Town Council Meeting of North Kingstown - April 28, 2026

This meeting focused heavily on the Quonset Business Park, including updates on the proposed sewage sludge pyrolysis facility, asphalt odor complaints, and a battery storage project. Governor McKee, Lieutenant Governor Matos, and state senators addressed the public, and a large number of residents provided testimony. The council also approved numerous consent items, the fiscal year 2026-2027 budget, and appointed a new representative to the Quonset Development Corporation.

Quonset Business Park Updates

• Pyrolysis Facility: Town Manager Ralph Mollis reported that a letter was sent to Governor McKee on April 15th expressing the town’s strong opposition. The governor responded on April16th stating he would stand “shoulder to shoulder” with the community. The town will submit written testimony in support of House Bill H8400, which would place a moratorium on the facility until the legislative study commission’s work is completed. Quonset Development Corporation (QDC) has placed the project on pause pending the commission’s findings, expected by January 2027.
• Asphalt Odor Complaints: The town has filed complaints with RIDEM about Bitumar asphalt odors. The company has hired an independent environmental firm for monitoring but has not yet agreed to a public meeting requested by the town.
• Battery Storage Facility: The town manager attended an informational meeting on April22nd; next steps are uncertain.
• Environmental Legal Counsel: The council was informed that Desautel Browning Law has been retained as environmental counsel, as authorized at the previous meeting. They have begun developing a legal strategy.
• Monthly Meetings with QDC: Town Manager Mollis announced a new standing monthly meeting with QDC CEO Steve King, plus an internal working group to review projects and report back to the council.
• Correction of Misinformation: The town manager addressed inaccurate claims regarding staff awareness of the sludge facility, stating that the Technical Review Committee never received information on it. He also clarified that the planning director cannot independently force a major-variance requirement because QDC operates under state law exempting local planning commission approvals.

Governor and State Officials

• Governor McKee: Stated he does not support the sludge project and will work with the community’s leadership. He emphasized he cannot directly cancel the project but will support legislation and governance changes. He committed to following the council’s lead on any governance reforms.
• Lieutenant Governor Matos: Expressed support and highlighted similar issues in other Rhode Island communities.
• Senators Valverde and DiMario: Detailed two bills: H8400/S324 (a moratorium on the facility until January 2027) and S3225 (a sludge management study commission). They noted the House already passed the study commission bill. Public hearings will be held, and the town can provide testimony. The senators assured that North Kingstown will have representation on the study commission.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Vanessa Mascaro (2 Parkside Way): Called for transparency and public engagement from QDC, arguing the current system allows state-level decisions to override local input. Urged the community to attend the QDC meeting the next day.
• Jim Sheen (address not given): Discussed sludge composition, potential hazardous emissions from pyrolysis (including PFAS, dioxins, PCBs), and criticized the DEM permit for lacking monitoring requirements.
• Sean Taylor (225 Seawinds Drive): Expressed concern as a parent about children’s health, proximity of schools, and impact on sole-source aquifer. Rejected the notion that North Kingstown should accept a regional waste burden.
• Pam Panero (710 Silicon Road): Urged the council to first establish clear expectations and reporting requirements for QDC representatives before making appointments, to ensure accountability.
• Candidate for Governor (Providence): Stated strong opposition to the sludge factory and praised community activists.
• Diane Slater (102 Chatworth Road, age81): Recalled past successful opposition to an incinerator, emphasizing regional impacts on Narragansett Bay.
• Deborah Logowski (2 Iron Horse Terrace): Opposed the sludge plant and battery storage, questioning if owners would live next door.
• John Dower (35 Switch Boulevard): Recounted personal family health issues from PCB and asbestos exposure, urged caution, and questioned why town staff did not know about the project earlier. Expressed skepticism about the chosen environmental law firm.
• Kathleen Garino (139 Summit View Lane): Opposed the sludge plant, noted previous success with a construction debris facility, and recommended appointing Town Manager Mollis to the QDC board.
• Jennifer Lima (4 Hickory Drive East): Presednt of TANK, spoke in support of the upcoming Pride Parade and celebration, emphasizing community values.
• Garrett Ross (70 Pat Circle): Faather of a 3-month-old living near the proposed site. Asked the council to pass a formal resolution requesting the governor’s appointees to rescind the QDC approval; asked DEM for unannounced nighttime monitoring at Bitumar; called for amending the agreement with QDC to increase local control.
• Pat Murray (146 Carriage Hill Road): Announced the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ day of service (park cleanups, blood drive) on the first Saturday of May, and encouraged attending State House hearings despite inconvenience.
• Robert Craven (49 Loop Drive): Candidate for state representative, argued that the proposed sludge facility violates the QDC’s statutory requirement to maintain high standards and an effective working relationship with the host community.
• Jeff Balzer (101 Hidden Mayor Lane): Noted his neighborhood abutes the proposed sludge site, urged rejection due to proximity to wetlands and water supply.
• Joe Techsara (200 Delano Drive): Caled on Governor McKee to direct QDC board members to rescind the approval; also expressed concern about the battery storage facility’s impact on the aquifer.
• Eric Reed (315 Hamilton Allenton Road): Cied the Rhode Island Constitution (home rule, ethical conduct) to argue that QDC has oversteped its authority.
• Lee Domowski (334 School Street): Praised the town’s many positive aspects (parks, schools, services) and urged unity, not politization, of the sludge issue.
• Christopher (last name not clear, 43 pounds reference): Detailed that the facility is permitted to releass 83.43 pounds of mercury per year, a neurotoxin, and argued that filtration technology was rejected for cost reasons. The equivalent of 40,000 broken thermometers annually.
• John Whalen (105 Scrabble Town Road): Analyzed the cost of mercury control (activated carbon, $4.7M capital, $730k per year, 3% of project cost), questioned why RIDEM did not require it.
• Richard Welch (address not given): Emphasized the need for a council member on the QDC board for accountability, and urged the town to mail information about the battery plant to every household.
• Ricky Thompson (194 Plain Road): Supported appointing a council member to QDC, specifically Councilor Hill Ross.
• Ken Frausto (53 Janet Court): Emergency physician, stated the facility would emit pollutants that cause asthma, cardiac stress, and cancer; if you can smell it, you are breathing it.
• Diana Lopez (53 Janet Court): Public health researcher, argued that uncertainty is not safety; permits are not public trust.
• Bob Vanderslice (151 Prospect): Supported battery storage in principle but raised concerns about fire hazards and required air quality models, emergency response plans, and groundwater protection.
• Meg Kerr (151 Prospect Avenue): Environmental scientist, opposed the battery plant as one of the largest in the country with untested technology and fire risks.
• Walter Berry (83 Brookside Drive): Asked about plant inspection frequency (answer: never by an independent inspector), developer’s experience (none), and QDC’s ability to evict non-compliant tenants.
• Daniel Slattery (15 Driftwood Lane): Former council member, urged immediate stoppage of the sludge plant to protect health and groundwater.
• Eugene Fry (126 Edmund Drive): Pulled consent items11,12,18,23 for discussion.
• Rhonda Di Apollonio (90 Elm Drive): Cited past pyrolysis explosions in Demark and Indiana, and concerns about the battery plant’s fire risks and hydrogen fluoride release.
• Mary Rose Petaroty (61 Virginia Avenue): Stuent, said she does not want to inhale toxic matter at schoo.
• David Myelli (150 Wickford Point Road): Applicant for QDC board, outlined his legal background and civic duty; vowed to protect residents from noxious industries.
• Liz Moulton Powers (56 Chestnut Road): Read questions from a neighbor about whether monthly meetings with QDC will include executive session items, asked Governor McKee to change the QDC charter, and presented a petition with ~1600 signatures.
• Mary Shaw (159 Candlewood Drive): Described years of issues with QDC dust piles, stating that DEM told QDC to do everything under “maintenance” to avoid notifying abutters. Attributed her husband’s death to that dust.
• Sean Conroy (67 Longfellow Drive): Called for real baseline air quality data before any facility, citing the Moss Landing fire where EPA said safe but independent researchers found high contamination.

