[0:07] Good evening,

[0:51] everybody.

[1:00] Welcome to the North Kings Town Council meeting for Monday, August 17.

[1:08] With all this means water, pursuant to Rhode Island General Lawrence 42, dash 466C, notice

[1:15] that this meeting has been posted on the Secretary of State's website and ask everybody

[1:19] join me with us to the flag.

[1:22] Thank you.

[1:25] Congratulations to the flag at the United States of America.

[1:42] Thank you.

[1:43] Madam Clerk, can I get the sign up sheet for people who signed up for public comment?

[2:08] There are a lot of people who signed up, House Rules, I will ask people to limit their

[2:15] comments in three minutes.

[2:19] We have, and the council are getting a lot of emails and several sub-subjects, including

[2:25] our existing use of our flat cameras.

[2:28] So what I would like to do before we do public comment is make a couple comments on the

[2:36] flat cameras part in part historical in part when I propose we do tonight and then if

[2:46] any of the other members of the council want to weigh in they can do so obviously subject

[2:53] to the public's opinion, but at least based on reading the history of this, reading public

[2:59] comments, I think that'll give the public a better understanding of where our mindset is,

[3:08] and then you can alter your comments accordingly, and then we can make a final decision

[3:15] when the original agenda item comes, when the initial, when this agenda item comes up.

[3:19] 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.

[3:34] So with that, I'm going to make a couple of comments on the flat cameras.

[3:39] The flat cameras issue came before our council initially in October of 2023.

[3:46] At that time, I had some real reservations, so because of that, the time manager agreed to put out in the next agenda.

[3:57] And next agenda, it was a presentation was made by the Chief.

[4:05] He had said it was a program, excuse me, a licensed registry recognition program.

[4:11] We are licensed to play to capture it and run through a database to try to catch criminals

[4:18] on a crime.

[4:20] And you also touted the benefits of finding people to stress the Amber or Silver Alerts.

[4:34] And so there's also no person in identification, personally identifiable, identifiable

[4:39] information on the cameras or found by the cameras themselves.

[4:49] We decided unanimously to approve a one-year contract.

[4:53] I did it and I voted in part because of

[4:57] to cancel the social worker.

[5:00] And she suggested they'd be good to find people in distress.

[5:05] 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.

[5:15] 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.

[5:26] There was no opposition from anyone in the community, so the council again unanimously approved it.

[5:34] Since that time, there's been a lot of controversy over these.

[5:41] And given the fact that Chief is not here tonight, he's a way out of town.

[5:47] And the fact that we approve this in 2023 for only one year,

[5:54] 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.

[6:20] The only information that's come before this council has been supported these flag cameras

[6:26] at least in 2023, obviously in last couple of weeks, a lot of information has not come.

[6:33] That's supported these flag cameras, but there's also the information has come, a lot of

[6:37] it has lacks specifics, so if there's a specific example of a abuse, I think that's important.

[6:44] And we want to hear that before we get into public comment, I would ask anyone in the council

[6:49] who wants to comment? I don't know. What's that? Do you want to comment?

[6:54] I think that is a good idea, at least, let's get it, let's shake out a little bit.

[7:00] Okay. And I'll familiar on that.

[7:04] Nope, you person.

[7:07] I'm okay with suspending this until the chief.

[7:11] Good to speak up, yeah.

[7:12] Sorry. I'm okay with suspending a decision until the chief can be present since he was involved.

[7:20] in it originally and knows a lot about how it's used by our police department.

[7:25] I do have a lot of reservations.

[7:30] I disagree with just a suspension.

[7:34] I have done my research in due diligence on this.

[7:40] And I believe that the course of action that we should take is to cancel our contracts,

[7:47] remove the cameras and I have a motion prepared that I will make later.

[7:56] Can you have any initial thoughts?

[7:59] 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.

[8:07] And I know that they are supported by the mothers against drug drivers are in favor of the flock cameras.

[8:14] And I also told Ralph earlier when we were talking about this that I would support keeping them.

[8:19] I must admit, I've other things have come to light.

[8:23] I would really would want to hear from Chief Urban before I would make any decision for that.

[8:28] I think that we need to hear from the police as though how they're working in their town,

[8:33] what protections they have, and so I won't be prepared to get rid of them tonight

[8:38] because I think that we should give him the opportunity

[8:40] to come in and speak and to hear from the police side

[8:45] before we make a decision.

[8:46] So with respect, I think we have one's initial comments.

[8:52] Let's go to public here and let's say to the public.

[8:54] And then we'll get to the agenda item.

[8:55] I think you can further make your argument, OK?

[8:58] We'll do, OK?

[9:00] With that, I would ask the first speaker, John Carter,

[9:06] to step up, thanks.

[9:07] Good

[9:15] evening. Members of the town council, John Carter, from a property owner of 16-green

[9:21] metal circle. I'm here tonight because of a conflict of interest, a breakdown in municipality,

[9:27] transparency, and a systemic non-responsiveness from town leadership. On April 24th, I filed the

[9:34] police report, and on April 27th, I filed a access to public records request for that report. The

[9:42] Police chief called me that very same day to get an immediate verbal denial.

[9:47] I know now why the denial was so swift, the involved individual in my police report

[9:52] was not other than one of the chief's own high-ranking police captains.

[9:57] Instead of handling the matter with the heightened transparency,

[10:00] The conflict of interest requires the department choose to shield its own leadership. They fail to issue

[10:05] a legally mandatory written denial within the statutory time limit. For us in me to file a complaint

[10:12] with the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office on May 14th. When the police finally

[10:17] did respond on May 19th, it was a blanket denial covering only half of my request. The

[10:23] Counselor, later upheld that protection of the command staff with a dual denial on June 15th.

[10:30] I filed my rebuttal to the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office on July 7th, and

[10:35] a matter is still pending in a review.

[10:37] Seeking accountability, I emailed the town manager, A Ralph Malice, the Reckling on

[10:43] June 9th.

[10:44] He completely ignored it.

[10:45] I called on June 25th, to schedule a meeting.

[10:49] His executive assistant Kate Glass took my information and I have faced total silence ever since.

[10:56] When a police department uses blanket, public request and request the Niles to shield his own captain from public exposure,

[11:03] and when a town manager refuses to answer or meet with residents, questioning this behavior, local government is failing.

[11:10] This is no longer just a wreckage dispute.

[11:12] It's a administrative integrity and potential structural corruption.

[11:15] The town council holds sole charter oversight over the town manager and the administration.

[11:23] Formerly requesting the town tonight that this council launched an immediate independent

[11:27] review into wider town managers office is ignoring residents and wider public records

[11:32] laws.

[11:33] Excuse me, Laws, I'm being manipulated to protect high rank and police officials.

[11:37] Thank you.

[11:39] I have a packet.

