PORTSMOUTH TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

April 27, 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,

                                         Karen J. Gleason, Keith E. Hamilton, Jeffrey C. Plumb,

                                         and James A. Seveney

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

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

 

PRESENTATION: Civic Beautification Award to be presented to Clements

          Marketplace from the Portsmouth Tree Commission

 

Rick Taylor presented the award to Lauren Lemieux, accepting for Clements Marketplace.

 

TOWN COUNCIL

CONSENT AGENDA

1.     Thank you from the Family of E. Mary Marshall

 

A motion by Mr. Canario, seconded by Mr. Little, to place on file.  Al voted in favor of the             motion.

 

BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS

 

F I LIQUOR LICENSE

            1.   Newport Rotary Club, Glen Farm Polo Fields, May 30, 2009

 

A motion by Mr. Seveney, seconded by Mr. Little, to approve the F 1 Liquor License for             Newport Rotary Club, Glen Farm Polo Fields for May 30, 2009.  All voted in favor of the       motion.

 

VICTUALLER LICENSES WITH FEE WAIVER REQUESTS

            1.  Newport Rotary Club, Glen Farm Polo Fields, May 30, 2009

 

A motion by Mr. Seveney, seconded by Mr. Plumb, to approve the Victualler License with Fee

            Waiver for Newport Rotary Club, Glen Farm Polo Fields for May 30, 2009.  All voted in         favor of the motion.

 

2.  The Pennfield School, 110 Sandy Point Avenue, May 17, 2009

 

A motion by Mr. Seveney, seconded by Mr. Plumb, to approve the Victualler License with Fee

            Waiver for The Pennfield School, 110 Sandy Point Avenue for May 17, 2009.  All voted   in favor of the motion.

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VICTUALLER LICENSE

1.     Ronald B. Allan d/b/a Shiver Me Timbers, 954 East Main Road – NEW

 

A motion by Mr. Seveney, seconded by Mr. Plumb, to approve the Victualler License for Ronald   

            B. Allan d/b/a Shiver Me Timbers, 954 East Main Road.   All voted in favor of the             motion.

 

ENTERTAINMENT LICENSE WITH FEE WAIVER REQUEST

1.     The Pennfield School, 110 Sandy Point Avenue, May 17, 2009

 

A motion by Mr. Seveney, seconded by Mr. Plumb, to approve the Entertainment License with             Fee Waiver for The Pennfield School, 110 Sandy Point Avenue for May 17, 2009.  All             voted in favor of the motion.

 

A motion by Mr. Little, seconded by Mr. Plumb, to adjourn as a Board of License

            Commissioners.  All voted in favor of the motion.

 

ADJOURN

 

TOWN COUNCIL

 

PRESIDENT’S EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

 

On April 13, 2009 the Council met on Collective Bargaining (Fire, Police, DPW and PMEA) - there were no votes taken; and Acquisition or disposition/lease of publicly held property – we approved a two-year lease with Aquidneck Island Christian School with three one-year options.  All voted in favor of the motion.

 

President McIntyre attended the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission meeting as the Council Liaison.  The AIPC is embarking on a 2 ½-year Million Dollar Comprehensive Transportation Corridor Study that will guide the overall improvement of the transportation system on Aquidneck Island.

 

Congratulations and a standing ovation to the Fire Department, Chief Lynch and municipalities and groups that provided mutual aid.

 

Chief Jeffrey Lynch reported ten departments responded.  There was a water supply issue, and had to request fire boats from East Providence and Cranston.  He believes they saved 120 jobs and millions of dollars in property. There were ten injuries: 7 Navy firefighters - possible cyanide gas exposure, a Portsmouth firefighter - a broken leg, Tiverton firefighter - a sprained ankle and a National Grid worker - smoke inhalation.  Assistance from Tiverton, Middletown, Newport, Bristol, Naval Station, Warren, Swansea, East Providence, Cranston, Providence, Fall River, Red Cross, EMA Director Lowrimore, Portsmouth Police and DPW, RI EMA and DEM,

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the Coast Guard, RI State Fire Marshall’s Office, N. E. Boat Works and Hinckley Yachts.

 

MINUTES – TCM 4/8/09; TCM 4/13/09 & Exec.

 

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

 

Mr. Driscoll responded to a question by Ms. Gleason that the Town has yet to receive a copy of Charlestown’s wastewater management plan from RIDEM that was requested at TCM 4/8/09.

