1 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:08,460 Good evening, 2 00:00:51,570 --> 00:00:55,530 everybody. 3 00:01:00,330 --> 00:01:06,150 Welcome to the North Kings Town Council meeting for Monday, August 17. 4 00:01:08,470 --> 00:01:15,430 With all this means water, pursuant to Rhode Island General Lawrence 42, dash 466C, notice 5 00:01:15,430 --> 00:01:19,770 that this meeting has been posted on the Secretary of State's website and ask everybody 6 00:01:19,770 --> 00:01:21,890 join me with us to the flag. 7 00:01:22,690 --> 00:01:23,390 Thank you. 8 00:01:25,900 --> 00:01:28,660 Congratulations to the flag at the United States of America. 9 00:01:42,650 --> 00:01:43,530 Thank you. 10 00:01:43,770 --> 00:01:47,910 Madam Clerk, can I get the sign up sheet for people who signed up for public comment? 11 00:02:08,550 --> 00:02:15,110 There are a lot of people who signed up, House Rules, I will ask people to limit their 12 00:02:15,110 --> 00:02:16,470 comments in three minutes. 13 00:02:19,930 --> 00:02:25,550 We have, and the council are getting a lot of emails and several sub-subjects, including 14 00:02:25,990 --> 00:02:28,590 our existing use of our flat cameras. 15 00:02:28,590 --> 00:02:36,990 So what I would like to do before we do public comment is make a couple comments on the 16 00:02:36,990 --> 00:02:46,510 flat cameras part in part historical in part when I propose we do tonight and then if 17 00:02:46,510 --> 00:02:53,150 any of the other members of the council want to weigh in they can do so obviously subject 18 00:02:53,150 --> 00:02:59,890 to the public's opinion, but at least based on reading the history of this, reading public 19 00:02:59,890 --> 00:03:08,510 comments, I think that'll give the public a better understanding of where our mindset is, 20 00:03:08,690 --> 00:03:15,270 and then you can alter your comments accordingly, and then we can make a final decision 21 00:03:15,270 --> 00:03:19,870 when the original agenda item comes, when the initial, when this agenda item comes up. 22 00:03:19,870 --> 00:03:33,330 I know there are other items of interest with the pet store and some others, but I think this is the most straightforward and I also think this isn't the most fluid and I think it's the one that's changing the most. 23 00:03:34,350 --> 00:03:38,390 So with that, I'm going to make a couple of comments on the flat cameras. 24 00:03:39,130 --> 00:03:45,370 The flat cameras issue came before our council initially in October of 2023. 25 00:03:46,550 --> 00:03:56,430 At that time, I had some real reservations, so because of that, the time manager agreed to put out in the next agenda. 26 00:03:57,550 --> 00:04:03,710 And next agenda, it was a presentation was made by the Chief. 27 00:04:05,290 --> 00:04:11,450 He had said it was a program, excuse me, a licensed registry recognition program. 28 00:04:11,450 --> 00:04:18,550 We are licensed to play to capture it and run through a database to try to catch criminals 29 00:04:18,550 --> 00:04:19,770 on a crime. 30 00:04:20,530 --> 00:04:33,510 And you also touted the benefits of finding people to stress the Amber or Silver Alerts. 31 00:04:34,230 --> 00:04:39,850 And so there's also no person in identification, personally identifiable, identifiable 32 00:04:39,850 --> 00:04:46,090 information on the cameras or found by the cameras themselves. 33 00:04:49,490 --> 00:04:52,970 We decided unanimously to approve a one-year contract. 34 00:04:53,350 --> 00:04:57,150 I did it and I voted in part because of 35 00:04:57,150 --> 00:04:59,730 to cancel the social worker. 36 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:04,180 And she suggested they'd be good to find people in distress. 37 00:05:05,820 --> 00:05:15,340 So that was a one-year contract. Before I did vote, I did speak to the ACLU, which I'm a 20-year member of. 38 00:05:15,380 --> 00:05:26,500 Members of my law firm, who do a lot of civil rights litigation, and actually a city council from Walla Cruz, who had also voted on it. 39 00:05:26,500 --> 00:05:34,720 There was no opposition from anyone in the community, so the council again unanimously approved it. 40 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:39,160 Since that time, there's been a lot of controversy over these. 41 00:05:41,120 --> 00:05:46,840 And given the fact that Chief is not here tonight, he's a way out of town. 42 00:05:47,620 --> 00:05:53,060 And the fact that we approve this in 2023 for only one year, 43 00:05:54,960 --> 00:06:20,020 I'm going to suggest to my council tonight after public input that we temporarily suspend this, possibly indefinitely, but temporarily suspend this, and have an opportunity to hear what the people have to say, they're concerns, allow the chief to address them, and then do this in an open and transparent form here, because I think there's been a lot of misinformation. 44 00:06:20,020 --> 00:06:26,680 The only information that's come before this council has been supported these flag cameras 45 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:32,380 at least in 2023, obviously in last couple of weeks, a lot of information has not come. 46 00:06:33,120 --> 00:06:37,640 That's supported these flag cameras, but there's also the information has come, a lot of 47 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:42,340 it has lacks specifics, so if there's a specific example of a abuse, I think that's important. 48 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:49,180 And we want to hear that before we get into public comment, I would ask anyone in the council 49 00:06:49,180 --> 00:06:53,340 who wants to comment? I don't know. What's that? Do you want to comment? 50 00:06:54,600 --> 00:07:00,100 I think that is a good idea, at least, let's get it, let's shake out a little bit. 51 00:07:00,340 --> 00:07:03,600 Okay. And I'll familiar on that. 52 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:05,240 Nope, you person. 53 00:07:07,160 --> 00:07:10,660 I'm okay with suspending this until the chief. 54 00:07:11,820 --> 00:07:12,800 Good to speak up, yeah. 55 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:20,440 Sorry. I'm okay with suspending a decision until the chief can be present since he was involved. 56 00:07:20,440 --> 00:07:24,460 in it originally and knows a lot about how it's used by our police department. 57 00:07:25,420 --> 00:07:26,600 I do have a lot of reservations. 58 00:07:30,890 --> 00:07:33,130 I disagree with just a suspension. 59 00:07:34,710 --> 00:07:39,670 I have done my research in due diligence on this. 60 00:07:40,910 --> 00:07:47,410 And I believe that the course of action that we should take is to cancel our contracts, 61 00:07:47,410 --> 00:07:55,790 remove the cameras and I have a motion prepared that I will make later. 62 00:07:56,790 --> 00:07:58,390 Can you have any initial thoughts? 63 00:07:59,170 --> 00:08:06,770 Yes, when we decided to use the flock cameras, I was one of the people who voted for it at that time based on the chief urban recommendation. 64 00:08:07,850 --> 00:08:13,570 And I know that they are supported by the mothers against drug drivers are in favor of the flock cameras. 65 00:08:14,310 --> 00:08:19,550 And I also told Ralph earlier when we were talking about this that I would support keeping them. 66 00:08:19,690 --> 00:08:22,350 I must admit, I've other things have come to light. 67 00:08:23,250 --> 00:08:28,530 I would really would want to hear from Chief Urban before I would make any decision for that. 68 00:08:28,610 --> 00:08:32,810 I think that we need to hear from the police as though how they're working in their town, 69 00:08:33,090 --> 00:08:38,970 what protections they have, and so I won't be prepared to get rid of them tonight 70 00:08:38,970 --> 00:08:40,870 because I think that we should give him the opportunity 71 00:08:40,870 --> 00:08:45,310 to come in and speak and to hear from the police side 72 00:08:45,310 --> 00:08:46,370 before we make a decision. 73 00:08:46,850 --> 00:08:51,650 So with respect, I think we have one's initial comments. 74 00:08:52,270 --> 00:08:54,170 Let's go to public here and let's say to the public. 75 00:08:54,450 --> 00:08:55,730 And then we'll get to the agenda item. 76 00:08:55,750 --> 00:08:58,330 I think you can further make your argument, OK? 77 00:08:58,550 --> 00:08:59,610 We'll do, OK? 78 00:09:00,930 --> 00:09:05,070 With that, I would ask the first speaker, John Carter, 79 00:09:06,430 --> 00:09:07,290 to step up, thanks. 80 00:09:07,290 --> 00:09:08,190 Good 81 00:09:15,040 --> 00:09:21,160 evening. Members of the town council, John Carter, from a property owner of 16-green 82 00:09:21,160 --> 00:09:26,780 metal circle. I'm here tonight because of a conflict of interest, a breakdown in municipality, 83 00:09:27,480 --> 00:09:34,820 transparency, and a systemic non-responsiveness from town leadership. On April 24th, I filed the 84 00:09:34,820 --> 00:09:42,120 police report, and on April 27th, I filed a access to public records request for that report. The 85 00:09:42,120 --> 00:09:46,540 Police chief called me that very same day to get an immediate verbal denial. 86 00:09:47,660 --> 00:09:52,540 I know now why the denial was so swift, the involved individual in my police report 87 00:09:52,540 --> 00:09:56,340 was not other than one of the chief's own high-ranking police captains. 88 00:09:57,120 --> 00:09:59,960 Instead of handling the matter with the heightened transparency, 89 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:05,800 The conflict of interest requires the department choose to shield its own leadership. They fail to issue 90 00:10:05,800 --> 00:10:12,660 a legally mandatory written denial within the statutory time limit. For us in me to file a complaint 91 00:10:12,660 --> 00:10:17,440 with the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office on May 14th. When the police finally 92 00:10:17,440 --> 00:10:23,560 did respond on May 19th, it was a blanket denial covering only half of my request. The 93 00:10:23,560 --> 00:10:30,180 Counselor, later upheld that protection of the command staff with a dual denial on June 15th. 94 00:10:30,300 --> 00:10:35,320 I filed my rebuttal to the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office on July 7th, and 95 00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:36,880 a matter is still pending in a review. 96 00:10:37,960 --> 00:10:43,240 Seeking accountability, I emailed the town manager, A Ralph Malice, the Reckling on 97 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:44,360 June 9th. 98 00:10:44,360 --> 00:10:45,820 He completely ignored it. 99 00:10:45,960 --> 00:10:49,140 I called on June 25th, to schedule a meeting. 100 00:10:49,140 --> 00:10:55,540 His executive assistant Kate Glass took my information and I have faced total silence ever since. 101 00:10:56,220 --> 00:11:02,680 When a police department uses blanket, public request and request the Niles to shield his own captain from public exposure, 102 00:11:03,300 --> 00:11:09,080 and when a town manager refuses to answer or meet with residents, questioning this behavior, local government is failing. 103 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:11,780 This is no longer just a wreckage dispute. 104 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:15,820 It's a administrative integrity and potential structural corruption. 105 00:11:15,820 --> 00:11:22,760 The town council holds sole charter oversight over the town manager and the administration. 106 00:11:23,880 --> 00:11:27,860 Formerly requesting the town tonight that this council launched an immediate independent 107 00:11:27,860 --> 00:11:32,620 review into wider town managers office is ignoring residents and wider public records 108 00:11:32,620 --> 00:11:33,180 laws. 109 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:37,480 Excuse me, Laws, I'm being manipulated to protect high rank and police officials. 110 00:11:37,740 --> 00:11:38,820 Thank you. 111 00:11:39,300 --> 00:11:40,040 I have a packet. 112 00:11:42,460 --> 00:11:47,260 Yeah, I got it. Sergeant of arms. I'll take care of that for you, Mr. Carter. 113 00:11:50,780 --> 00:11:51,120 You can. 114 00:11:51,780 --> 00:11:52,080 Kaylee. 115 00:11:54,660 --> 00:11:54,660 Welcome. 116 00:12:00,270 --> 00:12:04,630 Ethan Kaylee. This is my first time speaking in a public setting. 117 00:12:06,110 --> 00:12:06,750 Members of the Council. 118 00:12:06,830 --> 00:12:07,270 We'll just go. 119 00:12:07,450 --> 00:12:07,930 We'll just go. 120 00:12:07,930 --> 00:12:08,470 We'll just go. 121 00:12:08,470 --> 00:12:08,810 We'll just go. 122 00:12:10,150 --> 00:12:12,070 Members of the Council. 123 00:12:12,390 --> 00:12:12,950 Members of the public. 124 00:12:13,450 --> 00:12:15,390 Please forgive any perceived nervousness. 125 00:12:15,970 --> 00:12:18,210 I have somehow mastered speaking to executives at fortune. 126 00:12:18,210 --> 00:12:22,270 and 100 companies, but a town council meeting still makes me nervous. 127 00:12:23,950 --> 00:12:25,450 So I'll give you my bottom line up front. 128 00:12:25,990 --> 00:12:29,310 I do not support North King Sound continuing any contract with Flock Safety, 129 00:12:29,550 --> 00:12:33,350 or any other auxiliary or auxiliary companies like this. 130 00:12:33,930 --> 00:12:37,870 And I strongly urge this council to terminate a relationship explicitly with Flock Safety. 131 00:12:39,030 --> 00:12:42,050 I passed eight Flock cameras on my way here tonight. 132 00:12:42,490 --> 00:12:43,790 I drove my daughter to gymnastics. 133 00:12:43,790 --> 00:12:50,330 we stopped to check FLA, I then drove through this beautiful town that's our home to participate in this democratic process. 134 00:12:51,070 --> 00:12:53,550 Eight cameras recorded my vehicle doing that trip. 135 00:12:54,110 --> 00:12:58,190 And it's important because these are not simply automatic license plate cameras or readers. 136 00:12:59,270 --> 00:13:03,530 I work professionally building complex software systems and artificial intelligence systems. 137 00:13:04,070 --> 00:13:07,650 And from that perspective, I want to emphasize one word, system. 138 00:13:07,650 --> 00:13:12,630 Flock is a network of surveillance, cloud-based AI surveillance 139 00:13:12,630 --> 00:13:13,890 cameras and systems. 140 00:13:14,850 --> 00:13:18,350 This cameras don't simply read a license plate and forget it. 141 00:13:18,510 --> 00:13:22,690 They capture vehicle, information they use machine learning to make 142 00:13:22,690 --> 00:13:25,130 what Flock itself calls a vehicle fingerprint. 143 00:13:26,070 --> 00:13:29,850 Identifying characters such as a make a model, a color, other visual 144 00:13:29,850 --> 00:13:31,550 features like bumper stickers. 145 00:13:33,250 --> 00:13:37,130 These observations become searchable data by law enforcement, 146 00:13:37,130 --> 00:13:42,570 police and other government entities. Recently, these cameras now have added additional capabilities 147 00:13:42,570 --> 00:13:48,330 to track devices emanating wireless signals. Think Bluetooth devices smartphones, airtags, 148 00:13:48,730 --> 00:13:55,010 and any other modern cars. My concern isn't that the North Kingston Police Department is enabling 149 00:13:55,010 --> 00:14:00,890 and furthering additional data gathering for some sinister intention. My concern is that they 150 00:14:00,890 --> 00:14:03,950 don't know what the data is being used for. 151 00:14:04,970 --> 00:14:07,010 We are building surveillance infrastructure who 152 00:14:07,850 --> 00:14:10,610 capabilities extend far beyond the initial intentions 153 00:14:10,610 --> 00:14:14,510 and the intentions of the good people that are operating it today. 154 00:14:15,190 --> 00:14:17,070 North Kingston doesn't develop the software. 155 00:14:17,290 --> 00:14:18,350 We don't control the firmware. 156 00:14:18,570 --> 00:14:20,330 We don't design its future capabilities. 157 00:14:20,610 --> 00:14:22,230 We don't operate the cloud infrastructure. 158 00:14:22,710 --> 00:14:24,390 And we cannot guarantee that what these 159 00:14:24,390 --> 00:14:26,170 integrations data gathering relationships 160 00:14:26,170 --> 00:14:29,470 policies or additional further government access 161 00:14:29,470 --> 00:14:32,130 will exist five or ten years from now. 162 00:14:33,250 --> 00:14:35,970 We've already seen nationally why that matters. 163 00:14:36,390 --> 00:14:40,390 Flock has faced numerous documented causes of unauthorized searches, law enforcement 164 00:14:40,390 --> 00:14:41,030 means use. 165 00:14:41,190 --> 00:14:45,990 The company itself recently announced additional safeguards to try to shore this up 166 00:14:45,990 --> 00:14:51,970 and is going on a PR blitz because of this to me that should tell us something. 167 00:14:52,770 --> 00:14:55,850 The question isn't whether this technology can help solve a crime. 168 00:14:56,270 --> 00:14:56,630 It can. 169 00:14:56,630 --> 00:14:59,810 The question is whether solving some crimes. 170 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:28,640 Justifies creating an infrastructure capable of reconstituting the movements of thousands of innocent people, who have been suspected of absolutely nothing. I don't believe it does. Tonight, I exercise one of my most basic rights we have. I drove through my town. I brought my daughter to where she needed to go. And I came here to speak to my elected representatives and fellow North Kingston citizens. I should not have to leave a searchable digital fingerprint trail simply because I did these things. 171 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:32,220 We still have an opportunity to say in North Kingston, 172 00:15:32,540 --> 00:15:36,460 like our other fellow towns in near proximity 173 00:15:36,460 --> 00:15:39,600 have done as well, not here, not in North Kingston. 174 00:15:40,420 --> 00:15:41,160 Thank you. 175 00:15:41,220 --> 00:15:42,060 Thank you. 176 00:15:49,050 --> 00:15:50,910 Ethan, for being nervous, she did a great job. 177 00:15:53,850 --> 00:15:54,590 Randall Curtis. 178 00:16:01,650 --> 00:16:04,450 Greetings, Randall Curtis, 680 story lane. 179 00:16:05,550 --> 00:16:08,390 I believe it's Article 13 section one 180 00:16:08,390 --> 00:16:11,390 of the state constitution, which does grant 181 00:16:11,390 --> 00:16:15,130 and confirmed the people of every city and town in this state, 182 00:16:15,290 --> 00:16:18,430 the rate of self-government in all local matters. 183 00:16:20,310 --> 00:16:25,190 I want to emphasize the words people and self-government. 184 00:16:25,350 --> 00:16:29,650 North Kingston should be self-governed by the people of the town. 185 00:16:31,170 --> 00:16:35,030 We do this by electing representatives, you, the town council. 186 00:16:36,630 --> 00:16:40,690 You are not responsible to state police to the FBI, 187 00:16:41,390 --> 00:16:47,290 to other agencies and other states to provide them with information on our movements. 188 00:16:48,610 --> 00:16:55,070 You are not here to rubber stamp the requests of the town police department or the town employees. 189 00:16:56,330 --> 00:16:59,610 You are here to represent our interests, the people of the town. 190 00:17:00,690 --> 00:17:06,410 No matter how convenient for the police, I believe the people of the town are generally 191 00:17:06,410 --> 00:17:08,110 against flat cameras. 192 00:17:08,110 --> 00:17:15,110 It doesn't matter if it makes it easier for them to do their job or not, the people of the town generally don't want them. 193 00:17:16,070 --> 00:17:21,710 No matter what the chief says about it, I know you want to wait for the chief to have his say. 194 00:17:21,910 --> 00:17:25,710 I think we've all heard the chief before, and we are not convinced. 195 00:17:26,470 --> 00:17:32,730 It doesn't matter what he says about it, because the point is, the people are uncomfortable with this level of surveillance. 196 00:17:33,790 --> 00:17:41,610 We have a variety of reasons for it. Why we're uncomfortable? We have given those reasons in multiple venues. 197 00:17:42,170 --> 00:17:47,880 I think we'll continue to give those reasons. And you're just going to hear more and more about it. 198 00:17:48,630 --> 00:17:56,390 And maybe you won't be persuaded by all of those reasons. And maybe the chief of police will disagree with our reasons. 199 00:17:56,870 --> 00:17:58,910 But in the end, that doesn't really matter. 200 00:17:59,910 --> 00:18:04,550 The chief and the town officials have failed to convince us the people. 201 00:18:05,890 --> 00:18:09,930 We don't want these cameras and that should be enough for the town council. 202 00:18:11,530 --> 00:18:12,450 Thank you. 203 00:18:12,870 --> 00:18:14,990 Let's squeeze a little bit of stars. 204 00:18:18,500 --> 00:18:19,620 I think they heard you. 205 00:18:30,580 --> 00:18:32,000 Excuse me, you know something Elizabeth? 206 00:18:32,480 --> 00:18:36,800 To move things along, I'm going to call up three or four people and maybe you can land 207 00:18:36,800 --> 00:18:40,460 behind Elizabeth in the water I called you. 208 00:18:40,540 --> 00:18:43,500 Pan Mason, Christine, 209 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:51,860 Manjana, Manjana, Manjana off, Manjana off, thank you, Christine. 210 00:18:52,380 --> 00:19:02,140 John McGeean, Bill Flynn, Madeline McGregurgle, McGregurgle, and I thought it'd be good for now. 211 00:19:02,380 --> 00:19:04,140 If you could line up along the wall, I'd be great. 212 00:19:04,140 --> 00:19:07,420 So you can move along. Okay. Thank you. 213 00:19:09,680 --> 00:19:09,680 Yeah. 214 00:19:10,640 --> 00:19:18,240 New welcome. Good evening. I was coming to sit and stand up here and also talk about 215 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:24,540 Can you please give us your name and I'm sorry, Elizabeth Stern's 63 high bank avenue in North 216 00:19:24,540 --> 00:19:33,840 Kingstown. Thank you. Just I came up was going to come up and talk about my deep concern about 217 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:38,900 the continued use of the flock safety on medical license plate readers. 218 00:19:39,760 --> 00:19:43,520 I think it's extremely important to protect our privacy, 219 00:19:44,580 --> 00:19:49,100 which in this matter would include stopping the surveillance technology in our community. 220 00:19:50,700 --> 00:19:54,640 I would request that we terminate the town's contract with flock safety. 221 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:59,960 Other people who have just spoken before me have said a lot of 222 00:20:00,000 --> 00:20:07,280 If very well-stated reasons why that should happen, and I agree. Thank you. 223 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:08,080 Thank you, Elizabeth. 224 00:20:11,860 --> 00:20:12,140 Pam? 225 00:20:13,720 --> 00:20:14,280 Manson. 226 00:20:15,920 --> 00:20:20,160 I guess I'll be the first one to shift the subject to the pet stores. 227 00:20:20,660 --> 00:20:21,220 Okay. 228 00:20:21,500 --> 00:20:24,600 My name is Pam Manson. I live at 51 High Bank Avenue. 229 00:20:25,200 --> 00:20:27,540 I've been here for about 13 years. 230 00:20:27,540 --> 00:20:35,880 And I'm here to support the amendment, the proposed amendment to ban the pet stores in North 231 00:20:35,880 --> 00:20:36,220 Kingston. 232 00:20:36,820 --> 00:20:41,760 I just want to focus on one small aspect, there's going to be many more comments, I think 233 00:20:41,760 --> 00:20:46,800 about this subject, but I'm here to hopefully provide some context. 234 00:20:47,960 --> 00:20:54,200 Retail pet stores actively advertise that they sell USDA approved or licensed puppies. 235 00:20:54,200 --> 00:21:01,480 And at first blush that reference to USDA, the United States Department of Agriculture sounds great. 236 00:21:01,860 --> 00:21:03,520 But what does it really mean? 237 00:21:04,700 --> 00:21:09,300 It simply means that the puppies are born to a commercially high-volume breeder, 238 00:21:09,700 --> 00:21:12,640 commonly known often as puppy mills, 239 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:16,340 who is legally registered to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 240 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:21,920 It generally means the breeder has more than four breeding females 241 00:21:21,920 --> 00:21:29,840 cells and cells puppies wholesale. Licensed facilities are supposed to meet basic federal 242 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:37,660 standards for housing, feeding, and veterinary care. But enforcement is sketchy and 243 00:21:37,660 --> 00:21:43,760 the standards on minimal often referred to only as survival standards. It allows 244 00:21:43,760 --> 00:21:50,520 for such conditions as small, crowded, stacked cages, lack of human contact, lack of 245 00:21:50,520 --> 00:21:53,060 exercise and inadequate food. 246 00:21:53,940 --> 00:21:57,180 It's merely a business license for the commercial breeder. 247 00:21:58,080 --> 00:22:03,560 It does not mean under any circumstance that the government approves or certifies the quality 248 00:22:04,100 --> 00:22:08,740 or humane treatment of the animals or even the ethics of the breeder. 249 00:22:09,580 --> 00:22:15,460 The store can advertise that puppies are USDA approved without any regard to the quality 250 00:22:15,460 --> 00:22:21,480 care the puppies have received. At a minimum, it's misleading to the public. 251 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:28,680 There are many reasons the town should not allow commercial sale of these animals. 252 00:22:29,900 --> 00:22:35,560 The town should not be complicit in the perpetuation of the treatment and human treatment 253 00:22:35,560 --> 00:22:40,640 of animals, and I urge you to adopt the proposed amendment. Thank you for giving me this 254 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:40,980 time. 255 00:22:50,190 --> 00:22:58,790 Hello everyone, my name is Christine Mengen, Dash Ulf, I'm at 73 Condonav. 256 00:22:59,550 --> 00:23:05,150 Some of this may be duplicated from what Ms. Mason just mentioned, but it's worth mentioning 257 00:23:05,150 --> 00:23:05,770 again. 258 00:23:06,350 --> 00:23:11,210 I am here on behalf of the prohibition, the sale of dogs and cats in North Kingston. 259 00:23:11,210 --> 00:23:17,770 on. In the 1970s, pet stores were in Rhode Island. In fact, Rhode Island Mall, formerly known 260 00:23:17,770 --> 00:23:24,090 as the middle of Mall, I'm dating myself, had a pet store in the mall, but that was then. 261 00:23:24,130 --> 00:23:31,330 That was the 1970s. This is 2026. We know too much now, hence why there are so few 262 00:23:31,330 --> 00:23:36,330 pet stores in Rhode Island so we cannot claim ignorance any longer and this applies to all, 263 00:23:36,330 --> 00:23:41,070 especially if you're in a for-profit business, making money off of puppies. 