[11:42] Yeah, I got it. Sergeant of arms. I'll take care of that for you, Mr. Carter.

[11:50] You can.

[11:51] Kaylee.

[11:54] Welcome.

[12:00] Ethan Kaylee. This is my first time speaking in a public setting.

[12:06] Members of the Council.

[12:06] We'll just go.

[12:07] We'll just go.

[12:08] We'll just go.

[12:10] Members of the Council.

[12:12] Members of the public.

[12:13] Please forgive any perceived nervousness.

[12:15] I have somehow mastered speaking to executives at fortune.

[12:18] and 100 companies, but a town council meeting still makes me nervous.

[12:23] So I'll give you my bottom line up front.

[12:25] I do not support North King Sound continuing any contract with Flock Safety,

[12:29] or any other auxiliary or auxiliary companies like this.

[12:33] And I strongly urge this council to terminate a relationship explicitly with Flock Safety.

[12:39] I passed eight Flock cameras on my way here tonight.

[12:42] I drove my daughter to gymnastics.

[12:43] we stopped to check FLA, I then drove through this beautiful town that's our home to participate in this democratic process.

[12:51] Eight cameras recorded my vehicle doing that trip.

[12:54] And it's important because these are not simply automatic license plate cameras or readers.

[12:59] I work professionally building complex software systems and artificial intelligence systems.

[13:04] And from that perspective, I want to emphasize one word, system.

[13:07] Flock is a network of surveillance, cloud-based AI surveillance

[13:12] cameras and systems.

[13:14] This cameras don't simply read a license plate and forget it.

[13:18] They capture vehicle, information they use machine learning to make

[13:22] what Flock itself calls a vehicle fingerprint.

[13:26] Identifying characters such as a make a model, a color, other visual

[13:29] features like bumper stickers.

[13:33] These observations become searchable data by law enforcement,

[13:37] police and other government entities. Recently, these cameras now have added additional capabilities

[13:42] to track devices emanating wireless signals. Think Bluetooth devices smartphones, airtags,

[13:48] and any other modern cars. My concern isn't that the North Kingston Police Department is enabling

[13:55] and furthering additional data gathering for some sinister intention. My concern is that they

[14:00] don't know what the data is being used for.

[14:04] We are building surveillance infrastructure who

[14:07] capabilities extend far beyond the initial intentions

[14:10] and the intentions of the good people that are operating it today.

[14:15] North Kingston doesn't develop the software.

[14:17] We don't control the firmware.

[14:18] We don't design its future capabilities.

[14:20] We don't operate the cloud infrastructure.

[14:22] And we cannot guarantee that what these

[14:24] integrations data gathering relationships

[14:26] policies or additional further government access

[14:29] will exist five or ten years from now.

[14:33] We've already seen nationally why that matters.

[14:36] Flock has faced numerous documented causes of unauthorized searches, law enforcement

[14:40] means use.

[14:41] The company itself recently announced additional safeguards to try to shore this up

[14:45] and is going on a PR blitz because of this to me that should tell us something.

[14:52] The question isn't whether this technology can help solve a crime.

[14:56] It can.

[14:56] The question is whether solving some crimes.

[15:00] 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.

[15:30] We still have an opportunity to say in North Kingston,

[15:32] like our other fellow towns in near proximity

[15:36] have done as well, not here, not in North Kingston.

[15:40] Thank you.

[15:41] Thank you.

[15:49] Ethan, for being nervous, she did a great job.

[15:53] Randall Curtis.

[16:01] Greetings, Randall Curtis, 680 story lane.

[16:05] I believe it's Article 13 section one

[16:08] of the state constitution, which does grant

[16:11] and confirmed the people of every city and town in this state,

[16:15] the rate of self-government in all local matters.

[16:20] I want to emphasize the words people and self-government.

[16:25] North Kingston should be self-governed by the people of the town.

[16:31] We do this by electing representatives, you, the town council.

[16:36] You are not responsible to state police to the FBI,

[16:41] to other agencies and other states to provide them with information on our movements.

[16:48] You are not here to rubber stamp the requests of the town police department or the town employees.

[16:56] You are here to represent our interests, the people of the town.

[17:00] No matter how convenient for the police, I believe the people of the town are generally

[17:06] against flat cameras.

[17:08] 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.

[17:16] No matter what the chief says about it, I know you want to wait for the chief to have his say.

[17:21] I think we've all heard the chief before, and we are not convinced.

[17:26] It doesn't matter what he says about it, because the point is, the people are uncomfortable with this level of surveillance.

[17:33] We have a variety of reasons for it. Why we're uncomfortable? We have given those reasons in multiple venues.

[17:42] I think we'll continue to give those reasons. And you're just going to hear more and more about it.

[17:48] And maybe you won't be persuaded by all of those reasons. And maybe the chief of police will disagree with our reasons.

[17:56] But in the end, that doesn't really matter.

[17:59] The chief and the town officials have failed to convince us the people.

[18:05] We don't want these cameras and that should be enough for the town council.

[18:11] Thank you.

[18:12] Let's squeeze a little bit of stars.

[18:18] I think they heard you.

[18:30] Excuse me, you know something Elizabeth?

[18:32] To move things along, I'm going to call up three or four people and maybe you can land

[18:36] behind Elizabeth in the water I called you.

[18:40] Pan Mason, Christine,

[18:45] Manjana, Manjana, Manjana off, Manjana off, thank you, Christine.

[18:52] John McGeean, Bill Flynn, Madeline McGregurgle, McGregurgle, and I thought it'd be good for now.

[19:02] If you could line up along the wall, I'd be great.

[19:04] So you can move along. Okay. Thank you.

[19:09] Yeah.

[19:10] New welcome. Good evening. I was coming to sit and stand up here and also talk about

[19:18] Can you please give us your name and I'm sorry, Elizabeth Stern's 63 high bank avenue in North

[19:24] Kingstown. Thank you. Just I came up was going to come up and talk about my deep concern about

[19:34] the continued use of the flock safety on medical license plate readers.

[19:39] I think it's extremely important to protect our privacy,

[19:44] which in this matter would include stopping the surveillance technology in our community.

[19:50] I would request that we terminate the town's contract with flock safety.

[19:56] Other people who have just spoken before me have said a lot of

[20:00] If very well-stated reasons why that should happen, and I agree. Thank you.

[20:07] Thank you, Elizabeth.

[20:11] Pam?

[20:13] Manson.

[20:15] I guess I'll be the first one to shift the subject to the pet stores.

[20:20] Okay.

[20:21] My name is Pam Manson. I live at 51 High Bank Avenue.

[20:25] I've been here for about 13 years.

[20:27] And I'm here to support the amendment, the proposed amendment to ban the pet stores in North

[20:35] Kingston.

[20:36] I just want to focus on one small aspect, there's going to be many more comments, I think

[20:41] about this subject, but I'm here to hopefully provide some context.