Discussion Items

• Consent Agenda: Items7-10,13-16,19-22,24-32 were approved en bloc. Items11 (McCoy resignation),12 (land exchange),18 (ratification of alcohol license), and23 (Pride Celebration exhibition license) were pulled and individually approved after explanation. Item17 (Labyrinth Day proclamation) also passed separately.
• Authorization to Advocate on Pyrolysis Facility (Item34): The council authorized the Town Manager to monitor and advocate the community’s concerns before the Joint Legislative Commission and other bodies. Passed unanimously.
• Meeting Schedule Changes (Item35): The May4th meeting was moved to May13th (Wednesday) and the May18th meeting canceled. Passed.
• Veterans Memorial Scholarship Committee Term Extensions (Item36): Approved.
• Notification of Retained Environmental Counsel (Item37): The town solicitor reported that Desautel Browning Law has been retained, as authorized. The council discussed needing a cost estimate for future meetings.
• Appointment to QDC Board (Item38): After discussion, David M. Meile was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Matthew McCoy (term ends December 2026). Vote:3 ayes,1 nay,1 abstention.
• Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget (Item39): The council adopted the $145.39 million budget. The general fund was set at $43.132M, with no residential property tax increase and a 1% increase on commercial rates. All sub-funds were approved. Some opposition was noted on several votes.
• Resolution on State Housing Legislation (Item40): Continued to the next meeting.

Key Outcomes

• The Town Manager was authorized to advocate against the pyrolysis facility at the state level.
• David M. Meile was appointed to the Quonset Development Corporation Board of Directors for the remainder of Matthew McCoy’s term.
• The FY2026-2027 budget was adopted, with no residential property tax increase and a 1% commercial rate increase.
• The council approved a land swap with QDC for the future public safety complex.
• Several license approvals and proclamations were passed.
• The council will obtain a cost estimate for environmental legal services.
• The next regular meeting is scheduled for May13, 2026.