PORTSMOUTH TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

January 26, 2009

7:00 p.m. – Town Council Chambers, Town Hall, 2200 East Main Road

MEMBERS PRESENT: Peter J. McIntyre, Hubert E. Little, Dennis M. Canario,

Keith E. Hamilton, Jeffrey C. Plumb and James A. Seveney

MEMBERS ABSENT: Karen Gleason

PROCLAMATION PRESENTATION: Senator June Gibbs

President McIntyre read and presented the Proclamation of appreciation to Senator June Gibbs. Vice President Little presented her with a Town Tile.

SWEARING-IN: Police Department: Probationary Patrolman Richard Ruest

Probationary Patrolman Jeffrey Cornelisse

Probationary Patrolman Nicholas Hankins

Probationary Patrolman Michael Bottari

Town Clerk Kathleen Viera Beaudoin administered the oath of office.

TIME: 7:08 p.m. – Break

TIME: 7:15 p.m. - Return

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

A moment of silence for our men and women around the world in harm’s way.

TOWN COUNCIL

CONSENT AGENDA

1. Planning Office – Quarterly Work Item Summary

2. CRMC

PUBLIC NOTICE

Edward Kaloust, 228 Cliff Ave., Plat 15, Lot 34

A motion by Mr. Little, seconded by Mr. Plumb, to receive and place on file. All voted in favor of the motion.

BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS - None

TOWN COUNCIL

PRESIDENT’S EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

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Councilman Hamilton gave thanks to Patriot for providing the truck for the shredding event. He reported that 2.48 tons of recycling and shredding materials were received.

MINUTES – TCM 1/12/09

A motion by Mr. Seveney, seconded by Mr. Little, to approve as written. All voted in favor of

the motion.

BILLS

A motion by Mr. Seveney, seconded by Mr. Little, to pay all just and due bills in the amount of

$71,508.38. All voted in favor of the motion.

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

• The first meeting of the Bristol Ferry/Town Common Committee will be held Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. at the Town Hall.
• The winter storm budget is depleted.
• State’s supplemental budget is still up for review. The General Assembly hearings are scheduled to begin Wednesday.
• The RI Marine Archeological Project is requesting a meeting with the Council.
• One pit at the transfer station is closed for repairs.
• Our E-waste recycling is pretty good. Two containers have been taken from the transfer station.
• We need to schedule a tour of the Coggeshall School. Dr. Lusi also wishes to attend.
• A letter has been forwarded to DOT on the escape bridge

President McIntyre directed Mr. Driscoll to write a letter to our legislators inviting them to the February 9^th Council Meeting at 6:30 p.m. for an update on the budget.

APPOINTMENTS AND RECOGNITIONS

1. Resignations:

A. Glen Park Working Committee

A motion by Mr. Little, seconded by Mr. Seveney, to accept with regret the resignation of Karen Menezes. All voted in favor of the motion.

B. Housing Authority

A motion by Mr. Little, seconded by Mr. Seveney, to accept with regret the resignation of Noreen Barnhart. All voted in favor of the motion.

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OLD BUSINESS

OB 1 - December Revenue and Expenditure Reports FY 2008-09

A motion by Mr. Seveney, seconded by Mr. Little, to receive and place on file. All voted in favor of the motion.

NEW BUSINESS

NB 1 - Request to Schedule Workshop/Lower Glen Farm Committee

A meeting was scheduled for March 9^th at 6:00 p.m. before the regular Town Council meeting.

The RI Marine Archeological Project will also meet the Council at this time.

NB 2 - Presentation: Glen Manor House Authority

Richard Wimpress, Vice Chairman, presented a history of the Glen Manor House Authority financials.

NB 3 - Presentation: Debt Capacity

Mr. Faucher presented the following:

The Town’s legal debt capacity:

Statutory: 3% of the total assessed value of $3.66 billion as of 12/31/07 = $109 million.

As of 6/30/08 the direct net debt outstanding is $18 million, leaving $91 million additional which may be borrowed.