[20:47] Retail pet stores actively advertise that they sell USDA approved or licensed puppies.

[20:54] And at first blush that reference to USDA, the United States Department of Agriculture sounds great.

[21:01] But what does it really mean?

[21:04] It simply means that the puppies are born to a commercially high-volume breeder,

[21:09] commonly known often as puppy mills,

[21:13] who is legally registered to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

[21:17] It generally means the breeder has more than four breeding females

[21:21] cells and cells puppies wholesale. Licensed facilities are supposed to meet basic federal

[21:29] standards for housing, feeding, and veterinary care. But enforcement is sketchy and

[21:37] the standards on minimal often referred to only as survival standards. It allows

[21:43] for such conditions as small, crowded, stacked cages, lack of human contact, lack of

[21:50] exercise and inadequate food.

[21:53] It's merely a business license for the commercial breeder.

[21:58] It does not mean under any circumstance that the government approves or certifies the quality

[22:04] or humane treatment of the animals or even the ethics of the breeder.

[22:09] The store can advertise that puppies are USDA approved without any regard to the quality

[22:15] care the puppies have received. At a minimum, it's misleading to the public.

[22:23] There are many reasons the town should not allow commercial sale of these animals.

[22:29] The town should not be complicit in the perpetuation of the treatment and human treatment

[22:35] of animals, and I urge you to adopt the proposed amendment. Thank you for giving me this

[22:40] time.

[22:50] Hello everyone, my name is Christine Mengen, Dash Ulf, I'm at 73 Condonav.

[22:59] Some of this may be duplicated from what Ms. Mason just mentioned, but it's worth mentioning

[23:05] again.

[23:06] I am here on behalf of the prohibition, the sale of dogs and cats in North Kingston.

[23:11] on. In the 1970s, pet stores were in Rhode Island. In fact, Rhode Island Mall, formerly known

[23:17] as the middle of Mall, I'm dating myself, had a pet store in the mall, but that was then.

[23:24] That was the 1970s. This is 2026. We know too much now, hence why there are so few

[23:31] pet stores in Rhode Island so we cannot claim ignorance any longer and this applies to all,

[23:36] especially if you're in a for-profit business, making money off of puppies.

[23:42] Again, maybe repeating myself here from some others, a little about puppy meals.

[23:47] A puppy meal is a high-volume commercial breeding facility that prioritizes profit over the

[23:52] well-being of animals. In these establishments, dogs, particularly females are often

[23:57] kept and overcrowded in unsanitary conditions with minimal or no vet care and inadequate

[24:03] nutrition, the purpose of this business is the mass production of puppies for sale.

[24:09] The relentless breeding cycle leads to medical and behavioral issues in both parent dogs

[24:14] and their offspring. And the puppies born in these meals are frequently sold to unsuspecting

[24:19] buyers without proper health screenings or vaccinations. Puppy meals prioritize profit over

[24:25] the quality of life for the animals involved and are most often misleading or deceptive about

[24:30] cruelty they inflict on the dogs in their care. They have bad living space, the dogs stay in small

[24:36] wire cages without soft beds, grass or clean air, poor health. The puppies often have hidden

[24:43] genetic sickness, fleas, and weak parts. No care for the parents, the mother dogs breed nonstop.

[24:50] Until their bodies break down, then they get abandoned or killed by the puppy mills. No human touch,

[24:57] Puppies miss out on early training which causes life.

[25:00] Long fare, and behavior issues. Since COVID, shelters, refuse, impounds have filled up. Adoptions have slowed down,

[25:10] impuppies for sale does not help the situation by any means, nor does it make sense when local shelters

[25:16] are having difficult, defining homes for those dogs. Fishbowl can survive on selling pet store supplies alone,

[25:23] just as one foot pet who used to sell puppies and kittens, pet co and pet smart do.

[25:29] It is time for them to come to the realization that selling puppies is unethical,

[25:34] and North King's town residents do not want this. I have lived in this town since 2001 and I

[25:40] was always proud to live here. It's part of South County. The beginning of South County

[25:45] regardless of what other parts of South County say. However, this has put a serious black mark on our

[25:52] town and we want town officials to finally take a stand and do the right thing. We are not asking

[25:59] you to close them down, but for fishbowl to stop the sale of puppies from their North King's

[26:03] town store. Please stand up for the residents of North King's town and do what's

[26:08] ethically right. We would really appreciate the town officials to support on this. Thank you.

[26:19] Should have told the folks here, what those noises mean? I don't think I did that.

[26:25] It's said for three minutes and after two minutes it goes to yellow and then after when you have 30 seconds left

[26:32] 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

[26:40] Okay

[26:41] John McGee and please

[26:44] and after John we have

[26:47] If no Flynn, Battle of Magago, Michael Marbello, Richard Lalo, and former rep at Surper,

[26:56] can come up and light up along the wall, I'd appreciate it.

[27:01] Good evening.

[27:02] John McGeean, 25, Fowler Street, North Kangstown.

[27:08] I am here regarding the issue of Flock, and I first like to thank Councilman McCoy

[27:16] for answering some of my questions today and thank you for reaching out looking for the

[27:21] opinion of the community.

[27:25] But I first of all have a couple of questions about your

[27:30] proposal.

[27:35] The primary question and I'm thank you for the history on that because I'm

[27:40] a bit remiss for not having been aware of the history of flock and I must say I have

[27:48] than I ever thought I'd know.

[27:52] But when you talk about suspension of the program,

[27:59] and Mr. Minsky, I'm asking you this question,

[28:01] do you mean that the use of the flood cameras

[28:03] will be terminated as of tonight or tomorrow?

[28:09] What I envision is if the council approves it,

[28:13] they'll be suspended, they won't be working

[28:16] as soon as possible after a vote.

[28:19] Do we have any idea if the council does agree to that?

[28:22] What as soon as possible means?

[28:25] Mr. Mayor General, if you have a comment.

[28:28] So I would say if the council decides to suspend the use immediately,

[28:35] then our goal would be to turn them off tomorrow.

[28:37] Yeah. Okay, that's what I wanted to know.

[28:40] Secondly, you talk about the opportunity of the chief.

[28:43] Chief Urban to present his arguments for the use of that will there be an opposing

[28:52] for lack of another term but party that will be present during this end.

[28:57] Well, it should look like that would be open to the public sir.

[29:01] So what we'll have is

[29:05] I have the chief maker presentation here public comment and that make a decision.

[29:09] I believe that the rep from ACLU is next.

[29:14] Yeah, I'm sure the ACLU will be here too.

[29:19] I don't know the rep from the ACLU.

[29:21] I'm sure they'll come back.

[29:22] And I'll call their executive director who I am.

[29:25] All right.

[29:25] And I'll tell them about what they're going to be on.

[29:28] Which I did for this meeting.

