North Kingstown Town Council Meeting - September 22, 2025

The North Kingstown Town Council met on Monday, September 22, 2025, in Town Hall Council Chambers, 80 Boston Neck Road. After a 6:45 p.m. executive session on the sale of property on Pendar Road and Shore Drive, the regular meeting opened at 7:00 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance. The council approved a liquor-license transfer, heard broad public testimony, received a youth-intervention report from Alex Snow, approved a school construction Stage II amendment and related bid awards, and adopted administrative policies and schedules.

Public Hearing

• The council approved the Class B-Full Alcoholic Beverage, Victualling, Entertainment, and Dance License transfer from KR Enterprises Inc., dba The Carriage Inn, 1065 Tower Hill Road, to Mallett Asset Group Acquisitions, LLC. Council President Gregory A. Mancini recused himself because his law practice represents liquor distributors, and Councilmember Dr. Kimberly Ann Page presided. Applicant Ken Mallett said the process had taken about nine months and called the Carriage Inn a great place. Approval was conditioned on receiving a Rhode Island Department of Health certificate, liability insurance certificates, a certificate of good standing from the previous owners, a successful closing within 90 days, release of creditors' claims before license issuance, and compliance with police, fire marshal, planning, and building official recommendations. The motion passed by voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• State Representative Julie Casemiro voiced strong support for Alex Snow, saying he has had a profound impact on North Kingstown youth and that he is not paid enough for his work.
• Mary Walbach of Saunderstown urged the council to explore alternative financing for solar and geothermal systems at the new middle school because both were placed on the alternates list. She mentioned leasing, power purchase agreements, and possible federal incentives, noting that Bristol Warren High School recently dropped geothermal because of finances.
• Susan McCampbell, speaking on behalf of Cedar Hurst on Wickford Harbor, thanked town staff for help with septic-system questions and said residents were not asking for money. She described the community's aging infrastructure, a $1,200-per-year special assessment paid for two years, one system replaced this year at a cost of $115,000, and nine systems still remaining.
• Colin Hogan, a recent high school graduate, said Alex Snow had been a mentor and father figure who helped him through tough times and legal issues.
• Benjamin Folsom criticized the Lafayette troll project and the town's planning for it, questioning whether it was fully funded and raising concerns about parking, crowds, safety, and the crosswalk. He provided documents and asked for answers and a future agenda item.
• Patricia Trish White, a nurse practitioner, thanked police Detective Taube and Alex Snow for supporting her three special-needs grandsons, saying the two work as a team.
• Jay David credited Alex Snow with helping his foster daughter get accepted into a long-term residential program after years of mental health struggles and elopements, and he thanked the town for contracting with Snow.
• Jim McAlear, speaking as a Lafayette-area resident, called the Fuhrer Park/Lafayette crossing an accident waiting to happen and recommended a pedestrian-activated light, saying tree removal alone would not solve the speeding-car problem.
• Nancy Sherman, Arts Council chair, requested that the council increase the Arts Council from 10 to 13 members, citing volunteer strain and three pending applications. She noted an annual budget of about $19,000 and said the council is exploring a fiscal sponsor to accept donations and grants.
• Rachel Reed, a single mother, said Alex Snow and Detective Taube helped her son with truancy, behavior, and substance-use issues, and that her son is now doing better and still keeps in touch.

Special Business

• Alex Snow, the town's Youth Intervention Specialist, presented his Single-Year Community Impact Summary. He said he has done similar work in a pro bono capacity for eight years and currently operates through opioid settlement funding. He described crisis intervention, mentoring, bridging relationships between youth and police, school messaging about drugs and fentanyl-laced vapes, and the importance of mental health support. He noted the death of a 13-year-old in Massachusetts from a vape containing fentanyl. Council members, the Town Manager, and earlier speakers expressed strong support for his work and the proposed contract renewal.

