OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

North Kingstown Town Council Meeting - January 12, 2026

Town Council — Monday, January 12, 2026
BodyNorth Kingstown, Rhode Island
SessionTown Council
DateMonday, January 12, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:13:55

Transcript — Verbatim
6:09

Good evening, everybody.

6:11

Welcome to the People's House in North Kingstown for a town council meeting Monday, January twelfth, twenty twenty six.

6:18

Let the call this meeting to order.

6:20

Pursuant Rhode Island General Laws forty two dash forty-six dash six C.

6:25

Notice of this meeting has been posted to the Secretary State's website.

6:30

Since we last met uh in the passing town resident Joanne Hutchins, who uh her husband had just also recently passed.

6:40

And uh we unfortunately uh not North Kingstown, but our country had the murder of Renee Nicole Good in Minnesota, and I ask after this Pledge of Allegiance.

6:51

We stand for a moment of silence in honor of both of them.

6:54

Thank you.

6:56

I I apologize, and uh Mr.

6:58

Mike Sherman also from town passed away who I did not know.

7:01

But thank you, Beth.

7:04

Pledge of leaders to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.

7:10

One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice.

7:48

Second.

7:49

All those in favor say aye.

7:50

Aye.

7:51

Any opposed?

7:52

The ayes have it.

7:54

Uh Madam Clerk, has anyone signed up to testify on the public hearing?

8:00

I guess I should have said it what's a what it's about also.

8:02

It's about an amendment to chapter two, division eleven, section two-three eighty-nine on the creation of the economic development advisory board.

8:11

Um has anyone nobody has signed up.

8:14

Okay, great.

8:14

Motion to close.

8:16

Second.

8:17

All those in favor say aye.

8:19

Aye.

8:19

Any opposed?

8:20

The ayes have it.

8:21

And this would be a uh uh dra a change in the ordinance to reduce the numbers of uh the members of this committee from seven to five.

8:32

Um do I hear uh uh any motion on this matter?

8:37

Thank you.

8:38

Do I have a second?

8:40

Second.

8:41

All those in favor say aye.

8:42

Aye.

8:43

Any opposed?

8:44

The ayes have it.

8:46

Uh next item is public comment.

8:49

First person is Pat Murray.

9:04

Good evening, everybody.

9:05

Uh, my name is Pat Murray.

9:07

Uh Mr.

9:07

Murray, if you could just um tell us uh where you're living.

9:12

Uh and also know that uh we asked people to be three minutes give or take a little bit.

9:18

Okay.

9:20

I live in North Kingstown, Carriage Hill Road.

9:23

I was born and raised here, recently moved back in May.

9:27

I'm here on behalf of the VFW.

9:30

Want to talk about our National Day of Service.

9:34

Each first Saturday in May, which this year is May 2nd, the VFW all across the country, thousands of posts are doing community service events in their towns and cities.

9:44

Our post, VFW Post 152 is doing the same.

9:48

We'd like to do more than just have our, you know, a few dozen members doing a community service project.

9:54

We'd like to turn this into more of a town event.

10:00

What we're hoping to do is get the support, participation of other civic groups in the community to all do uh day of service on that same day with us.

10:07

Doesn't need to be the same event.

10:08

Other groups can do their own individual uh projects if they wish, but what we're trying to do is make this a town day where people can drive around and see projects happening all across the place.

10:21

We're already coordinating with uh Histwick, the Wickford Village Association, the Boy Scouts, uh Scouts of America, and others, and we're looking for anybody else who is interested.