[29:30] Very good.

[29:30] And just regarding my comments and I know my time must be growing short.

[29:35] I have been looking at the Facebook site of the NK Police Department and there's something

[29:41] on there called like myth versus something.

[29:45] It's posted there from time to time and it has been suggested that there are, that cases

[29:51] have consistently upheld the use of flock cameras.

[29:56] I would love to have the opportunity to find those cases I have, not as-

[30:00] House of Yat, what I do know is that the Supreme Court of the United States in two recent cases has addressed

[30:07] the issue of cell phone being using cell phone signals and what they call the G.O. Fencing. And if

[30:13] anything, what we see as a trend, even among this court, right here, that this is rising

[30:18] to the level of a Fourth Amendment search. And if, in fact, as the gentleman so beautifully put

[30:24] the second gentleman that spoke, we are being searched out there just in our everyday travels by

[30:29] cameras. Well, we're rising now to the level of a bank of information that really, if we're

[30:38] looking for the bad guy, perhaps Warren's are necessary. So those are some of my concerns

[30:44] with this. But I do support your proposal if, in fact, it's going to be, if the council

[30:52] votes on this, that the use of the cameras will be stopped immediately.

[30:57] That would be the point behind it.

[31:00] Thank you.

[31:01] Sir, if you're looking for information that the police department posted, you can definitely

[31:06] email the chief or if you don't know his email address, email the town council and we can

[31:10] direct you to the chief and they can get you.

[31:12] Okay.

[31:13] Mr. Belflin.

[31:21] President Mancini, council members, Mr. Manager, Bill Flint, long time, North King's town resident,

[31:29] 51 years.

[31:31] I'm here to express my concern about our town's police use of flock license plate cameras.

[31:39] A flock reader certainly seems to have some powerful law enforcement capabilities,

[31:45] such as opting into a national data sharing network.

[31:50] My concern is that apparently in Rhode Island there are no statewide guidelines or laws on how data collected can be shared.

[32:00] 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,

[32:10] 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.

[32:24] 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.

[32:39] I recommend that you review and you also, the recent Rhode Island House of Representatives

[32:46] Bill, H8070, that sought to amend state laws on criminal procedure to prevent misuse of

[32:56] the system, lobbying by the state police and Rhode Island police chiefs association,

[33:01] installed it for this session.

[33:04] Until we have legal protections against the misuse of the

[33:08] flood plate readers in Rhode Island, we should terminate

[33:13] its use in our town.

[33:14] Thank you.

[33:16] Thank you, Mr. Flee.

[33:18] Mr. Flee, Mr. Flee, can I have you, Radwell, please?

[33:22] May I have your advice?

[33:23] 16, Dawes, Avenue.

[33:27] Excuse me.

[33:28] Otherwise, you'd never know what was there.

[33:31] Thank you.

[33:33] I'm Madeline.

[33:41] Thank you, Mr. President and members of the committee, Madeline McGunnigol.

[33:44] I am the Policy Associate at the ACLU Rhode Island.

[33:47] You ask you to put your address.

[33:49] Sure, if you don't hold it against me, I do live in East Greenwich.

[33:52] It's 10, 16 Main Street.

[33:53] I think that may be a close vote.

[33:55] It is very close.

[33:57] So there's really not much more that I can add beyond what the

[34:00] eloquent constituents have said before me in opposition to the

[34:07] to the council because I know I did send you all quite a lengthy letter and then another one shortly

[34:13] thereafter so I just wanted to make myself available in case anyone had any questions and just

[34:18] in the long story short we do support terminating the contract though I understand if the council

[34:23] wants to talk about it with chief urban once he's here. I have a question for you. It's my

[34:37] And the police department was willing to meet those standards, which I don't know if they

[34:44] are, here in the town of North Kingstown, is that something that would change the ACLU's

[34:51] position.

[34:52] I think it would definitely be a very good safeguard going into place.

[34:56] That bill has been poured over, and there's a lot of input.

[35:00] 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.

[35:11] Thank you.

[35:13] Next is Michael Marbello,

[35:23] Michael Marbello 159, Leigh Side Avenue and Cranston.

[35:27] I am the owner of the fishbowl aquarium and I'm here to point out some things one I did

[35:33] come to the town before putting the puppies in there and I was given the okay by the town

[35:38] the dog officer and the DEA.

[35:42] That being said, I believe everyone else does that puppy mills are bad.

[35:46] Our dogs do not come from those types of places.

[35:49] We have breeders that we've been using for years.

[35:51] I've been selling dogs for 18 years.

[35:53] I have the same breeders.

[35:55] It's okay to shake your head and disagree with me.

[35:58] But you still get a listen to me for a second,

[36:00] because we do it right with their vet checked every week.

[36:04] They're quarantined.

[36:05] They come with vaccines and shots.

[36:07] So all of that saying that they are shipped without any care

[36:10] is not true.

[36:11] They have to be checked by a licensed veterinarian

[36:13] before traveling state lines.

[36:15] They come to the store, they get quarantine for seven days, they get checked by a local

[36:20] vet.

[36:21] The puppies are well taken care of and we'll be doing it for a long time.

[36:28] Do you have a question for me?

[36:31] Who gave you the permit to let you do this?

[36:34] I came to the town and talked to a believe it was Ben in charge of economics.

[36:38] He gave me the procedure.

[36:40] Each department came, the fire department, everyone transferred the license over.

[36:43] I was asked specifically if there was anything I needed to do to sell puppies and they said no,

[36:50] just the state requirements by the DM. Now with all this going on, the DM has come six or seven times.

[36:57] The SPCA has come. They have found zero violations. Everything is in order the way it is supposed to be.

[37:05] I don't think the problems with you. I think the problems with the puppy mills.

[37:08] But they're not from puppy mills because you just someone just came up here and said a puppy mill is unconditioned, unvaccinated, unregistered.

[37:16] A puppy mill is a backyard breeder that does not follow any of the rules and regulations.

[37:21] If you want to say the rules and regulations are not strict enough, that's fine.

[37:25] In 1970, as someone liked to point out, they were not.

[37:29] The rules have come a long way.

[37:30] There's more rules now for us than anybody else out there with puppies, including a rescue.

[37:36] And you, one more question, you came without a shelter license, and I understand that I don't,

[37:42] I don't, I don't, I don't, wasn't required to have a shelter license.

[37:44] D.E.M. pet store thing, because their under that supervision means that I am okay to do it,

[37:49] and I don't need a boarding license, neither.

[37:51] So Ralph, does you need a shelter, a boarding license?

[37:56] So according to the town ordinance, we issued a notice of violation to the company because

[38:00] our, or the place where your establishment is, is not zone properly for the overnight

[38:05] states of the overnight state of pets.

[38:07] You have the opportunity to fight that.

[38:10] You can go to municipal court.