264 00:23:42,710 --> 00:23:47,130 Again, maybe repeating myself here from some others, a little about puppy meals. 265 00:23:47,510 --> 00:23:52,510 A puppy meal is a high-volume commercial breeding facility that prioritizes profit over the 266 00:23:52,510 --> 00:23:57,750 well-being of animals. In these establishments, dogs, particularly females are often 267 00:23:57,750 --> 00:24:03,770 kept and overcrowded in unsanitary conditions with minimal or no vet care and inadequate 268 00:24:03,770 --> 00:24:08,790 nutrition, the purpose of this business is the mass production of puppies for sale. 269 00:24:09,410 --> 00:24:14,310 The relentless breeding cycle leads to medical and behavioral issues in both parent dogs 270 00:24:14,310 --> 00:24:19,650 and their offspring. And the puppies born in these meals are frequently sold to unsuspecting 271 00:24:19,650 --> 00:24:25,650 buyers without proper health screenings or vaccinations. Puppy meals prioritize profit over 272 00:24:25,650 --> 00:24:30,830 the quality of life for the animals involved and are most often misleading or deceptive about 273 00:24:30,830 --> 00:24:36,830 cruelty they inflict on the dogs in their care. They have bad living space, the dogs stay in small 274 00:24:36,830 --> 00:24:43,010 wire cages without soft beds, grass or clean air, poor health. The puppies often have hidden 275 00:24:43,010 --> 00:24:50,090 genetic sickness, fleas, and weak parts. No care for the parents, the mother dogs breed nonstop. 276 00:24:50,610 --> 00:24:57,310 Until their bodies break down, then they get abandoned or killed by the puppy mills. No human touch, 277 00:24:57,310 --> 00:24:59,970 Puppies miss out on early training which causes life. 278 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:10,400 Long fare, and behavior issues. Since COVID, shelters, refuse, impounds have filled up. Adoptions have slowed down, 279 00:25:10,780 --> 00:25:16,640 impuppies for sale does not help the situation by any means, nor does it make sense when local shelters 280 00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:23,500 are having difficult, defining homes for those dogs. Fishbowl can survive on selling pet store supplies alone, 281 00:25:23,500 --> 00:25:29,260 just as one foot pet who used to sell puppies and kittens, pet co and pet smart do. 282 00:25:29,640 --> 00:25:33,780 It is time for them to come to the realization that selling puppies is unethical, 283 00:25:34,240 --> 00:25:40,500 and North King's town residents do not want this. I have lived in this town since 2001 and I 284 00:25:40,500 --> 00:25:45,020 was always proud to live here. It's part of South County. The beginning of South County 285 00:25:45,020 --> 00:25:52,200 regardless of what other parts of South County say. However, this has put a serious black mark on our 286 00:25:52,200 --> 00:25:59,200 town and we want town officials to finally take a stand and do the right thing. We are not asking 287 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:03,900 you to close them down, but for fishbowl to stop the sale of puppies from their North King's 288 00:26:03,900 --> 00:26:08,300 town store. Please stand up for the residents of North King's town and do what's 289 00:26:08,300 --> 00:26:13,640 ethically right. We would really appreciate the town officials to support on this. Thank you. 290 00:26:19,880 --> 00:26:23,780 Should have told the folks here, what those noises mean? I don't think I did that. 291 00:26:25,000 --> 00:26:32,080 It's said for three minutes and after two minutes it goes to yellow and then after when you have 30 seconds left 292 00:26:32,080 --> 00:26:39,780 it'll give one beep for the red and then when the three minutes are all the way up that's when it does the blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah 293 00:26:40,380 --> 00:26:40,900 Okay 294 00:26:41,500 --> 00:26:43,060 John McGee and please 295 00:26:44,920 --> 00:26:47,580 and after John we have 296 00:26:47,580 --> 00:26:56,580 If no Flynn, Battle of Magago, Michael Marbello, Richard Lalo, and former rep at Surper, 297 00:26:56,600 --> 00:27:00,580 can come up and light up along the wall, I'd appreciate it. 298 00:27:01,520 --> 00:27:01,920 Good evening. 299 00:27:02,560 --> 00:27:06,440 John McGeean, 25, Fowler Street, North Kangstown. 300 00:27:08,820 --> 00:27:16,680 I am here regarding the issue of Flock, and I first like to thank Councilman McCoy 301 00:27:16,680 --> 00:27:21,940 for answering some of my questions today and thank you for reaching out looking for the 302 00:27:21,940 --> 00:27:23,140 opinion of the community. 303 00:27:25,180 --> 00:27:30,420 But I first of all have a couple of questions about your 304 00:27:30,420 --> 00:27:31,360 proposal. 305 00:27:35,270 --> 00:27:40,450 The primary question and I'm thank you for the history on that because I'm 306 00:27:40,450 --> 00:27:48,290 a bit remiss for not having been aware of the history of flock and I must say I have 307 00:27:48,290 --> 00:27:50,430 than I ever thought I'd know. 308 00:27:52,890 --> 00:27:57,970 But when you talk about suspension of the program, 309 00:27:59,490 --> 00:28:01,630 and Mr. Minsky, I'm asking you this question, 310 00:28:01,850 --> 00:28:03,830 do you mean that the use of the flood cameras 311 00:28:03,830 --> 00:28:07,750 will be terminated as of tonight or tomorrow? 312 00:28:09,150 --> 00:28:12,990 What I envision is if the council approves it, 313 00:28:13,510 --> 00:28:16,150 they'll be suspended, they won't be working 314 00:28:16,150 --> 00:28:18,690 as soon as possible after a vote. 315 00:28:19,290 --> 00:28:21,730 Do we have any idea if the council does agree to that? 316 00:28:22,130 --> 00:28:24,390 What as soon as possible means? 317 00:28:25,110 --> 00:28:26,670 Mr. Mayor General, if you have a comment. 318 00:28:28,490 --> 00:28:34,450 So I would say if the council decides to suspend the use immediately, 319 00:28:35,150 --> 00:28:37,370 then our goal would be to turn them off tomorrow. 320 00:28:37,750 --> 00:28:40,450 Yeah. Okay, that's what I wanted to know. 321 00:28:40,750 --> 00:28:43,870 Secondly, you talk about the opportunity of the chief. 322 00:28:43,870 --> 00:28:50,330 Chief Urban to present his arguments for the use of that will there be an opposing 323 00:28:52,130 --> 00:28:57,610 for lack of another term but party that will be present during this end. 324 00:28:57,750 --> 00:28:59,920 Well, it should look like that would be open to the public sir. 325 00:29:01,370 --> 00:29:03,550 So what we'll have is 326 00:29:05,210 --> 00:29:09,060 I have the chief maker presentation here public comment and that make a decision. 327 00:29:09,060 --> 00:29:14,400 I believe that the rep from ACLU is next. 328 00:29:14,780 --> 00:29:17,140 Yeah, I'm sure the ACLU will be here too. 329 00:29:19,090 --> 00:29:20,950 I don't know the rep from the ACLU. 330 00:29:21,090 --> 00:29:21,890 I'm sure they'll come back. 331 00:29:22,910 --> 00:29:25,130 And I'll call their executive director who I am. 332 00:29:25,130 --> 00:29:25,650 All right. 333 00:29:25,730 --> 00:29:27,730 And I'll tell them about what they're going to be on. 334 00:29:28,070 --> 00:29:29,650 Which I did for this meeting. 335 00:29:30,090 --> 00:29:30,450 Very good. 336 00:29:30,850 --> 00:29:34,510 And just regarding my comments and I know my time must be growing short. 337 00:29:35,530 --> 00:29:41,910 I have been looking at the Facebook site of the NK Police Department and there's something 338 00:29:41,910 --> 00:29:45,450 on there called like myth versus something. 339 00:29:45,770 --> 00:29:51,570 It's posted there from time to time and it has been suggested that there are, that cases 340 00:29:51,570 --> 00:29:55,310 have consistently upheld the use of flock cameras. 341 00:29:56,290 --> 00:29:59,950 I would love to have the opportunity to find those cases I have, not as- 342 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:07,020 House of Yat, what I do know is that the Supreme Court of the United States in two recent cases has addressed 343 00:30:07,020 --> 00:30:13,380 the issue of cell phone being using cell phone signals and what they call the G.O. Fencing. And if 344 00:30:13,380 --> 00:30:18,360 anything, what we see as a trend, even among this court, right here, that this is rising 345 00:30:18,360 --> 00:30:24,060 to the level of a Fourth Amendment search. And if, in fact, as the gentleman so beautifully put 346 00:30:24,060 --> 00:30:29,620 the second gentleman that spoke, we are being searched out there just in our everyday travels by 347 00:30:29,620 --> 00:30:38,220 cameras. Well, we're rising now to the level of a bank of information that really, if we're 348 00:30:38,220 --> 00:30:44,700 looking for the bad guy, perhaps Warren's are necessary. So those are some of my concerns 349 00:30:44,700 --> 00:30:52,800 with this. But I do support your proposal if, in fact, it's going to be, if the council 350 00:30:52,800 --> 00:30:56,840 votes on this, that the use of the cameras will be stopped immediately. 351 00:30:57,840 --> 00:31:00,380 That would be the point behind it. 352 00:31:00,860 --> 00:31:01,780 Thank you. 353 00:31:01,900 --> 00:31:06,140 Sir, if you're looking for information that the police department posted, you can definitely 354 00:31:06,140 --> 00:31:10,040 email the chief or if you don't know his email address, email the town council and we can 355 00:31:10,040 --> 00:31:11,560 direct you to the chief and they can get you. 356 00:31:12,100 --> 00:31:12,180 Okay. 357 00:31:13,580 --> 00:31:14,720 Mr. Belflin. 358 00:31:21,790 --> 00:31:28,970 President Mancini, council members, Mr. Manager, Bill Flint, long time, North King's town resident, 359 00:31:29,610 --> 00:31:30,210 51 years. 360 00:31:31,150 --> 00:31:38,490 I'm here to express my concern about our town's police use of flock license plate cameras. 361 00:31:39,910 --> 00:31:44,690 A flock reader certainly seems to have some powerful law enforcement capabilities, 362 00:31:45,630 --> 00:31:49,190 such as opting into a national data sharing network. 363 00:31:50,850 --> 00:31:59,590 My concern is that apparently in Rhode Island there are no statewide guidelines or laws on how data collected can be shared. 364 00:32:00,550 --> 00:32:10,070 To quote from the recent research by the National Office of the ACLU, and there's someone from the ACLU there, I'm a very long time member, quote, 365 00:32:10,630 --> 00:32:24,290 there have been numerous documented instances of police sharing flock data with ICE and unscrupulous police using it to track protesters and by individual officers to stalk people. 366 00:32:24,290 --> 00:32:38,470 Another example was Texas police using stock flux nationwide network to search through more than 83,000 cameras to locate a woman's suspected of having an abortion. 367 00:32:39,290 --> 00:32:46,730 I recommend that you review and you also, the recent Rhode Island House of Representatives 368 00:32:46,730 --> 00:32:56,410 Bill, H8070, that sought to amend state laws on criminal procedure to prevent misuse of 369 00:32:56,410 --> 00:33:01,710 the system, lobbying by the state police and Rhode Island police chiefs association, 370 00:33:01,710 --> 00:33:03,730 installed it for this session. 371 00:33:04,830 --> 00:33:08,530 Until we have legal protections against the misuse of the 372 00:33:08,530 --> 00:33:13,010 flood plate readers in Rhode Island, we should terminate 373 00:33:13,010 --> 00:33:14,490 its use in our town. 374 00:33:14,910 --> 00:33:16,170 Thank you. 375 00:33:16,330 --> 00:33:17,210 Thank you, Mr. Flee. 376 00:33:18,470 --> 00:33:21,530 Mr. Flee, Mr. Flee, can I have you, Radwell, please? 377 00:33:22,670 --> 00:33:23,550 May I have your advice? 378 00:33:23,870 --> 00:33:25,750 16, Dawes, Avenue. 379 00:33:27,290 --> 00:33:27,450 Excuse me. 380 00:33:27,570 --> 00:33:27,870 Excuse me. 381 00:33:28,730 --> 00:33:30,590 Otherwise, you'd never know what was there. 382 00:33:31,910 --> 00:33:32,790 Thank you. 383 00:33:33,410 --> 00:33:34,110 I'm Madeline. 384 00:33:41,720 --> 00:33:44,440 Thank you, Mr. President and members of the committee, Madeline McGunnigol. 385 00:33:44,680 --> 00:33:47,060 I am the Policy Associate at the ACLU Rhode Island. 386 00:33:47,060 --> 00:33:49,200 You ask you to put your address. 387 00:33:49,400 --> 00:33:51,800 Sure, if you don't hold it against me, I do live in East Greenwich. 388 00:33:52,020 --> 00:33:53,440 It's 10, 16 Main Street. 389 00:33:53,780 --> 00:33:54,940 I think that may be a close vote. 390 00:33:55,080 --> 00:33:56,060 It is very close. 391 00:33:57,840 --> 00:34:00,960 So there's really not much more that I can add beyond what the 392 00:34:00,960 --> 00:34:07,540 eloquent constituents have said before me in opposition to the 393 00:34:07,540 --> 00:34:13,460 to the council because I know I did send you all quite a lengthy letter and then another one shortly 394 00:34:13,460 --> 00:34:18,140 thereafter so I just wanted to make myself available in case anyone had any questions and just 395 00:34:18,140 --> 00:34:23,820 in the long story short we do support terminating the contract though I understand if the council 396 00:34:23,820 --> 00:34:37,520 wants to talk about it with chief urban once he's here. I have a question for you. It's my 397 00:34:37,520 --> 00:34:44,960 And the police department was willing to meet those standards, which I don't know if they 398 00:34:44,960 --> 00:34:51,820 are, here in the town of North Kingstown, is that something that would change the ACLU's 399 00:34:51,820 --> 00:34:52,180 position. 400 00:34:52,800 --> 00:34:56,020 I think it would definitely be a very good safeguard going into place. 401 00:34:56,320 --> 00:34:59,960 That bill has been poured over, and there's a lot of input. 402 00:35:00,000 --> 00:35:10,640 More protections in it, and that's why we lobby so hard in favor of it. I would say that it would be a very good beneficial tool for the police department to have in place if these cameras are going to keep being used. 403 00:35:11,260 --> 00:35:12,620 Thank you. 404 00:35:13,680 --> 00:35:17,780 Next is Michael Marbello, 405 00:35:23,190 --> 00:35:27,330 Michael Marbello 159, Leigh Side Avenue and Cranston. 406 00:35:27,650 --> 00:35:33,250 I am the owner of the fishbowl aquarium and I'm here to point out some things one I did 407 00:35:33,250 --> 00:35:38,870 come to the town before putting the puppies in there and I was given the okay by the town 408 00:35:38,870 --> 00:35:41,950 the dog officer and the DEA. 409 00:35:42,190 --> 00:35:46,270 That being said, I believe everyone else does that puppy mills are bad. 410 00:35:46,270 --> 00:35:48,850 Our dogs do not come from those types of places. 411 00:35:49,410 --> 00:35:51,610 We have breeders that we've been using for years. 412 00:35:51,770 --> 00:35:53,590 I've been selling dogs for 18 years. 413 00:35:53,990 --> 00:35:55,530 I have the same breeders. 414 00:35:55,730 --> 00:35:58,150 It's okay to shake your head and disagree with me. 415 00:35:58,730 --> 00:36:00,510 But you still get a listen to me for a second, 416 00:36:00,650 --> 00:36:04,050 because we do it right with their vet checked every week. 417 00:36:04,370 --> 00:36:05,110 They're quarantined. 418 00:36:05,290 --> 00:36:07,150 They come with vaccines and shots. 419 00:36:07,650 --> 00:36:10,630 So all of that saying that they are shipped without any care 420 00:36:10,630 --> 00:36:11,530 is not true. 421 00:36:11,710 --> 00:36:13,650 They have to be checked by a licensed veterinarian 422 00:36:13,650 --> 00:36:15,230 before traveling state lines. 423 00:36:15,730 --> 00:36:20,550 They come to the store, they get quarantine for seven days, they get checked by a local 424 00:36:20,550 --> 00:36:21,170 vet. 425 00:36:21,870 --> 00:36:26,010 The puppies are well taken care of and we'll be doing it for a long time. 426 00:36:28,910 --> 00:36:29,930 Do you have a question for me? 427 00:36:31,450 --> 00:36:34,130 Who gave you the permit to let you do this? 428 00:36:34,510 --> 00:36:37,590 I came to the town and talked to a believe it was Ben in charge of economics. 429 00:36:38,290 --> 00:36:39,470 He gave me the procedure. 430 00:36:40,050 --> 00:36:43,550 Each department came, the fire department, everyone transferred the license over. 431 00:36:43,550 --> 00:36:50,010 I was asked specifically if there was anything I needed to do to sell puppies and they said no, 432 00:36:50,510 --> 00:36:57,570 just the state requirements by the DM. Now with all this going on, the DM has come six or seven times. 433 00:36:57,870 --> 00:37:04,750 The SPCA has come. They have found zero violations. Everything is in order the way it is supposed to be. 434 00:37:05,690 --> 00:37:08,550 I don't think the problems with you. I think the problems with the puppy mills. 435 00:37:08,550 --> 00:37:16,730 But they're not from puppy mills because you just someone just came up here and said a puppy mill is unconditioned, unvaccinated, unregistered. 436 00:37:16,850 --> 00:37:20,950 A puppy mill is a backyard breeder that does not follow any of the rules and regulations. 437 00:37:21,370 --> 00:37:24,770 If you want to say the rules and regulations are not strict enough, that's fine. 438 00:37:25,150 --> 00:37:28,670 In 1970, as someone liked to point out, they were not. 439 00:37:29,370 --> 00:37:30,630 The rules have come a long way. 440 00:37:30,670 --> 00:37:36,050 There's more rules now for us than anybody else out there with puppies, including a rescue. 441 00:37:36,850 --> 00:37:42,210 And you, one more question, you came without a shelter license, and I understand that I don't, 442 00:37:42,210 --> 00:37:44,410 I don't, I don't, I don't, wasn't required to have a shelter license. 443 00:37:44,870 --> 00:37:49,950 D.E.M. pet store thing, because their under that supervision means that I am okay to do it, 444 00:37:49,970 --> 00:37:51,330 and I don't need a boarding license, neither. 445 00:37:51,690 --> 00:37:55,390 So Ralph, does you need a shelter, a boarding license? 446 00:37:56,050 --> 00:38:00,610 So according to the town ordinance, we issued a notice of violation to the company because 447 00:38:00,610 --> 00:38:05,330 our, or the place where your establishment is, is not zone properly for the overnight 448 00:38:05,330 --> 00:38:07,150 states of the overnight state of pets. 449 00:38:07,650 --> 00:38:10,170 You have the opportunity to fight that. 450 00:38:10,730 --> 00:38:11,730 You can go to municipal court. 451 00:38:12,090 --> 00:38:13,150 If you don't like that decision, you're going to 452 00:38:13,150 --> 00:38:13,730 repeat the report. 453 00:38:13,850 --> 00:38:15,170 We're here to work along with that. 454 00:38:15,630 --> 00:38:18,090 But you were interested in noticing violation because 455 00:38:18,090 --> 00:38:20,910 if the town, when the town issued the license, 456 00:38:21,170 --> 00:38:24,750 it was not of the understanding that pets would be staying overnight. 457 00:38:24,850 --> 00:38:27,290 That's a whole different zone within the time of 458 00:38:27,290 --> 00:38:27,790 about the king's time. 459 00:38:27,870 --> 00:38:28,850 We don't prohibit it. 460 00:38:28,890 --> 00:38:29,290 You're just not the right kind of. 461 00:38:29,290 --> 00:38:31,990 Okay. Well, pets stay over and all pet stars overnight. 462 00:38:32,770 --> 00:38:48,250 And the second thing, the audience that you sent me says that they will win, that they have to not be without veterinary care, and under the DEM's Petsville license, we are under veterinary care, our vet is on call 24 hours a day, and she comes in all the time. 463 00:38:48,610 --> 00:39:00,810 So therefore we don't fall under that, which, that's a whole different argument, but trying to change the definition of Petstoas, after you told me it was okay, and I make this huge investment to build the store up. 464 00:39:00,810 --> 00:39:05,730 So that is not the just election and I don't mean to interrupt so that is not because there's two separate issues going on this evening 465 00:39:05,730 --> 00:39:09,910 And I want to respect both issues. Issue number one is the ordinance in question 466 00:39:09,910 --> 00:39:16,010 The ordinance in question would not apply to you because what because a town cannot 467 00:39:16,010 --> 00:39:22,970 Introduce a law that retroactively affects someone so for example if I had a duplex on my home and 468 00:39:23,330 --> 00:39:28,550 The town decided that I might my lot was zone single family. I can't knock down my duplex 469 00:39:28,550 --> 00:39:31,950 So we can't retroactively impose this ordinance on you. 470 00:39:32,150 --> 00:39:35,530 The ordinance aside, the town has determined 471 00:39:35,530 --> 00:39:38,150 after getting phone calls that your establishment, 472 00:39:38,550 --> 00:39:40,150 which your right was properly licensed, 473 00:39:40,450 --> 00:39:43,650 properly permitted, there was no qualms about that, 474 00:39:43,930 --> 00:39:46,590 that we were not aware that there was the overnight stay 475 00:39:46,590 --> 00:39:50,210 of dogs and cats in our ordinance prohibits it 476 00:39:50,210 --> 00:39:51,390 in that particular zone. 477 00:39:51,970 --> 00:39:55,530 You have every right to fight that to go to municipal court 478 00:39:55,530 --> 00:39:59,630 to say that the zone is not the way we're interpreting it. 479 00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:09,140 We can, we can, that you have the right to that argument in judicial system and we respect that, but we have the term that there is overnight stay and is not allowed in that area. 480 00:40:09,820 --> 00:40:13,280 Okay, but it's still not meeting the definition, but I don't think that's a separate problem. 481 00:40:13,920 --> 00:40:13,940 Yes. 482 00:40:13,940 --> 00:40:18,760 But the big problem is the town told me, you're okay, go ahead, make the investment. 483 00:40:19,720 --> 00:40:24,620 45 days later, oh, by the way, we're going to take away 50% of your income, you might as well close. 484 00:40:25,320 --> 00:40:29,380 My understanding, and I could be, and my understanding is that when the 485 00:40:29,380 --> 00:40:32,760 promoters was issued, the town was not aware that there would be overnight 486 00:40:32,760 --> 00:40:35,580 boarding that was a pet store. That's not true because I have 487 00:40:35,580 --> 00:40:38,480 specifically asked about the puppies in the sale of puppies. 488 00:40:38,580 --> 00:40:41,440 Well, I won't question that I wasn't there, so that I appreciate that. 489 00:40:41,440 --> 00:40:46,720 But again, it isn't there isn't an NOV there and it will take its course and we will work 490 00:40:46,720 --> 00:40:51,060 with you on that. That's fine. My attorney's still waiting to hear about it. Thank you. 491 00:40:51,640 --> 00:40:52,540 Thank you. 492 00:40:54,860 --> 00:41:05,620 Richard Lalo, and then I have some of the folks who could line up, Rapsurpa, Lucy, or Hanson, 493 00:41:05,620 --> 00:41:11,820 I think it is from Full Liberty Road, Angie, she and, Angie Sherman, 494 00:41:14,120 --> 00:41:15,880 and Karen Krasmowski. 495 00:41:18,270 --> 00:41:19,070 Thank you. 496 00:41:22,520 --> 00:41:30,500 Richard Lalo at 190 West Main Street, I don't think I can add too much, especially after the 497 00:41:30,500 --> 00:41:37,140 second speakers discussion of things. But there's a couple of things. The contract was established in 498 00:41:37,140 --> 00:41:46,180 24. Contract was voted on October 30, 2023. It was a one-year contract. I think I'm not sure when 499 00:41:46,180 --> 00:41:52,620 It started because I think there was a little construction of the cameras, stations themselves, 500 00:41:53,740 --> 00:41:58,300 but it was renewed as my understanding and that's what I know. 501 00:41:58,560 --> 00:42:00,380 It was renewed for another year. 502 00:42:01,620 --> 00:42:05,680 It did not go before the Council on it, the manager wants a comment on that. 503 00:42:05,800 --> 00:42:11,560 We would like to, so the Council approved the one-year contract, and I believe October of 504 00:42:11,560 --> 00:42:20,540 2023. The contract commenced on January 2025 when the first flight camera went life. It was 505 00:42:20,540 --> 00:42:25,560 a one-year contract through 2025 with an automatic one-year renewal, the contract expires 506 00:42:25,560 --> 00:42:30,820 in November of 2026. Okay. So we didn't know about the automatic renewal. That is correct. 507 00:42:31,240 --> 00:42:35,900 We didn't know. The council did not get about the automatic renewal. They approved the one-year 508 00:42:35,900 --> 00:42:41,960 contract within the contract, there was a one-year automatic renewal with respect to the 509 00:42:41,960 --> 00:42:48,240 council in the motion, it was just a one-year contract. So the council was not aware 510 00:42:48,240 --> 00:42:53,180 that was an automatic one-year renewal that falls on this administration. The council was not 511 00:42:53,180 --> 00:42:56,700 aware of that, so we take responsibility for that, not the council. 512 00:42:57,620 --> 00:43:03,460 Okay, I just wonder how that could be. I mean, so the motion was that we had a kind, a great 513 00:43:03,460 --> 00:43:06,020 question. I don't blame you because I had the same questions. 514 00:43:08,180 --> 00:43:10,140 The contract was for a one-year 515 00:43:10,140 --> 00:43:15,920 contract. Within the terms of the contract, there was a one-year renewal, automatic renewal. 516 00:43:16,440 --> 00:43:20,240 When we went for the council, we said there's a one-year contract. Never mentioned renewal. 517 00:43:20,800 --> 00:43:26,720 So the council was never aware of that. So there could be a legal argument that could be made 518 00:43:26,720 --> 00:43:31,260 that the council's motion was for a one-year contract. I spite that the fact that the contract 519 00:43:31,260 --> 00:43:34,420 I signed, called for one year in New York, so they'd be a legal argument for that. 520 00:43:34,560 --> 00:43:37,820 The council was not aware of that, they are not responsible for that. 521 00:43:38,000 --> 00:43:38,780 We are. 522 00:43:39,520 --> 00:43:39,580 Okay. 523 00:43:39,580 --> 00:43:40,600 I am. 524 00:43:41,800 --> 00:43:42,080 All right. 525 00:43:42,720 --> 00:43:49,960 So, what was signed was not read, but what was signed was not read properly and advised. 526 00:43:50,140 --> 00:43:50,320 Okay. 527 00:43:54,780 --> 00:43:58,220 I personally don't want to live in a surveillance state. 528 00:43:59,200 --> 00:44:00,160 I've done nothing wrong. 529 00:44:00,160 --> 00:44:01,320 I don't want to be followed. 530 00:44:03,700 --> 00:44:11,820 One of my concerns, there are many, but I'm only going to identify one, is the federal 531 00:44:12,720 --> 00:44:21,680 agencies like ICE using this data to basically terrorize the citizens of this country and 532 00:44:21,680 --> 00:44:24,220 that is something that I fear very deeply. 