Town Council Meeting: Joint Budget Consultation with School Committee and Multiple Appointments - December 16, 2024
Town Council Meeting: Joint Budget Consultation with School Committee and Multiple Appointments - December 16, 2024
The North Kingstown Town Council held a regular meeting on December 16, 2024, beginning at 7:00 PM. The meeting included a joint pre-budget consultation with the School Committee, public comments focused on climate resilience and renewable energy, discussion of a municipal building renovation, and numerous board and commission appointments.
Consent Calendar
- Items 7, 9–17, 19–24 were approved by a single motion, covering routine approvals such as minutes, donations, grants, bid awards, licenses, and a stop sign ordinance amendment.
- Item 8 (Receipt of Donations – $7,543.00) was pulled for individual approval; the council recognized anonymous donors and named contributors including Jane Vera, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, North Kingstown Women's Club, and others. The motion passed unanimously.
- Item 18 (Wickford Art Festival Exhibition License) was pulled by George Vernon, who requested the festival return to the village. The council voted to approve the festival at Wilson Park on July 12–13, 2025, with encouragement for continued collaboration between the Art Association and village merchants.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Dave Caldwell (6500 Post Road) highlighted progress on the Comprehensive Plan, noting climate change impacts and urged building new structures with all-electric heat pumps. He expressed support for environmentally and economically sustainable decisions.
- Peg Parker (1140 Gilbert Stewart Road) echoed support for climate-resilient building, citing drought and fire risks. She thanked newly elected officials and urged keeping infrastructure (water lines) front and center.
- Diane Hill (40 Heritage Road) expressed deep concern about irreversible climate tipping points and urged the council to consider sustainability in every decision.
- Donna Lisio (62 Edgewood Drive) urged the council and School Committee to ensure the new middle school is net-zero and that students are involved in the project as a learning experience.
- Mary Warbeck (25 North Road) advocated for solar development on parking lots at Quonset Business Park, noting the 20% of state manufacturing jobs there. She emphasized aligning renewable energy with the Affordable Housing Bond and the Comprehensive Plan.
- Rick Sellers (17 Johnson Avenue), former head of renewable energy at the International Energy Agency, supported local solar to recirculate money in the local economy and urged partnership with Quonset Development Corporation (QDC).
- Sally Kingsbury (44 Edgar Knock Road) reported a successful climate photo exhibit and lecture series at the library, with 100% attendance. She requested town-sponsored community meetings on long-term planning.
- Bob Vanderslice (151 Prospect Avenue) framed climate action as a three-step process (know risks, make a plan, take action) and urged the council to report on Comprehensive Plan progress.
- Tom Sigoris (1515 Boston Neck Road) shared personal experience in climate research (1982) and noted that past environmental problems (ozone hole, acid rain) were solved through sustained action. He encouraged the town to lead by example.
- Meg Kerr (151 Prospect Avenue) summarized Senator Whitehouse's arc of climate inaction and requested a briefing from the town on how it is implementing the Comprehensive Plan's climate actions. She offered the climate conversation group as a value-added partner.
- Dick Welch (8 Hour Lane) raised four issues for the legislative delegation: traffic lights on Route 4, a DOT traffic plan that hinders emergency access, the weight limit on the bridge over Route 403, and resurfacing Phillips Street. He also warned against bringing custodial services back in-house, recalling past problems.
- Ricky Thompson (194 Plain Road) argued the QDC board seat should remain a town council position, and requested reinstatement of a regular QDC report from the council.
Discussion Items
- Joint Pre-Budget Consultation with School Committee – Dr. Duva presented a preliminary FY2026 budget. Projected expenditures: $82,433,179; projected revenues: $18,669,890 (including $13,448,841 in level-funded state aid, $4.3M in tuition, $150K preschool fees, $310K Medicaid, $135K other earnings, $250K investment earnings). Anticipated town appropriation: $63,823,289 – a 4% increase over the current year. Key drivers: contract negotiations (3% increase for teachers/admin, unknown for ESP), health insurance (+6.5%), pension decreases, charter school tuition increase (+$101,486), and the end of ESSER grants. Town Manager Mollis stressed this will be one of the most challenging budgets due to salary increases, state aid uncertainty, and funding for two bond projects. School Committee Chair thanked all and noted a new budget advisory committee with community members. Councilors asked about personnel rate timing, custodial services, and possible reductions. No formal action taken.
- Invitation to Legislative Delegation – The council and School Committee discussed scheduling a joint meeting with the delegation on January 13 or January 27, 2025, to discuss legislative priorities. School Committee preferred January 27 to allow prior discussion. The town manager identified state aid and affordable housing as top priorities. Council and School Committee will compile individual priorities to be sent to the town manager.
- Renovation of Municipal Office Building (Item 26) – Town Manager Mollis reported bids came in well over the $2.5–3M budget: low bid $6.2M, reduced through negotiation to $4.6M, with HVAC deducts of $757K–$800K. The building is insured for $3.8M. Council expressed reluctance to invest $4.6M in a temporary building. Motion to table the matter passed unanimously. Town Manager will bring back smaller, cherry-picked projects (roof, windows) for approval.