 

BILLS

 

A motion by Mr. Seveney, seconded by Mr. Little, to pay all just and due bills in the amount of             $30,452.44.  All voted in favor of the motion.

 

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

 

  • The Council has been invited to march in the Police Parade this Sunday.
  • Gary Crosby reports that the Wind Turbine has so far generated $57,000.00 in electricity.

 

APPOINTMENTS AND RECOGNITIONS - None

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

OB 1 - HEARING: Proposed Amendment to the Harbormaster Ordinance (#2001-4-9) Adding:

                                 Section XXII. Collection of Fines. Section 1. Collection

 

Patricia Rossi, 896 Neck Farm Road, Prudence Island, member of the Harbor Commission asked where fees will be going. - The General fund.

 

President McIntyre closed hearing.

 

A motion by Mr. Hamilton, seconded by Mr. Seveney, to accept the proposed amendment as             written.  All voted in favor of the motion.

 

TOWN OF PORTSMOUTH, RI

 

HARBORMASTER ORDINANCE AMENDMENT

 

ORDINANCE # 2009-04-27

 

 

               Be it ORDAINED by the Town Council of the Town of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, that Section XXII      is hereby added to the Harbormaster Ordinance (2001-4-9).

 

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               1.   Section XXII.              COLLECTION OF FINES.

 

                              Section 1. Collection.  The Harbormaster, pursuant to RIGL 46-4-6.13,

                              shall have the authority to collect any fines levied under the authority

                              of the Harbormaster Ordinance by mail, not exceeding one hundred

                              dollars ($100.00).

 

               2.   This amendment shall take effect upon passage.

 

OB 2 - Quick Look Report on 21 March PEDC Economic Strategy Workshop

 

Bob Andrews, 135 Thayer Drive, Co-Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee of the EDC, reported on the first strategy workshop.  He stated that there would be a second workshop entitled “Closing the Budget Gap” on 4/30/09 at 6:30 p.m. at the Senior Center. 

 

OB 3 - Request to Approve a Revised Vehicle Usage Policy (fr. 3/23)        

 

Mr. Driscoll requested this item be put over to a future meeting.

 

NEW BUSINESS

           

NB 1 - Discussion Regarding a Resolution to Eliminate Straight Party Vote

 

June Gibbs, former State Senator, stated that if you voted only straight party you didn’t vote for any non-partisan races.  You didn’t cast a vote for a complete number of candidates if your party was offering less than the most possible number for office. If you made any other mark for those races, without marking all chosen candidates, you cancelled your previous choice without even knowing it.  She stated that Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, Operation Clean Government and the RI Statewide Coalition are all in favor of the elimination of the Straight Party Vote.  Newport and Middletown are supporting this along with five other Councils. 

 

Town Clerk Kathleen Viera Beaudoin read the Resolution to the Public.

 

A motion by Mr. Little, seconded by Mr. Plumb, to adopt the resolution.  

 

            A motion by Mr. Seveney, seconded by Mr. Canario, to amend to include in the language

                        of this resolution a recommendation that the General Assembly pass legislation to                                 make a binding referendum at the next statewide election.  The motion failed                           5-2 with Mr. McIntyre, Mr. Little, Ms. Gleason, Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Plumb                          opposed.

 

            All voted in favor of the main motion.           

 

 

 

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TOWN OF PORTSMOUTH, RI

RESOLUTION # 2009-04-27

 

RESOLUTION TO ELIMINATE STRAIGHT PARTY VOTE

 

               WHEREAS:         Rhode Island converted to an up-to-date optical election system a decade

               ago, but retained the straight party vote option, and

 

               WHEREAS:         retention of the straight party vote option results in confusion at the polls

               and under-votes for local candidates, especially in cases of nonpartisan elections, and

 

               WHEREAS:         the straight party option discourages qualified individuals to seek elected

               office, and

 

               WHEREAS:         elimination of the straight party vote option would cause no harm and

               would contribute to increased voter participation in the election process, and

 

               WHEREAS:         Rhode Island needs to join its neighboring states in the Northeast in

               modernizing its voting practices by eliminating the straight party vote option, and

 

               THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, Rhode Island needs to encourage more

               candidates to run for office to give the electorate more choice in elections, by requiring               voting for the individual, not the party, and

 

               BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the Portsmouth Town Council supports the repeal of the straight party

               vote option on the ballot in future elections and will mail this Resolution to its Rhode

               Island General Assembly Representatives and Senators and      to the Speaker of the                Rhode Island House of Representatives and President of the Rhode Island Senate.