533 00:44:25,160 --> 00:44:29,180 And I don't know what provisions there are to prevent that. 534 00:44:29,180 --> 00:44:31,540 And if you know, please, please tell me. 535 00:44:31,720 --> 00:44:34,200 Yes, we do not share any data with any federal agencies. 536 00:44:34,760 --> 00:44:35,680 At the moment. 537 00:44:35,900 --> 00:44:36,120 Correct. 538 00:44:36,440 --> 00:44:37,580 I can only talk about the moment. 539 00:44:39,300 --> 00:44:40,480 And only half of work. 540 00:44:40,700 --> 00:44:44,280 Going forward, we have no intention of sharing any information 541 00:44:44,280 --> 00:44:45,220 with federal agencies. 542 00:44:45,980 --> 00:44:48,100 And how do we police that? 543 00:44:48,340 --> 00:44:51,480 By the fact that we're saying we're not going to share any 544 00:44:51,480 --> 00:44:52,660 information with federal agencies that we 545 00:44:52,660 --> 00:44:55,200 part of the policy within the Northeastern Police Department. 546 00:44:55,260 --> 00:44:57,520 Sir, I mean, if you get a bunch of questions or more 547 00:44:57,520 --> 00:44:59,960 I'm happy to answer that but I want to keep things moving along here. 548 00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:06,140 If I want to email them to us, more than happy to answer them. Okay. The general thing is who controls the data? 549 00:45:09,470 --> 00:45:09,590 Does 550 00:45:09,590 --> 00:45:17,690 do I think some police does flock control it? It is my understanding that it is controlled by the 551 00:45:17,690 --> 00:45:21,750 North King's Tump Police Department. That's what I think. And that the data disappears in 552 00:45:21,750 --> 00:45:26,390 30 days. Okay. Well, hold on everybody. Okay. That's why we're going to have the chief 553 00:45:26,390 --> 00:45:32,310 ask him and then you certainly can respond and we'll welcome your input. Okay? It's a legitimate 554 00:45:32,310 --> 00:45:36,770 question that the public needs should absolutely have an answer to. Okay? 555 00:45:40,100 --> 00:45:40,100 Okay. 556 00:45:40,700 --> 00:45:45,840 Serpo, is she going to testify? You're all set. Okay. Next is Lucy. 557 00:45:48,300 --> 00:45:49,360 I'm going to get back to the 558 00:45:49,360 --> 00:45:55,580 pet stores. My name is Lucy. Oh, and that's the end. I'm on for Liberty Road and Slowcome Road Island. 559 00:45:56,600 --> 00:46:00,400 And I have been involved in dog rescue for 34 years. 560 00:46:00,580 --> 00:46:04,860 The last 17 is a co-director of a regionally-based transport rescue. 561 00:46:05,280 --> 00:46:09,620 And additionally, for 40 years, have that close associations with those in the dog fancy. 562 00:46:10,280 --> 00:46:13,280 Which means those who show, compete with and breed their peer red dogs. 563 00:46:13,660 --> 00:46:17,000 These would be the breeders referred to as responsible breeders. 564 00:46:18,100 --> 00:46:20,460 My own personal dogs come from the dog fancy, 565 00:46:20,460 --> 00:46:26,080 And I only point this out to establish that I am not against purchasing a puppy versus rescuing one. 566 00:46:26,480 --> 00:46:31,480 I believe it is well-established that there are several credible manners by Wix to attain a dog. 567 00:46:32,020 --> 00:46:35,760 One of them, however, is not purchasing a puppy from a puppy store. 568 00:46:36,100 --> 00:46:37,980 And that will be my focus here today. 569 00:46:40,300 --> 00:46:46,840 Certainly with the national current as it is, it is simply unbecoming for town as progressive as North King's town, 570 00:46:46,840 --> 00:46:53,940 to be hosting something that represents an inhumane industry that is culturally speaking a sinking ship. 571 00:46:54,340 --> 00:46:59,200 To wet, if you enter into Google, should I get a puppy from a puppy store? 572 00:46:59,600 --> 00:47:02,640 The answer for May I is a categorical, no. 573 00:47:03,320 --> 00:47:07,600 Citing potential consumer risk regarding health and temperament and deceptive sourcing. 574 00:47:07,960 --> 00:47:09,300 This is not new information. 575 00:47:09,940 --> 00:47:15,400 Now disallowed in 10 states and countless jurisdictions, including six-year in Rhode Island. 576 00:47:18,540 --> 00:47:24,140 Puppy sales nationwide have decreased by nearly half from 900 to less than 500 in the 577 00:47:24,140 --> 00:47:25,280 last 10 years alone. 578 00:47:25,640 --> 00:47:32,560 Additionally, in 2025, according to Ava, which is the American Veterinary Medical Association 579 00:47:32,560 --> 00:47:35,260 per their pet ownership and democratic source book. 580 00:47:35,740 --> 00:47:40,580 30% of our dogs are obtained as re-homes, from relatives, friends, or the community. 581 00:47:40,580 --> 00:47:46,500 27% are from shelters or rescues and more than 19% are from private readers. 582 00:47:47,080 --> 00:47:51,180 This versus barely 9% from independent pet stores and 3% from chains. 583 00:47:51,640 --> 00:47:56,020 These are not numbers that need protecting in terms of consumers being a much smaller 584 00:47:56,020 --> 00:47:56,940 share of the market. 585 00:47:57,520 --> 00:48:03,260 Legacy stores, grandfathered in nationwide, who have established ordinances, regardless 586 00:48:03,260 --> 00:48:06,520 of often made the transition to no longer selling puppies. 587 00:48:06,520 --> 00:48:16,580 Indeed, our state's own rumored pets for many years the dominant puppy store change their model 13 years ago in advance of this shift 588 00:48:16,580 --> 00:48:24,700 but sensing the turning of the tide and has not only been applauded but well supported by the community for evolving in this way. 589 00:48:25,080 --> 00:48:34,740 Everyone wins when this happens. Indeed, my dog rescue was the first to support rumpered when they've changed their model by holding adoption events there. 590 00:48:34,740 --> 00:48:40,580 One of my favorite adoptions was to a woman named Stephanie, who had purchased a pecanese from 591 00:48:40,580 --> 00:48:42,380 named Senus, from Romford. 592 00:48:42,440 --> 00:48:48,120 She was hoping to find a playmate for him, and indeed adopted one of ours, Adam meet up at 593 00:48:48,120 --> 00:48:49,080 the very same store. 594 00:48:49,080 --> 00:48:52,080 She had purchased a puppy from only three years before. 595 00:48:52,420 --> 00:48:58,220 Happy ending to wait, to North Kangstown, have the sense to assist such transitions and become 596 00:48:58,220 --> 00:49:01,100 part of these more humane change in times. 597 00:49:01,520 --> 00:49:01,960 Thank you. 598 00:49:02,020 --> 00:49:02,620 Thank you. 599 00:49:05,240 --> 00:49:08,520 Do you want to speak? 600 00:49:15,130 --> 00:49:17,190 Good evening council members, especially 601 00:49:17,790 --> 00:49:20,270 town manager Malice and Greg Mancini. 602 00:49:20,890 --> 00:49:22,890 My name is representative Patricia Serp. 603 00:49:22,950 --> 00:49:25,530 I'm from District 27 in West Walk and 604 00:49:25,530 --> 00:49:28,870 Coventry and my address is one West Valley circle. 605 00:49:29,170 --> 00:49:31,850 So I hope you'll forgive me for coming from West 606 00:49:31,850 --> 00:49:32,110 World. 607 00:49:32,550 --> 00:49:35,510 But I was actually going to follow Angie because she 608 00:49:35,510 --> 00:49:38,690 kind of set the table for what I wanted to talk about tonight. 609 00:49:39,690 --> 00:49:53,650 About three or four years ago, I worked very closely with the U.S. Society of the United States and I was successful in submitting some legislation and get it passed for them. I got some awards from them. 610 00:49:54,130 --> 00:49:59,910 After about two or three years of my being successful, they approached me and asked me if I would submit some legislation. 611 00:50:00,000 --> 00:50:15,460 To ban the retail sales of pumps and cats in the state. I knew it was a bit of an overreach and I said, well, maybe we should start small and they said, no, you stop big and then go down if you have to. 612 00:50:15,940 --> 00:50:24,260 So, without further ado, naturally I was unsuccessful. I could not ban the retail sale of pets in the entire state. 613 00:50:24,260 --> 00:50:30,640 state, but activists heard about the work that I was doing, but it's a very close network. 614 00:50:31,820 --> 00:50:36,880 And mostly women, I'm sorry to say, if dogs are a man's best friend, I wanted to wear 615 00:50:36,880 --> 00:50:39,300 all the men wear, because they were nowhere to be seen. 616 00:50:39,760 --> 00:50:46,520 But it was mostly women, and I submitted the legislation in January, and legislation is always 617 00:50:46,520 --> 00:50:47,500 heard right away. 618 00:50:47,940 --> 00:50:54,140 So these women decided to go out to all areas of the state of Rhode Island, all areas all 619 00:50:54,140 --> 00:51:00,040 accounts, and they took a couple of months to do it, and they got signatures from all over 620 00:51:00,040 --> 00:51:08,460 the state of people who supported banning the retail sale of bets in the state. Period. 621 00:51:08,700 --> 00:51:14,880 They got them from wickfid, they got them from, you name it, they were there. In fact, the day 622 00:51:14,880 --> 00:51:21,340 of the hearing, we delivered the cartons of boxes on a dolly. Helped from the state had 623 00:51:21,340 --> 00:51:26,780 state house, they had to come and deliver the contents of signatures on a dialie to show 624 00:51:26,780 --> 00:51:32,300 the committee. So long story short and it is a long story. I worked very closely with the 625 00:51:32,300 --> 00:51:40,700 humane society and after a while I had to stop looking at their undercover videos and their undercover 626 00:51:40,700 --> 00:51:48,680 pictures. I really had to stop looking. They were making me sick to my stomach. But I went forward 627 00:51:48,680 --> 00:51:53,180 with the legislation two or three years, and Angie's going to set the table. 628 00:51:53,620 --> 00:51:59,660 These puppy meals, I was surprised to learn, run mostly by the Irish people in states like 629 00:51:59,660 --> 00:52:05,460 in Nebraska, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and that was a surprise for me because I considered 630 00:52:05,460 --> 00:52:08,360 those people like as close to heaven as you can get. 631 00:52:08,780 --> 00:52:15,900 I learned that animals to them are simply beasts of burden meant for our purpose and our 632 00:52:15,900 --> 00:52:21,960 convenience. They have no little and no respect for animals. I'm trying to talk really fast. 633 00:52:22,660 --> 00:52:28,680 Little are no respect for animals. They breed these animals dogs especially, 634 00:52:28,880 --> 00:52:35,340 indiscriminately, indiscriminately. They breed mothers with sons. They breed fathers with 635 00:52:35,340 --> 00:52:43,780 the daughters. So you can imagine that the puppies in utero are being formed defective. 636 00:52:43,780 --> 00:52:51,440 And I'll tell you another story, one of our best witnesses came from Ocean State that in East 637 00:52:51,440 --> 00:53:00,200 Greenwich, and she, when she saw all of the dogs coming in from retail pet stores into 638 00:53:00,200 --> 00:53:09,140 that practice, she actually started a folder called the Imperfect Pops, and that's all 639 00:53:09,140 --> 00:53:10,500 I'll say about that. 640 00:53:10,500 --> 00:53:12,780 I just asked you to wrap it up, okay? 641 00:53:12,940 --> 00:53:14,100 Okay, the imperfect pups. 642 00:53:14,500 --> 00:53:17,820 She said that she was trying to take care of these animals. 643 00:53:18,240 --> 00:53:20,080 They were three, four, five months old. 644 00:53:20,160 --> 00:53:24,160 Families had spent literally thousands of dollars on these pups. 645 00:53:24,280 --> 00:53:25,480 They already loved them. 646 00:53:25,640 --> 00:53:27,100 They had cardiac problems. 647 00:53:27,220 --> 00:53:30,740 They had liver problems, major organ failure. 648 00:53:31,100 --> 00:53:35,060 She said, way too often, I had to tell the parents and the families 649 00:53:35,060 --> 00:53:38,760 that the most remaining thing to do was to put them down. 650 00:53:38,760 --> 00:53:41,140 She said, so you can imagine how they met. 651 00:53:41,600 --> 00:53:43,880 So bringing it back to home and I'll wrap it up right here. 652 00:53:44,460 --> 00:53:46,820 I had to ratchet it down quite a bit. 653 00:53:46,960 --> 00:53:50,560 I was successful with the help of the advice of the amensis. 654 00:53:51,140 --> 00:53:53,480 I, in ratcheting it down to the town of Westward, 655 00:53:53,900 --> 00:53:56,200 there are two pet stores in the town of Westward. 656 00:53:56,640 --> 00:54:00,940 But by ordinance, if and when these two pet stores go out of this, 657 00:54:01,200 --> 00:54:05,980 there can be no further retail sale of pets in the town of Westward. 658 00:54:06,260 --> 00:54:07,920 And this is the last thing I'll say. 659 00:54:07,920 --> 00:54:12,160 And I was told that the only reason why the town didn't 660 00:54:12,160 --> 00:54:15,160 ban them all together, you said that that you can't, 661 00:54:15,160 --> 00:54:17,960 I think, tell me in it, tomorrow's, you can't retroactively 662 00:54:17,960 --> 00:54:22,020 throw them out, but not only by ordinance, but you can 663 00:54:22,020 --> 00:54:26,660 ban them period. So you can't throw them out, but you can't 664 00:54:26,660 --> 00:54:30,240 ban them. Not only banning the sale of puppies and cats, 665 00:54:30,660 --> 00:54:34,720 you can ban them. Oh, I guess that's what we're still, yeah, 666 00:54:34,720 --> 00:54:38,940 you can ban it further. So, if and when these two stores go out of business, 667 00:54:39,200 --> 00:54:44,280 still need more retail sales, if pets in Westworld, then I hope that's the case with North Kingston. 668 00:54:44,660 --> 00:54:47,260 And thank you for indulging me. I appreciate it. Thank you, Rob. 669 00:54:53,660 --> 00:54:57,140 You can see why Westworld is represented so well. 670 00:54:58,620 --> 00:54:59,500 Angie, she had. 671 00:55:06,670 --> 00:55:17,710 Hi, Angie, she in 35 five minute cabin room. I was never getting in the easier for me to get in up here. It goes against everything in my soul coming up in public speaking in front of everybody's own. 672 00:55:18,710 --> 00:55:24,670 I am here though. I'm reading from a support letter that has been endorsed by vets, rumors, trainers, you name it. 673 00:55:25,690 --> 00:55:30,870 And that we're in favor of an ordinance prohibiting the sale of retail, puppies and kittens here in North Kingston. 674 00:55:32,370 --> 00:55:37,090 There are hundreds of municipalities and several states, including Maine and Vermont, close 675 00:55:37,090 --> 00:55:43,670 to us, that have similar ordinances, response to well-documented concerns about how animals 676 00:55:43,670 --> 00:55:48,470 are sold and pet stores, how they're sourced. 677 00:55:49,190 --> 00:55:59,790 Pets are frequently connected to large-scale animal facilities called puppy mills, and the 678 00:55:59,790 --> 00:56:03,010 documentation depends on who you're talking to, ASPCA, 679 00:56:03,370 --> 00:56:06,270 our humane world, which is actually used to be 680 00:56:06,270 --> 00:56:08,070 the humane society of the United States, 681 00:56:08,190 --> 00:56:10,090 is now called the humane world. 682 00:56:10,510 --> 00:56:13,050 It's about 90% of pet store puppies in America 683 00:56:13,050 --> 00:56:14,390 come from puppy mills. 684 00:56:15,110 --> 00:56:21,230 So they do come from the Midwest, and it can be a trotis. 685 00:56:21,450 --> 00:56:24,570 They're environment that they're growing up in. 686 00:56:24,570 --> 00:56:28,710 that can lead to health issues. 687 00:56:30,870 --> 00:56:37,290 They have listed a lot of parasites and diseases 688 00:56:37,290 --> 00:56:40,030 that they have because of those conditions. 689 00:56:40,450 --> 00:56:42,710 That can also lead to surrendering your animals. 690 00:56:44,630 --> 00:56:47,030 The parents are the owners, they're heartbroken now. 691 00:56:48,530 --> 00:56:50,650 They've spent a lot of money on the puppy at the pet store. 692 00:56:50,650 --> 00:56:56,750 now there's been a lot of money at the vet and now they have might have to make that decision. 693 00:56:59,050 --> 00:57:05,760 Furthermore, there are two studies that not only do the puppies that come out of the puppy mills 694 00:57:07,410 --> 00:57:12,830 have illnesses but they also have behavioral issues. So one of the studies is from the American 695 00:57:12,830 --> 00:57:18,350 Veterinary Medical Association, finding that dogs purchase puppies as puppies from pet stores 696 00:57:18,350 --> 00:57:24,630 have significantly higher rates of adult problems, like aggression, fear, separation-related issues. 697 00:57:27,030 --> 00:57:30,490 Because of how they begin their lives, in a co-opinist, noise of hundreds of stress, 698 00:57:30,670 --> 00:57:35,350 barking dogs, cages stacked on top of each other sometimes. 699 00:57:37,970 --> 00:57:38,930 And then they travel across the 700 00:57:38,930 --> 00:57:48,330 country to end up in a lonely pet store. And that extra stress can cause dogs to stay in fight or 701 00:57:49,470 --> 00:57:51,910 cause a family to maybe have to give up their dog. 702 00:57:54,280 --> 00:57:58,540 So we would be joining a Providence East Providence, 703 00:57:58,720 --> 00:58:00,140 Woolwick, West Woolwick, Smithfield, 704 00:58:00,460 --> 00:58:01,900 situate, center falls. 705 00:58:03,920 --> 00:58:06,680 When's that, so we just urge the council 706 00:58:06,680 --> 00:58:08,120 to do what's right for animal welfare. 707 00:58:08,700 --> 00:58:10,700 For the constituents, there's so many of us 708 00:58:10,700 --> 00:58:14,080 that do not want this in our town for purchasers 709 00:58:14,540 --> 00:58:17,640 because it could be a long hard road for them. 710 00:58:17,640 --> 00:58:22,180 And they've also perhaps gotten instant credit right in the store to purchase their puppy 711 00:58:22,680 --> 00:58:23,160 impulsively. 712 00:58:24,700 --> 00:58:30,460 And then we would like the pet store to instead host shelter events instead of selling puppies 713 00:58:30,460 --> 00:58:32,740 from puppy mills. 714 00:58:33,080 --> 00:58:38,720 We would, I don't know why you would want to do that after all the public pushed back. 715 00:58:39,520 --> 00:58:42,920 So in regards to the ordinance from, isn't there an ease providence case, 716 00:58:47,400 --> 00:58:47,620 I mean there 717 00:58:47,620 --> 00:58:50,580 I would urge the council to look into that. 718 00:58:50,960 --> 00:58:53,160 And then I brought with me tonight a binder for everyone 719 00:58:53,160 --> 00:58:55,060 on the council and inside the binder. 720 00:58:55,840 --> 00:58:57,280 Just why an ordinance matters? 721 00:58:57,420 --> 00:58:59,440 Some definitions and descriptions of puppy mills 722 00:58:59,440 --> 00:59:02,000 in USDA, which are horrific. 723 00:59:02,200 --> 00:59:03,600 They are survival standards. 724 00:59:04,660 --> 00:59:06,760 And the animal welfare act same. 725 00:59:07,200 --> 00:59:10,840 They are USDA is enforcing the animal welfare act. 726 00:59:11,040 --> 00:59:12,700 So you'll find that information in here. 727 00:59:14,120 --> 00:59:15,660 There's an information on the puppy mill 728 00:59:15,660 --> 00:59:16,740 in the pet store connection. 729 00:59:16,740 --> 00:59:33,280 But there's also trends about how source can transition to just selling, you know, pet supplies, fish, things of that nature, and then there's also more specific information to fish full. 730 00:59:33,280 --> 00:59:37,480 So why don't you give them to Sergeant of Arms and help get them to us? 731 00:59:37,740 --> 00:59:39,080 Okay. Sure, that'd be great, but just one more thing. 732 00:59:39,380 --> 00:59:49,440 In this one, you do get this. There are direct, direct, I get from my work to connecting the 733 00:59:49,440 --> 00:59:52,200 We'll be back with Papi Mills. 734 00:59:54,480 --> 00:59:55,960 Really? Thank you. 735 01:00:00,560 --> 01:00:02,100 Go lift Nancy Sherman. 736 01:00:09,180 --> 01:00:20,580 Then after Karen we have John Wagner, Doug Conrad, George Rivera, Jean, Halverson, Dawn, Taylor, Church. 737 01:00:20,860 --> 01:00:24,900 We'll go from there. figured light up on the back wall. Thank you. 738 01:00:25,720 --> 01:00:28,480 Okay . Nancy White Sherman, it lived at 64th St. 739 01:00:28,860 --> 01:00:32,880 and I'm very appreciative of all the speakers tonight... 740 01:00:32,880 --> 01:00:39,380 about the fall cameras. I'm totally in favor of suspension for the study and possible termination. 741 01:00:40,100 --> 01:00:46,140 And I'm impressed. I'm impressed by the population of North King's sound. They're so smart. 742 01:00:47,260 --> 01:00:55,180 And anyways, I just have a pet peeve regarding school speeds. In Warwick, the school 743 01:00:55,180 --> 01:01:01,620 speedzone is 25. And then I feel it's inconsistent in North 744 01:01:01,620 --> 01:01:02,060 Kingston. 745 01:01:04,520 --> 01:01:09,580 One A, for North Kingston High School, it's 25, on 746 01:01:09,580 --> 01:01:15,160 fairway it's 20, on Hamilton going south, it says 25, then 747 01:01:15,160 --> 01:01:19,700 Stony Lane is 20. So at any rate, I just, I think it would be 748 01:01:19,700 --> 01:01:24,220 nice if everybody had the same school's speedzone, maybe 25, 749 01:01:24,220 --> 01:01:28,900 or we didn't have this conflicting speed limit signs. 750 01:01:29,420 --> 01:01:32,680 Can we have the traffic control folks, look at that, Ralph? 751 01:01:33,740 --> 01:01:34,080 We can. 752 01:01:34,200 --> 01:01:37,020 The issue was the two 25 mile prize zones 753 01:01:37,020 --> 01:01:38,640 that you mentioned there on state roads. 754 01:01:39,760 --> 01:01:40,980 The 20 mile prize zones are on top. 755 01:01:40,980 --> 01:01:41,760 Oh, okay. 756 01:01:42,000 --> 01:01:44,900 So we could go up to 25, but we couldn't go down the 20. 757 01:01:45,020 --> 01:01:45,300 Correct. 758 01:01:45,720 --> 01:01:48,720 And I don't believe the 25 mile prize zones 759 01:01:48,720 --> 01:01:50,780 that could be incorrect on this, but I think I'm right. 760 01:01:50,780 --> 01:01:53,720 The 25 mile prize ones do not have speed cameras. 761 01:01:54,960 --> 01:01:56,020 It's on the local roads. 762 01:01:56,980 --> 01:02:01,940 Where I've gotten my two tickets is on 117, 117 in 763 01:02:01,940 --> 01:02:02,640 Warwick. 764 01:02:03,040 --> 01:02:03,660 And that's 25. 765 01:02:04,220 --> 01:02:06,720 But in North Kingston, on it's my understanding that our 766 01:02:06,720 --> 01:02:10,160 speed cameras are on fairway, school street, 767 01:02:10,440 --> 01:02:11,140 in Stony Lane. 768 01:02:11,400 --> 01:02:11,620 Okay. 769 01:02:13,160 --> 01:02:14,600 Not on the street that you mentioned. 770 01:02:15,840 --> 01:02:16,040 Okay. 771 01:02:19,080 --> 01:02:20,400 Next week, Karen, excuse me. 772 01:02:26,200 --> 01:02:26,720 Good evening. 773 01:02:27,420 --> 01:02:28,000 Karen's enough. 774 01:02:28,180 --> 01:02:28,920 Excuse me, excuse me. 775 01:02:29,060 --> 01:02:29,460 22. 776 01:02:29,460 --> 01:02:30,200 I'm sorry. 777 01:02:31,780 --> 01:02:33,500 I'm just wondering about that. 778 01:02:33,780 --> 01:02:33,880 Yeah. 779 01:02:34,780 --> 01:02:35,280 Sorry about that. 780 01:02:38,060 --> 01:02:40,460 So I have a pet peeve actually with a pet store. 781 01:02:41,340 --> 01:02:44,040 Not to self-supplies, but to self-pets. 782 01:02:44,580 --> 01:02:47,160 And I'm here to, I'm not going to be redundant. 783 01:02:47,780 --> 01:02:50,780 But I want to talk about maybe the local cost of what that would be. 784 01:02:50,780 --> 01:02:57,020 I've lived over in a clinic island and I have a 20-year relationship with the Potter League of Animals, 785 01:02:57,180 --> 01:03:03,180 helping to train and re-home pets and it costs a lot of money, a lot of volunteers, 786 01:03:03,680 --> 01:03:07,880 a lot of different volunteers doing a lot of hours with these pets and they're not easy to 787 01:03:07,880 --> 01:03:11,900 re-home if they have aggression issues and health issues. 788 01:03:14,060 --> 01:03:17,620 So I support the having this ordinance 789 01:03:17,620 --> 01:03:24,400 and having it not grandfather in a store that's already in motion selling these pets. 790 01:03:24,540 --> 01:03:30,680 I think it's really important that we be clear that there's no sale of pets. 791 01:03:32,360 --> 01:03:34,100 It might be a challenge, but it's been done. 792 01:03:34,240 --> 01:03:42,000 500 towns nationwide have been through this, and they have stopped the sale of pets. 793 01:03:42,000 --> 01:03:43,840 So can be done. 794 01:03:43,840 --> 01:03:46,320 I got that from chatGVT. 795 01:03:46,320 --> 01:03:47,760 Yeah, that's good in my hope. 796 01:03:47,920 --> 01:03:50,860 I'm going to get whatever it is from our town solicitor though. 797 01:03:51,320 --> 01:03:53,060 OK, I'm just saying it can be done. 798 01:03:53,240 --> 01:03:57,200 It takes a fight and it takes you helping us be a voice. 799 01:03:59,420 --> 01:04:03,420 So peer-reviewed study published in the journal 800 01:04:03,420 --> 01:04:05,720 of American Veterinary Medical Association 801 01:04:05,720 --> 01:04:08,120 found that dog purchased from pet stores 802 01:04:08,120 --> 01:04:12,580 had significantly higher rates of aggression, 803 01:04:13,860 --> 01:04:20,860 general fear, house, soiling, and separation anxiety compared to dogs from responsible breeders. 804 01:04:21,240 --> 01:04:25,080 Those are exactly the behaviors that lead owners to give up a pet. 805 01:04:25,780 --> 01:04:33,260 It's not just behavior, veterinary research confirms that the incidence of K-9 power of virus 806 01:04:33,860 --> 01:04:42,400 is severe, often fatal disease, specifically higher in pet stores and breeding canals than in general dog population. 807 01:04:42,400 --> 01:04:51,480 Other illnesses common to pet sore puppies include zumotic diseases which can spread to other pets and humans. 808 01:04:52,000 --> 01:04:59,540 Buyers are often faced with enormous vet bills, especially if they're unable to pay, especially if they financed. 809 01:05:00,000 --> 01:05:20,820 At the Puppy Store, a puppy may seem healthy for months, only to develop symptoms, a serious disease is later on, and these health problems are often the result of unsfinitary condition, insufficient veterinary care and poor breeding that may lead to owners needing to surrender their dog. 810 01:05:20,820 --> 01:05:24,020 When this happens, in NK, it will cost taxpayers. 811 01:05:24,680 --> 01:05:29,100 Town employees are the ones responsible for those calls and taking those animals. 812 01:05:29,720 --> 01:05:34,920 And our local shelter run by the North King's town, animal shelter, support foundation, 813 01:05:35,840 --> 01:05:42,040 absorbs the cost of caring for them, vaccination, housing, staff time, and medical care. 814 01:05:42,040 --> 01:05:46,440 The foundation is a small nonprofit operating 815 01:05:46,440 --> 01:05:50,180 on less than $50,000 a year, 816 01:05:50,480 --> 01:05:53,720 so even a handful of surrendered animals 817 01:05:53,720 --> 01:05:56,120 can eat up a real share of that budget. 