Consent Calendar

• The council approved, in one motion, items 9, 10, and 12 through 19. These included: tax abatement list #882 totaling $6,736.05; receipt of a $100.00 donation; the one-year renewal of Alex Snow's Independent Contractor Agreement as Youth Intervention Specialist, not to exceed $63,600, funded by Opioid Settlement Funds; authorization for a Payment-in-Lieu-of-Tax (PILOT) agreement with Quonset Development Corporation and Edesia, Inc.; ratification of the Town Clerk's approval of an entertainment license for the North Kingstown Rotary Club car show on September 21, 2025; holiday sales and victualling licenses for Unarchived LLC, dba Bucket & the Bean, 679 Boston Neck Road; and first readings of amendments concerning Lafayette Road no-parking restrictions, zoning sign regulations, and historical zoning administrative approvals.
• The council removed and voted separately on the August 18 and September 8, 2025 minutes, each approved with one abstention.
• The council accepted the donation of a red maple tree, plaque, and memorial bench for the North Kingstown Town Beach in memory of Linda Sherman. Councilmember Elizabeth Hill Ross announced a dedication on October 14 at 5:00 p.m. at the Town Beach.

Reports

• Town Manager's Report: The public safety complex is awaiting cost estimates, with an internal workshop set for September 25 and ongoing land negotiations with Quonset Development Corporation. The Wickford Municipal Park and Lot project is nearing completion, with paving and striping expected in early October and full completion by early to mid-October. Revolution Wind received a U.S. District Court preliminary injunction allowing offshore work to resume while the lawsuit over the federal stop-work order continues. Bike-lane striping along Boston Neck Road is underway and should be completed within two weeks. RIDOT projects include the Tower Hill Road Bridge opening nine months early, Frenchtown Road Bridge demolition, and Devil's Foot Road Bridge closure removal expected by the end of the year. Work began last week on the Wickford mini roundabout. The library's 50th anniversary celebration is scheduled for October 19 from 1 to 4 p.m. Over 6,000 Town Beach parking passes were sold this season, and the Wilson Park splash pad will remain closed until Memorial Day weekend 2026.
• School Construction Update: Superintendent, School Committee Chair Aaron Earl, and Sam Bradner of the Perrin Group presented the Stage II, 4th Addendum application for school construction to the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE). Total investment is $141,452,459, including the $137,200,000 voter-authorized bond and a $4,253,470 capital reserve revolving fund. All listed projects are in the base bids, with alternates for Wickford Middle School and for capital improvements. CIP priorities include the high school roof, stabilizing elementary schools, and major renovations at Davisville Middle School. The School Building Advisory Committee and School Committee unanimously approved the addendum. Bradner said cost estimates will be updated at schematic design, design development, and 60% construction documents, with construction expected in 2027 and the high school roof accelerated to summer 2026. Council President Mancini asked bond counsel to review the bond language regarding net-zero obligations; School Committee Chair Earl said the voter authorization was up to $137.2 million for school facilities, with net-zero as an aspirational goal.
• The council also approved a resolution awarding contracts for rooftop units at Stony Lane Elementary School, flooring at Hamilton Elementary School and North Kingstown High School, and water fountain and bottle-filling stations at six schools, using the prior $20,000,000 school facilities appropriation.

New Business

• The council appointed Edgar Arroyo to the Arts Council to fill the unexpired term of Eleanor Acton through March 1, 2026.
• The council amended the 2025 meeting schedule by moving the December 8 meeting to December 15 and cancelling the December 22 meeting, and it adopted the 2026 Town Council meeting schedule.
• The council adopted the FY2026/2027 Budget Policies and Procedures and the amendment to the Debt Policy and Management/Fiscal Practices Policy. The Town Manager said the budget policy is unchanged from last year and the debt policy change raises the minimum bid threshold.
• The council directed the Town Manager to investigate replacing trees in front of 35 Brown Street, as recommended by the Conservation Commission, including coordination with the state because of the right-of-way.
• Correspondence was noted, including emails from Nancy Sherman about Arts Council membership, Benjamin Folsom about troll litter and late-night parking, Sandra and Jeff Flickinger about long wait times at the West Allenton traffic light causing risky driving behavior, and Diane Izo about memorial tree maintenance and public access.

Key Outcomes

• Approved the Carriage Inn license transfer with contingencies.
• Approved the Stage II, 4th Addendum school construction application and the related school bid awards.
• Renewed Alex Snow's youth intervention contract for one year at no more than $63,600.
• Approved consent items, the two prior meeting minutes, and the Linda Sherman memorial donation.
• Appointed Edgar Arroyo to the Arts Council.
• Adopted revised meeting schedules, budget policies, and debt policy amendment.
• Directed staff to continue work on tree replacement at 35 Brown Street, school facilities, public safety, transportation, and youth intervention efforts.