 

               ADOPTED by the Portsmouth Town Council on April 27, 2009.

                                                                                                         ___________________________

                                                                                                         Peter J. McIntyre, President,

                                                                                                         Portsmouth Town Council

 

NB 2 - Re-Surfacing of Wapping Road                                                          

 

Mr. Driscoll stated that Wapping Road in already on the list in the new budget.

 

NB 3 - Request for Donation/PHS Post Prom Committee                  

 

A motion by Mr. Canario, seconded by Mr. Seveney, to approve a $100.00 donation.  All voted

            in favor of the motion.

 

NB 4 - Request for Capital Contribution/Potter League                                 

 

President McIntyre stated this was a warrant item last year and the Council voted unanimously to zero balance it because we didn’t have the funds.  Basically, we are in worse trouble this year.  We just had to lay off people and if we can’t make a balanced budget, there might be more layoffs.  Potter’s does have the opportunity to come back on May 4th under Civic Support.

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M. Christie Smith, Executive Director, said they have three key points:  regionalization, precedent, and cost effectiveness.  She will return of May 4th.

 

TIME:  8:05 p.m. – Break

TIME:  8:13 p.m. – Return

 

NB 5 - Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Nomination                       

 

A motion by Mr. Canario, seconded by Mr. Seveney, to approve the Comprehensive Economic

            Development Strategy Nomination and the resolution.  The motion carried 5-2 with Mr.             McIntyre and Ms. Gleason opposed.

 

TOWN OF PORTSMOUTH, RI

 

RESOLUTION # 2009-04-27 A

 

 

WHEREAS:         The Town of Portsmouth adopted the Town Center Plan in

December 2003, to assist the Town in planning for implementation

of the Town Center Plan and to stimulate development, a solution to

managing wastewater in the Town Center area is needed, and

 

WHEREAS:         for that purpose a “Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy”

                              application has been filed with the State Planning Council of the

Rhode Island Department of Administration, and

 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Town of Portsmouth supports the

                              application for funding of a Wastewater Management System for the

                              “Town Center”, and if appropriate, the Town is willing to be the official

                              recipient of any funding directed to a Town Center Wastewater

                              Management System.

 

NB 6 - Discussion Regarding the Possibility of Community   Gardens at the Glen

           

Mr. Driscoll will discuss with Grace Kinnunen to review logistic issues and water availability and report back for the next agenda. 

 

NB 7 - Tax Vouchers #20090427 01 through #20090427 07             

 

A motion by Mr. Canario, seconded by Mr. Seveney, to approve Tax Vouchers #20090427 01

            through #20090427 07.  All voted in favor of the motion.     

 

CORRESPONDENCE

 

1.     Roadway Investment-Local Equity Aid Program (RI-LEAP)        M.P.Lewis

Notice of Funding Availability

2.     Notification of 2010 Decennial Census/US Census Bureau          K.N.Ludgate

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CORRESPONDENCE - continued

 

3.     RIDOT’s Response to House Resolution 5389                    Rep.R.E.Gallison,Jr.

re Cove Bridge Resolution                                   

4.     Vote in Support of Repeal of Caruolo Act/Town of                      J.D.Marques

North Kingstown

            5.   Final 2008 Low-and Moderate-Income Housing Chart/                J.Calcina

                  Rhode Island Housing

6.   Traffic Signal Installations for STC-North & East Bay/RIDOT    R.Rocchio

 

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

           

FUTURE MEETINGS

 

            April 29 – 7:00 p.m. – Budgets

            May 4    – 6:00 p.m. – School Dept.

                           – 7:00 p.m. – Civic Support Budgets

            May 11  – 7:00 p.m. – Town Council Meeting

                                              – HEARING: Zoning Ordinance Amendment, Article III,

                                                Section B4, Rezoning of Map 26, Lot 13, from Heavy

                                                Industrial to Residential R-40

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

            RIGL 42-46-5 (a) (2) Collective Bargaining, Police, Fire, PMEA, DPW

 

Mr. Driscoll stated that the Executive Session was not needed.

 

A motion by Mr. Little, seconded by Mr. Plumb, to adjourn.  All voted in favor of the motion.

 

ADJOURN

 

TIME:  9:05 p.m.

_________________________________

Kathleen Viera Beaudoin

Town Clerk