818 01:05:56,600 --> 01:05:58,560 Nationally, he made societies report 819 01:05:58,560 --> 01:06:02,160 that preparing a single surrendered animal for adoption 820 01:06:02,740 --> 01:06:05,000 can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars 821 01:06:05,000 --> 01:06:06,080 to over a thousand. 822 01:06:07,680 --> 01:06:11,320 So Puppy sold a frequently impulse purchases 823 01:06:11,320 --> 01:06:19,900 is because you can finance on the spot and the pet store here in question, openly, 824 01:06:21,080 --> 01:06:28,200 advertisers puppy financing with approvals up to $5,000 and a text to apply option, people 825 01:06:28,200 --> 01:06:35,200 can use right there in the store and that's the same credit infrastructure used to sell furniture 826 01:06:35,960 --> 01:06:36,920 or cars. 827 01:06:39,200 --> 01:06:50,700 And that's to get you to say yes on the spot rather than go home and think it over and that's not how responsible pet ownership starts and it shows out in the it shows up in the outcome of surrendering pets. 828 01:06:51,100 --> 01:06:56,860 So I'm asking the council to pass an ordinance right away and no grandfather clause for the pet. 829 01:06:56,860 --> 01:07:03,220 store currently operating here, and the little fellow loophole allowing store, stores to partner 830 01:07:03,220 --> 01:07:09,860 with fake rescues to keep doing the same thing under a different name. 831 01:07:10,680 --> 01:07:11,060 Thank you. 832 01:07:11,260 --> 01:07:12,640 Thank you. 833 01:07:12,820 --> 01:07:13,960 Mr. John Wagner. 834 01:07:19,280 --> 01:07:19,420 Hello. 835 01:07:19,660 --> 01:07:20,920 I'm John Wagner. 836 01:07:21,160 --> 01:07:23,560 I live at 180 West Main Street. 837 01:07:25,280 --> 01:07:41,060 I'm here also to voice my opinion on the vlog camera and say that I am for the immediate discontinued use of them in North King's town. 838 01:07:42,140 --> 01:07:46,460 I am thankful of the second speaker. 839 01:07:48,740 --> 01:07:54,700 He put it very, very eloquently, more so than I could. 840 01:07:55,020 --> 01:08:13,320 But I do want to add my voice to his, I am a software engineer by trade, and I listened carefully to what he had to say, and I did not hear anything that was incorrect about what he had to say, 841 01:08:13,320 --> 01:08:24,100 or overblown or sensational. In fact, I think it was a very level-headed and sober opinion on the matter. 842 01:08:26,000 --> 01:08:36,750 And I also wanted to add that with these internet of things devices, historically, 843 01:08:36,750 --> 01:08:49,270 they are notorious for having glaring security holes and are easily hackable to the point 844 01:08:49,270 --> 01:08:58,350 where I don't even trust my own devices. I keep them segregated from all of my other devices 845 01:08:58,350 --> 01:09:00,650 computers in my own network. 846 01:09:03,570 --> 01:09:08,010 So, these devices that are manufactured by a for-profit company, 847 01:09:08,590 --> 01:09:14,490 I definitely do not trust them to be secure or for them to have security in mind. 848 01:09:17,770 --> 01:09:20,530 Yeah, and that is all. Thank you, Jeff. 849 01:09:25,120 --> 01:09:25,900 Don't comment. 850 01:09:25,900 --> 01:09:25,980 Good 851 01:09:29,090 --> 01:09:38,330 evening. Thank you. So, this Conrad 13 wins your avenue, the reverberate of new 852 01:09:38,330 --> 01:09:51,620 women. I consider it. This is more philosophical. It's about the technology. I'm 87, but I don't 853 01:09:51,620 --> 01:09:53,280 be around that much longer. 854 01:09:55,580 --> 01:09:59,800 But my sons and grandsons will be around another 45. 855 01:10:02,080 --> 01:10:11,380 And anything dealing with the word surveillance, like a camera, frightens the hell out of me. 856 01:10:12,060 --> 01:10:23,320 Because you have a certain technology now, but this technology is going to be improved, and then it's going to spread different ways. 857 01:10:23,320 --> 01:10:34,700 And AI is going to get involved and who knows, before you know it, this country may be like China, 858 01:10:35,900 --> 01:10:40,920 which has, I understand, millions of cameras to control their population. 859 01:10:41,920 --> 01:10:48,080 And do we really want to control our population like an authoritarian government? 860 01:10:50,940 --> 01:11:02,120 So that's my question. Do you really want to have a authoritarian surveillance state in this country? 861 01:11:03,040 --> 01:11:04,040 Thank you. 862 01:11:04,440 --> 01:11:05,140 Thank you. 863 01:11:10,080 --> 01:11:11,040 George Rivera. 864 01:11:14,300 --> 01:11:19,660 Hey, thank you, Mr. Rivera. Jean Havelson. And after Jean, we're going to have 865 01:11:19,660 --> 01:11:28,360 Doran Taylor, William Tweetie, Alyssa Napp, Nateine Swanson, Ted Shean. 866 01:11:30,550 --> 01:11:31,270 Those folks could 867 01:11:31,270 --> 01:11:37,890 line up on the wall. We can move them. Be a long and appreciate it. Thank you. Good evening. 868 01:11:38,430 --> 01:11:43,470 I'm speaking about the pet stores too. I will not be redundant and the people who 869 01:11:43,470 --> 01:11:46,410 spoke before me, we're very articulate and covered a lot of points. 870 01:11:46,410 --> 01:11:47,930 They certainly say me name an address. 871 01:11:48,090 --> 01:11:54,390 I'm sorry, Gene, how have we since seven wins are I have worked with rescues and 872 01:11:54,390 --> 01:12:00,930 four rescues for over 40 years and one thing that I think I can bring home is we're not condemning 873 01:12:00,930 --> 01:12:06,130 all pet stores and if you check, when I was talking to other people, they said, well, this one 874 01:12:06,130 --> 01:12:13,310 has dogs and this one does and they didn't realize that rescues and shelters provide adoption events 875 01:12:13,470 --> 01:12:20,170 at the other pet stores and somehow some way these stores are not selling them, they're 876 01:12:20,170 --> 01:12:24,770 sponsoring the rescue animals, and they're making a profit and they're a successful 877 01:12:24,770 --> 01:12:30,170 business people. So my thought is if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the 878 01:12:30,170 --> 01:12:34,930 problem and I hope that North King's Sound will pass ordinances that will show you that 879 01:12:34,930 --> 01:12:37,750 you are part of the solution. Thank you. 880 01:12:40,520 --> 01:12:41,240 Do you want 881 01:12:53,140 --> 01:12:54,780 me to hold them up? 882 01:12:55,700 --> 01:12:55,880 Yeah. 883 01:12:56,300 --> 01:12:56,480 Would you? 884 01:12:57,380 --> 01:12:59,020 Or maybe just put something here? 885 01:12:59,300 --> 01:13:00,580 It's a wake up so that they don't. 886 01:13:01,000 --> 01:13:02,760 What do you think? 887 01:13:02,760 --> 01:13:04,540 Do you think that's the best? 888 01:13:08,500 --> 01:13:10,860 John Taylor Church for Liberty Road. 889 01:13:11,600 --> 01:13:16,100 I'd like to thank the Council for hearing the concerns of the citizens in regards to the puppy 890 01:13:16,100 --> 01:13:21,600 store and considering an ordinance to prohibit the retail sales of puppies and kittens in our town. 891 01:13:21,600 --> 01:13:25,500 What I want to say is that puppies are not products. 892 01:13:26,360 --> 01:13:32,980 They are living sentient beings, and not only that, most of us consider our dogs as part of our families these days. 893 01:13:33,900 --> 01:13:39,460 So it's appropriate when talking about the procurement of these new family members to consider more than just the simple economics, 894 01:13:39,660 --> 01:13:45,020 but also the humane issues, the ethical issues, and what will affect the hearts of the families involved. 895 01:13:45,880 --> 01:13:52,300 Personally, I've been working in the animal welfare field either as a volunteer or professionally for my entire adult life. 896 01:13:52,580 --> 01:13:53,580 That's a long time. 897 01:13:54,540 --> 01:13:58,320 I'd like to take a moment to speak for the shelter dogs if I could. 898 01:13:58,960 --> 01:14:06,460 I don't know if any of you in the Council can remember or where we are of how bad things used to be for shelter dogs back in the seven days or so. 899 01:14:07,380 --> 01:14:11,700 But at that time, we were utilizing about 15 million dogs every year in the US. 900 01:14:11,700 --> 01:14:17,600 that number has declined incredibly down to about 1 million per year. At the same time, the number of 901 01:14:17,600 --> 01:14:24,660 puppies sold in pet stores across the country has also declined dramatically. That is not coincidence. 902 01:14:25,880 --> 01:14:31,740 This humane progress has largely been made by changing mindsets and asking people to think about 903 01:14:31,740 --> 01:14:37,520 dog adoption as their first option. And while this trend has been so positive, we still could do 904 01:14:37,520 --> 01:14:41,300 as a culture and also we have to be careful not to go backwards. 905 01:14:43,780 --> 01:14:44,520 These days I 906 01:14:44,520 --> 01:14:48,460 co-direct a very small scale foster-based dog rescue called self-paused and 907 01:14:48,460 --> 01:14:52,340 lately we've been focusing our efforts on helping dogs and shelters in Texas. 908 01:14:54,520 --> 01:14:59,760 This, this Hill Ross has a photo of a sweet mom and dog that the shelter 909 01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:11,300 The volunteers had named Serena in her 13 babies. They all were used in aised at the Barclay City Shelter in Houston, Texas on July 20, 20, 26. 910 01:15:12,100 --> 01:15:19,380 Because placement could not be found for them. You see, shelters are still overcrowded, and take as relentless, rescues are fall, overcapacity, 911 01:15:19,380 --> 01:15:26,520 The clusters are full over capacity and not enough dog adoptions are happening and so dogs are still buying and shelters every day. 912 01:15:26,720 --> 01:15:30,340 Perfectly nice dogs perfectly healthy dogs even puppies. 913 01:15:31,800 --> 01:15:36,020 The crux of the problem is that there's still are too many dogs and not enough homes for them all. 914 01:15:36,300 --> 01:15:43,600 And the worst thing that could happen to exacerbate that problem is to have puppies continuously and discriminately bred at large scale commercial canals 915 01:15:43,600 --> 01:15:48,680 to be shipped across several states and end up being sold at a storefront to any impulse 916 01:15:48,680 --> 01:15:55,260 buyer with a credit card. The point is that whenever one puppy is sold in a retail store, 917 01:15:56,020 --> 01:16:02,240 two really sad things happen. One is that a puppy like Serena's does not get a home. 918 01:16:05,260 --> 01:16:10,660 And the other is that a mom dog in a cage in a puppy mill is forced to have another puppy, 919 01:16:10,660 --> 01:16:15,720 Another litter to replace that inventory that should never be called that. 920 01:16:16,500 --> 01:16:21,580 The mom dog will suffer her whole life in notoriously exploitative and neglectful conditions 921 01:16:21,580 --> 01:16:26,580 and all of this is only for the sake of money and greed of everybody involved in that model of business. 922 01:16:27,600 --> 01:16:33,840 There is no reason to allow that puppy mill to pet store pipeline to continue that cycle here in our town. 923 01:16:33,840 --> 01:16:37,500 And if you agree that this is an ethical issue at its foundation, 924 01:16:38,740 --> 01:16:43,080 then you also understand that there can be no loopholes, no grandfathers, no exceptions. 925 01:16:43,600 --> 01:16:44,780 Thank you for your courage. 926 01:16:46,640 --> 01:16:46,780 Okay. 927 01:16:50,880 --> 01:16:51,920 William Tweetie, please. 928 01:16:57,440 --> 01:17:00,940 My name is William Tweetie, 426 Washington Street and Coventry. 929 01:17:02,260 --> 01:17:03,560 Good evening members of the council. 930 01:17:04,160 --> 01:17:05,340 Mayor, manager Mollis. 931 01:17:07,180 --> 01:17:11,000 I am the owner and trainer at 4POSK and I training LLC along with my wife Donna. 932 01:17:11,000 --> 01:17:19,700 I've spent 19 years working professionally with thousands of dogs, more importantly with numerous families who have dealt with the consequences when a puppy gets a bad start in life. 933 01:17:20,600 --> 01:17:26,020 I'm here to tonight to ask the council to take a serious look at retail store puppies, especially if one here in North Kingston with a fishball. 934 01:17:26,380 --> 01:17:33,240 This is simply not a question of where someone chooses to buy a dog, it's an issue of animal welfare, consumer protection, public health and responsible breeding. 935 01:17:33,720 --> 01:17:39,240 Where pet store puppies come from, they're sold to retail stores, organizations, large commercial 936 01:17:39,240 --> 01:17:43,380 breeding operations such as the store owner said, but the A.K.A. puppy mills that passed 937 01:17:43,380 --> 01:17:45,200 who brokers before even reaching the store. 938 01:17:45,860 --> 01:17:50,240 This means the buyer often never meets the breeder, never meets a mother, the father, never 939 01:17:50,240 --> 01:17:52,340 sees conditions a puppy was born into. 940 01:17:53,100 --> 01:17:55,740 They see only an adorable puppy behind glass or a cage. 941 01:17:56,320 --> 01:18:00,240 What comes home with that puppy often does not become apparent for days, even weeks. 942 01:18:00,240 --> 01:18:05,600 We routinely see puppies affected with geodia intestinal parasites, respiratory infections, 943 01:18:05,840 --> 01:18:09,760 poverty virus, distemper and other preventable infectious diseases. 944 01:18:11,180 --> 01:18:15,780 The American Veterinary Medical Association notes canine poverty virus, can mortality rate 945 01:18:15,780 --> 01:18:19,560 can exceed 90% in puppies, particularly in high risk environments. 946 01:18:20,560 --> 01:18:25,860 The ASPCA is documented on large-scale commercial breeding environments, puppy mills, 947 01:18:25,860 --> 01:18:30,980 Well, it's an overcrowding limited veterinary, veterinary oversight, an increased risk of disease 948 01:18:30,980 --> 01:18:32,660 and congenital health issues. 949 01:18:33,680 --> 01:18:38,980 The first week of a puppy's life, a critical for development, puppies need proper maternal, 950 01:18:39,380 --> 01:18:44,000 litermate interaction, early socialization, exposure to normal household environments. 951 01:18:44,180 --> 01:18:48,080 From puppies of bread at high commercial facilities, separated early, transport and long 952 01:18:48,080 --> 01:18:50,100 distances placed in retail establishments. 953 01:18:50,360 --> 01:18:55,200 We see increased risk of fear, anxiety, post socialization, and long-term behavioral disorders. 954 01:18:55,900 --> 01:19:01,680 Federal and every behavior research consistently links high stress and adequate socialization 955 01:19:01,680 --> 01:19:04,460 of fair-best behaviors and aggression in adult dogs. 956 01:19:05,280 --> 01:19:10,640 As a professional trainer, I can tell you that selling someone a puppy is an easy part. 957 01:19:11,040 --> 01:19:13,720 The family would have it for 10, 12, 15 years. 958 01:19:14,000 --> 01:19:19,100 They are the ones who sit in the Federal Center offices, pay extensive bills, manage behavioral 959 01:19:19,100 --> 01:19:22,860 challenges, and form deep emotional bonds before problems were even understood. 960 01:19:22,860 --> 01:19:29,460 The Centers for Disease Control, and Prevention, has investigated outbreaks of multi-drug 961 01:19:29,460 --> 01:19:34,780 resistance, can't be low-backed, infections linked to poppy soil poppies. 962 01:19:35,340 --> 01:19:40,800 One documented outbreak, 113 people became ill across 17 states and 23 were hospitalized. 963 01:19:41,360 --> 01:19:47,000 The CDC surveillance has identified extensive drug-resistant strains associated with pet store 964 01:19:47,000 --> 01:19:47,660 exposure. 965 01:19:48,180 --> 01:19:52,000 These are documented public health events not the article risk. 966 01:19:53,180 --> 01:19:57,400 The Rhode Island Law does not have a single statewide ban on selling puppies and pets to us. 967 01:19:57,480 --> 01:19:59,960 Instead of regulations and towns such as Providence. 968 01:20:00,000 --> 01:20:04,380 SEC's province, west wall, smithfield and one socket have individual audiences. 969 01:20:06,280 --> 01:20:11,660 Let's see, I'll skip ahead. Responsible breeding prioritized health, temperament, conduct genetic 970 01:20:11,660 --> 01:20:16,200 testing, provide proper socialization, know where the puppies are placed and often know 971 01:20:16,200 --> 01:20:21,800 the buyers get to meet the parents of the dog. The puppy should never be an impulse purchase. 972 01:20:22,220 --> 01:20:28,640 It's an living animal with a long-term commitment. Petstores can remain successful by selling 973 01:20:28,640 --> 01:20:33,380 puppies, supplies, all these other things associated with dogs. 974 01:20:33,660 --> 01:20:36,120 Partnering with shelters, hosting rescue adoption events. 975 01:20:36,780 --> 01:20:40,360 In fact, provenance has already prohibited sale of dogs and cats and pets 976 01:20:40,360 --> 01:20:42,520 to us while allowing rescue adoptions. 977 01:20:43,020 --> 01:20:45,160 In conclusion, when someone walks into a pet store, 978 01:20:45,240 --> 01:20:47,320 falls in love with a puppy, they should not have to wander. 979 01:20:47,420 --> 01:20:48,060 Where it came from? 980 01:20:48,180 --> 01:20:48,920 How was raised? 981 01:20:49,420 --> 01:20:52,620 What conditions it was exposed to or what health risk it may carry? 982 01:20:53,040 --> 01:20:53,760 We can do better. 983 01:20:54,540 --> 01:20:55,440 Puppies are not inventory. 984 01:20:55,940 --> 01:21:01,540 They are living beings whose health and development depend on what happens that I'm long before they ever come home. 985 01:21:01,940 --> 01:21:07,040 I respectfully ask this Council of the Pass and Audence, ending the retail sales of commercially bright poppies in our community, 986 01:21:07,800 --> 01:21:13,920 and to support shelters, rescues, and responsible breeders, and only humane and transparent pathways to pet ownership. 987 01:21:14,420 --> 01:21:17,260 Because by the end of the day, it comes down to one simple question, 988 01:21:17,600 --> 01:21:22,420 that we want poppies treated as products or as lawyers worth protecting from the very beginning. 989 01:21:22,420 --> 01:21:23,760 Thank you for considering. 990 01:21:24,340 --> 01:21:25,320 Thank you. 991 01:21:32,650 --> 01:21:33,890 You might like a pro, listen. 992 01:21:35,050 --> 01:21:35,470 Thanks. 993 01:21:35,850 --> 01:21:37,550 I've watched a lot of this. 994 01:21:38,050 --> 01:21:39,510 A listen app, 24 Parkside Way. 995 01:21:39,830 --> 01:21:44,350 First, I want to thank the members of the council who have taken an active role in the bit you 996 01:21:44,350 --> 01:21:45,430 mark asphalt issue. 997 01:21:45,610 --> 01:21:48,550 As many of you know, I'm a neighbor who has been directly impacted. 998 01:21:49,010 --> 01:21:51,870 And your efforts do not go unrecognized tonight. 999 01:21:51,890 --> 01:21:53,630 I don't want to talk about the asphalt smell. 1000 01:21:53,950 --> 01:21:56,070 The floor cameras, which I pose for the record. 1001 01:21:56,070 --> 01:22:00,150 But my concerns for the impact of mass deforestation. 1002 01:22:00,510 --> 01:22:04,970 Last month on for would drive 27 acres for a forest came down. 1003 01:22:05,490 --> 01:22:12,290 4,600 trees gone in 14 days to make room for a solar array that will be installed in about a year and a half. 1004 01:22:12,450 --> 01:22:14,890 And it sounds like we have a lot of animal lovers in the room. 1005 01:22:15,090 --> 01:22:18,010 So I'm thinking we're a little concerned for the animals on that land. 1006 01:22:18,710 --> 01:22:26,050 That land sits inside our ground water well red and recharge area and right beside the hunt river. 1007 01:22:26,810 --> 01:22:33,410 And it happened because the parcel wasn't big enough to count as core forest under state rules, so nothing stopped it. 1008 01:22:33,730 --> 01:22:39,930 Most of this town sits on top of the hunt on a quartet, petacrompsket, aquifer that is a mouthful. 1009 01:22:39,930 --> 01:22:54,310 One of only four sole source aquifers in this entire state, we have no real backup just a handful of emergency only connections to neighboring water systems that couldn't carry this town for long if our wells ever went down. 1010 01:22:54,770 --> 01:22:59,150 And yet one project at a time we keep shipping away at the land that recharges it. 1011 01:22:59,430 --> 01:23:06,610 Each project is small enough to slide through but none of them ever add up to a real conversation about what we're protecting and why. 1012 01:23:06,610 --> 01:23:08,750 And you're something that needs our attention. 1013 01:23:09,470 --> 01:23:12,470 That cleared land is about to become a working solar farm. 1014 01:23:13,010 --> 01:23:17,430 And solar farms need to keep the ground under panels clear of brush and weeds. 1015 01:23:18,150 --> 01:23:22,450 Nationally, most operators do that with herbicides and pesticides. 1016 01:23:22,990 --> 01:23:26,110 We already know roundup causes cancer, yet it's still on the shelves. 1017 01:23:26,670 --> 01:23:30,490 So what do we think happens if these chemicals are used in the land above our groundwater 1018 01:23:30,490 --> 01:23:32,210 wellhead and recharge area? 1019 01:23:32,210 --> 01:23:41,970 So my question is simple, if our forest keeps disappearing, acre by acre, and our aquifer has no real backup, what exactly is the plan and when is the line drawn. 1020 01:23:42,510 --> 01:23:52,390 Because right now, if it doesn't feel like there is much of a plan, it feels like things are approved one at a time, but what happens when they add up to something that we cannot undo. 1021 01:23:52,390 --> 01:24:02,630 In 2024, Narraganset Bay estuary program study estimated Rhode Island lost nearly 4,000 acres of undeveloped forest land to solar development statewide. 1022 01:24:03,250 --> 01:24:09,030 And asking for a real look at how much recharge area we have left, how close we already are to a real problem. 1023 01:24:09,490 --> 01:24:15,630 And a commitment that future projects be measured against what we have left to lose, not just what fits in a zoning code. 1024 01:24:15,630 --> 01:24:21,130 I'll add one more thing before I sit down on Wednesday, August 19th at 6.30 p.m. 1025 01:24:21,190 --> 01:24:25,550 Nathan Cornell, President of the Rhode Island Growth Tree Society, will be at the North 1026 01:24:25,550 --> 01:24:30,190 Kingston Free Library, 100 Boon Street, presenting on Rhode Island's Forrest, and then 1027 01:24:30,190 --> 01:24:31,110 need to protect them. 1028 01:24:31,610 --> 01:24:32,530 Thank you. 1029 01:24:33,230 --> 01:24:34,290 Thank you, Alyssa. 1030 01:24:36,250 --> 01:24:37,210 I'm leaving Swanson. 1031 01:24:40,520 --> 01:24:42,460 Hello, my name is Nathan Swanson. 1032 01:24:42,460 --> 01:24:44,840 I live at 540 School Street in North Kingston. 1033 01:24:44,840 --> 01:24:48,820 I've lived in North King's town for pretty much my whole life. 1034 01:24:49,440 --> 01:24:52,380 What I believe her name was Alyssa just came up here and said, 1035 01:24:52,860 --> 01:24:54,860 that is the stuff that keeps me up at night. 1036 01:24:55,080 --> 01:24:59,980 I live right near all of this stuff that's happening right down the road from the... 1037 01:25:00,000 --> 01:25:19,160 The solar stuff right down the road from Bichumar, that lovely smell that we get to smell. You know, on the daily, it's awful. I know we're working on it. I hope we keep working on it. I hope that just these elections coming up and then January, the commission getting together. I really hope I really hope that we can fight this. 1038 01:25:20,180 --> 01:25:22,080 I'm also here about the flat cameras. 1039 01:25:22,320 --> 01:25:24,720 I do not believe in the surveillance state. 1040 01:25:25,140 --> 01:25:27,780 I understand they have their uses, 1041 01:25:28,380 --> 01:25:32,440 but I believe that they will be used 1042 01:25:32,440 --> 01:25:34,900 for the wrong things in a lot of cases. 1043 01:25:36,320 --> 01:25:39,200 As far as the, there's so many things I could talk about, 1044 01:25:39,300 --> 01:25:41,440 but I live on school street. 1045 01:25:41,600 --> 01:25:42,880 We have those speed cameras. 1046 01:25:43,180 --> 01:25:44,800 I don't think they were a great idea. 1047 01:25:45,940 --> 01:25:47,480 I don't like the signage. 1048 01:25:47,480 --> 01:25:50,240 There's so much signage, it's unclear when they're on, 1049 01:25:50,320 --> 01:25:54,040 when they're not on, it does not slow down people. 1050 01:25:54,500 --> 01:25:55,680 It slows down some people. 1051 01:25:56,040 --> 01:25:57,820 It does not slow down most people. 1052 01:25:57,860 --> 01:26:00,700 I think speed bumps would have been a much better idea. 1053 01:26:01,000 --> 01:26:04,080 Closer to the school, because where the cameras are, 1054 01:26:04,180 --> 01:26:06,200 they're not even catching the people that are speeding 1055 01:26:06,200 --> 01:26:07,360 by the school. 1056 01:26:07,900 --> 01:26:10,180 I walked down that road four times a day. 1057 01:26:10,320 --> 01:26:12,100 I know how fast people are going. 1058 01:26:12,940 --> 01:26:15,780 And I think 20 miles an hour is too low. 1059 01:26:15,780 --> 01:26:18,220 I think it should be more consistent, 25 everywhere. 1060 01:26:18,740 --> 01:26:20,820 I think that's at least giving a little bit more leeway 1061 01:26:20,820 --> 01:26:21,960 when you pull out of a driveway 1062 01:26:21,960 --> 01:26:24,320 and you don't realize, oh, my God, I hit 31, 1063 01:26:24,980 --> 01:26:27,040 like in a half, in a eighth of a mile, 1064 01:26:27,220 --> 01:26:30,700 or something like that, granted we haven't gotten any tickets yet, 1065 01:26:30,700 --> 01:26:33,660 but it's scary because I have five people on that road. 1066 01:26:34,740 --> 01:26:37,120 So I'm really here about the flop cameras today, 1067 01:26:37,700 --> 01:26:41,180 but Bitchumar, sludge, all that stuff is just weighing heavily, 1068 01:26:41,280 --> 01:26:43,620 heavily on everybody in this town. 1069 01:26:43,620 --> 01:26:52,580 And as far as the puppies go, I am a big fan of animal stores and I need fish and I need food 1070 01:26:52,580 --> 01:26:54,040 and I need things like that. 1071 01:26:54,040 --> 01:26:58,840 I do not believe that puppies should be coming from puppy mills 1072 01:26:58,840 --> 01:27:01,960 and I would hope that they would be ethnically sourced and whatnot. 1073 01:27:02,320 --> 01:27:06,200 I feel badly that this person has invested money and whatnot. 1074 01:27:06,480 --> 01:27:08,000 I just got a rescue puppy. 