[38:12] If you don't like that decision, you're going to

[38:13] repeat the report.

[38:13] We're here to work along with that.

[38:15] But you were interested in noticing violation because

[38:18] if the town, when the town issued the license,

[38:21] it was not of the understanding that pets would be staying overnight.

[38:24] That's a whole different zone within the time of

[38:27] about the king's time.

[38:27] We don't prohibit it.

[38:28] You're just not the right kind of.

[38:29] Okay. Well, pets stay over and all pet stars overnight.

[38:32] 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.

[38:48] 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.

[39:00] 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

[39:05] And I want to respect both issues. Issue number one is the ordinance in question

[39:09] The ordinance in question would not apply to you because what because a town cannot

[39:16] Introduce a law that retroactively affects someone so for example if I had a duplex on my home and

[39:23] The town decided that I might my lot was zone single family. I can't knock down my duplex

[39:28] So we can't retroactively impose this ordinance on you.

[39:32] The ordinance aside, the town has determined

[39:35] after getting phone calls that your establishment,

[39:38] which your right was properly licensed,

[39:40] properly permitted, there was no qualms about that,

[39:43] that we were not aware that there was the overnight stay

[39:46] of dogs and cats in our ordinance prohibits it

[39:50] in that particular zone.

[39:51] You have every right to fight that to go to municipal court

[39:55] to say that the zone is not the way we're interpreting it.

[40:00] 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.

[40:09] Okay, but it's still not meeting the definition, but I don't think that's a separate problem.

[40:13] Yes.

[40:13] But the big problem is the town told me, you're okay, go ahead, make the investment.

[40:19] 45 days later, oh, by the way, we're going to take away 50% of your income, you might as well close.

[40:25] My understanding, and I could be, and my understanding is that when the

[40:29] promoters was issued, the town was not aware that there would be overnight

[40:32] boarding that was a pet store. That's not true because I have

[40:35] specifically asked about the puppies in the sale of puppies.

[40:38] Well, I won't question that I wasn't there, so that I appreciate that.

[40:41] But again, it isn't there isn't an NOV there and it will take its course and we will work

[40:46] with you on that. That's fine. My attorney's still waiting to hear about it. Thank you.

[40:51] Thank you.

[40:54] Richard Lalo, and then I have some of the folks who could line up, Rapsurpa, Lucy, or Hanson,

[41:05] I think it is from Full Liberty Road, Angie, she and, Angie Sherman,

[41:14] and Karen Krasmowski.

[41:18] Thank you.

[41:22] Richard Lalo at 190 West Main Street, I don't think I can add too much, especially after the

[41:30] second speakers discussion of things. But there's a couple of things. The contract was established in

[41:37] 24. Contract was voted on October 30, 2023. It was a one-year contract. I think I'm not sure when

[41:46] It started because I think there was a little construction of the cameras, stations themselves,

[41:53] but it was renewed as my understanding and that's what I know.

[41:58] It was renewed for another year.

[42:01] It did not go before the Council on it, the manager wants a comment on that.

[42:05] We would like to, so the Council approved the one-year contract, and I believe October of

[42:11] 2023. The contract commenced on January 2025 when the first flight camera went life. It was

[42:20] a one-year contract through 2025 with an automatic one-year renewal, the contract expires

[42:25] in November of 2026. Okay. So we didn't know about the automatic renewal. That is correct.

[42:31] We didn't know. The council did not get about the automatic renewal. They approved the one-year

[42:35] contract within the contract, there was a one-year automatic renewal with respect to the

[42:41] council in the motion, it was just a one-year contract. So the council was not aware

[42:48] that was an automatic one-year renewal that falls on this administration. The council was not

[42:53] aware of that, so we take responsibility for that, not the council.

[42:57] Okay, I just wonder how that could be. I mean, so the motion was that we had a kind, a great

[43:03] question. I don't blame you because I had the same questions.

[43:08] The contract was for a one-year

[43:10] contract. Within the terms of the contract, there was a one-year renewal, automatic renewal.

[43:16] When we went for the council, we said there's a one-year contract. Never mentioned renewal.

[43:20] So the council was never aware of that. So there could be a legal argument that could be made

[43:26] that the council's motion was for a one-year contract. I spite that the fact that the contract

[43:31] I signed, called for one year in New York, so they'd be a legal argument for that.

[43:34] The council was not aware of that, they are not responsible for that.

[43:38] We are.

[43:39] Okay.

[43:39] I am.

[43:41] All right.

[43:42] So, what was signed was not read, but what was signed was not read properly and advised.

[43:50] Okay.

[43:54] I personally don't want to live in a surveillance state.

[43:59] I've done nothing wrong.

[44:00] I don't want to be followed.

[44:03] One of my concerns, there are many, but I'm only going to identify one, is the federal

[44:12] agencies like ICE using this data to basically terrorize the citizens of this country and

[44:21] that is something that I fear very deeply.

[44:25] And I don't know what provisions there are to prevent that.

[44:29] And if you know, please, please tell me.

[44:31] Yes, we do not share any data with any federal agencies.

[44:34] At the moment.

[44:35] Correct.

[44:36] I can only talk about the moment.

[44:39] And only half of work.

[44:40] Going forward, we have no intention of sharing any information

[44:44] with federal agencies.

[44:45] And how do we police that?

[44:48] By the fact that we're saying we're not going to share any

[44:51] information with federal agencies that we

[44:52] part of the policy within the Northeastern Police Department.

[44:55] Sir, I mean, if you get a bunch of questions or more

[44:57] I'm happy to answer that but I want to keep things moving along here.

[45:00] If I want to email them to us, more than happy to answer them. Okay. The general thing is who controls the data?

[45:09] Does

[45:09] do I think some police does flock control it? It is my understanding that it is controlled by the

[45:17] North King's Tump Police Department. That's what I think. And that the data disappears in

[45:21] 30 days. Okay. Well, hold on everybody. Okay. That's why we're going to have the chief

[45:26] ask him and then you certainly can respond and we'll welcome your input. Okay? It's a legitimate

[45:32] question that the public needs should absolutely have an answer to. Okay?

[45:40] Okay.

[45:40] Serpo, is she going to testify? You're all set. Okay. Next is Lucy.

[45:48] I'm going to get back to the

[45:49] pet stores. My name is Lucy. Oh, and that's the end. I'm on for Liberty Road and Slowcome Road Island.

[45:56] And I have been involved in dog rescue for 34 years.

[46:00] The last 17 is a co-director of a regionally-based transport rescue.

[46:05] And additionally, for 40 years, have that close associations with those in the dog fancy.

[46:10] Which means those who show, compete with and breed their peer red dogs.

[46:13] These would be the breeders referred to as responsible breeders.

[46:18] My own personal dogs come from the dog fancy,

[46:20] And I only point this out to establish that I am not against purchasing a puppy versus rescuing one.

