North Kingstown Town Council Meeting - January 8, 2024
North Kingstown Town Council Meeting - January 8, 2024
The Town Council held a regular meeting on Monday, January 8, 2024, at 7:00 PM in Town Hall Council Chambers. The meeting included three public hearings, public comment, a consent agenda, reports from the Town Manager and the School Building Subcommittee, and several new business items. Key actions included approval of ordinance amendments, acceptance of a school committee resignation, and appointment to the Audit Committee.
Public Hearings
- Item 4 - Conservation Commission Ordinance Amendment: A public hearing was held on the second reading of an amendment to Chapter 2, Article V regarding the Conservation Commission. One speaker, Kathleen Garino (a concerned citizen and groundwater committee member), opposed the inclusion of phrases "advocate for the water department" and "in a best practices manner", arguing they were ambiguous and inconsistent. After discussion, the Council proposed amendments: changing "support and advocate" to "support, advise, and advocate" in Section A, removing "in a best practices manner", and adding "support, advise, and educate" in Section 9. The motion to adopt as amended passed unanimously by voice vote.
- Item 5 - Short-Term Rental Registration Amendment: The Council opened and closed the public hearing with no public comment. The second reading of the amendment to Section 9-418 was approved unanimously.
- Item 6 - Stop Signs at Sachem Road and Pilgrim Drive: The public hearing was opened and closed with no comment. The amendment to Section 11-66 was approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jennifer Lima (Hickory Drive East, President of TANK) criticized the town's 350th anniversary kickoff event for lacking a land acknowledgement, failing to mention the Narragansett people or the transatlantic slave trade, including only Christian prayers, and featuring a male speaker while excluding female elected officials. She urged the Council to consider inclusivity in future events.
- Kali Sherma (383 West Allenton Road) presented statistics on deaths in Gaza (over 23,000 in 94 days, including 9,600 children, with 30,000 total) and called on the Council to pass a resolution for an immediate ceasefire, citing similar action by the Providence City Council.
Consent Calendar
The Council approved Items 8 through 16 unanimously by one motion. Items included approval of minutes (November 20 and December 11, 2023), receipt of donations ($5,045.12), acceptance of a cemetery fund grant ($408), authorization for a concession agreement amendment, contract extension for solid waste disposal ($26,727.28), detective license renewals, refuse collector licenses, victualling/dance/amusement license renewals, and a bond reduction for Gilbert Lane (from $210,962.39 to $21,096.21). No items were removed from the consent agenda.
Reports
- Town Manager Ralph Mollis provided a comprehensive update: Revolution Wind substation construction continues; a public meeting on the project is targeted for late February; budget preparations are underway with a proposed FY2025 budget presentation on March 4; a Route 4 traffic signal update is scheduled for the January 22 meeting; the Wickford L residential project is moving forward with tax credits; field lighting at McGinn football field and Ryan Park was completed on time, converting to LED with $166,035 in incentives; North Kingstown received $5,000 CDBG grant for summer camp scholarships and $138,000 for case managers; a $1,200 wellness grant was awarded to staff; and the town's 350th anniversary website is live with events planned. He also noted 75% of Narrow River Land Trust's preserved acres (512 of 664) are in North Kingstown. He honored retiring Police Chief Pat Flanagan for 35 years of service.
- School Building Subcommittee Update: Councilor Kim Page reported on the subcommittee's work after the failed bond. A survey of 483 respondents showed support for the bond due to outdated schools and state reimbursement, while opposition cited combining projects, lack of facilities plan, tax impact, and distrust. The subcommittee discussed deferred maintenance (over $100 million in needs including roofs, windows, ADA compliance) and possible future bonds. Council President Mancini expressed concern about taxpayer burden and suggested the school committee present a phased plan (part one for urgent fixes, part two for middle school). Councilor Matthew McCoy urged completing environmental studies at Wickford Middle School. The subcommittee has not yet determined next steps.
Discussion Items
- Item 19 - Groundwater Committee Discharge: A resolution to discharge the Groundwater Committee, tabled since July 17, 2023, was approved unanimously.
- Item 20 - Audit Committee Appointment: The Council appointed Kimberly Haskins to fill the unexpired term of David Johnston on the Audit Committee (term to March 1, 2025). The other applicants, Bob Armentano and Stephen Cooney, were noted as potentially suitable for other committees.
- Item 21 - Resignation of School Committee Member Thomas Briody: The Council accepted the resignation with regret. Applications to fill the seat are being accepted until January 19 at 4 PM, with an appointment expected on January 22. The term expires in December 2024, and the appointee must run in November. The upcoming election will have four school committee seats: three for four-year terms and one for a two-year term.
- Item 22 - Ethics Commission Advisory Opinion: The Council received and filed Advisory Opinion 2023-48 regarding Council President Gregory Mancini. Mancini made a statement noting his recusal from the school bond vote despite the Ethics Commission's unanimous opinion that he could participate without conflict. He criticized personal attacks on social media and urged civil discourse.
Key Outcomes
- Item 4 (Conservation Commission amendment) was approved with amendments as described.
- Item 5 (Short-term rental) and Item 6 (Stop signs) were each approved.
- Consent agenda approved en bloc.
- Item 19 (Groundwater Committee discharge) approved.
- Item 20 (Audit Committee) appointment of Kimberly Haskins approved.
- Item 21 (School Committee resignation) accepted; vacancy process initiated.
- Item 22 (Ethics opinion) received and filed.
The meeting adjourned unanimously.
Meeting Transcript
I have done it. Yes, very good. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Brandon, we're all set. Good job. Good evening. I like to call this meeting order for Monday, January eighth, twenty twenty four. Uh welcome to the People's House in North Kingstown. Uh pursuant to Rhod Island General Laws forty two dash forty-six dash six C. Notice of this meeting has been posted with the Secretary of State's website. I'd ask everyone to stand and join the salute to the flag. Thank you. Article five, entitled Boards and Commissions. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed. Right now we only have one person signing up for this, and that is Kathy. As a concerned citizen and current member of the groundwater committee, I strongly recommend that the words advocate for the water department be removed. I also strongly re recommend removing the words in a best practices manner. My reasoning for the above noted changes is as follows. The amendment basically states that the Conservation Commission will have a duty to support and advocate for the Water Department. It goes without saying that the Conservation Commission will do its best to support the Water Department. However, stating that it is the duty of the Conservation Commission to advocate for the Water Department is going too far. That is a confusing and ambiguous phrase. Please note that nowhere in the ordinance does it state that there is a need for the Conservation Commission to support and advocate for, say, the planning department. What's good for the goose is good for the gander, to quote a phrase. The lack of consistency is ambiguous and confusing. The phrase needs to be removed from the amendment or rewritten so that it makes sense. In addition, I would request the removal of the words in a best practices manner. That is a vague and unclear phrase and would not be clearly understood by the general public. If that phrase remains in the amendment, I would recommend that it be clearly defined so that anyone would understand what it means. Based on all of the above, I would suggest that the amendment before you this evening not be approved until the language I have described is removed or rewritten. Thank you. Thank you. Does anyone else want to speak on item four? Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion to close the public hearing. Moved. Second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? The ayes have it. Does anyone want to take the lead on the uh possible approval or possible amendments to this proposed ordinance? Yes, Ms. Anderson. So I had spoken uh earlier today via email with Ralph following um Kathleen's email and an email we got from another citizen. Ralph, I don't know if you want to share some possible amendments uh that could be made to the language in light of these concerns. Sure. Thank you. And thank you for reaching out to me with that today.
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