1075 01:27:08,620 --> 01:27:11,760 I sort of feel like the rescue is also a puppy mill 1076 01:27:11,760 --> 01:27:18,320 to get a pregnant dog and let it have 13 dogs and then have to place 14 dogs. 1077 01:27:18,940 --> 01:27:24,640 I don't believe in any of that either and I don't know a lot of breeders that are 1078 01:27:24,640 --> 01:27:25,040 reputable. 1079 01:27:25,820 --> 01:27:27,420 So thank you all for your time. 1080 01:27:27,860 --> 01:27:28,560 Thank you. 1081 01:27:30,000 --> 01:27:30,800 Todd Chinham 1082 01:27:35,760 --> 01:27:37,640 Hi, my name is Todd Chin. 1083 01:27:38,120 --> 01:27:44,020 I live at 35 high bank avenue and I've been a citizen of North King's town since 1967. 1084 01:27:45,300 --> 01:27:55,900 First thing I would like to agree with a lot of the previous speakers against the retail sales of dogs and cats for protection for both the animals and the consumers. 1085 01:27:57,100 --> 01:28:08,100 And one of the things that I wanted to say was that Rhode Island has strict laws, strict animal cruelty laws, that I kind of believe a little bit applied to this situation. 1086 01:28:08,100 --> 01:28:18,020 I mean, according to Title IV chapter one of the Rhode Island General Laws, these statutes make it illegal to mistreat neglect or harm dogs or other companion animals. 1087 01:28:19,380 --> 01:28:28,940 That certainly, you know, there's no evidence that that has happened at any of these pet stores that people have been talking about, but the puppy mills are these source breeders. 1088 01:28:29,520 --> 01:28:33,920 It is documented that they've been cited for neglect and animal cruelty. 1089 01:28:36,540 --> 01:29:03,280 And these animals have a direct channel to these stores in North Kingstown to have North Kingstown be an outlet for the selling of animals that certainly fall into the scope of this animal cruelty, it just seems to me that we're kind of complicit in the trafficking of animals that are being mistreated. 1090 01:29:03,280 --> 01:29:08,560 if we are an outlet that allows that to happen, then we're 1091 01:29:09,200 --> 01:29:14,760 we're complicit in those animals trafficking and we are supporting that whole 1092 01:29:14,760 --> 01:29:15,720 avenue. 1093 01:29:18,720 --> 01:29:24,100 You know, these puppy mills, these source breeders, whatever you want to 1094 01:29:24,100 --> 01:29:29,280 call them, it would be unlawful in our state and yet we're allowing that product 1095 01:29:29,280 --> 01:29:35,740 that product to show up here in North King's town. So that's what I have to say about the animals 1096 01:29:36,400 --> 01:29:43,380 as far as the flat cameras go. That data that goes to the that goes directly to the North King's town 1097 01:29:43,380 --> 01:29:49,300 police department doesn't it have to go from that camera out to the cloud somewhere out in the 1098 01:29:49,300 --> 01:29:58,920 ether and I just don't think that that channel can be so direct that we can be guaranteed that 1099 01:29:58,920 --> 01:29:59,780 that information. 1100 01:30:00,000 --> 01:30:21,560 Can't be channeled off collected and used somewhere else. I think that to think that this data is only going directly to the North King's town police department and nowhere else, and it cannot be collected or stored or surveilled any other way. I think that that's just naive. That's not how technology works. Thank you. 1101 01:30:21,560 --> 01:30:22,960 Thank you. 1102 01:30:26,520 --> 01:30:28,940 Does that one of Elts was to speak this evening? 1103 01:30:29,660 --> 01:30:30,240 Thank you. 1104 01:30:30,280 --> 01:30:33,280 If you do, if you could line up over there and speak, that'd be great. 1105 01:30:44,830 --> 01:30:47,350 My name is Emily Gamaj, I live at 10 Phillips Street. 1106 01:30:48,390 --> 01:30:53,110 I'm just here to state my opposition to continuing the Flock contract. 1107 01:30:54,130 --> 01:31:00,010 I think that just like everyone else has said tonight, you can't dare guarantee data security. 1108 01:31:00,010 --> 01:31:11,710 I mean, we have very, very, very powerful people with lots of money and way more resources in our little town, fighting over our data day in and day out. 1109 01:31:12,250 --> 01:31:17,130 If you read the news, this is one of the biggest issues of our age. 1110 01:31:18,310 --> 01:31:25,950 The fact that you can generate so much information with these cameras, any powerful person is going to want to know, 1111 01:31:25,950 --> 01:31:31,190 our movements, what we do, there's financial incentive there, there's incentive for 1112 01:31:31,190 --> 01:31:39,650 dissidents for people who disagree with what's the current political administration or people 1113 01:31:39,650 --> 01:31:45,470 within that administration, there's tons of incentive for this technology to be misused. 1114 01:31:47,530 --> 01:31:52,790 Turning a blind eye to that, it's like, I mean, didn't we all read 1984? Wasn't that like, 1115 01:31:52,790 --> 01:31:57,550 We're supposed to read that in high school, like I was a big Philip K. Dick fan, like 1116 01:31:58,770 --> 01:32:05,450 Literature, like great minds have been warning us about this technology for ages for ages for like 1117 01:32:05,450 --> 01:32:11,470 Almost a hundred years now people have been warning us about this and now it's here and we have to fight back 1118 01:32:11,470 --> 01:32:15,490 This battle is already lost. We all have phones in our pockets. You know 1119 01:32:15,490 --> 01:32:21,870 People will want to say oh, well, why does it matter if we've already lost all of these other battles against our privacy? 1120 01:32:21,870 --> 01:32:25,730 And it matters because we don't have to have this, right? 1121 01:32:25,930 --> 01:32:28,710 We've created a society where we have to kind of have our phones. 1122 01:32:29,070 --> 01:32:32,770 We're kind of like, bought into all of this other stuff that we're forced to, 1123 01:32:32,930 --> 01:32:35,650 our laptops, all these things that we have to do in order to like, 1124 01:32:35,710 --> 01:32:37,170 work, live, get fed. 1125 01:32:37,950 --> 01:32:40,010 All of that stuff is already grandfathered in. 1126 01:32:40,290 --> 01:32:44,650 Yes, this is a plus one spot where we can make a stand for our privacy. 1127 01:32:44,970 --> 01:32:49,850 In our town on our roads that this data cannot be used improperly. 1128 01:32:49,850 --> 01:32:55,250 so i know everybody probably wants to go home at some point tonight i'm not gonna keep going on and on forever 1129 01:32:55,250 --> 01:33:00,390 but i'm very much against it i've had these stickers surveillance kills liberty 1130 01:33:00,390 --> 01:33:04,410 if anyone wants one they can grab from one from me on the way out i made a myself 1131 01:33:05,550 --> 01:33:09,290 i really do believe that surveillance kills liberty thank you 1132 01:33:09,290 --> 01:33:13,790 she's been she's been she's been what was your neighbor doing 1133 01:33:13,790 --> 01:33:15,050 Emily good night 1134 01:33:16,250 --> 01:33:25,010 I want to thank Emily, because Emily is the one that took the brunt of all of the noise and construction when they round about. 1135 01:33:25,010 --> 01:33:27,030 I'm the mound about Marta here, yes. 1136 01:33:28,870 --> 01:33:31,010 Thank you for your sacrifice. 1137 01:33:31,490 --> 01:33:32,990 Thank you, I appreciate that. 1138 01:33:33,110 --> 01:33:33,930 Mr. Welch? 1139 01:33:40,740 --> 01:33:41,740 Thank you, and good evening. 1140 01:33:42,940 --> 01:33:45,980 Richard Welch, eight arrow lane here in town. 1141 01:33:45,980 --> 01:33:58,740 First of all, it's great to see so many concerned citizens here tonight speaking out about their feelings of both the flock and the puppy bells. 1142 01:34:00,220 --> 01:34:05,240 I am not in favor of either of them, and with that I will move on. 1143 01:34:05,240 --> 01:34:13,080 I think some people have stated the situation very eloquently, and certainly the direction 1144 01:34:13,080 --> 01:34:13,900 should be. 1145 01:34:14,140 --> 01:34:21,400 The people are speaking, and now we just need representatives to listen and act accordingly. 1146 01:34:23,300 --> 01:34:31,460 I'm thinking down the road a little bit, post-road, in particular, those of us who travel 1147 01:34:31,460 --> 01:34:35,420 that on a daily basis, on tearing out of vehicles apart. 1148 01:34:40,630 --> 01:34:41,430 Thank you. 1149 01:34:42,670 --> 01:34:48,670 I spoke to a local business person and said, he already spent $1,100 on the front end 1150 01:34:48,670 --> 01:34:49,330 of his vehicle. 1151 01:34:49,830 --> 01:34:54,570 He said, I don't know how I'm going to make it through the winter, if the road stays as 1152 01:34:54,570 --> 01:34:55,210 it is. 1153 01:34:55,210 --> 01:34:59,970 I have to have observed that this is a project that 1154 01:35:00,000 --> 01:35:08,020 It is just happening. It has no direction. It has no supervision. People are just doing as they 1155 01:35:08,020 --> 01:35:15,060 damn well, please. I have complained, as Ralph knows, about the lousy patching jobs that they have 1156 01:35:15,060 --> 01:35:23,380 done, some of them created potholes that were worse than what nature had done. The state 1157 01:35:23,380 --> 01:35:29,960 has not been there at all. I've only seen them there once, and the only reason I could 1158 01:35:29,960 --> 01:35:36,860 say that they were there is because the vehicle was a state DOT vehicle. Never witnessed 1159 01:35:36,860 --> 01:35:45,040 a person there that was obviously a state inspector. This is our town that's a state road, 1160 01:35:45,320 --> 01:35:53,360 but it's our town. We need to do something about that mess. Now, that road is not scheduled 1161 01:35:53,360 --> 01:36:00,680 to be finished until next year, which means that honor about the first of December, they will 1162 01:36:00,680 --> 01:36:05,840 stop doing whatever they're doing and won't start up again until the end of much sometime 1163 01:36:05,840 --> 01:36:06,500 in April. 1164 01:36:06,840 --> 01:36:12,160 We're going to go four or five months through the crack that we're living with right now. 1165 01:36:13,240 --> 01:36:20,320 We need to put our foot down and get them to straighten out that road and not leave it 1166 01:36:20,320 --> 01:36:22,840 way it is right now through the winter. 1167 01:36:23,860 --> 01:36:31,460 This is another tax on those of us who live in town that you folks have not given us. 1168 01:36:31,600 --> 01:36:37,600 The taxes on us maintaining our own vehicles, the roads are not suitable, our cars get 1169 01:36:37,600 --> 01:36:41,540 inspected to make sure they're suitable, but not the roads. 1170 01:36:42,880 --> 01:36:46,300 You all have a job to do, and I hope you will do it. 1171 01:36:46,300 --> 01:36:56,060 Now it's the time to complain about it. Not December January February. Now is the time to complain about it. Thank you very much. 1172 01:37:02,720 --> 01:37:11,160 So before I move on, I just want to say that really impressed with the public comment. Very respectful. 1173 01:37:11,940 --> 01:37:15,660 I've been, we've had some meetings have been contentious, there's not been contentious. 1174 01:37:16,960 --> 01:37:22,740 I think the public listened to one of those comments, I appreciate that, and certainly 1175 01:37:22,740 --> 01:37:30,700 will weigh heavily in our deliberations, but I really do appreciate the substance and the tone 1176 01:37:31,220 --> 01:37:35,520 of the commentary here tonight, so I want to thank everyone here tonight, thank you. 1177 01:37:37,620 --> 01:37:40,380 Most of the items we talked about are going to be later on on agenda. 1178 01:37:40,540 --> 01:37:44,420 We've got to take care of some other business between before then. 1179 01:37:45,000 --> 01:37:46,920 And the first thing is our consent agenda. 1180 01:37:47,880 --> 01:37:52,160 All items on the consent agenda are to be considered to be routine by the town council. 1181 01:37:52,940 --> 01:37:54,700 And we'll be enacted way one motion. 1182 01:37:55,360 --> 01:37:57,100 Don't be no separate discussion of these items. 1183 01:37:57,360 --> 01:37:59,800 Or as a council member or citizen, so request. 1184 01:38:00,460 --> 01:38:03,500 And which event that item will be removed from the consent agenda and 1185 01:38:03,500 --> 01:38:10,200 it in its normal sequence on the regular agenda. So first I'd like to ask any member of the council 1186 01:38:10,200 --> 01:38:17,100 if they want to remove anything from item five through 17. Number 13 and number 14. 1187 01:38:21,940 --> 01:38:27,860 Today we're in the public, we're going to remove anything. Here and then I went into an emotion 1188 01:38:27,860 --> 01:38:32,500 of the proof items 5 through 12 and 15 through 17. 1189 01:38:32,700 --> 01:38:33,260 Is that moved? 1190 01:38:34,660 --> 01:38:35,840 All of the data say aye. 1191 01:38:35,920 --> 01:38:36,400 Aye. 1192 01:38:36,520 --> 01:38:37,280 Any opposed? 1193 01:38:37,400 --> 01:38:38,600 The eyes have it. 1194 01:38:38,720 --> 01:38:39,300 Mr. McCoy? 1195 01:38:39,500 --> 01:38:40,480 The floor is yours. 1196 01:38:41,360 --> 01:38:46,920 Because I'm a member of the VFW post 152, I'm going to recuse myself for both of those. 1197 01:38:47,200 --> 01:38:48,940 So I'm going to step to the back. 1198 01:38:50,740 --> 01:38:51,820 Any two emotional proof? 1199 01:38:52,500 --> 01:38:53,140 So moved. 1200 01:38:54,340 --> 01:38:55,500 All of the data say aye. 1201 01:38:56,240 --> 01:38:56,980 Any opposed? 1202 01:38:56,980 --> 01:39:01,000 The eyes have a little bit of reports starting with the talent manager. 1203 01:39:03,120 --> 01:39:04,100 Thank you Mr. President. 1204 01:39:05,360 --> 01:39:08,340 So I know we have a busier agenda, but I know I have a busier manager because I'll try 1205 01:39:08,340 --> 01:39:10,160 to fly through this if I can. 1206 01:39:10,960 --> 01:39:14,180 First, regarding school department bond projects, the high school roof replacement 1207 01:39:14,180 --> 01:39:18,500 is part of the capital improvement projects is ongoing and schedule for completion 1208 01:39:18,500 --> 01:39:20,280 prior to the first day of school. 1209 01:39:20,580 --> 01:39:24,320 The school department project team continues to have successful meetings with 1210 01:39:24,320 --> 01:39:28,980 with it to the new WIC for NILSchool project, and the town continues having internal 1211 01:39:28,980 --> 01:39:33,380 meetings with the project team in order to assist them in multiple areas relative to the 1212 01:39:33,380 --> 01:39:37,860 NILSchool. There was a meeting of the building advisory committee schedule for this evening, 1213 01:39:38,060 --> 01:39:43,120 but it had to be rescheduled regretfully. So I'll include an update on the upcoming advisory 1214 01:39:43,120 --> 01:39:47,560 committee meeting as well as the NILSchool and the capital improvement projects in my next 1215 01:39:47,560 --> 01:39:48,300 manager report. 1216 01:39:50,480 --> 01:39:53,660 As for the public safety bond projects, we've been very active and 1217 01:39:53,660 --> 01:39:59,980 We're currently regarding the public safety complex bond projects due to the hard work and commitment of members of the team on a 1218 01:40:00,000 --> 01:40:05,380 Recognized form of fire, chiefs got a tell, chief John Ledigree, chief John Irvin, members of the 1219 01:40:05,380 --> 01:40:12,060 team in command staff, our architect, D.B.V.W. Demioconstruction and others, I will let some good news later 1220 01:40:12,060 --> 01:40:16,900 rounds report in tonight's agenda. I'll be asking the town council to approve the GMP, which 1221 01:40:16,900 --> 01:40:23,320 the guaranteed maximum price in order to make our August 18 deadline, which will keep the project on schedule, 1222 01:40:23,820 --> 01:40:28,960 which will result in a moving date for the public safety complex of April 2028, and a September 1223 01:40:28,960 --> 01:40:33,200 2020-29 move-in-date for the new firehead court is in station one on post-road. 1224 01:40:34,060 --> 01:40:37,640 The preliminary work to the post-road, relating to the post-road, West Main Street 1225 01:40:37,640 --> 01:40:42,640 sidewalk project continues, alternating one-way traffic along post-road for the drainage work 1226 01:40:42,640 --> 01:40:47,820 necessary for the sidewalk project and then separately, one-way traffic is taking place along 1227 01:40:47,820 --> 01:40:52,640 West Davis Hill Road for curb construction. I continue to keep the public and the town council 1228 01:40:52,640 --> 01:40:56,500 up to date on this longing anticipated and long planned out project. 1229 01:40:57,880 --> 01:41:01,000 The renovation of the municipal office building continues to move forward. 1230 01:41:01,440 --> 01:41:05,140 The work is taking shape and is being well received by visitors and employees alike. 1231 01:41:05,860 --> 01:41:10,600 There are multiple offices being temporarily relocated within the building, as well as 1232 01:41:10,600 --> 01:41:13,440 two here, and I town hall 80 Boston, that road. 1233 01:41:13,740 --> 01:41:18,000 I continue thanks to the employees and the visitors for the understanding and for the work 1234 01:41:18,000 --> 01:41:18,900 during the construction. 1235 01:41:19,440 --> 01:41:24,660 Just to remind that the municipal office buildings are operated under a summer pilot program, 1236 01:41:24,660 --> 01:41:31,220 this summer until September 4th, you can visit our website to our social media to see our updated hours 1237 01:41:31,220 --> 01:41:38,100 up until September 4th. I'm early this year, we requested through REMA, Rhode Island Emergency 1238 01:41:38,100 --> 01:41:43,480 Management Association, to FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Association for reimbursement of 1239 01:41:43,480 --> 01:41:55,600 340,949 dollars of direct expenses relating to the blizzard of 2026 in Rhode Island's major 1240 01:41:55,600 --> 01:42:00,680 many states whose request for reimbursement was denied. While this will not have a direct impact 1241 01:42:00,680 --> 01:42:06,960 on our fiscal year 2026 budget, or our fiscal year 2027 forecast, because we budget any 1242 01:42:06,960 --> 01:42:12,700 unrestricted unused winter storm funds from friarist budgets into restricted account, strictly 1243 01:42:12,700 --> 01:42:17,260 for future storms. We were looking forward to the reimbursement on our replenish this account 1244 01:42:17,260 --> 01:42:21,200 for our winter storms, so we will be working with the Rhode Island League of Citizens towns 1245 01:42:21,200 --> 01:42:26,660 as well as Rimmer, a federal delegation, and others to request reconsideration of this denial 1246 01:42:26,660 --> 01:42:28,760 and I'll keep the town council up to date. 1247 01:42:29,340 --> 01:42:33,000 Also, I'm meeting with the Revolution when the relative to the offshore wind farm project 1248 01:42:33,000 --> 01:42:36,040 I now take in place monthly, versus by weekly. 1249 01:42:36,640 --> 01:42:40,780 Our last meeting in July had Revolution wind up dead in the town on the continued commissioning 1250 01:42:40,780 --> 01:42:41,500 of the wind farm. 1251 01:42:42,020 --> 01:42:47,480 The removal of the trailers of Camp Aventus site, landscaping taking place at the Camp Aventus site, 1252 01:42:47,480 --> 01:42:52,840 installation of the remaining five offshore wind turbines that in the interconnection now being under 1253 01:42:52,840 --> 01:42:57,580 an energy operations and the establishment of new contacts with ever-sourcing the town 1254 01:42:57,580 --> 01:43:02,860 as the project begins transitioning into completion our next monthly meeting with them will take 1255 01:43:02,860 --> 01:43:03,820 place of this Thursday. 1256 01:43:06,330 --> 01:43:10,610 Last month the ACLU of Ryanland published the report analyzing each city 1257 01:43:10,610 --> 01:43:14,810 in town's role in providing access and participation in the public meetings. 1258 01:43:14,810 --> 01:43:18,530 North King's Town Fair did very well on this report as we live stream our meetings. 1259 01:43:19,110 --> 01:43:24,910 We provide archive video of all meetings and we include detailed agenda attachments. 1260 01:43:25,470 --> 01:43:28,770 As well as we provide significant public input, which we saw this evening. 1261 01:43:29,270 --> 01:43:33,970 It is my opinion that we are very effective in where somewhat we receive in this report 1262 01:43:33,970 --> 01:43:35,290 in the current procedures. 1263 01:43:36,250 --> 01:43:40,650 Also good energy has informed us that Rhode Island energy has filed that proposed last resort 1264 01:43:40,650 --> 01:43:45,430 service rates, winter rates, and the winter rate will increase to a residential rate of $17 1265 01:43:45,430 --> 01:43:51,350 dollars in 29 cents per kilowatt hour effective October 1st. The ocean state community 1266 01:43:51,350 --> 01:43:59,910 electricity is pricing of $13, 13 dollars in 0.519 cents per kilowatt hour is fixed through 1267 01:43:59,910 --> 01:44:06,890 the end of October. That means that anyone participating in the aggregation program will experience 1268 01:44:06,890 --> 01:44:11,930 savings of approximately three cents per kilowatt hour versus Rhode Island Energy's last 1269 01:44:11,930 --> 01:44:16,070 resort pricing for the month of October. Next, there will be sending out a million this 1270 01:44:16,070 --> 01:44:20,370 month so that we customers are aware of the savings and then ocean state community electricity 1271 01:44:20,370 --> 01:44:25,770 will be pricing affected in November 1st for the winter and that will be expected to be finalized 1272 01:44:25,770 --> 01:44:30,930 in shade and September. I'll update the council and the public are relative to those figures 1273 01:44:30,930 --> 01:44:32,770 once this information becomes available. 1274 01:44:36,010 --> 01:44:38,210 As the council is aware and has been reported in the 1275 01:44:38,210 --> 01:44:42,910 local press, the QDC Board of Directors recently approved a workforce housing project with 1276 01:44:42,910 --> 01:44:46,670 the Enquince of Business Park that is different from the original project that was approved 1277 01:44:46,670 --> 01:44:49,150 by the Plain and Commission in 2023. 1278 01:44:49,590 --> 01:44:53,630 While the overall unit per acre is still in line with what was approved by the Plain and Commission, 1279 01:44:54,090 --> 01:44:58,190 the total units in the makeup of the units via bedroom size differ from the original 1280 01:44:58,190 --> 01:44:58,710 proposal. 1281 01:45:00,000 --> 01:45:10,480 We discuss this with internal and external legal counsel in a town administration. My administration's opinion is that the current proposal as is would require additional planning commission approval. 1282 01:45:11,100 --> 01:45:15,540 While we don't see any significant issue with this because on surface the proposals are very similar. 1283 01:45:16,100 --> 01:45:26,040 We have passed this opinion. I have passed this opinion on QDC and we will assist them in putting together a revised request before the planning commission if that is the avenue that they decide to pursue. 1284 01:45:26,040 --> 01:45:26,600 To 1285 01:45:30,090 --> 01:45:36,370 comment within the management within this report on the current and as brought up this evening the current clear-cutting and proposed solar project 1286 01:45:36,370 --> 01:45:42,910 Take in place around taking place along route four a burning the residential neighborhoods of fur would drive and maple would drive and others 1287 01:45:42,910 --> 01:45:48,330 This proposed project has had a significant adverse impact on the abutting neighborhoods 1288 01:45:48,330 --> 01:45:53,190 The aesthetics of this area while of life and really increased noise 1289 01:45:53,970 --> 01:45:58,610 In my commentary at the last council meeting I had brought the history of this pride of property in 1290 01:45:58,610 --> 01:46:03,130 In how this project could have been avoided many years ago, if the property was allowed to be 1291 01:46:03,130 --> 01:46:03,950 resumed the residential. 1292 01:46:04,850 --> 01:46:09,390 In no way does that mean that the residents were to blame for this turn of events? 1293 01:46:09,690 --> 01:46:10,910 I want to clarify that. 1294 01:46:11,170 --> 01:46:13,510 This is not a project the abutting residents wanted. 1295 01:46:14,090 --> 01:46:19,030 This is not a project prior or current town council wants and is not a project this time 1296 01:46:19,030 --> 01:46:20,170 administration wants. 1297 01:46:20,830 --> 01:46:25,750 Regretfully the town does not have any legal or administrative authority to prevent this project 1298 01:46:25,750 --> 01:46:26,590 from moving forward. 1299 01:46:26,590 --> 01:46:32,150 And the developer received all properly property state permitting to click up this property. 1300 01:46:33,110 --> 01:46:38,990 There are, however, some steps that we can are going to attempt to take to protect the residents in this area. 1301 01:46:39,530 --> 01:46:44,750 First, we have aggressively enforce the 70M requirement for heavy machinery to access this property. 1302 01:46:45,810 --> 01:46:53,730 Second, we are working with Rural and DOT, asking them to come up with a noise mitigation plan to address the increased noise within the residential neighborhoods. 1303 01:46:54,250 --> 01:46:58,910 And the town will be willing to contribute to these efforts if that's what it takes. 1304 01:46:59,910 --> 01:47:05,130 And third we will enforce the required buffer zones, I'm sorry, yes, thank you. 1305 01:47:05,430 --> 01:47:08,710 And third we will enforce the required buffer zones at all costs. 1306 01:47:10,930 --> 01:47:15,510 I felt this is an important issue in one that we're working on daily to let the public know 1307 01:47:15,510 --> 01:47:16,810 on what is going on this evening. 1308 01:47:17,310 --> 01:47:22,530 I also wanted to clarify that at no time does the town feel the residents are to blame for this. 1309 01:47:22,530 --> 01:47:27,090 But the decision was made years ago with good intentions and regretfully those good intentions 1310 01:47:27,090 --> 01:47:28,290 that brought us to this scenario. 1311 01:47:29,810 --> 01:47:31,810 This is not an issue isolated in North Kingston. 1312 01:47:32,430 --> 01:47:36,730 This issue is taking place in cities and towns across Rhode Island and most likely on-nation. 1313 01:47:37,290 --> 01:47:41,870 While options to power on needs or the next century are being analyzed by individuals, well 1314 01:47:41,870 --> 01:47:43,030 beyond my expertise. 1315 01:47:44,250 --> 01:47:51,310 Option such as solar, wind, nuclear, oil, it is my opinion that all these options have detrimental 1316 01:47:51,310 --> 01:47:55,110 effects and impacts to our environment and solar is no exception. 1317 01:47:56,390 --> 01:48:00,410 I'll continue to join the town council and fight on behalf of the residents impacted by 1318 01:48:00,410 --> 01:48:04,370 this development and do all we can to lessen the impact of this regretful development. 