[46:26] I believe it is well-established that there are several credible manners by Wix to attain a dog.

[46:32] One of them, however, is not purchasing a puppy from a puppy store.

[46:36] And that will be my focus here today.

[46:40] Certainly with the national current as it is, it is simply unbecoming for town as progressive as North King's town,

[46:46] to be hosting something that represents an inhumane industry that is culturally speaking a sinking ship.

[46:54] To wet, if you enter into Google, should I get a puppy from a puppy store?

[46:59] The answer for May I is a categorical, no.

[47:03] Citing potential consumer risk regarding health and temperament and deceptive sourcing.

[47:07] This is not new information.

[47:09] Now disallowed in 10 states and countless jurisdictions, including six-year in Rhode Island.

[47:18] Puppy sales nationwide have decreased by nearly half from 900 to less than 500 in the

[47:24] last 10 years alone.

[47:25] Additionally, in 2025, according to Ava, which is the American Veterinary Medical Association

[47:32] per their pet ownership and democratic source book.

[47:35] 30% of our dogs are obtained as re-homes, from relatives, friends, or the community.

[47:40] 27% are from shelters or rescues and more than 19% are from private readers.

[47:47] This versus barely 9% from independent pet stores and 3% from chains.

[47:51] These are not numbers that need protecting in terms of consumers being a much smaller

[47:56] share of the market.

[47:57] Legacy stores, grandfathered in nationwide, who have established ordinances, regardless

[48:03] of often made the transition to no longer selling puppies.

[48:06] 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

[48:16] but sensing the turning of the tide and has not only been applauded but well supported by the community for evolving in this way.

[48:25] 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.

[48:34] One of my favorite adoptions was to a woman named Stephanie, who had purchased a pecanese from

[48:40] named Senus, from Romford.

[48:42] She was hoping to find a playmate for him, and indeed adopted one of ours, Adam meet up at

[48:48] the very same store.

[48:49] She had purchased a puppy from only three years before.

[48:52] Happy ending to wait, to North Kangstown, have the sense to assist such transitions and become

[48:58] part of these more humane change in times.

[49:01] Thank you.

[49:02] Thank you.

[49:05] Do you want to speak?

[49:15] Good evening council members, especially

[49:17] town manager Malice and Greg Mancini.

[49:20] My name is representative Patricia Serp.

[49:22] I'm from District 27 in West Walk and

[49:25] Coventry and my address is one West Valley circle.

[49:29] So I hope you'll forgive me for coming from West

[49:31] World.

[49:32] But I was actually going to follow Angie because she

[49:35] kind of set the table for what I wanted to talk about tonight.

[49:39] 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.

[49:54] After about two or three years of my being successful, they approached me and asked me if I would submit some legislation.

[50:00] 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.

[50:15] So, without further ado, naturally I was unsuccessful. I could not ban the retail sale of pets in the entire state.

[50:24] state, but activists heard about the work that I was doing, but it's a very close network.

[50:31] And mostly women, I'm sorry to say, if dogs are a man's best friend, I wanted to wear

[50:36] all the men wear, because they were nowhere to be seen.

[50:39] But it was mostly women, and I submitted the legislation in January, and legislation is always

[50:46] heard right away.

[50:47] So these women decided to go out to all areas of the state of Rhode Island, all areas all

[50:54] accounts, and they took a couple of months to do it, and they got signatures from all over

[51:00] the state of people who supported banning the retail sale of bets in the state. Period.

[51:08] They got them from wickfid, they got them from, you name it, they were there. In fact, the day

[51:14] of the hearing, we delivered the cartons of boxes on a dolly. Helped from the state had

[51:21] state house, they had to come and deliver the contents of signatures on a dialie to show

[51:26] the committee. So long story short and it is a long story. I worked very closely with the

[51:32] humane society and after a while I had to stop looking at their undercover videos and their undercover

[51:40] pictures. I really had to stop looking. They were making me sick to my stomach. But I went forward

[51:48] with the legislation two or three years, and Angie's going to set the table.

[51:53] These puppy meals, I was surprised to learn, run mostly by the Irish people in states like

[51:59] in Nebraska, Missouri, Pennsylvania, and that was a surprise for me because I considered

[52:05] those people like as close to heaven as you can get.

[52:08] I learned that animals to them are simply beasts of burden meant for our purpose and our

[52:15] convenience. They have no little and no respect for animals. I'm trying to talk really fast.

[52:22] Little are no respect for animals. They breed these animals dogs especially,

[52:28] indiscriminately, indiscriminately. They breed mothers with sons. They breed fathers with

[52:35] the daughters. So you can imagine that the puppies in utero are being formed defective.

[52:43] And I'll tell you another story, one of our best witnesses came from Ocean State that in East

[52:51] Greenwich, and she, when she saw all of the dogs coming in from retail pet stores into

[53:00] that practice, she actually started a folder called the Imperfect Pops, and that's all

[53:09] I'll say about that.

[53:10] I just asked you to wrap it up, okay?

[53:12] Okay, the imperfect pups.

[53:14] She said that she was trying to take care of these animals.

[53:18] They were three, four, five months old.

[53:20] Families had spent literally thousands of dollars on these pups.

[53:24] They already loved them.

[53:25] They had cardiac problems.

[53:27] They had liver problems, major organ failure.

[53:31] She said, way too often, I had to tell the parents and the families

[53:35] that the most remaining thing to do was to put them down.

[53:38] She said, so you can imagine how they met.

[53:41] So bringing it back to home and I'll wrap it up right here.

[53:44] I had to ratchet it down quite a bit.

[53:46] I was successful with the help of the advice of the amensis.

[53:51] I, in ratcheting it down to the town of Westward,

[53:53] there are two pet stores in the town of Westward.

[53:56] But by ordinance, if and when these two pet stores go out of this,

[54:01] there can be no further retail sale of pets in the town of Westward.

[54:06] And this is the last thing I'll say.

[54:07] And I was told that the only reason why the town didn't

[54:12] ban them all together, you said that that you can't,

[54:15] I think, tell me in it, tomorrow's, you can't retroactively

[54:17] throw them out, but not only by ordinance, but you can

[54:22] ban them period. So you can't throw them out, but you can't

[54:26] ban them. Not only banning the sale of puppies and cats,

[54:30] you can ban them. Oh, I guess that's what we're still, yeah,

[54:34] you can ban it further. So, if and when these two stores go out of business,

[54:39] still need more retail sales, if pets in Westworld, then I hope that's the case with North Kingston.

[54:44] And thank you for indulging me. I appreciate it. Thank you, Rob.

[54:53] You can see why Westworld is represented so well.

[54:58] Angie, she had.

[55:06] 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.

[55:18] I am here though. I'm reading from a support letter that has been endorsed by vets, rumors, trainers, you name it.

