PORTSMOUTH TOWN COUNCIL MEETING February 9, 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 LETTER OF COMMENDATION PRESENTATION: Dustin Adler President McIntyre read and presented the Letter of Commendation to Dustin Adler. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE A moment of silence for our men and women around the world in harm s way. TOWN COUNCIL CONSENT AGENDA None BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS HEARING: Class B Liquor License: Scampi, Inc. d/b/a Scampi, 657 Park Avenue, Jessica Bannister, 64 Hemlock St., Arlington, MA, President, Benjamin Hochberg, 6 Leyland Court, Bristol, Vice President. Robert Hochberg, Esq., representing Scampi, Inc., introduced himself to the Council. As there was no one wishing to speak, President McIntyre closed the Public Hearing. A motion by Mr. Hamilton, seconded by Mr. Little, to grant the Class B Liquor License to Scampi, Inc. d/b/a Scampi, 657 Park Avenue. All voted in favor of the motion. VICTUALLER LICENSE 1. Scampi, Inc. d/b/a Scampi, 657 Park Avenue NEW A motion by Mr. Seveney, seconded by Mr. Canario, to grant a Victualler License to Scampi, Inc. d/b/a Scampi, 657 Park Avenue. All voted in favor of the motion.
Page 2 NOTICE OF WITHDRAWAL OF LIQUOR LICENSE APPLICATION Oceanside Enterprises, LLC d/b/a Custom House Coffee Clock Tower Square, 600 Clock Tower Square, Mark Libby, President S.P.Patti A motion by Mr. Canario, seconded by Mr. Plumb, to accept and place on file. All voted in favor of the motion. A motion by Mr. Little, seconded by Mr. Seveney, to adjourn as a Board of License Commissioners. All voted in favor of the motion. ADJOURN TOWN COUNCIL PRESIDENT S EXECUTIVE SUMMARY President McIntyre thanked the Council members who made the trip to Quonset to see the wind tower being moved to a barge. President McIntyre stated that according to Section 305 of the Town Charter, the Council can not interfere with any workers or contractors. It is up to the Town Administrator to address any issues. MINUTES TCM 1/21/09, TCM 1/26/09 & Exec. A motion by Mr. Little, seconded by Mr. Plumb, to accept the minutes as written. All voted in favor of the motion. BILLS A motion by Mr. Canario, seconded by Mr. Little, to pay all just and due bills in the amount of $59,153.20. All voted in favor of the motion. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR S REPORT After the Tour of Coggeshall School he sent a letter to the School Department asking them for guidance on if they want any part of the School. The Town has overspent the Snow Removal Account by $40,000. DOT s account is also overspent. The State Supplemental Budget is still under review. We have at issue $505,000.
Page 3 TOWN ADMINISTRATOR S REPORT - Continued Two workshops to schedule: with RI Marine Archeological Project (Fort Butts) with RI DEM (Coyote Management Plan) RI DOT has indicated that they will accept both Stringham Road and Burma Road. There is a meeting on March 21 st at Portsmouth Abbey (8:30-4:30) to discuss the Economy and Budget. Does the Council want to have a Civic Support Night or should it be eliminated because of the budget. (He will submit as an item on an agenda in March.) In response to a question by Mr. Little, Mr. Driscoll said the Town has been in contact with RI DOT regarding potholes. APPOINTMENTS AND RECOGNITIONS 1. Council Liaisons: Arts & Culture Committee (1) Continued to when a full Council is present. Economic Development Committee (2) Mr. Plumb and Mr. Hamilton with Mr. Seveney as the Alternate. Land Use Committee (1) Open Space Committee (1) Mr. Little. School Committee (1) Mr. Hamilton (also as Council liaison for the Facilities Committee.) Aquidneck Island Planning Commission (1) Mr. McIntyre. President McIntyre said the Town Council will review all committees as to their purpose and necessity at a future meeting. 2. Resignations a. Portsmouth Economic Development Committee A motion by Mr. Little, seconded by Mr. Plumb, to accept with regret the resignation of Chad Kritzas. All voted in favor of the motion.