1319 01:48:04,930 --> 01:48:09,190 I also want to thank those who commented this evening because by commenting you gave us 1320 01:48:09,190 --> 01:48:15,610 some idea to be talking about legal counsel and if this can help us further prevent this 1321 01:48:15,610 --> 01:48:18,830 project, then we will do all we can to work with the council on that. 1322 01:48:22,420 --> 01:48:25,200 Or in other schools, the school's own speed cameras 1323 01:48:25,200 --> 01:48:26,920 or the resume operation with the student return 1324 01:48:26,920 --> 01:48:29,860 to classrooms on August 31st, 1325 01:48:30,100 --> 01:48:32,100 and will be in operations during school days only. 1326 01:48:32,960 --> 01:48:34,220 As the town council requested, 1327 01:48:34,780 --> 01:48:36,400 we were rolling out an aggressive information 1328 01:48:36,400 --> 01:48:38,100 and public relations campaign 1329 01:48:38,100 --> 01:48:40,020 regarding the speed cameras starting tomorrow, 1330 01:48:40,440 --> 01:48:42,180 August 18th. 1331 01:48:42,260 --> 01:48:43,440 Through a grant the town received 1332 01:48:43,440 --> 01:48:45,160 in the Ryder Research Recovery Corporation, 1333 01:48:45,220 --> 01:48:46,880 this will grant policy program. 1334 01:48:47,660 --> 01:48:49,240 We'll be holding an educational workshop 1335 01:48:49,240 --> 01:48:54,340 I'm learning to compost on August 27th at 5 p.m. at a talent hole here at 80 1336 01:48:54,340 --> 01:48:58,700 bus the next road. The first 100 residents will be able to take home their own free composting 1337 01:48:58,700 --> 01:49:03,780 bin and interested residents can pre-register by emailing back in the mind and a playing 1338 01:49:03,780 --> 01:49:09,060 department at blamont at nothkingstownride.gov. 1339 01:49:11,780 --> 01:49:14,140 Early person in voting early in person voting 1340 01:49:14,140 --> 01:49:19,220 for the primary election will begin on municipal office building at 100 fairway drive starting at 1341 01:49:19,220 --> 01:49:25,000 on August 20th of this week, and we'll continue through Tuesday, September 8th at 4 p.m. 1342 01:49:25,700 --> 01:49:31,340 Early voting will be available weekdays during the business hours with the exception of Labor Day, Monday, September 7th. 1343 01:49:31,460 --> 01:49:38,860 Primary days Wednesday, September 9th, and in-person voting will be available at your local polling place from 7 p.m. till 8 p.m. 1344 01:49:39,020 --> 01:49:41,740 and you can find your polling place at the Secretary of State's website. 1345 01:49:44,920 --> 01:49:50,440 We are excited to announce it will be hosting our third annual Family Day event at Wilson Park on Saturday, August 29th 1346 01:49:50,440 --> 01:49:55,240 from noon to 5 p.m. It's a free admission day of fun in community connections that include 1347 01:49:55,240 --> 01:49:59,820 rides, inflatable, face painting, a cutting zoo. 1348 01:50:00,000 --> 01:50:07,760 Light Music, Community Boots and Demonstration for our five employees departments in much more. This is not possible without our youth in adult volunteers. 1349 01:50:08,880 --> 01:50:16,100 So I encourage anyone to visit our website if you are interested in volunteering for the morning or afternoon shift at Wilson Park. 1350 01:50:20,070 --> 01:50:28,270 I'll now provide an update on the quansit related issues. First, I attended the July 21 meeting of the QDC Board of Directors. 1351 01:50:28,270 --> 01:50:35,570 But I'll leave that update to the town's representatives on the board, and who will follow me with an update on the update of their own. 1352 01:50:36,270 --> 01:50:40,170 I met with Quadset Chief Executive Steve King at a monthly standing meeting on July 16. 1353 01:50:40,750 --> 01:50:42,290 These many continue to be productive. 1354 01:50:43,370 --> 01:50:44,910 We discussed the continued order complaints. 1355 01:50:45,330 --> 01:50:47,990 And upcoming meeting we have with Bittema's Legal Council. 1356 01:50:48,690 --> 01:50:50,530 QDC has been tracking complaints as well. 1357 01:50:51,010 --> 01:50:54,810 We briefly discussed the process issue and the fact that is on hold, 1358 01:50:54,810 --> 01:50:56,990 and what the Legislative Commission's meeting. 1359 01:50:57,590 --> 01:50:59,690 We discussed the proposed battery storage facility 1360 01:50:59,690 --> 01:51:01,510 and confirmed that we are both waiting 1361 01:51:01,510 --> 01:51:03,910 to hear from the Energy Facility Sighting Board, 1362 01:51:04,490 --> 01:51:06,090 and Mr. King confirmed that there 1363 01:51:06,090 --> 01:51:08,050 is a second smaller battery storage facility 1364 01:51:08,050 --> 01:51:09,510 playing for quansit business block. 1365 01:51:10,110 --> 01:51:11,770 We updated each other on the ongoing discussion 1366 01:51:11,770 --> 01:51:13,130 between our planning departments, 1367 01:51:13,330 --> 01:51:14,810 regarding quansit zoning regulations. 1368 01:51:15,670 --> 01:51:17,710 I provided him with a signed water tower easement, 1369 01:51:18,070 --> 01:51:19,730 and we discussed plans to draft an extension 1370 01:51:19,730 --> 01:51:22,550 to the expired Parkwide pilot program. 1371 01:51:23,110 --> 01:51:27,350 Mr. King, then provided me with an update on short term and long term planes to the 1372 01:51:27,350 --> 01:51:32,070 park, including the workforce housing project, future tenants and developments, a 1373 01:51:32,070 --> 01:51:37,050 wind turbine and a east-grinaged property, the electric boat rail development, a canopy solar 1374 01:51:37,050 --> 01:51:41,710 park, and other minor issues, and Mr. King and I will be meeting again this coming Wednesday morning. 1375 01:51:43,700 --> 01:51:47,520 As mentioned, I planed the public and continued conversation with the QDC relative to changing 1376 01:51:47,520 --> 01:51:51,260 and zoning regulations. We are hoping these changes will be on a soon to be future meeting 1377 01:51:51,260 --> 01:51:52,640 the Plain Acropolis Commission. 1378 01:51:54,860 --> 01:51:59,360 We've not received any of the information from EPA relative to the notification we sent 1379 01:51:59,360 --> 01:52:03,860 them about intent to file a citizen suit under the Federal Clean Air Act, considering the 1380 01:52:03,860 --> 01:52:09,700 QSS, Biosolids, Parallels of Facility, solicitor James Cowling here tonight with discuss this 1381 01:52:09,700 --> 01:52:13,840 with Desert Hall Browning, our external legal counsel, it will be scheduling a meeting with 1382 01:52:13,840 --> 01:52:15,560 them this week to discuss next steps. 1383 01:52:16,060 --> 01:52:20,880 We don't have any news report relating to the battery storage facility, although, as I mentioned, 1384 01:52:20,880 --> 01:52:24,980 we are waiting to hear from the Energy Facilities Funding Board in regards to the paralysis 1385 01:52:24,980 --> 01:52:28,440 facility where we are waiting the first meeting of the Legislative Commission. 1386 01:52:30,610 --> 01:52:35,450 In regard to the Ashford or Issue in Bichema, we have a meeting scheduled to Bichema as 1387 01:52:35,450 --> 01:52:40,730 legal counsel tomorrow, August 18, Council President Miancini and Council person Leneia 1388 01:52:40,730 --> 01:52:41,970 Drobe joining us. 1389 01:52:42,210 --> 01:52:46,310 I've been in regular contact with RIDM and the director Mr. Terry Gray. 1390 01:52:46,470 --> 01:52:50,510 They have set up an online reporting tool to allow the public through port order complaints 1391 01:52:50,510 --> 01:52:57,610 and as a July 3rd, 23rd during this period, they received 306 reports in total they received over 100 complaints. 1392 01:52:58,810 --> 01:53:06,910 They have visited the area of complaint over 20 times during the hours of 4am to 9am, the current order regulation prohibitive facility from admitting it to the atmosphere, 1393 01:53:07,370 --> 01:53:12,350 any air containment which creates an environmental and objectionable order beyond the property line. 1394 01:53:13,910 --> 01:53:19,150 The town received confirmation from RADM and Friday afternoon that the issue that first noticed 1395 01:53:19,150 --> 01:53:24,410 a violation to Bichema and August 12th alleging violation of the Rhode Island's air 1396 01:53:24,410 --> 01:53:25,950 pollution control regulations. 1397 01:53:27,290 --> 01:53:31,170 They determined that the orders were objectionable and strong enough for the inspector 1398 01:53:31,170 --> 01:53:32,610 to feel nauseous. 1399 01:53:32,910 --> 01:53:38,350 Bichema was fined $8,500 and ordered to come up with an order mitigation plan and a separate 1400 01:53:38,350 --> 01:53:43,910 out of the town council's request, I'm invited director Gray and members of his team to attend 1401 01:53:43,910 --> 01:53:49,130 a town council public meeting. He has advised he was unavailable this evening, but is looking 1402 01:53:49,130 --> 01:53:53,410 as scheduled for us September and meeting dates. Again, this is a lot of hope this update is 1403 01:53:53,410 --> 01:53:58,830 helpful. We'll have another update in September and that will include my meeting with Mr. King 1404 01:53:58,830 --> 01:54:02,470 that's taking place once they're morning. As always, the council have had any questions I'm 1405 01:54:23,300 --> 01:54:34,120 I don't know how that could be, the housing, I know that there was never any intent to put 1406 01:54:34,120 --> 01:54:37,460 housing there, but it was approved by the Planning Commission. 1407 01:54:39,400 --> 01:54:40,880 Okay, so we had an agreement but now we don't. 1408 01:54:41,080 --> 01:54:44,200 I don't know if any agreement that prohibited housing within QDC. 1409 01:54:44,580 --> 01:54:47,800 If it was, it would be for my time and I would definitely check into that. 1410 01:54:48,220 --> 01:54:53,100 And then can you please tell me what's happening with the DEM, Urban and Community grant program for the Post Road? 1411 01:54:53,120 --> 01:54:54,420 Do you have any information on that? 1412 01:54:54,540 --> 01:54:55,460 That is the tree program. 1413 01:54:56,060 --> 01:54:59,700 So we asked to work with them in those trees that we put up. 1414 01:55:00,000 --> 01:55:10,000 In conjunction with the sidewalk project. Okay, so that's coming. And then as far as enforcement, you and I have talked about that gas station at the bottom of Stony Lane and what a absolute mess it is. 1415 01:55:10,880 --> 01:55:13,740 Who enforces and are they ever going to enforce? 1416 01:55:14,400 --> 01:55:18,440 So we do enforce in, believe it or not, there's nothing right now in violation. 1417 01:55:20,220 --> 01:55:22,060 Of locals only was. 1418 01:55:22,060 --> 01:55:29,820 Um, and this school speed cameras apparently a couple of them are obscured by overgrowth of shrubbery. 1419 01:55:30,860 --> 01:55:35,100 Who died? Yeah, I'm told two different rows. One of them is, um, 1420 01:55:35,320 --> 01:55:39,900 Will Street? No. Stony. I don't know. But two two different 1421 01:55:39,900 --> 01:55:45,080 Croats have signs that are obscured by. I will take a look. I can take that all cameras are working. 1422 01:55:45,940 --> 01:55:49,600 Okay. No. I mean, so when you're coming up, you apparently can't see these gigantic, 1423 01:55:49,600 --> 01:55:55,900 I think I'll dig those yellow fluorescent signs right because they're obscured by trees now. I mean things grow. 1424 01:55:56,100 --> 01:55:57,960 I will take a look. Thank you. 1425 01:55:57,960 --> 01:55:58,780 Is there anything? 1426 01:56:00,160 --> 01:56:01,780 No, I do not have anything. 1427 01:56:02,560 --> 01:56:03,580 What do you know Matt? 1428 01:56:05,340 --> 01:56:11,020 So Ralph you were talking about the reimbursement for basically the blizzard. 1429 01:56:11,640 --> 01:56:15,660 Is there any information about whether the state is going to 1430 01:56:16,640 --> 01:56:23,520 through the like the attorney general, try to take any kind of legal action to get the funds that the state need. 1431 01:56:24,060 --> 01:56:29,760 So I know the attorney generals of the states that were denied are looking at potential legal action. 1432 01:56:30,340 --> 01:56:35,580 Right, and right now the Rhode Island League of Citizens Council has taken lead on that for us, but we are in contact with them. 1433 01:56:35,940 --> 01:56:45,220 Right. And on the Ocean State Community Electricity, if part of the update that we can get at a future date, 1434 01:56:45,220 --> 01:56:49,540 I would like to know how many people are still enrolled in that program, 1435 01:56:53,110 --> 01:56:54,030 I think I have that. 1436 01:56:59,140 --> 01:57:05,260 And they're going to let us know, so people have these gigantic savings from October 1 to October 31. 1437 01:57:05,980 --> 01:57:08,640 And then they're going to just let people know what they're going to charge. 1438 01:57:09,500 --> 01:57:10,560 Yes, just like Ryan and Energy did. 1439 01:57:10,620 --> 01:57:15,240 So they might get 31 days and then not get it again, like they already aren't. 1440 01:57:15,820 --> 01:57:20,000 In September, they're going to, as Ryan and Energy just announced their winter rates in September, 1441 01:57:20,000 --> 01:57:22,800 or good energy, the analysis they went to rates. 1442 01:57:23,340 --> 01:57:27,020 All right, the next thing is it was brought up earlier 1443 01:57:27,020 --> 01:57:29,940 by one of our people during public comment. 1444 01:57:30,980 --> 01:57:34,240 So with regards to the solar project 1445 01:57:34,240 --> 01:57:39,340 that's over by Route 403, it sounds like we should entertain 1446 01:57:41,100 --> 01:57:46,280 or initiate action to put in some kind of ordinance 1447 01:57:46,280 --> 01:57:55,340 are banned on the use of, I guess, pesticides or round-up or whatever, the appropriate things 1448 01:57:55,340 --> 01:58:03,820 are that they would use to control grass to make sure that we're proactive and not reactive 1449 01:58:03,820 --> 01:58:04,900 in that regard. 1450 01:58:05,500 --> 01:58:08,000 That is one of the, again, I appreciate that commentary. 1451 01:58:08,560 --> 01:58:11,540 That is one of the two things that I wrote down this evening from the commentary. 1452 01:58:12,280 --> 01:58:16,160 One is the, I want to take, I want to find out exactly what we can do regarding that. 1453 01:58:16,160 --> 01:58:19,940 I wrote a source and then this is the second issue which I like to talk to the solicitor 1454 01:58:19,940 --> 01:58:24,500 about. I'm not sure if there's any grounds for it but it just gave me an idea and if it is 1455 01:58:24,500 --> 01:58:28,260 and if there's grounds for it I'll definitely share it with the town council in the public but 1456 01:58:28,260 --> 01:58:31,340 something where maybe we can take some proactive action. 1457 01:58:31,740 --> 01:58:38,260 All right and then I know that the municipal court adjudicated all the cases associated with 1458 01:58:38,260 --> 01:58:44,320 the school's speed cameras. Yes. So I'm interested in knowing how much money was collected, 1459 01:58:44,320 --> 01:58:51,180 And how many of those violators were North Kingstown residents and how many were non-North 1460 01:58:51,180 --> 01:58:52,240 Kingstown residents? 1461 01:58:54,000 --> 01:58:57,000 I will get that the chief gave that information at the last meeting. 1462 01:58:57,200 --> 01:58:57,760 I'll give an update. 1463 01:58:57,980 --> 01:59:02,680 If I remember right, well over half of the violators were non-residents. 1464 01:59:02,840 --> 01:59:06,580 I think it was 60 something percent on Stony Wayne, but I'll get updated numbers on that. 1465 01:59:06,580 --> 01:59:12,220 So essentially what I'm trying to understand is are the people who live like for instance 1466 01:59:12,220 --> 01:59:18,500 on school street, or are they being hit unfairly here? 1467 01:59:18,820 --> 01:59:22,940 And I can tell you that I will get that information, but our preliminary information shows 1468 01:59:22,940 --> 01:59:26,080 that the great majority of violators are non-residents. 1469 01:59:34,220 --> 01:59:34,580 All right. 1470 01:59:35,840 --> 01:59:36,740 I think that's it for now. 1471 01:59:36,980 --> 01:59:37,900 Thank you. 1472 01:59:38,440 --> 01:59:45,120 Just want to make comment, I can tell some people talked about the solar bomb, and that's 1473 01:59:45,120 --> 01:59:47,700 certainly is a very objectionable project to look at. 1474 01:59:47,700 --> 01:59:55,700 But the zoning history of that is that in 2016, somebody tried to put a solar farm in southern, 1475 01:59:58,280 --> 01:59:59,960 not the king's town in a residence. 1476 02:00:00,000 --> 02:00:28,800 Judicial Area. And after the developer purchased the land, the council changed the ordinance. And at the time, they changed the ordinance to try to ban solar projects like that outright throughout the community, but they were told by legal council that you have to have them in one zone, at least one zone. And so the town council chose the narrowest zone, and that is industrial. 1477 02:00:30,000 --> 02:00:34,240 And after that decision, there was one in a solar farm, 1478 02:00:34,420 --> 02:00:37,320 an industrial area of a drybridge road. 1479 02:00:38,400 --> 02:00:40,020 And most people in the community thought 1480 02:00:40,020 --> 02:00:41,320 that was a good thing. 1481 02:00:41,580 --> 02:00:42,800 It was an industrial area. 1482 02:00:43,320 --> 02:00:45,780 This particular piece of property is owned industrial. 1483 02:00:47,140 --> 02:00:49,120 So I don't know if I know there's a request 1484 02:00:49,120 --> 02:00:50,400 to change the zoning laws. 1485 02:00:50,580 --> 02:00:54,400 I don't know if based on my recollection of that experience. 1486 02:00:54,900 --> 02:00:56,840 I don't know if we can change the zoning laws 1487 02:00:56,840 --> 02:00:59,920 to make it any more narrow for these type of farms. 1488 02:00:59,940 --> 02:01:00,820 It is pretty narrow. 1489 02:01:00,940 --> 02:01:04,720 Having said that, I do like the idea of an ordinance 1490 02:01:04,720 --> 02:01:08,560 for pesticides, so that's something creative 1491 02:01:09,360 --> 02:01:11,660 that we can take a look at. 1492 02:01:12,360 --> 02:01:15,480 With that, what I'd like to do is move on, 1493 02:01:15,700 --> 02:01:19,080 have the representatives of the QDC board come here. 1494 02:01:19,500 --> 02:01:21,840 And after they come, I'd like to take a five minute break. 1495 02:01:22,620 --> 02:01:24,700 So the representatives of the QDC board, 1496 02:01:24,700 --> 02:01:27,940 I just want to know you're the last people before I break. 1497 02:01:30,510 --> 02:01:31,990 No, no, no pressure at all. 1498 02:01:32,010 --> 02:01:33,410 That is a hit, yes. 1499 02:01:34,070 --> 02:01:34,210 Right. 1500 02:01:34,310 --> 02:01:35,210 It's not so bad. 1501 02:01:35,490 --> 02:01:40,050 Forty Stanford Avenue, I'm one of two representatives on the QDC board, the other one being 1502 02:01:40,050 --> 02:01:42,150 Dave Myelik to my left here. 1503 02:01:43,730 --> 02:01:47,050 There's quite a bit that goes on in these meetings, but I think the important things are that 1504 02:01:47,050 --> 02:01:54,390 we've poured on those things that we speak about act on and vote on, and specifically, 1505 02:01:54,390 --> 02:02:02,290 Similarly, we voted on three items, acted on three items, and they were, to ratifying, to 1506 02:02:02,290 --> 02:02:07,470 firm the appointment of Thomas C. Plunkett, a square to the Audit Finance Committee of 1507 02:02:07,470 --> 02:02:11,510 the Board of Directors, and that was passed, I believe it was unanimously. 1508 02:02:12,170 --> 02:02:23,570 The second piece of business was an ethics policy, and this is in keeping with, part of 1509 02:02:23,570 --> 02:02:33,630 was training, so training was done for all directors, all employees, and all officers, and that 1510 02:02:33,630 --> 02:02:40,470 was done in person, 100% compliance, and then after that, in addition, this ethics policy 1511 02:02:40,470 --> 02:02:46,830 was passed, this ethics policy follows Rhode Island General Law. This is the state law, 1512 02:02:46,830 --> 02:02:56,070 4-2-4-6, 10-10, that ethics policy for QDC was approved and again I believe that was unanimously 1513 02:02:56,070 --> 02:02:57,350 approved. 1514 02:02:57,850 --> 02:03:04,270 And then the last one Ralph had talked about this in his report a little earlier, but it's 1515 02:03:04,270 --> 02:03:12,550 for approval by KTC, with brand properties for 140 workplace housing units in quansit 1516 02:03:12,550 --> 02:03:20,730 on 60 year lease on 6.89 acres. As I think Ralph mentioned, there are two applicants earlier, 1517 02:03:22,170 --> 02:03:28,670 they ducked out and ran properties. Ultimately, they came in with a viable solution. 1518 02:03:29,670 --> 02:03:34,890 40% of the units are designated for workforce housing, which is desperately needed out there. 1519 02:03:35,410 --> 02:03:41,990 As you know, there are 220 sub-businesses in quansit, approximately 15,000 employees that will be 1520 02:03:41,990 --> 02:03:45,530 as I understand 18,000 employees by the end of the year. 1521 02:03:46,150 --> 02:03:48,850 Housing is desperately needed for those folks. 1522 02:03:49,310 --> 02:03:51,290 At least 10% of the units will be reserved 1523 02:03:51,290 --> 02:03:53,110 for low and moderate income housing. 1524 02:03:54,770 --> 02:03:57,330 And preference will be given for, of course, 1525 02:03:57,490 --> 02:04:00,450 business part employees, local governments, 1526 02:04:00,650 --> 02:04:02,470 and those within a 25 mile radius. 1527 02:04:04,050 --> 02:04:07,410 Construction will begin in late 2027. 1528 02:04:08,550 --> 02:04:18,190 Again, this was approved through back in 2022 with the North Kingston Planning Department and the QDC Board. 1529 02:04:18,730 --> 02:04:26,450 Pilot money, as you know, our taxes have not increased in three years now in large part to a number of things, 1530 02:04:27,250 --> 02:04:29,110 but pilot money from my quansit. 1531 02:04:29,190 --> 02:04:34,370 This will put us over $15 million as I understand it for pilot money from my quansit, 1532 02:04:34,370 --> 02:04:44,070 specifically for this project $270,000 annual in pilot money, that was voted on and approved. 1533 02:04:45,350 --> 02:04:50,190 Other things that go on are of course the Rhode Island Reddy Program, 1534 02:04:52,650 --> 02:04:53,530 and that involves 1535 02:04:53,530 --> 02:04:59,970 that's probably 50 or so, 50 or so businesses throughout the state from. 1536 02:05:00,000 --> 02:05:07,780 A $400 million grant, which helps with technical assistance and pre-permating, which is a beauty of that program. 1537 02:05:11,400 --> 02:05:19,260 Good evening, everyone. David Myle, your other representatives to the QDC. 1538 02:05:21,460 --> 02:05:28,980 And my comments will not be as interesting or passionate as those that spoke about the flood cameras and about the pet store. 1539 02:05:28,980 --> 02:05:32,260 really very impressed with the speakers tonight. 1540 02:05:34,120 --> 02:05:38,680 So, by the way, this meeting was held July 21st of the QDC Board. 1541 02:05:38,780 --> 02:05:40,020 There was no August meeting. 1542 02:05:40,080 --> 02:05:42,780 The August meeting was canceled, so next meetings in September. 1543 02:05:43,440 --> 02:05:48,260 I don't want to make a quick comment on the Gateway Housing project that Randy talked about. 1544 02:05:49,620 --> 02:05:52,320 Within the materials that were provided for the board meeting 1545 02:05:52,320 --> 02:05:55,200 was background information on the Gateway Housing project. 1546 02:05:55,200 --> 02:06:08,200 It indicated that the North King's Town Plan and Commission held 4 separate publicly noticed meetings in public hearings on the matter and approve the major variants on May 16, 2023. 1547 02:06:08,860 --> 02:06:12,460 It doesn't say anywhere that it was limited to 120 units. 1548 02:06:13,040 --> 02:06:17,460 So when this all came up after the fact that it was news to ram the NI. 1549 02:06:17,940 --> 02:06:22,080 So to me, that's kind of a deficient background information. 1550 02:06:22,680 --> 02:06:24,260 I would agree with that. 1551 02:06:24,420 --> 02:06:25,920 Just by point of clarity. 1552 02:06:26,760 --> 02:06:29,840 So I was a little upset with that. 1553 02:06:30,500 --> 02:06:32,540 But enough about that. 1554 02:06:34,080 --> 02:06:37,820 As part of the package that we get for our meetings, there's a staff report. 1555 02:06:38,620 --> 02:06:42,180 And part of the staff report includes a rail summary. 1556 02:06:42,740 --> 02:06:44,540 And that's in every report that we get. 1557 02:06:44,860 --> 02:06:50,720 And that is the rail car loads for the month or the previous months before the meeting 1558 02:06:50,720 --> 02:06:53,100 for the various businesses and concepts. 1559 02:06:53,820 --> 02:06:55,940 So when I was doing my due to diligence for the meeting, 1560 02:06:56,500 --> 02:06:58,220 I go through the packet very thoroughly. 1561 02:06:58,940 --> 02:07:03,060 I noted that from May, 2026 to June, 2026, 1562 02:07:03,540 --> 02:07:11,440 the number of Bicchumar carloads went from 14 in May to 64 in June. 1563 02:07:12,300 --> 02:07:13,420 So that got my attention. 1564 02:07:14,800 --> 02:07:18,500 So at the meeting, I asked Steve King, 1565 02:07:18,500 --> 02:07:27,400 Can this increased activity be attributed to the cause of the increased complaints that we're hearing for residents to me? 1566 02:07:27,640 --> 02:07:29,500 It's pretty simple math. 1567 02:07:30,300 --> 02:07:34,760 Indeed, King's response was up to the time of that meeting, which was July 21. 1568 02:07:35,240 --> 02:07:37,040 The complaints were actually down, he said. 1569 02:07:37,120 --> 02:07:40,820 There were only 13 complaints and four were from the same resident. 1570 02:07:41,300 --> 02:07:43,760 So he kind of tried to diminish it. 1571 02:07:43,760 --> 02:07:53,740 He also offered up that Bichumar has engaged a consulting firm to address the situation and they have lowered the temperatures of the car's untransfer 1572 02:07:53,740 --> 02:07:57,760 and they are deodorizing the car's when emptied. 1573 02:07:58,120 --> 02:08:07,080 So that was the response, but clearly the latest action by DEM shows that whatever steps Bichumar is taking are not working. 1574 02:08:07,080 --> 02:08:14,220 So, for my standpoint, if bitch-more cannot eliminate this nuisance to the surrounding 1575 02:08:14,220 --> 02:08:17,140 neighborhoods, then they need to be shut down. 1576 02:08:23,160 --> 02:08:24,240 Right, can I? 1577 02:08:24,240 --> 02:08:25,400 I will say that. 1578 02:08:26,140 --> 02:08:33,080 I was just going to follow up, because I call it all the correspondence, and I made a specific 1579 02:08:33,080 --> 02:08:39,200 note on the number of asphalt complaints for the past five weeks, which is the amount 1580 02:08:39,200 --> 02:08:46,200 time since the last meeting. There were quite a bit fewer complaints sent to the council 1581 02:08:46,200 --> 02:08:52,800 than the previous five weeks. But before that, it was about the same. So it really 1582 02:08:52,800 --> 02:09:00,160 rose between about early June to early July. That does correlate. Yes, with our numbers. 