- Legislative Amendments for Property Tax Exemptions (Item 27) – The council considered a request to the legislative delegation for enabling legislation to change tax exemptions (veterans, elderly, etc.) to tax credits, with a target effective date of July 1, 2026. On a motion by Councilmember [name], the council voted to submit the full package. Additionally, the town manager was asked to evaluate and report back on the financial impact of freezing property taxes for residents over 65 who have lived in town for 15+ years.
- Alcoholic Beverage License Limits (Item 28) – The council approved setting limits: Class A (4), Class B full (28), Class B limited (10), Class C (0), Class D (1). Motion passed.
- Appointment to Quonset Development Corporation Board (Item 29) – Council debated two candidates: Councilmember Beth Hill Ross and Randy Wietman. Public comment supported keeping a council member on the board. A motion to appoint Randy Wietman passed on a roll call vote of 3–1 (Councilors Drew, McCoy, and President Pro Tem H. in favor; Councilor Hilbros opposed).
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda approved (items 7, 9–17, 19–24).
- Donations approved (item 8) – $7,543.00.
- Wickford Art Festival license approved for July 12–13, 2025 at Wilson Park.
- Municipal office building renovation tabled – council directed staff to bring forward smaller projects.
- Legislative tax exemption package approved – will be submitted to the delegation with a July 1, 2026 effective date; town manager to evaluate senior tax freeze.
- Alcoholic beverage license limits set as presented.
- Randy Wietman appointed to QDC Board of Directors (3–1).
- Charter Review Commission: six members appointed (Sarilee Norton, John Gibbons, James Halley, Anthony Miccolis, James Sheehan, Melissa Devine).
- Historic District Commission: James Shriner and Amy Jenner appointed to terms ending 2027; Jules Wagner appointed to term ending 2026 (unexpired term).
- Library Board of Trustees: Kathy Schnebly appointed to fill unexpired term (October 1, 2025), chosen for library experience.
- Economic Development Advisory Board: James Halley and Bjorn Wellenius appointed (two of four seats).
- Zoning Board of Review: Dick Welch appointed as second alternate (unexpired term to July 1, 2027).
- Sewer Appeals Board: Dick Welch appointed as alternate (unexpired term to October 1, 2026).
- Veterans Liaison: Brian Votolato appointed to July 1, 2025.
- Wickford Advisory Committee: Kim Cowan appointed as at-large member.
- Wickford Village Design Guidelines Committee: Betty Givan appointed as business property owner.
- Councilmember Matt stepped down from reading correspondence; Councilmember Al volunteered to take over the role.
- Meeting adjourned after all business.
Meeting Transcript
So I'm not going to tell you which way to go. You can all uh decide on your own if this is uh but we do have quite a few people who have signed up for the school committee. Uh or I should say for um for a special um uh for public comment. So um so I will take you right off and you can tell me if you want to go now or later. Uh Dave Caldwell. So make sure that you state your name and your address for the record. And everybody remember you have three minutes. Less is good. All right, Dave Caldwell, 6500 Post Road, North Kingstown. I'm here today to talk a little bit very briefly about our comp plan and how we are making some very good progress because I drove by Yorktown Park today and saw an excavator there where we've had a lot of flooding, and that's been a long time. We've we've got a climate here in North Kingstown that's changing, the waters in places it didn't used to be. When we did our 1994 comp plan, which I worked on as a URI student. Nobody heard the words climate change at the time. And now we have uh a little bit more to work with as we're thinking about thoughtfully what we do in town. So other things that are happening here in the work that we're doing in North Kingstown. I've got a bunch of folks here tonight with a lot of expertise. Some of the things you're gonna see in the private sector that I call making environmentally and economically sustainable decisions if you do them thoughtfully. Like at our business, our 1970 vintage rays ranch on post roads about to get a big overhaul addition, and we're gonna be off the gas. Right now, because the energy codes have changed as of November first, you can build new buildings with heat pumps all electric the same price that you can build. I'm a contractor, so I can say this with a great deal of uh subject matter expertise. We should be building our new buildings, uh all electric or ground source heat pumps. Same price. So um I've over the years been involved with a few initiatives in town. Happy to help. We'd like to make thoughtful decisions that are economically environmentally sustainable in time. Takes a little bit of planning, a little foresight, but we speaking myself and a few of the folks you see tonight. We'd like to help. I mean, I think you're doing a great job. We're thinking of how we move forward for the next generations that are coming to North Kingston, that we're doing it the right way, thoughtfully, economically and environmentally sustainable fashion. I'd be happy to answer any questions. Thank you very much. Thank you. Peg Parker. Thank you. Peg Parker, 1140 Gilbert Stewart Road. I just want to echo what David just put forward you to you about as a town, we really need to be looking at climate change impacts. Both, and I'm glad the school committee is here because I think we need to look at it from two perspectives. One being build smart, and we're obviously now starting a new middle school. We were thrilled to see that geothermal and solar was included in the bond issue and it did pass. Feel that we can be resilient in the face of climate change. One thing that comes to mind is the drought that we were facing not too long ago. I live surrounded by acres and acres of woods. And my neighbors and I were extremely worried about the possibility of fire. The water lines do not come far enough south. We don't have hydrants. Congratulations to those of you who are newly elected. Thank you to all of you for the time that you put in serving our town. But please keep this issue front and center. You have residents that are very concerned. Thank you.
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