10:33

Uh what I'm asking for is kind of uh an endorsement or proclamation from the town council that this year, May 2nd, 2026, be uh North Kingstown Day of Community Service uh and encourage other civic organizations to take part and do whatever they can to help improve the town, improve the lives of the residents here.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Water And Wastewater Management███████████████████19%
Procedural███████████████15%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████13%
Environmental Protection█████████████13%
Budget Equity Analysis██████████10%
Public Safety████████8%
Education Funding████████8%
Veterans Affairs██████6%
Parks and Recreation███3%
Summary of Proceedings

North Kingstown Town Council Meeting - January 12, 2026

The North Kingstown Town Council held a regular meeting on Monday, January 12, 2026, at 7:00 PM in Town Hall Council Chambers, 80 Boston Neck Road. The meeting included a public hearing, public comments, consent agenda approvals, reports from the Town Manager and Water Department on PFAS and well capacity, and new business appointments. The meeting adjourned after approximately two hours.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved routinely (items 6 through 8, 10, 12, 13, 15, and 16) by a single motion. Items removed for separate discussion were 9, 11, and 14.
    • Item 9: Award of bid for Cold Spring Community Center replacement flooring to Ruggieri Brothers Commercial Flooring for $69,000 (funded from Restricted Capital Reserve). Approved after brief discussion on bidding process.
    • Item 11: Ratification of Town Manager's approval of RICON Project Change Order #1 and Change Orders #4 and #5 for the Wickford Waterfront Project, totaling $36,634 in additional funding from grant match and ARPA funds. Approved after explanation of scope changes (Dollar Tree roof drain repairs, new rope and bollards on old sections).
    • Item 14: Authorization to apply for a RIDEM Urban & Community Forestry Grant for an educational tree care brochure. Approved; council member noted concern about trees removed in Wickford and followed up with a letter to the state.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Pat Murray (Carriage Hill Road) representing VFW Post 152 requested the council issue a proclamation declaring May 2, 2026 as "North Kingstown Day of Community Service" and encourage civic groups to participate. The council expressed support and directed the Town Manager to draft a resolution.
  • Jeff Caldwell (6 Bay Berry Drive) praised the North Kingstown Police and Fire Departments, along with state and South Kingstown police, for a coordinated search that safely located his father-in-law (who has dementia) after he walked from Bay Berry to the Wickford Junction train station. He commended Captain Don Barrington for leading the effort.
  • Curtis Fisher (104 Phillips Street) complained about the deteriorated condition of the middle third of Phillips Street, a state highway. Town Manager Ralph Mollis responded that DOT originally scheduled repairs for 2035 but has fast-tracked milling and paving for spring 2026, contingent on whether the town will need to dig up the road for sewer connections to Wickford Middle School.