[55:25] And that we're in favor of an ordinance prohibiting the sale of retail, puppies and kittens here in North Kingston.

[55:32] There are hundreds of municipalities and several states, including Maine and Vermont, close

[55:37] to us, that have similar ordinances, response to well-documented concerns about how animals

[55:43] are sold and pet stores, how they're sourced.

[55:49] Pets are frequently connected to large-scale animal facilities called puppy mills, and the

[55:59] documentation depends on who you're talking to, ASPCA,

[56:03] our humane world, which is actually used to be

[56:06] the humane society of the United States,

[56:08] is now called the humane world.

[56:10] It's about 90% of pet store puppies in America

[56:13] come from puppy mills.

[56:15] So they do come from the Midwest, and it can be a trotis.

[56:21] They're environment that they're growing up in.

[56:24] that can lead to health issues.

[56:30] They have listed a lot of parasites and diseases

[56:37] that they have because of those conditions.

[56:40] That can also lead to surrendering your animals.

[56:44] The parents are the owners, they're heartbroken now.

[56:48] They've spent a lot of money on the puppy at the pet store.

[56:50] now there's been a lot of money at the vet and now they have might have to make that decision.

[56:59] Furthermore, there are two studies that not only do the puppies that come out of the puppy mills

[57:07] have illnesses but they also have behavioral issues. So one of the studies is from the American

[57:12] Veterinary Medical Association, finding that dogs purchase puppies as puppies from pet stores

[57:18] have significantly higher rates of adult problems, like aggression, fear, separation-related issues.

[57:27] Because of how they begin their lives, in a co-opinist, noise of hundreds of stress,

[57:30] barking dogs, cages stacked on top of each other sometimes.

[57:37] And then they travel across the

[57:38] country to end up in a lonely pet store. And that extra stress can cause dogs to stay in fight or

[57:49] cause a family to maybe have to give up their dog.

[57:54] So we would be joining a Providence East Providence,

[57:58] Woolwick, West Woolwick, Smithfield,

[58:00] situate, center falls.

[58:03] When's that, so we just urge the council

[58:06] to do what's right for animal welfare.

[58:08] For the constituents, there's so many of us

[58:10] that do not want this in our town for purchasers

[58:14] because it could be a long hard road for them.

[58:17] And they've also perhaps gotten instant credit right in the store to purchase their puppy

[58:22] impulsively.

[58:24] And then we would like the pet store to instead host shelter events instead of selling puppies

[58:30] from puppy mills.

[58:33] We would, I don't know why you would want to do that after all the public pushed back.

[58:39] So in regards to the ordinance from, isn't there an ease providence case,

[58:47] I mean there

[58:47] I would urge the council to look into that.

[58:50] And then I brought with me tonight a binder for everyone

[58:53] on the council and inside the binder.

[58:55] Just why an ordinance matters?

[58:57] Some definitions and descriptions of puppy mills

[58:59] in USDA, which are horrific.

[59:02] They are survival standards.

[59:04] And the animal welfare act same.

[59:07] They are USDA is enforcing the animal welfare act.

[59:11] So you'll find that information in here.

[59:14] There's an information on the puppy mill

[59:15] in the pet store connection.

[59:16] 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.

[59:33] So why don't you give them to Sergeant of Arms and help get them to us?

[59:37] Okay. Sure, that'd be great, but just one more thing.

[59:39] In this one, you do get this. There are direct, direct, I get from my work to connecting the

[59:49] We'll be back with Papi Mills.

[59:54] Really? Thank you.

[1:00:00] Go lift Nancy Sherman.

[1:00:09] Then after Karen we have John Wagner, Doug Conrad, George Rivera, Jean, Halverson, Dawn, Taylor, Church.

[1:00:20] We'll go from there. figured light up on the back wall. Thank you.

[1:00:25] Okay . Nancy White Sherman, it lived at 64th St.

[1:00:28] and I'm very appreciative of all the speakers tonight...

[1:00:32] about the fall cameras. I'm totally in favor of suspension for the study and possible termination.

[1:00:40] And I'm impressed. I'm impressed by the population of North King's sound. They're so smart.

[1:00:47] And anyways, I just have a pet peeve regarding school speeds. In Warwick, the school

[1:00:55] speedzone is 25. And then I feel it's inconsistent in North

[1:01:01] Kingston.

[1:01:04] One A, for North Kingston High School, it's 25, on

[1:01:09] fairway it's 20, on Hamilton going south, it says 25, then

[1:01:15] Stony Lane is 20. So at any rate, I just, I think it would be

[1:01:19] nice if everybody had the same school's speedzone, maybe 25,

[1:01:24] or we didn't have this conflicting speed limit signs.

[1:01:29] Can we have the traffic control folks, look at that, Ralph?

[1:01:33] We can.

[1:01:34] The issue was the two 25 mile prize zones

[1:01:37] that you mentioned there on state roads.

[1:01:39] The 20 mile prize zones are on top.

[1:01:40] Oh, okay.

[1:01:42] So we could go up to 25, but we couldn't go down the 20.

[1:01:45] Correct.

[1:01:45] And I don't believe the 25 mile prize zones

[1:01:48] that could be incorrect on this, but I think I'm right.

[1:01:50] The 25 mile prize ones do not have speed cameras.

[1:01:54] It's on the local roads.

[1:01:56] Where I've gotten my two tickets is on 117, 117 in

[1:02:01] Warwick.

[1:02:03] And that's 25.

[1:02:04] But in North Kingston, on it's my understanding that our

[1:02:06] speed cameras are on fairway, school street,

[1:02:10] in Stony Lane.

[1:02:11] Okay.

[1:02:13] Not on the street that you mentioned.

[1:02:15] Okay.

[1:02:19] Next week, Karen, excuse me.

[1:02:26] Good evening.

[1:02:27] Karen's enough.

[1:02:28] Excuse me, excuse me.

[1:02:29] 22.

[1:02:29] I'm sorry.

[1:02:31] I'm just wondering about that.

[1:02:33] Yeah.

[1:02:34] Sorry about that.

[1:02:38] So I have a pet peeve actually with a pet store.

[1:02:41] Not to self-supplies, but to self-pets.

[1:02:44] And I'm here to, I'm not going to be redundant.

[1:02:47] But I want to talk about maybe the local cost of what that would be.

[1:02:50] I've lived over in a clinic island and I have a 20-year relationship with the Potter League of Animals,

[1:02:57] helping to train and re-home pets and it costs a lot of money, a lot of volunteers,

[1:03:03] a lot of different volunteers doing a lot of hours with these pets and they're not easy to

[1:03:07] re-home if they have aggression issues and health issues.

[1:03:14] So I support the having this ordinance

[1:03:17] and having it not grandfather in a store that's already in motion selling these pets.

[1:03:24] I think it's really important that we be clear that there's no sale of pets.