1583 02:09:01,180 --> 02:09:07,040 And when the governor was here, that's exactly what he said, too, by the way. So one question for 1584 02:09:07,040 --> 02:09:10,020 I'm sorry Matt, do you want to come in? 1585 02:09:10,140 --> 02:09:10,680 I do. 1586 02:09:11,360 --> 02:09:15,360 So first off, Bichemar never should have been in West Davisville. 1587 02:09:17,160 --> 02:09:27,680 The efforts to make the asphalt smell better or smell less in my view or BS. 1588 02:09:28,960 --> 02:09:30,420 You're still dealing with asphalt. 1589 02:09:31,260 --> 02:09:35,340 If you go to Bichemar's website and look at the products 1590 02:09:35,340 --> 02:09:42,220 that they're bringing into North Kingston, the products safety data sheets, say that they're 1591 02:09:42,980 --> 02:09:51,100 possible carcinogenic products. So it doesn't matter how great it smells or how less it smells 1592 02:09:51,660 --> 02:09:56,260 if people can still ingest it. That's the health concern. 1593 02:09:58,280 --> 02:09:59,980 So the thing that I'm interested 1594 02:10:00,000 --> 02:10:10,660 And with the two of you, is because DEM has now cited the company for a notice violation. 1595 02:10:11,820 --> 02:10:23,400 I'm interested in learning what the terms and conditions are that impact the termination of the lease for a bitchmark at West Davisville. 1596 02:10:23,400 --> 02:10:40,200 So how many more violations, what significant level of violations, I think that we, the town council and the public need to know, you know, first off this shouldn't go on indefinitely, and I was glad that we finally got a report from DEM. 1597 02:10:40,640 --> 02:10:45,720 But I think the $8,500 fine is also insufficient. 1598 02:10:50,720 --> 02:11:01,120 But I think we need to continue to push to terminate their lease and their business over 1599 02:11:01,120 --> 02:11:02,080 there at West Davis. 1600 02:11:02,380 --> 02:11:10,360 We would certainly look at the approval that QDC provided for them, but to my understanding 1601 02:11:10,360 --> 02:11:13,060 without looking at it, they have to be in compliance. 1602 02:11:13,580 --> 02:11:16,960 And if they're not, that is grounds for termination of the lease. 1603 02:11:21,580 --> 02:11:30,520 Was your ethics, did your ethics trading and corporate QDCs, statutory obligation to foster 1604 02:11:30,520 --> 02:11:34,480 and maintain an effective working relationship with the host community? 1605 02:11:35,980 --> 02:11:41,380 It did not, but I raised it during the training. 1606 02:11:41,600 --> 02:11:46,580 The training was done by QDC's Council Hinkley Allen, and I brought that up as a point 1607 02:11:46,580 --> 02:11:47,260 during the training. 1608 02:11:47,260 --> 02:11:51,960 and what it was their response. It's disappointing, by the way, that didn't mention it, but 1609 02:11:51,960 --> 02:11:54,720 what was your response? Dolly noted. 1610 02:11:59,640 --> 02:12:02,260 Any other questions? I think we will set. We'll take a five-minute 1611 02:12:02,260 --> 02:12:02,740 break. 1612 02:12:12,870 --> 02:12:19,710 We're going to start up again. We'll have a lot of items. We want to do them thoroughly. We 1613 02:12:19,710 --> 02:12:30,110 I'm going to start out with a agenda item requested by Council of McCoy on discussion of possible action of flat cameras and both Kingstown. 1614 02:12:31,390 --> 02:12:32,190 Go ahead and still McCoy. 1615 02:12:33,210 --> 02:12:34,670 All right, thank you President Nancy. 1616 02:12:35,810 --> 02:12:43,330 So first off, I'm not going to, I asked for this to be discussed tonight because I'm not going to be here for our next meeting in September. 1617 02:12:43,330 --> 02:12:51,250 I will be in Washington, D.C., and I didn't want to wait until the second meeting in September 1618 02:12:51,250 --> 02:12:52,490 to have this discussion. 1619 02:12:52,790 --> 02:12:56,530 I think this is an important issue that needs our attention immediately. 1620 02:12:56,950 --> 02:13:02,970 So, I have some prepared statement that I'd like to read. 1621 02:13:05,930 --> 02:13:11,210 As an elected official of this town, I take the matter of public safety very seriously. 1622 02:13:11,950 --> 02:13:19,870 If you look at my voting record as a member of this town council, I have consistently voted in favor of providing our first responders, 1623 02:13:20,590 --> 02:13:26,550 with all the equipment, resources, and infrastructure that they have requested during my tenure in office. 1624 02:13:29,080 --> 02:13:41,000 On October 30th, 2023, I was one of five town council members who voted five to zero to approve the initial one year contract with lock safety for six 1625 02:13:41,000 --> 02:13:48,500 flock automated license plate readers. Prior to our meeting, members of the town council were 1626 02:13:48,500 --> 02:13:53,420 provided with a product literature from flock safety that highlighted the benefits of the system 1627 02:13:53,420 --> 02:14:01,200 in cases of amber and silver alerts and other law enforcement cases. During our meeting, 1628 02:14:01,940 --> 02:14:06,940 then acting police chief John Urban and Detective Captain Jeff Seenonch of the North King's 1629 02:14:06,940 --> 02:14:11,820 Sound Police Department gave a short presentation on the flock system. 1630 02:14:14,020 --> 02:14:22,320 The town council members also, who were present at the time, had several questions for the 1631 02:14:22,320 --> 02:14:26,500 chief and for detective captains, a nonge. 1632 02:14:27,500 --> 02:14:34,260 And then bottom line is we receive no letters or public comment, written or oral either 1633 02:14:34,260 --> 02:14:37,520 against the use of flock APRs at that meeting. 1634 02:14:40,700 --> 02:14:43,820 Since that time, much has changed in our nation. 1635 02:14:44,680 --> 02:14:46,760 Much of it, I find very unsettling. 1636 02:14:48,480 --> 02:14:51,840 As a result, America's trust in its government at the federal 1637 02:14:51,840 --> 02:14:54,500 state and municipal levels has been diminished. 1638 02:14:56,200 --> 02:14:59,960 America's trust in federal state and local law enforcement has also been 1639 02:15:02,160 --> 02:15:08,760 America's trust in the use of systems, like flock, automatic license plate renner, readers, has diminished. 1640 02:15:10,540 --> 02:15:18,060 In the past several years, we have witnessed things in our country that we would never have believed could have happened in the United States. 1641 02:15:19,320 --> 02:15:21,580 I fear that things could get worse in the future. 1642 02:15:24,850 --> 02:15:30,770 Since October 2023, we've had some changes to the membership of the North King's Town Town Council. 1643 02:15:30,770 --> 02:15:38,530 Two of my fellow counselors, Katie Anderson and Larry Mandel, have left the council, two more 1644 02:15:38,530 --> 02:15:42,310 Beth Hill Ross and Linnea Drew were elected to take their places. 1645 02:15:43,570 --> 02:15:49,230 Neither Beth nor Linnea were involved in the initial approval of the initial flock contract 1646 02:15:49,230 --> 02:15:54,830 and will have the opportunity tonight to go on the record about the topic of the use of automated 1647 02:15:54,830 --> 02:15:56,010 license plate readers. 1648 02:15:58,820 --> 02:16:01,580 Among the five elected officials seated here tonight, 1649 02:16:01,580 --> 02:16:05,820 I am the only one who has served in the U.S. military. 1650 02:16:07,520 --> 02:16:11,160 I am the only one that has held a top secret sensitive compartment 1651 02:16:11,160 --> 02:16:13,240 at information security clearance. 1652 02:16:14,720 --> 02:16:19,440 I'm the only one who has experienced working on networked intelligence, 1653 02:16:19,780 --> 02:16:23,560 surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting systems for the U.S. military. 1654 02:16:24,760 --> 02:16:29,100 I'm the only one here who has tested and evaluated surveillance systems 1655 02:16:29,100 --> 02:16:31,940 used for national defense and homeland security. 1656 02:16:34,380 --> 02:16:37,560 I'm the only one who has worked as a systems engineer 1657 02:16:37,560 --> 02:16:39,900 in an aerospace and defense industry that 1658 02:16:39,900 --> 02:16:43,200 designs and builds integrated surveillance systems. 1659 02:16:44,900 --> 02:16:48,180 Based on my knowledge and experience in these areas, 1660 02:16:49,060 --> 02:16:52,100 in my discussions with legislators, policymakers, 1661 02:16:52,900 --> 02:16:56,340 and our constituents, I have become increasingly 1662 02:16:56,340 --> 02:17:00,300 concerned about the integrated and national surveillance 1663 02:17:00,300 --> 02:17:06,580 network of automated license plate readers that flock safety and other companies are building. 1664 02:17:07,860 --> 02:17:10,060 All in the name of increased public safety. 1665 02:17:12,300 --> 02:17:17,660 While there is no denying the positive use of the system like flock APRs, ALPRs, 1666 02:17:18,560 --> 02:17:24,800 there is also no denying the potential for abuse and misuse of this technology by members of federal 1667 02:17:24,800 --> 02:17:26,620 state and local law enforcement. 1668 02:17:30,210 --> 02:17:32,970 When a well-respected organization like the Americans 1669 02:17:32,970 --> 02:17:40,610 civil liberties union mounts a nationwide campaign against the use of ALPR technology. 1670 02:17:41,330 --> 02:17:42,650 It must be taken seriously. 1671 02:17:44,370 --> 02:17:51,390 Since January 1920, the ACLU has fought to defend and protect the civil liberties of 1672 02:17:51,390 --> 02:17:52,050 all Americans. 1673 02:17:53,550 --> 02:17:59,020 That is why I ask for this matter to be placed on tonight's meeting agenda, and why I'm 1674 02:17:59,020 --> 02:18:02,640 for us as an elected body to act tonight. 1675 02:18:04,740 --> 02:18:07,960 I have listened, heard, and understand the concerns 1676 02:18:07,960 --> 02:18:13,960 of our citizens who have contacted us about this issue, and I look forward to hearing 1677 02:18:13,960 --> 02:18:20,080 your thoughts on this matter. I have a motion to make, 1678 02:18:30,250 --> 02:18:31,790 President Mancini, and members of 1679 02:18:31,790 --> 02:18:36,450 council. I move that the town of North Kingston immediately 1680 02:18:36,450 --> 02:18:41,230 cancels any and all existing contracts with automated license plate 1681 02:18:41,230 --> 02:18:47,870 reader vendors not limited to flock safety and that no new 1682 02:18:47,870 --> 02:18:52,270 contracts for automatic license plate reader systems be entered into by 1683 02:18:52,270 --> 02:19:00,610 the town of North Kingston without the express permission of the 1684 02:19:00,610 --> 02:19:08,290 Automatic license plate readers regardless of make-model or vendor owned and operated by the North Kingstown Police Department 1685 02:19:08,290 --> 02:19:22,590 be immediately disabled and made non-operational and that all installed automatic license plate readers regardless of make-model or vendor owned and operated by the North Kingstown Police Department 1686 02:19:22,590 --> 02:19:30,310 be permanently removed from their installed locations within the town of North Kingstown within 30 days of this motion 1687 02:19:30,310 --> 02:19:37,570 passing, and that all installed automatic license plate readers, regardless of make-model, or vendor, 1688 02:19:37,870 --> 02:19:42,590 owned and operated by the Rhode Island State Police, be permanently removed from their installed 1689 02:19:42,590 --> 02:19:48,210 locations within the town of North Kingston, within 30 days of this motion passing. 1690 02:19:49,790 --> 02:19:54,150 And that the Director of Public Safety for the town of North Kingston, provide the members 1691 02:19:54,150 --> 02:19:58,710 of the North Kingston Town Council with a written confirmation that these actions listed 1692 02:19:58,710 --> 02:19:59,970 above have been taken. 1693 02:20:00,000 --> 02:20:09,740 Take in their entirety and written certification that there are no automatic license plate readers installed and operating within the town of North Kingston. 1694 02:20:11,520 --> 02:20:12,420 Do I have a second? 1695 02:20:12,660 --> 02:20:13,040 Second? 1696 02:20:19,390 --> 02:20:21,610 Okay. Discussion? 1697 02:20:22,770 --> 02:20:26,670 So I'd like to start the discussion by saying, I think. 1698 02:20:27,410 --> 02:20:29,570 Okay. Well, let me just amplify. 1699 02:20:29,570 --> 02:20:39,550 so I don't recommend this motion lightly. It's not just based on the one hand out that we got from 1700 02:20:39,550 --> 02:20:49,230 chief urban. It's not just based on a few Facebook posts. I have read both of the letters from the ACLU that 1701 02:20:49,230 --> 02:20:56,160 were sent to us. I've read the letters that the ACLU has sent to other municipalities. I've read the 1702 02:20:56,160 --> 02:21:03,040 testimony that ACLU has provided to both the Senate and the House Judiciary Committee, 1703 02:21:03,840 --> 02:21:13,000 with regards to the three bills that were presented in 2 in 2026 and 1 in 2022. 1704 02:21:15,480 --> 02:21:17,880 I have read the technical data. 1705 02:21:17,880 --> 02:21:26,780 I have looked at the general orders for the North Kingstown town police. 1706 02:21:27,500 --> 02:21:32,380 I have looked at the internal affairs reports for the North Kingstown police. 1707 02:21:33,020 --> 02:21:40,100 I have read the testimony of other entities such as MSD International, 1708 02:21:40,100 --> 02:21:46,920 Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1709 02:21:47,620 --> 02:21:56,620 Rhode Island Coalition for Reproductive Freedom, and so collectively based on my knowledge and 1710 02:21:56,620 --> 02:22:04,160 experience of these types of systems, how they can be networked, integrated, cyber vulnerabilities, 1711 02:22:04,160 --> 02:22:09,980 these, many of the things that we're discussed by people who gave public comment today. 1712 02:22:11,220 --> 02:22:19,220 That is why I am in support of my motion and recommend that we pass it this evening. 1713 02:22:20,920 --> 02:22:21,920 Does anyone else have any comments? 1714 02:22:23,480 --> 02:22:23,520 Yes. 1715 02:22:25,060 --> 02:22:33,840 So Matt, I was sort of thinking after hearing everybody speak tonight, I can understand as to why 1716 02:22:34,680 --> 02:22:38,900 you and I can understand why we want to have a 1717 02:22:38,900 --> 02:22:41,580 stoppage of this right now until we further look into this. 1718 02:22:41,900 --> 02:22:45,620 I realize that your motion states that you want to get rid of them all together. 1719 02:22:46,260 --> 02:22:49,960 I do think that we have people who we appoint 1720 02:22:49,960 --> 02:22:53,600 who are heads of offices that it would be good to 1721 02:22:53,600 --> 02:22:56,960 basically say to them and we respect what you have to say 1722 02:22:56,960 --> 02:22:59,700 and therefore we want to hear it before we take a motion. 1723 02:23:00,320 --> 02:23:02,360 And so I would like to hear from the chief. 1724 02:23:02,360 --> 02:23:06,840 even if I have decided after hearing everyone that I'm not going on with any more 1725 02:23:06,840 --> 02:23:11,380 flock cameras, I still think we ought to give him the respect to say, hey, we want to 1726 02:23:11,380 --> 02:23:14,500 hear your side of this before we terminate it all together. 1727 02:23:15,260 --> 02:23:20,920 And so I'm okay with saying here tonight, we're going to suspend the use of them now. 1728 02:23:21,200 --> 02:23:24,640 And I know you're not going to be at the next meeting, but we could easily say, 1729 02:23:24,800 --> 02:23:30,060 and we'll suspend this until September 28th meeting, at which time if you're going to be 1730 02:23:30,060 --> 02:23:42,280 October. He's going for the September he's going for the September he's going to be going on the first meeting. We could have it at the second meeting and then it would be the sort of thing of not only 1731 02:23:42,280 --> 02:23:56,120 You know, it's it's this sort of thing we stop it for now and then but we don't necessarily cancel the contract into after we hear from the chief because I do think like I said he is our person who is in charge of public enforcement 1732 02:23:56,120 --> 02:24:03,720 We approved this a number of years ago based on his recommendation now it did go for more than the year that we originally allowed it 1733 02:24:03,720 --> 02:24:10,660 So I'm not going to sit here and I'm not saying that I will support the flock cameras after hearing everyone tonight 1734 02:24:10,660 --> 02:24:18,280 But I think we should listen to our person who is in charge of public safety before we totally terminate this without any input from them 1735 02:24:18,280 --> 02:24:21,960 And that's I think the key thing here is I want his input and 1736 02:24:21,960 --> 02:24:23,880 I'm going to change my mind. 1737 02:24:24,420 --> 02:24:32,660 So I would counter with the fact that the chief has given his input in a op-ed or LTE that was published in the local paper. 1738 02:24:33,980 --> 02:24:45,240 I respect Chief Urban and I'm usually in agreement with you as far as we pick good people and let them do their jobs, right? 1739 02:24:45,240 --> 02:24:51,440 But this is a case where they recommended a system to us. 1740 02:24:52,280 --> 02:24:56,460 We did not have a vigorous debate about protecting civil liberties. 1741 02:24:58,740 --> 02:24:59,780 We were not informed. 1742 02:25:00,000 --> 02:25:02,320 The contract was renewed. 1743 02:25:04,980 --> 02:25:12,400 The other piece that happened here in our town is that the North 1744 02:25:12,400 --> 02:25:18,900 King's town police have also acquired a drone system without coming to us for our permission 1745 02:25:18,900 --> 02:25:28,040 to buy that. So I think that, you know, I respect the chief, I respect the police department 1746 02:25:28,040 --> 02:25:36,260 And like I said in my comments earlier, we have work very hard to give them the tools they need to perform their law enforcement functions. 1747 02:25:36,680 --> 02:25:47,700 And I doubt very seriously that the chief is going to come to you with anything but disagreement on getting rid of this. 1748 02:25:47,700 --> 02:26:07,060 So, let me comment, first of all, initially I did look into the civility challenges of this legislation, or ordinance, or contract, I should say, and the ACLU had it opportunity to weigh in in 2023, I expressly made them aware they chose not to. 1749 02:26:07,060 --> 02:26:09,540 Tonight, we finish, please. 1750 02:26:10,600 --> 02:26:17,160 Tonight, I asked the representative of the ACLU if there were certain conditions in which 1751 02:26:17,160 --> 02:26:26,400 they would accept the flock cameras and they said yes, and it's based on the legislation that they had submitted. 1752 02:26:26,920 --> 02:26:35,760 So my question, the chief would be, can we work out a compromise with the ACLU standards? 1753 02:26:37,240 --> 02:26:42,540 that would be acceptable to law enforcement. I don't know the answer to that. And I'm 1754 02:26:42,540 --> 02:26:46,000 not going to get the answer to that. Right. So can I comment on that? 1755 02:26:48,200 --> 02:26:48,560 So, you know, 1756 02:26:48,640 --> 02:26:50,160 per my earlier statement, 1757 02:26:53,720 --> 02:26:57,440 my concerns are not primarily with the North King's town police 1758 02:26:57,440 --> 02:27:03,140 department, right? They have a general order that talks about how the system is supposed 1759 02:27:03,140 --> 02:27:03,960 to be used. 1760 02:27:06,100 --> 02:27:11,500 They have an audit program. Okay. The police department has provided us with copies 1761 02:27:11,500 --> 02:27:16,980 of the audits. I believe there is three or four of them. I have reviewed those. I have also 1762 02:27:16,980 --> 02:27:23,580 reviewed the internal fares reports for every year, which are posted on the North Kingston Police 1763 02:27:23,580 --> 02:27:30,860 Department website, which indicates that as much as we like all the members of our police 1764 02:27:30,860 --> 02:27:36,200 Department, there are cases where sometimes people in the department don't follow the rules. 1765 02:27:39,760 --> 02:27:49,760 So I'm more concerned about the fact that the data from these systems are put into 1766 02:27:49,760 --> 02:27:57,280 a network, whether it's a statewide network, a national network, that the question was brought 1767 02:27:57,280 --> 02:28:00,260 up earlier about who's looking at the data, right? 1768 02:28:00,260 --> 02:28:09,320 We may have a local policy that says we don't allow ice to look at our data, okay, but that doesn't mean that ice isn't looking at our data, okay? 1769 02:28:09,440 --> 02:28:12,560 The technology exists for them to do that. 1770 02:28:13,740 --> 02:28:16,140 And so, you know, that's not conspiracy theory. 1771 02:28:16,320 --> 02:28:21,200 We had a couple software engineers here and other people talked to those kind of things earlier. 1772 02:28:22,040 --> 02:28:34,320 So, from a civil liberties perspective I think that the best course of action, the best policy is for us to terminate our contract. 1773 02:28:34,840 --> 02:28:40,320 Yeah, I don't think the ACLU would sign off on a piece of legislation that's going to allow any communities. 1774 02:28:40,540 --> 02:28:44,680 Well, we have their rep right here sitting in the back, so we can ask them. 1775 02:28:45,580 --> 02:28:49,160 And we're in deliberations now, so I'm not going to ask. 1776 02:28:49,200 --> 02:28:52,980 What is things we need to be thinking about is not only that the message that we 1777 02:28:52,980 --> 02:28:57,680 send to our constituents in that they're saying, hey, we don't want our civil liberties 1778 02:28:57,680 --> 02:28:58,060 violate. 1779 02:28:58,340 --> 02:29:03,140 But what sort of message do we also send to our police officers in that, you know, if we just 1780 02:29:03,140 --> 02:29:06,780 say we're cutting you off, we're not doing anything, but we don't tell them what they can 1781 02:29:06,780 --> 02:29:07,420 do. 1782 02:29:07,740 --> 02:29:08,680 You know, it's a sort of thing. 1783 02:29:08,800 --> 02:29:13,620 We need to have by having something that comes from the ACLU, we can say, this is what 1784 02:29:13,620 --> 02:29:15,940 You can't do, but this is what you can do. 1785 02:29:16,240 --> 02:29:17,160 It's both ways. 1786 02:29:17,320 --> 02:29:20,380 We want to make sure that not only do our citizens 1787 02:29:20,380 --> 02:29:22,000 understand we're protecting them, 1788 02:29:22,160 --> 02:29:24,220 but also that the police know where does that 1789 02:29:24,220 --> 02:29:26,460 how much does that protection go? 1790 02:29:26,800 --> 02:29:28,460 And that's another reason why I would say, 1791 02:29:28,660 --> 02:29:31,480 if we wait until the 28th, 1792 02:29:31,480 --> 02:29:33,420 when our second meeting is in September, 1793 02:29:34,200 --> 02:29:35,240 we can get better clarification. 1794 02:29:35,580 --> 02:29:37,620 Like I said, I have no problems with voting tonight 1795 02:29:37,620 --> 02:29:39,840 to say we're stopping the fall cameras 1796 02:29:39,840 --> 02:29:42,080 until we come back on the 28th. 1797 02:29:42,080 --> 02:29:47,400 And then in the 28th, more information, more things to be making sure that we're protecting 1798 02:29:47,400 --> 02:29:53,100 our citizens, but also to understand what the police know are the boundaries in terms 1799 02:29:53,100 --> 02:29:53,760 of surveillance. 1800 02:29:54,660 --> 02:29:55,300 Right. 1801 02:29:55,300 --> 02:29:55,820 I think. 1802 02:29:56,300 --> 02:29:56,600 Good. 1803 02:29:56,600 --> 02:29:59,980 So I think in my mind there's 1804 02:30:00,000 --> 02:30:07,900 Three issues, none of which are refutable by the chief and two of which are not constrained to the town of North King's town. 1805 02:30:08,940 --> 02:30:17,320 So I think the tenant of First UNO harm applies here, which is explicitly not a law enforcement tenant. It's a healthcare one, but we're not law enforcement officers. 1806 02:30:18,340 --> 02:30:25,360 And these tools and they are tools. They have the potential for great harm to innocent people. 1807 02:30:25,360 --> 02:30:32,700 And yes, they're effective, that I don't think anyone up here would refute that excuse me. 1808 02:30:33,160 --> 02:30:40,060 They are effective, but there's a cost and the cost is potentially and demonstrably innocent people. 1809 02:30:41,900 --> 02:30:48,760 And in a, you know, in a post by the police department, they mentioned that these are tools that the police department can use it, 1810 02:30:48,760 --> 02:30:53,840 not replace good old fashion police work, so I think what they can do is, you know, what 1811 02:30:53,840 --> 02:30:59,440 they referred to as good old fashion police work and not use tools that can harm people. 1812 02:31:00,300 --> 02:31:06,140 The second is about community trust in a previous issue that came up over the winter that 1813 02:31:06,140 --> 02:31:08,220 was that involved the police department. 1814 02:31:10,380 --> 02:31:15,100 You know, the chief talked a lot about their priority 1815 02:31:15,100 --> 02:31:22,320 being that the community trusts in the police enough that they'll go to them with a problem, 1816 02:31:22,500 --> 02:31:29,620 a concern, a crime, whatever. And what I think we're hearing from the residents is that 1817 02:31:29,620 --> 02:31:36,380 this erodes their trust. And that is, according to the chief, really important to the department, 1818 02:31:36,440 --> 02:31:42,820 and I believe that. And so I don't think that we should continue a practice that erodes the trust 1819 02:31:42,820 --> 02:31:49,620 the community in our law enforcement. And the third is that, you know, some of the arguments 1820 02:31:49,620 --> 02:31:54,260 are that we're already being tracked, so what's one other thing, right? But that's something that 1821 02:31:54,260 --> 02:31:58,720 we're opting in. You don't have to have a cell phone. I mean, probably makes you laugh a lot harder, 1822 02:31:59,280 --> 02:32:04,380 but that is a personal choice. I don't think that the town of North King's town should be 1823 02:32:04,380 --> 02:32:13,020 party to surveillance that is operated by a for-profit company that's bound to its profits 1824 02:32:13,020 --> 02:32:16,240 and its shareholders and not to the people. 1825 02:32:17,600 --> 02:32:20,420 So I would like to see the contract terminated. 1826 02:32:21,480 --> 02:32:21,680 Okay. 1827 02:32:21,740 --> 02:32:23,540 Why don't we take a roll, call a Madam Clerk? 1828 02:32:34,810 --> 02:32:41,130 Mr. Mancene, Leanna Drew, Elizabeth O'Wass, Kimberly Ampage, Matthew B. McCoy. 