Page 4 b. Portsmouth Harbor Commission (2) A motion by Mr. Little, seconded by Mr. Plumb, to receive with regret the resignations of John Bariscillo and James A. Blaess. All voted in favor of the motion. 3. Request for Appointments, Advertised a. Economic Development Committee, 3 vacancies A motion by Mr. Seveney, seconded by Mr. Little, to re-appoint John J. Palmieri and Robert J. Andrews. All voted in favor of the motion. A motion by Mr. Hamilton, seconded by Mr. Little, to appoint Ray Berberick. All voted in favor of the motion. b. Glen Manor House Authority, 6 vacancies A motion by Mr. Canario, seconded by Mr. Hamilton, to approve the re-appointment of Barbara Chase, Coleen Jackson Raposa, Priscilla J. Wimpress and Richard S. Wimpress. All voted in favor of the motion. c. Housing Authority, 2 vacancies (1 must be Quaker Manor resident) A motion by Mr. Canario, seconded by Mr. Seveney, to appoint Frank J. Paiva, Jr. to the Housing Authority as the Quaker Manor Resident Member. All voted in favor of the motion. d. Redevelopment Agency, 1 vacancy A motion by Mr. Canario, seconded by Mr. Seveney, to approve the re-appointment of Frederick W. Faerber, III. All voted in favor of the motion. e. Solid Waste/Recycling Study Committee, 1 vacancy A motion by Mr. Little, seconded by Mr. Hamilton, to appoint Paul E. Ross. All voted in favor of the motion. OLD BUSINESS OB 1 - HEARING: Proposed Amendment to the Dog Ordinance: Such license shall be annually renewed on or before the 30 th day of April each year A late fee in the sum of twenty ($20.00) dollars shall be assessed against each renewal application received after April 30 of any
year. Page 5 OB 1 - HEARING: Proposed Amendment to the Dog Ordinance - Continued Mr. Driscoll said that the $5.00 late fee had become ineffective. The $20.00 fee is in line with the communities in the area. As there was no one wishing to speak, President McIntyre closed the Public Hearing. A motion by Mr. Seveney, seconded by Mr. Plumb, to approve the Dog Ordinance as amended. All voted in favor of the motion. TOWN OF PORTSMOUTH, RI ORDINANCE # 2009-02-09 That Ordinance # 92-2-25 B, an amendment to # 85-11-4, be amended by changing Section One thereof to read: Such license shall be annually renewed on or before the 30 th day of April each year by proper application and payment of the requisite fees. A late fee in the sum of Twenty ($20.00) Dollars shall be assessed against each renewal application received after April 30 of any year. This amendment shall take effect upon passage. APPROVED BY TOWN COUNCIL ACTION ON FEBRUARY 9, 2009. OB 2 - Appointment Recommendation: Aquidneck Island Re-Use Planning Authority (AIRPA)/Redevelopment Agency A motion by Mr. Seveney, seconded by Mr. Little, to approve Guy Bottari as first alternate and David MacBain as second alternate. All voted in favor of the motion. NEW BUSINESS NB 1 - Request for discussion and action: a. Freeze on Discretionary Spending for Current Fiscal year A motion by Mr. Plumb, seconded by Mr. Seveney, to put a freeze on discretionary spending for the current fiscal year. All voted in favor of the motion. b. Reduction in Spending in FY 09-10 by All Town Departments Mr. Driscoll asked that the 5% reduction be a goal for the overall budget (town wide instead of by each department).
Page 6 A motion by Mr. Plumb, seconded by Mr. Little, to request all town departments to set next year s budget goal to reflect a reduction of 5% over Fiscal Year 08-09 and to direct the Town Administrator to prepare two budgets with one showing the 5% reduction. All voted in favor of the motion. NB 2 - Budget Request for the Arts & Culture Committee A motion by Mr. Canario, seconded by Seveney, to but a budget line item in for $100.00. A motion by Mr. Seveney, seconded by Mr. Little, to table. The motion carried 5-1 with Mr. Canario opposed. NB 3 - Request to Amend Resolution #2008-01-28: Exemption from Taxation of the Real Estate of Certain Income Eligible Senior Citizens A motion by Mr. Seveney, seconded by Mr. Little, to approve. All voted in favor of the motion. TOWN OF PORTSMOUTH, RI RESOLUTION # 2009-02-09 Exemption from Taxation of the Real Estate of Certain Income Eligible Senior Citizens IF YOUR INCOME IS: YOUR EXEMPTION IS: DEC. 08 Fiscal Year 09-10 CPI-U 0 - $ 8,277. 85 % of Assessed Value (.1%) $ 8,278. - $ 10,317. 75 % of Assessed Value $ 10,318. - $ 12,357. 65 % of Assessed Value $ 12,358. - $ 14,397. 55 % of Assessed Value $ 14,398. - $ 16,437. 45 % of Assessed Value $ 16,438. - $ 18,478. 35 % of Assessed Value $ 18,479. - $ 20,517. 25 % of Assessed Value $ 20,518. - $ 22,558. 15 % of Assessed Value $ 22,559. - $ 24,599. 10 % of Assessed Value Ref.: Amends 2008-01-28 APPROVED BY TOWN COUNCIL ACTION ON FEBRUARY 9, 2009.
Kathleen Viera Beaudoin, Town Clerk Page 7 NB 4 - Tax Vouchers #20090209 01 - #20090209 02 A motion by Mr. Seveney, seconded by Mr. Little, to approve Tax Vouchers #20090209 01 #20090209 02. All voted in favor of the motion. CORRESPONDENCE 1. Merritt Neighborhood Fund Grant Application/Aquidneck E.S.Clement,Jr. Land Trust 2. Notice of Tax Sale to be held June 23, 2009 D.E.Dolce 3. Sale of Surplus Vehicles and Equipment: Status D.P.Faucher Report (informational) 4. Requests for Support for House Bill 2009-H5019 An Act L.Phaneuf Making Appropriations for the support of the State for Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2009/Town of Burrillville a. Request General Assembly Support of Articles 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 40, 41, 42, 43, 46 and 47 b. Request General Assembly give due consideration to Articles 5, 7, 21, 31, 32, 44, 45 and 48 A motion by Mr. Little, seconded by Mr. Seveney, to receive and place on file. All voted in favor of the motion. FUTURE MEETINGS Feb. 23 6:30 p.m. Town Council to meet with RI General Assembly Delegation (Budget) 7:00 p.m. Town Council Meeting Mar. 9 6:00 p.m. Town Council to meet with Lower Glen Farm Committee and RI Marine Archeological Project 7:00 p.m. Town Council Meeting EXECUTIVE SESSION RIGL 42-46-5 (a) (2) Potential Litigation A motion by Mr. Little, seconded by Mr. Seveney, to go into Executive Session under RIGL 42-46-5 (a) (2) Potential Litigation. All voted in favor of the motion. TIME: 8:30 p.m. TIME: 8:38 p.m. Return
A motion by Mr. Canario, seconded by Mr. Seveney, to adjourn. All voted in favor of the motion. ADJOURN TIME: 8:40 p.m. Page 8 Kathleen Viera Beaudoin Town Clerk