, $9,314.55 for firewall hardware, $8,600 for setup, $12,741/month for Microsoft licenses, $22,420 for data migration, $7,500 for software resale, and $34,944/year for service delivery) are expected to be reimbursed by insurance. Council commended IT staff for their response.
• Item 21: Transfer Station Fee Schedule Amendment: The proposed fee schedule increased the sticker cost to $15 per sheet. Council had concerns about clarifying battery fees (large vs. small) and communicating to the public that the increase is due to rising disposal costs from Rhode Island Resource Recovery. An amendment was made to clarify battery wording, and a memo will be prepared explaining the rationale.
• Town Manager Report: Ralph reported on several items: Library closure for software upgrade, AED installations, police body camera pilot program, recognition of officers for awards, town beach and splash pad opening for Memorial Day, receipt of a Clean Energy Award, and state funding requests for a recreation center, town beach master plan, and Frenchtown Road bridge. He also provided an update on the Annaquatucket Road Sidewalk Project, estimating costs between $170,000 and $250,000. Council expressed interest but asked for a prioritization of public works projects before committing funds.
• Item 23: Resolution to Join Rhode Island Municipal Education Compact: Ralph presented the resolution, which would allow the town to apply for state funding for innovative after-school or summer learning programs. Council supported the initiative, with some members emphasizing the need to coordinate with the school department and address childcare needs. The resolution was adopted.
• Finance Director Report: Finance Director Jim announced his departure after six years. He reported an estimated surplus of about $1 million for the current fiscal year, strong revenue, and clean audits. He thanked the council and staff. Council acknowledged his service.
• Item 25: Open Space Conservation Report: Nicole presented a report showing that over 8,000 acres (approximately one-third of the town) are preserved. Recent successes include the Crookshing property wetland easement. Council discussed balancing open space with housing development pressures, and Nicole noted that growth management focuses development near existing infrastructure.
• Item 26: Short-Term Rental Evaluation Update: The administration recommended establishing a registry for short-term rentals. Council requested a cost-benefit analysis, revenue projections, enforcement mechanisms, and checks on whether rental owners are improperly receiving homestead exemptions. The administration will return with a proposed ordinance.
• Item 27: Analysis of Boards and Commissions: Nicole presented a comprehensive analysis of the town’s 25 boards and commissions, recommending consolidation or elimination of some (e.g., Police Pension Board, Energy Advisory Committee, consolidation of Groundwater with Conservation Commission). Council decided to delay action until input is sought from affected boards, and also discussed improving communication between boards and the council.

Key Outcomes

• Items 6, 7-10, and 21 (as amended) were approved separately from the consent agenda.
• Resolution to join the Rhode Island Municipal Education Compact was adopted unanimously.
• Tracy McCue was reappointed to the Charter Review Commission (one of two open seats; no other applicant).
• The transfer station fee ordinance moved to first reading with an amendment to clarify battery fees.
• The town manager was directed to provide a prioritized list of public works projects, an updated ARPA fund analysis, and a cost-benefit analysis for short-term rental registry.
• The analysis of boards and commissions will be revisited after gathering input from the respective bodies; staff will bring forward proposed ordinance and resolution changes for consolidation/elimination.
• Meeting adjourned.