Debt Management Policy approved by the Council limits borrowing to 2% or an

additional $55 million which may be borrowed above the $18 million.

The Town has strong wealth levels per capita income (1999 census): $28,161.00.

The Town has strong wealth levels per median family income (1999 census): $68,577.00.

The Town’s Direct Net Debt Outstanding for FY 2007 is $18,000.00.

The Town is in a favorable debt position. Both Direct Net Debt Outstanding and Direct Net Debt as % of Full Value are below medians for New England A1 rated municipalities and all Rhode Island municipalities.

NB 4 - Request for Approval of Revised Debt Management Policy

Mr. Faucher noted the following changes: On page 4, the change acknowledges that all rescue wagon funds may be used to support the General Fund, as is currently the case. On page 6, the Town’s former financial advisor has been replaced. The change on page 7 makes mention of a

circumstance which has recently arisen where frequent rating agency downgrades of bond

insurers would cost the Town additional funds for a separate notice each time an insurer

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downgrade occurred. Rather than send out a notice for each downgrade, the annual disclosure report would be used to satisfy the disclosure requirements by mentioning the insurer downgrades.

A motion by Mr. Seveney, seconded by Mr. Little, to approve the revised policy. All voted in

favor of the motion.

NB 5 - Award of Contract for Glen Manor House South Exterior Renovations-Bid #P09-020

A motion by Mr. Canario, seconded by Mr. Seveney, to approve the award of contract to

Martone Service Company for $23,277.00. All voted in favor of the motion.

Funding will come from the Glen Manor House capital account.

NB 6 - Award of Contract for Glen Manor House Kitchen Renovations-Bid #P09-019

Mr. Faucher said that the base bid and only option B will be completed.

A motion by Mr. Canario, seconded by Mr. Seveney, to approve the award of contract to Coletta

Contracting Company for $63,250.00. All voted in favor of the motion.

Funding will come from the Glen Manor House capital account.

NB 7 - Award of Contract for Ambulance Billing

A motion by Mr. Seveney, seconded by Mr. Little, to direct Mr. Driscoll and Mr. Faucher to establish a performance metric for ambulance fee collection by Comstar. All voted in

favor of the motion.

A motion by Mr. Hamilton, seconded by Mr. Seveney, to accept the contract at 6.5% for

Comstar to continue as the billing agent. All voted in favor of the motion.

NB 8 - Tax Vouchers #20090126 01 - #20090126 04

A motion by Mr. Seveney, seconded by Mr. Plumb, to accept as presented. All voted in favor of the motion.

CORRESPONDENCE

1. Middletown Representatives for Aquidneck Island Council/Town of Middletown/S.J.Brown

A motion by Mr. Canario, seconded by Mr. Seveney, to receive and place on file. All voted in

favor of the motion.

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FUTURE MEETINGS

Feb. 2 – 3:45 p.m. – Tour of Coggeshall School and Glen Farm

Feb. 9 - 6:30 p.m. – Town Council & General Assembly Delegation – Update on Budget

Feb. 9 – 7:00 p.m. – Town Council Meeting

– HEARING: Class B Liquor License

1) HEARING: Scampi, Inc. d/b/a Scampi, 657 Park

Avenue, Jessica Bannister, 64 Hemlock St., Arlington, MA, Pres.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

RIGL 42-46-5 (a) (2) Potential Litigation

RIGL 42-46-5 (a) (2) Pending Litigation

A motion by Mr. Seveney, seconded by Mr. Little, to go into Executive Session under RIGL 42-

46-5 (a) (2) Potential Litigation and RIGL 42-46-5 (a) (2) Pending Litigation. All voted in favor of the motion.

TIME: 7:50 p.m.

TIME: 8:20 p.m. - Return

A motion by Mr. Canario, seconded by Mr. Hamilton, to adjourn. All voted in favor of the motion.

ADJOURN

TIME: 8:23 p.m.

_________________________________

Kathleen Viera Beaudoin

Town Clerk