1829 02:32:41,870 --> 02:32:44,890 Why don't you call the roll by each one individually? 1830 02:32:44,890 --> 02:32:49,590 so they can vote for the public. So I'll have to start with Leneia. 1831 02:32:49,750 --> 02:32:54,510 Lene Andrew, I vote yes on this motion. Matthew McCoy. 1832 02:32:56,530 --> 02:32:57,170 Greg Manzini. 1833 02:32:58,290 --> 02:32:59,630 I vote no. 1834 02:33:00,210 --> 02:33:01,550 Matthew Ross, yes. 1835 02:33:02,290 --> 02:33:02,870 And Tim Page. 1836 02:33:07,880 --> 02:33:08,680 Oh, it's past. 1837 02:33:10,300 --> 02:33:12,000 It's a terminated realm. 1838 02:33:12,180 --> 02:33:12,860 Terminated the country. 1839 02:33:23,860 --> 02:33:33,940 I think it's an issue of due process for our, I think, Kim, you listed it very well, so I don't think it's a matter of, this is an issue of flux, I think it's a matter of process. 1840 02:33:34,740 --> 02:33:38,940 Yeah, it's, like I said, I don't like these cameras, but I don't need that. 1841 02:33:39,420 --> 02:33:42,900 It is the sort of thing we could, we could make for it. 1842 02:33:42,900 --> 02:33:44,040 And she's me, 1843 02:33:46,700 --> 02:33:58,460 I think that for our department, our police department, police department serves our people. 1844 02:34:01,490 --> 02:34:02,090 We're going to move on. 1845 02:34:02,110 --> 02:34:04,790 We're going to move on. 1846 02:34:05,330 --> 02:34:10,190 Update, the numerous complaints received from the town left king's town in D.E.M. 1847 02:34:10,370 --> 02:34:12,650 On the unacceptable asphalt smell. 1848 02:34:12,650 --> 02:34:18,170 I think Ralph, you kind of covered that, but I still want to put on the agenda. 1849 02:34:18,930 --> 02:34:23,830 I think that that has resulted in getting the governor here. 1850 02:34:24,110 --> 02:34:28,210 There's resulted in DM doing extra off-hours inspections, 1851 02:34:29,330 --> 02:34:33,410 and also has resulted in a meeting that we will have with him tomorrow. 1852 02:34:35,350 --> 02:34:39,610 So I don't have much to add other than where you said, 1853 02:34:39,610 --> 02:34:48,590 We'll have a meeting tomorrow and we'll see if we can resolve this and they can eradicate their challenges or their problems. 1854 02:34:49,770 --> 02:34:51,550 I have a comment on this. 1855 02:34:52,690 --> 02:34:54,630 So we have a request. 1856 02:34:56,650 --> 02:34:59,210 I mean it's great that they've issued a notice violation. 1857 02:35:00,000 --> 02:35:13,780 But we have requested from them information about their investigation of all the specific dates that people said that they smelled asphalt. 1858 02:35:15,500 --> 02:35:24,800 We've requested information on how they have conducted their measurements, short of just somebody, this smells bad. 1859 02:35:26,000 --> 02:35:34,500 We've requested the qualitative quantitative data that they're using, and initially I was told 1860 02:35:34,500 --> 02:35:38,980 that we couldn't have this because the investigation was still ongoing. 1861 02:35:39,840 --> 02:35:54,780 Now that they've issued a notice of violation, I believe that the EM should respond to the 1862 02:35:54,780 --> 02:36:02,040 about what they tested for, what the standard was and how close their observations came to 1863 02:36:02,040 --> 02:36:03,760 meeting or exceeding those standards. 1864 02:36:07,320 --> 02:36:11,900 Okay, and I would ask that get brought up at tomorrow's meeting. 1865 02:36:14,800 --> 02:36:20,300 With DEM will not be at tomorrow's meeting. Yeah, all right. Well, whenever you communicate with 1866 02:36:20,300 --> 02:36:21,000 them next, 1867 02:36:23,310 --> 02:36:26,730 and when with that for your L-F-E-Think, I'd be communicating in tomorrow. I'd 1868 02:36:26,730 --> 02:36:31,010 this information, but they've been very clear that the investigation is ongoing and so they're 1869 02:36:31,010 --> 02:36:34,650 not going to share that data. The fact that the given notice of violation does not mean 1870 02:36:34,650 --> 02:36:41,850 their investigation has ceased. So I have asked. Okay, but a little bit. Roger that, but like 1871 02:36:41,850 --> 02:36:49,130 certain elements that like silver instance, a listing of what they're would measure for and what 1872 02:36:49,130 --> 02:36:54,370 this standards are for those things. So, you know, looking at the products, safety data sheets 1873 02:36:54,370 --> 02:36:58,230 for asphalt, you should have certain chemical compositions 1874 02:36:58,230 --> 02:37:00,070 that they would be testing for. 1875 02:37:01,010 --> 02:37:04,990 So there are process of how they test for that. 1876 02:37:05,070 --> 02:37:09,290 The standards that they're testing for should not be impactful 1877 02:37:09,290 --> 02:37:10,630 on the investigation. 1878 02:37:11,490 --> 02:37:12,750 I'm not saying I disagree. 1879 02:37:12,810 --> 02:37:14,650 I'm saying that we have asked three times 1880 02:37:14,650 --> 02:37:16,970 and we have not received the information. 1881 02:37:18,090 --> 02:37:22,810 OK, well, does it take individuals to submit 1882 02:37:24,230 --> 02:37:28,030 I don't know if there would be, I think there'd probably be an 1883 02:37:28,030 --> 02:37:30,710 example from an upper request because I'm going to investigation. 1884 02:37:31,910 --> 02:37:32,650 That's just my take. 1885 02:37:32,870 --> 02:37:34,630 Something I will talk to this listener about. 1886 02:37:34,750 --> 02:37:38,730 And if it's, he feels that it's an applicable request when more than 1887 02:37:38,730 --> 02:37:41,110 happy to the town can do that work. 1888 02:37:41,110 --> 02:37:41,830 That's what we're here for. 1889 02:37:41,910 --> 02:37:43,570 I will submit the upper on behalf of the council. 1890 02:37:44,150 --> 02:37:44,610 I just don't know. 1891 02:37:44,730 --> 02:37:45,610 I'll let you know the responses. 1892 02:37:46,770 --> 02:37:47,490 Thank you. 1893 02:37:50,270 --> 02:37:56,610 All right, and then next is new business, authorization of the time is signed a contract with 1894 02:37:56,610 --> 02:38:03,270 Dimeo, authorizing and noted to proceed with the construction with a GMP gross maximum price 1895 02:38:03,270 --> 02:38:09,930 not to exceed 53 million, what 615,975,000 dollars for the construction of the public safety 1896 02:38:09,930 --> 02:38:14,590 complex, and station one, and I am going to recuse myself, Kim. 1897 02:38:14,810 --> 02:38:15,290 Thank you. 1898 02:38:15,550 --> 02:38:15,810 All right. 1899 02:38:15,810 --> 02:38:18,230 So to you step away, do 1900 02:38:24,630 --> 02:38:25,690 you have anything you want to say about this? 1901 02:38:25,710 --> 02:38:27,930 Definitely, I've spent a couple of minutes on this, but I'll be quick. 1902 02:38:28,050 --> 02:38:31,470 So first, I want to thank the Council for their support and direction at the last meeting. 1903 02:38:31,790 --> 02:38:37,810 I provided a world of information, a very lengthy analysis as to where we stood and you gave some clear direction. 1904 02:38:37,950 --> 02:38:39,190 I do appreciate that. 1905 02:38:39,610 --> 02:38:43,650 I also want to acknowledge as I did early in the manager report, the work of the team, 1906 02:38:43,850 --> 02:38:46,950 a former fighter, chiefs, got to tell chief John Littercree, chief John Irvin, 1907 02:38:46,950 --> 02:38:52,910 members of the Command staff, our architect, our general contractor, a lot of work went into making 1908 02:38:52,910 --> 02:38:57,630 sure that we brought this figure down to a level which we could afford here in North Kingstown. 1909 02:38:58,190 --> 02:39:03,910 At the last meeting, I advised the council that our preliminary GMP came in at 55.9 million. 1910 02:39:04,590 --> 02:39:09,050 When I combined that with the soft course, the technology caused the cost of dispatch, 1911 02:39:09,610 --> 02:39:16,490 site landscaping, architectural fees, contingencies. The total cost was 69,699,899. 1912 02:39:16,970 --> 02:39:19,410 something that was much greater than we had funding for, 1913 02:39:19,550 --> 02:39:21,570 although I really appreciate the council's commitment to the same 1914 02:39:21,570 --> 02:39:23,090 we're going to move forward in this project. 1915 02:39:23,730 --> 02:39:27,250 As a result of concessions about the internal group and work with DBVW, 1916 02:39:27,630 --> 02:39:31,410 with Demio, the GMP figure that you have before you, 1917 02:39:31,410 --> 02:39:35,750 of 53,615,975, is significantly less than the 1918 02:39:35,750 --> 02:39:39,510 almost 56 million GMP because of the work of this team, 1919 02:39:39,910 --> 02:39:42,190 and that brings the pride, and there were additional 1920 02:39:42,690 --> 02:39:46,170 cuts in the soft course, which brings the project total right now 1921 02:39:46,170 --> 02:39:49,270 of $64,923,125. 1922 02:39:50,130 --> 02:39:53,210 As I mentioned in the Council, we're looking for some outside funding. 1923 02:39:53,890 --> 02:39:59,970 $500,000 from our technology fund for the IT upgrades that would have taken place even if we didn't... 1924 02:40:00,000 --> 02:40:04,720 Not have this because our talent's primary server is located at the public safety complex. 1925 02:40:05,580 --> 02:40:11,520 $360,000 from a safe streets grant funding for the traffic warning signal that is going to coincide with the new station. 1926 02:40:12,660 --> 02:40:18,960 $861,000 from restricted bond proceeds, which I'll be coming back to the council for final approval. 1927 02:40:19,280 --> 02:40:24,220 And this will avoid some arbitrage penalties from the IRS. This is a bond that was approved years ago. 1928 02:40:24,220 --> 02:40:29,420 and then a whole four one million dollar federal grant for EOC equipment should we get all that 1929 02:40:29,420 --> 02:40:34,300 that brings the total number to 62.2 million. We're approved for 60 million out of bond. 1930 02:40:34,740 --> 02:40:39,240 At some point, I would have come to the council and asked for approval to use fund balance. 1931 02:40:39,700 --> 02:40:46,660 Of a minimum of 2.2 million, but less than, but maximum of 3.2 should we not get that federal grant. 1932 02:40:47,040 --> 02:40:50,740 This evening though, you just have a simple, simple request on my pardon. That is, 1933 02:40:50,740 --> 02:40:54,920 for us to be I wanted to give you that total number because it wouldn't be for you to ask 1934 02:40:54,920 --> 02:41:00,180 you for approval of 53.6, not knowing where we're going to get the rest of the money from. 1935 02:41:00,500 --> 02:41:05,060 So I wanted to give you an analysis of everything else that's taking place but tonight based 1936 02:41:05,060 --> 02:41:11,320 on these new numbers, I'm asking for approval to sign the amended A1A133 exhibit. 1937 02:41:11,580 --> 02:41:18,760 With Demio, we've provides a GMP of 63.6 million, which allows them to proceed at tomorrow 1938 02:41:18,760 --> 02:41:23,200 August 18th, which will allow them to start the work in September and keep us on schedule. 1939 02:41:23,740 --> 02:41:27,720 Happy to answer any questions, but again, thank you for your assistance last meeting. 1940 02:41:28,420 --> 02:41:31,940 And I think this turned out much better than I expected. 1941 02:41:32,800 --> 02:41:36,320 I think that's a really amazing job to you and the Chiefs. 1942 02:41:36,340 --> 02:41:37,760 I think really to be commended. 1943 02:41:37,940 --> 02:41:39,760 I'll pass that on. Thank you. 1944 02:41:40,140 --> 02:41:41,040 Do we have a motion? 1945 02:41:41,840 --> 02:41:42,440 I'll make the motion. 1946 02:41:42,920 --> 02:41:43,140 Second. 1947 02:41:44,000 --> 02:41:46,120 Is there any further discussion or comment? 1948 02:41:46,720 --> 02:41:49,720 All right. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye. 1949 02:41:50,100 --> 02:41:52,860 Those opposed, none posed. Greg, you can come back to the table. 1950 02:42:02,300 --> 02:42:07,280 Next is item 23. Discussion of amendments to chapter three, the court of ordinances. 1951 02:42:08,280 --> 02:42:12,980 Title animals. Do you want to take it away, Mr. Townsville this summer or a town manager? 1952 02:42:15,540 --> 02:42:17,860 Thanks, Greg. Just for a little background. 1953 02:42:18,640 --> 02:42:23,060 As everyone knows, there's been a fair amount of discussion online in the town hall. 1954 02:42:23,060 --> 02:42:27,680 regarding the status of puppies for sale at pet stores in North Kingston. 1955 02:42:28,640 --> 02:42:36,620 In response to those complaints, both the town officials and the DM have visited the Establishen on Post Road, the proprietors here tonight. 1956 02:42:38,540 --> 02:42:42,360 And on that note, there are two regulatory authorities in this space. 1957 02:42:42,840 --> 02:42:46,480 First, DM controls and regulates pet stores and pet sales. 1958 02:42:47,060 --> 02:42:49,360 And two, the town controls its zoning regulations. 1959 02:42:50,000 --> 02:42:56,580 I'm at first note, I don't know what the gentleman's name, but he stated, and he's correct 1960 02:42:56,580 --> 02:43:02,840 D.M. has conducted at least two separate unannounced inspections of the post-rode site based 1961 02:43:02,840 --> 02:43:03,800 on numerous complaints. 1962 02:43:03,800 --> 02:43:07,000 I think they received 50 or 60 up in Providence. 1963 02:43:08,000 --> 02:43:12,700 The unannounced inspections took place on July 16, 2026 and August 3rd, 2026. 1964 02:43:13,580 --> 02:43:18,860 And as he stated, in both inspections, they found the puppies on site healthy or the 1965 02:43:20,000 --> 02:43:25,120 Additionally, the animals had proper ventilation and had access to water at all times. 1966 02:43:27,500 --> 02:43:33,060 So on both instances, DM officials found there were no violation of any DM regulations 1967 02:43:33,060 --> 02:43:34,920 related to pet stores and pet sales. 1968 02:43:37,540 --> 02:43:45,420 So with that said, as Ralph noted earlier, there is regulatory power the town has in the zoning ordinance. 1969 02:43:45,420 --> 02:44:01,780 And based on the fact that Pet Store is basically over-nighting animals, the building official did issue a notice of violation as Ralph indicated there is some dispute whether the town was aware that the animals would be over-nighted at that site. 1970 02:44:02,860 --> 02:44:10,960 Per the zoning ordinance, the keeping and boarding of dogs for sale meets the definition of a candle. 1971 02:44:12,620 --> 02:44:17,500 And to operate that kind of business requires a special use permit, which they don't have, 1972 02:44:17,640 --> 02:44:21,200 and maybe they weren't asked to get that, but again, there was some miscommunication 1973 02:44:21,200 --> 02:44:23,000 as to what was going on there. 1974 02:44:23,880 --> 02:44:27,980 So at this point, the NOV, the notice of isolation has been issued to the proprietor. 1975 02:44:28,480 --> 02:44:34,180 The legal process is underway, and once we have more clarity on where that goes with his 1976 02:44:34,180 --> 02:44:37,180 attorney, we will update the council and the public. 1977 02:44:38,260 --> 02:44:43,520 But in the interim, please know that the town officials and DM will ensure the health and safety 1978 02:44:43,520 --> 02:44:45,500 the animals on site as best we can. 1979 02:44:46,120 --> 02:44:51,560 The town, animal control officers involved, DM is involved, solicitors are involved, Ralph is 1980 02:44:51,560 --> 02:44:51,940 involved. 1981 02:44:53,100 --> 02:44:57,660 So, we hope to resolve this and the best chance of all parties going forward as soon as possible. 1982 02:45:03,140 --> 02:45:12,020 And some people concerned about living or trying to eliminate all of these types of stories. 1983 02:45:12,800 --> 02:45:17,980 That was mentioned, whether we could somehow eliminate the grandfather rights of this establishment. 1984 02:45:18,540 --> 02:45:22,020 That would be extremely difficult to deal on a legal standpoint. 1985 02:45:23,100 --> 02:45:25,740 So, as your opinion, legally, we can do it or we cannot do it. 1986 02:45:26,720 --> 02:45:30,220 Well, somebody who can still pass the ordinance, I'm sorry Beth, go ahead. 1987 02:45:30,520 --> 02:45:33,300 And that's what, that should happen in West, well, too, correct? 1988 02:45:33,660 --> 02:45:38,360 It's a, um, the server was talking about, and I, it's those doors still in effect, but once 1989 02:45:39,360 --> 02:45:42,920 they close, go out of business, retire, that would be eliminated. 1990 02:45:43,940 --> 02:45:44,180 Okay. 1991 02:45:44,860 --> 02:45:45,040 All right. 1992 02:45:45,180 --> 02:45:45,620 Can you, yeah. 1993 02:45:46,200 --> 02:45:46,360 I, 1994 02:45:48,760 --> 02:45:51,860 can you go in, would you speak in the microphone? 1995 02:45:52,040 --> 02:45:52,880 I'm really sure. 1996 02:45:53,700 --> 02:45:54,280 This is important. 1997 02:45:56,600 --> 02:45:59,400 I'm so, I'm not a lawyer, so I don't know any of things about this, but I just want to 1998 02:45:59,400 --> 02:46:07,690 I'm sure that you've looked into the East Providence case that I believe was made it to federal 1999 02:46:07,690 --> 02:46:08,490 court. 2000 02:46:08,710 --> 02:46:09,770 I'd you mentioned that tonight. 2001 02:46:09,850 --> 02:46:10,650 I'll have to check on that. 2002 02:46:10,910 --> 02:46:12,210 Thank you. 2003 02:46:12,510 --> 02:46:16,310 Can I also say that we're not talking about him as a pet store owner. 2004 02:46:16,390 --> 02:46:23,750 We're talking about very poorly bread animals, bread and bread and bread and bread and bread 2005 02:46:23,750 --> 02:46:24,210 again. 2006 02:46:24,650 --> 02:46:27,110 These dogs are tortured, they're neglected. 2007 02:46:27,110 --> 02:46:33,270 I got four kittens from a farm in West thumb and I feel over the course of 10 years. 2008 02:46:33,650 --> 02:46:36,290 All bread back to the same females, father, son, whatever. 2009 02:46:36,790 --> 02:46:38,790 Not one of them made it past five years. 2010 02:46:40,510 --> 02:46:42,810 So these animals are not quality animals. 2011 02:46:43,210 --> 02:46:44,090 You're hurting the town. 2012 02:46:44,370 --> 02:46:45,810 You're hurting the people in the town. 2013 02:46:45,950 --> 02:46:50,010 You're letting them take credit out to buy very, very over-priced animals. 2014 02:46:50,470 --> 02:46:54,370 So that this man and his people can make money off of the backs of animals. 2015 02:46:54,370 --> 02:46:59,810 I've done the animal rescue for over 40 years. I know the whole gig. I think most of us here do. 2016 02:47:00,170 --> 02:47:05,370 I would like to see this shut all the way down and I will do what I can do to make sure it is. 2017 02:47:06,390 --> 02:47:12,350 Well, outside of the Grandfathering issue, does anyone have any questions about this proposed ordinance? 2018 02:47:14,580 --> 02:47:19,880 Do we have a proposed ordinance in front of us today that's in red, right? 2019 02:47:19,880 --> 02:47:23,260 raises the draft proposal just for discussion. 2020 02:47:24,340 --> 02:47:26,600 And you can comment when it comes up for public hearing. 2021 02:47:27,480 --> 02:47:33,100 Right, so the process is to clarify for the public the process. 2022 02:47:33,100 --> 02:47:36,340 It needs to have at least two readings correct. 2023 02:47:37,060 --> 02:47:38,000 So it's a little bit published. 2024 02:47:38,680 --> 02:47:41,640 And we should not have a let Angie come up with that's fine. 2025 02:47:41,780 --> 02:47:42,280 We did it. 2026 02:47:43,300 --> 02:47:46,220 And you know something, since we let one person proponent, 2027 02:47:46,360 --> 02:47:48,460 we should let the if that guy want to set him up, 2028 02:47:48,460 --> 02:47:50,000 we can let you come up, sir. 2029 02:47:51,640 --> 02:47:54,140 The only old caution is that there is, I mean, 2030 02:47:54,240 --> 02:47:55,780 not to protect his rights, 2031 02:47:56,000 --> 02:47:59,020 but there is a violation in progress. 2032 02:47:59,580 --> 02:48:01,600 I don't want to litigate this tonight. 2033 02:48:01,840 --> 02:48:02,800 I'm not going to talk about that. 2034 02:48:03,320 --> 02:48:03,800 All right. 2035 02:48:04,020 --> 02:48:04,700 Mr. Mianzini. 2036 02:48:05,020 --> 02:48:06,780 Yes, you want to talk about this? 2037 02:48:06,900 --> 02:48:07,060 Yes, I don't know. 2038 02:48:07,420 --> 02:48:07,880 Mr. Mianzini. 2039 02:48:08,860 --> 02:48:09,260 Mr. Mianzini. 2040 02:48:10,080 --> 02:48:10,240 Mr. Mianzini. 2041 02:48:10,980 --> 02:48:11,240 Mr. Mianzini. 2042 02:48:11,940 --> 02:48:12,820 Mr. Mianzini. 2043 02:48:14,500 --> 02:48:15,320 Mr. Mianzini. 2044 02:48:15,320 --> 02:48:16,580 Mr. Mianzini. 2045 02:48:16,580 --> 02:48:18,860 I will be a couple more minutes, hopefully. 2046 02:48:19,980 --> 02:48:22,120 So I usually get on doing this. 2047 02:48:22,260 --> 02:48:24,060 We let a proponent come up before, 2048 02:48:24,340 --> 02:48:26,740 so I think it's an all fairness we should let. 2049 02:48:27,040 --> 02:48:28,580 I mean, yeah, that's fine. 2050 02:48:28,740 --> 02:48:29,900 I appreciate it. 2051 02:48:29,900 --> 02:48:31,740 I'm not going to say anything about disowning. 2052 02:48:31,980 --> 02:48:33,740 But as far as the animal care goes, 2053 02:48:34,040 --> 02:48:36,480 in 18 years of doing this and the animals 2054 02:48:36,480 --> 02:48:39,520 from the state around get a tree and warranty, 2055 02:48:40,220 --> 02:48:42,920 I don't have animals coming back with all these issues 2056 02:48:42,920 --> 02:48:44,700 of hearts and bad. 2057 02:48:44,700 --> 02:48:46,660 we wouldn't still be in business. 2058 02:48:47,220 --> 02:48:49,080 That's why Rhode Island only has three stores left 2059 02:48:49,080 --> 02:48:50,660 because there's three stores that do it right. 2060 02:48:51,620 --> 02:48:53,660 So painting those with a broad spectrum bus 2061 02:48:53,660 --> 02:48:55,860 of doing all these things that are wrong 2062 02:48:55,860 --> 02:48:58,940 and just saying because you have got four kittens that were bad. 2063 02:48:59,040 --> 02:48:59,740 That's true. 2064 02:48:59,900 --> 02:49:05,380 I have customers who have dogs that are 15 and 16 years old 2065 02:49:05,380 --> 02:49:06,600 come back to buy another one 2066 02:49:06,600 --> 02:49:08,120 because they had such a good experience. 2067 02:49:08,820 --> 02:49:12,320 So you can't take all the negative and think that that's me. 2068 02:49:12,720 --> 02:49:13,440 It's not fair. 2069 02:49:13,440 --> 02:49:33,120 Thank you sir. All right, let's get back to your ordinance as a proposal ordinance. My sense is that we want to publish this for our first reading and then also have James looking to that case that was referred to by the member of the public who came up with me. Is that fair to say? 2070 02:49:33,120 --> 02:49:37,080 Okay, does anyone on the console have any of the thoughts? 2071 02:49:37,900 --> 02:49:41,820 Okay, so for the public, we will draft this ordinance. 2072 02:49:42,700 --> 02:49:44,440 We will put it on a future agenda. 2073 02:49:44,660 --> 02:49:46,600 We'll have to advertise it. 2074 02:49:47,060 --> 02:49:48,460 There's what we call the first reading. 2075 02:49:48,640 --> 02:49:49,980 Using is not public testimony. 2076 02:49:50,160 --> 02:49:54,560 First reading, it's more for people who can see the ordinance. 2077 02:49:54,820 --> 02:49:56,020 And there's a second reading. 2078 02:49:56,760 --> 02:49:58,040 And then that'll be advertised. 2079 02:49:58,520 --> 02:49:59,980 And then that's using where we have... 2080 02:50:00,000 --> 02:50:06,480 There was a public comment on the ordinance, and then at that point council will make a decision. 2081 02:50:07,640 --> 02:50:14,160 So I would recommend that we make sure that it's published in time so that the first reading 2082 02:50:14,160 --> 02:50:19,800 and hearing could be with our first meeting in September and the second reading and hearing 2083 02:50:19,800 --> 02:50:21,920 being at our last meeting in September. 2084 02:50:22,400 --> 02:50:28,360 I'm not going to leave that up to the clerk. I think she can do it. I think she'll do it as fast as she can 2085 02:50:28,360 --> 02:50:34,100 And I think that's a different of the clerks' timetable on that. 2086 02:50:35,200 --> 02:50:39,440 We've got, I think, that we have correspondence, which is our last item. 2087 02:50:40,220 --> 02:50:40,420 So, Lydia. 2088 02:50:41,200 --> 02:50:42,460 I'll be as quick as I can. 2089 02:50:43,420 --> 02:50:48,520 From Holly Quinn and email about citizen comments, from Angie Sheen, an email about the 2090 02:50:48,520 --> 02:50:56,100 second battery storage project, from Sherry Linda Blad, an email about the North Kingston Arts 2091 02:50:56,100 --> 02:51:03,060 Council, allowing a candidate to post up at concerts, which they didn't do, for emails 2092 02:51:03,060 --> 02:51:11,320 about a proposed doc at 353-RL, all against the proposed doc, from Sarah McPeak about 2093 02:51:11,320 --> 02:51:16,820 noise abatement, for the root 403 noise, from Ben Fulcim and email about parking issues 2094 02:51:16,820 --> 02:51:24,640 on LaFayette, from Andy Shean, actually multiple about the puppy sales, puppies and 2095 02:51:25,960 --> 02:51:33,440 from Mark Howl-Oran, concerns about a proposed new road access to ghost neck benures, from 2096 02:51:33,440 --> 02:51:38,680 Heather Murphy, concerns about school committee meetings and transparency, from the pet advocacy 2097 02:51:38,680 --> 02:51:45,720 network and opposition to the ordinance we discussed this evening, from Director Wright 2098 02:51:45,720 --> 02:51:46,380 on the name. 2099 02:51:47,360 --> 02:51:52,080 And I don't remember, but somebody wrote in about the, they were opposed to the appearance 2100 02:51:52,080 --> 02:51:55,280 in the hours of enforcement for the speed camera signs. 2101 02:51:55,940 --> 02:52:01,260 From Sarily Norton, an email about her concern about local housing and infrastructure needs 2102 02:52:01,260 --> 02:52:03,440 resulting from the electric boat expansion. 2103 02:52:04,600 --> 02:52:11,540 And then I did batch emails because there's a lot more than this, but we received 24 complaints 2104 02:52:11,540 --> 02:52:13,500 about the asphalt odor. 2105 02:52:14,060 --> 02:52:19,180 And I mentioned earlier that that was less than the previous five weeks, but you know, 2106 02:52:19,180 --> 02:52:23,360 That was a significant increase in the previous five weeks before that. 2107 02:52:23,800 --> 02:52:31,140 We received 45 emails about the Fox system, 44 were concerned or opposed one was in favor. 2108 02:52:32,100 --> 02:52:38,500 And we received seven emails in favor of passing the ordinance, the changing of the ordinance 2109 02:52:38,500 --> 02:52:39,380 about pad sales. 2110 02:52:40,040 --> 02:52:41,300 Thank you. 2111 02:52:41,460 --> 02:52:45,540 Now all the business before the council, and a data motion to adjourn. 2112 02:52:45,760 --> 02:52:46,240 So moved. 2113 02:52:46,620 --> 02:52:46,800 Second. 2114 02:52:46,800 --> 02:52:47,920 I'll learn from you to say hi. 2115 02:52:47,940 --> 02:52:48,240 Bye. 2116 02:52:48,520 --> 02:52:49,060 Thank you everybody.