Discussion Items

  • Economic Development Advisory Board Amendment (Public Hearing): Ordinance change to reduce board membership from 7 to 5. No public testimony. Approved unanimously.
  • Town Manager's Report (Ralph Mollis):
    • School bond projects: Stage 2 application approved; Stage 3 work continues; Building Advisory Committee next meeting tentatively Feb 4.
    • Public Safety Complex: Received proposals for construction manager at risk; interviewing 4 finalists on Jan 14; bid award planned for Jan 26 or Feb meeting; land swap agreement with Quonset Development Corp expected soon.
    • Revolution Wind: Second stop work order issued; entities seeking preliminary injunction; judge issued a TRO; meeting with Revolution Wind scheduled Jan 15.
    • Wickford Elementary School residential development: Developer advised finishing landscape and traffic engineering; planning application needed by Jan 16 to make March 3 Planning Commission; project is time-sensitive.
    • Good Energy Program: 23% of residents opted out, in line with other communities.
    • Safe Streets for All (SS4A) Grant: $60,000 awarded for school bus stop arm project; coordination with school department next.
    • Main Street Learning Cohort: Town selected to participate; team includes planning, economic development, Post Road Business Alliance, Wickford Village Association, Chamber of Commerce.
    • Post Road West Main Street Sidewalk Project: Pre-construction began; contractor RICON; project must complete by October 2027.
    • Rodman Mill Dam: Save the Bay public meeting Jan 22 at 5:30 PM in council chambers.
    • Budget preparation: Challenges include uncertain education aid, rising costs, expected 10% health care increase; schedule: manager presentation March 9, all-day meetings March 16, preliminary budget adoption March 16, public hearing April 13, final adoption April 27.
    • Staff certified in adult mental health first aid: Recreation director Chelsea Dumas Gibbs, John Blaze, personnel director Haley Wicker.
  • PFAS and Water Department Well Status/Capacities Report (Town Manager Ralph Mollis and Water Director Alan Austin):
    • PFOS: State standard < 20 ppt; all active wells below that; EPA may lower to 4 ppt. Wells 9 and 10 are of concern (Well 10 closed since 2014).
    • Treatment plant: Estimated cost $12.6 million plus $200,000/year operation; Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank committed funds; design discussions with CEI Engineering; location not yet determined.
    • Class action lawsuit: Received $2 million so far; funds intended for PFOS-free firefighter gear and treatment facility.
    • Kent County Water offered pretreated wholesale water to replace Wells 9/10; town has reservations about mixing water sources and loss of control.
    • Well capacities: Well 1 (700 gpm), Well 2 (500 gpm), Well 4 (700 gpm), Well 5 (900 gpm), Well 9 (1,800 gpm), Well 11 (680 gpm). New Well 3 under construction to replace offline Wells 3,7,8. Well 6 permanently out of service.
    • No rate increase planned in immediate future; funding from multiple sources (lawsuit, water capital surplus, grants, low-interest loans).
    • Council member asked about testing private wells: Water Department can share information via NK Notes; state is developing a testing program.
    • Discussion on in-ground sprinkler ban: Council member argued fairness; manager expressed concerns about water conservation and enforcement. Ordinance change would be council decision; discussion deferred to budget process.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved amendment to Economic Development Advisory Board (reduced membership to 5).
  • Approved consent agenda items 6-8,10,12,13,15,16 collectively; individually approved items 9, 11, and 14.
  • Approved Arts Council appointments: Hilary Jacobs and Nancy Van Gelder to terms ending March 1, 2027.
  • Directed Town Manager to draft a proclamation for May 2, 2026 as North Kingstown Day of Community Service.
  • Town Manager will continue to follow up on Phillips Street paving (fast-tracked to spring 2026) and with Wickford Elementary School developer for timely application.
  • Water Department will explore revisiting in-ground sprinkler ban as a potential ordinance change; further discussion during budget season.
  • Council member Kimberly Ann Page made a personal statement affirming commitment to community safety and respect regardless of immigration status.

Next Steps

  • Budget process begins: Manager presentation March 9, council sessions March 16, adoption April 27.
  • Public meeting on Rodman Mill Dam: Jan 22, 5:30 PM in council chambers.
  • School bus stop arm project moves to school department coordination.
  • Main Street Learning Cohort activities to commence.
  • PFAS treatment plant design and funding pursuit continues.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everybody. Welcome to the People's House in North Kingstown for a town council meeting Monday, January twelfth, twenty twenty six. Let the call this meeting to order. Pursuant Rhode Island General Laws forty two dash forty-six dash six C. Notice of this meeting has been posted to the Secretary State's website. Since we last met uh in the passing town resident Joanne Hutchins, who uh her husband had just also recently passed. And uh we unfortunately uh not North Kingstown, but our country had the murder of Renee Nicole Good in Minnesota, and I ask after this Pledge of Allegiance. We stand for a moment of silence in honor of both of them. Thank you. I I apologize, and uh Mr. Mike Sherman also from town passed away who I did not know. But thank you, Beth. Pledge of leaders to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice. Second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? The ayes have it. Uh Madam Clerk, has anyone signed up to testify on the public hearing? I guess I should have said it what's a what it's about also. It's about an amendment to chapter two, division eleven, section two-three eighty-nine on the creation of the economic development advisory board. Um has anyone nobody has signed up. Okay, great. Motion to close. Second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? The ayes have it. And this would be a uh uh dra a change in the ordinance to reduce the numbers of uh the members of this committee from seven to five. Um do I hear uh uh any motion on this matter? Thank you. Do I have a second? Second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Any opposed? The ayes have it. Uh next item is public comment. First person is Pat Murray. Good evening, everybody. Uh, my name is Pat Murray. Uh Mr. Murray, if you could just um tell us uh where you're living. Uh and also know that uh we asked people to be three minutes give or take a little bit. Okay. I live in North Kingstown, Carriage Hill Road. I was born and raised here, recently moved back in May. I'm here on behalf of the VFW.

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