[1:03:32] It might be a challenge, but it's been done.

[1:03:34] 500 towns nationwide have been through this, and they have stopped the sale of pets.

[1:03:42] So can be done.

[1:03:43] I got that from chatGVT.

[1:03:46] Yeah, that's good in my hope.

[1:03:47] I'm going to get whatever it is from our town solicitor though.

[1:03:51] OK, I'm just saying it can be done.

[1:03:53] It takes a fight and it takes you helping us be a voice.

[1:03:59] So peer-reviewed study published in the journal

[1:04:03] of American Veterinary Medical Association

[1:04:05] found that dog purchased from pet stores

[1:04:08] had significantly higher rates of aggression,

[1:04:13] general fear, house, soiling, and separation anxiety compared to dogs from responsible breeders.

[1:04:21] Those are exactly the behaviors that lead owners to give up a pet.

[1:04:25] It's not just behavior, veterinary research confirms that the incidence of K-9 power of virus

[1:04:33] is severe, often fatal disease, specifically higher in pet stores and breeding canals than in general dog population.

[1:04:42] Other illnesses common to pet sore puppies include zumotic diseases which can spread to other pets and humans.

[1:04:52] Buyers are often faced with enormous vet bills, especially if they're unable to pay, especially if they financed.

[1:05:00] 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.

[1:05:20] When this happens, in NK, it will cost taxpayers.

[1:05:24] Town employees are the ones responsible for those calls and taking those animals.

[1:05:29] And our local shelter run by the North King's town, animal shelter, support foundation,

[1:05:35] absorbs the cost of caring for them, vaccination, housing, staff time, and medical care.

[1:05:42] The foundation is a small nonprofit operating

[1:05:46] on less than $50,000 a year,

[1:05:50] so even a handful of surrendered animals

[1:05:53] can eat up a real share of that budget.

[1:05:56] Nationally, he made societies report

[1:05:58] that preparing a single surrendered animal for adoption

[1:06:02] can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars

[1:06:05] to over a thousand.

[1:06:07] So Puppy sold a frequently impulse purchases

[1:06:11] is because you can finance on the spot and the pet store here in question, openly,

[1:06:21] advertisers puppy financing with approvals up to $5,000 and a text to apply option, people

[1:06:28] can use right there in the store and that's the same credit infrastructure used to sell furniture

[1:06:35] or cars.

[1:06:39] 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.

[1:06:51] So I'm asking the council to pass an ordinance right away and no grandfather clause for the pet.

[1:06:56] store currently operating here, and the little fellow loophole allowing store, stores to partner

[1:07:03] with fake rescues to keep doing the same thing under a different name.

[1:07:10] Thank you.

[1:07:11] Thank you.

[1:07:12] Mr. John Wagner.

[1:07:19] Hello.

[1:07:19] I'm John Wagner.

[1:07:21] I live at 180 West Main Street.

[1:07:25] 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.

[1:07:42] I am thankful of the second speaker.

[1:07:48] He put it very, very eloquently, more so than I could.

[1:07:55] 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,

[1:08:13] or overblown or sensational. In fact, I think it was a very level-headed and sober opinion on the matter.

[1:08:26] And I also wanted to add that with these internet of things devices, historically,

[1:08:36] they are notorious for having glaring security holes and are easily hackable to the point

[1:08:49] where I don't even trust my own devices. I keep them segregated from all of my other devices

[1:08:58] computers in my own network.

[1:09:03] So, these devices that are manufactured by a for-profit company,

[1:09:08] I definitely do not trust them to be secure or for them to have security in mind.

[1:09:17] Yeah, and that is all. Thank you, Jeff.

[1:09:25] Don't comment.

[1:09:25] Good

[1:09:29] evening. Thank you. So, this Conrad 13 wins your avenue, the reverberate of new

[1:09:38] women. I consider it. This is more philosophical. It's about the technology. I'm 87, but I don't

[1:09:51] be around that much longer.

[1:09:55] But my sons and grandsons will be around another 45.

[1:10:02] And anything dealing with the word surveillance, like a camera, frightens the hell out of me.

[1:10:12] Because you have a certain technology now, but this technology is going to be improved, and then it's going to spread different ways.

[1:10:23] And AI is going to get involved and who knows, before you know it, this country may be like China,

[1:10:35] which has, I understand, millions of cameras to control their population.

[1:10:41] And do we really want to control our population like an authoritarian government?

[1:10:50] So that's my question. Do you really want to have a authoritarian surveillance state in this country?

[1:11:03] Thank you.

[1:11:04] Thank you.

[1:11:10] George Rivera.

[1:11:14] Hey, thank you, Mr. Rivera. Jean Havelson. And after Jean, we're going to have

[1:11:19] Doran Taylor, William Tweetie, Alyssa Napp, Nateine Swanson, Ted Shean.

[1:11:30] Those folks could

[1:11:31] line up on the wall. We can move them. Be a long and appreciate it. Thank you. Good evening.

[1:11:38] I'm speaking about the pet stores too. I will not be redundant and the people who

[1:11:43] spoke before me, we're very articulate and covered a lot of points.

[1:11:46] They certainly say me name an address.

[1:11:48] I'm sorry, Gene, how have we since seven wins are I have worked with rescues and

[1:11:54] four rescues for over 40 years and one thing that I think I can bring home is we're not condemning

[1:12:00] all pet stores and if you check, when I was talking to other people, they said, well, this one

[1:12:06] has dogs and this one does and they didn't realize that rescues and shelters provide adoption events

[1:12:13] at the other pet stores and somehow some way these stores are not selling them, they're

[1:12:20] sponsoring the rescue animals, and they're making a profit and they're a successful

[1:12:24] business people. So my thought is if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the

[1:12:30] problem and I hope that North King's Sound will pass ordinances that will show you that

[1:12:34] you are part of the solution. Thank you.

[1:12:40] Do you want

[1:12:53] me to hold them up?

[1:12:55] Yeah.

[1:12:56] Would you?

[1:12:57] Or maybe just put something here?

[1:12:59] It's a wake up so that they don't.

[1:13:01] What do you think?

[1:13:02] Do you think that's the best?

[1:13:08] John Taylor Church for Liberty Road.

[1:13:11] I'd like to thank the Council for hearing the concerns of the citizens in regards to the puppy

[1:13:16] store and considering an ordinance to prohibit the retail sales of puppies and kittens in our town.

[1:13:21] What I want to say is that puppies are not products.

[1:13:26] They are living sentient beings, and not only that, most of us consider our dogs as part of our families these days.

[1:13:33] So it's appropriate when talking about the procurement of these new family members to consider more than just the simple economics,

[1:13:39] but also the humane issues, the ethical issues, and what will affect the hearts of the families involved.

[1:13:45] Personally, I've been working in the animal welfare field either as a volunteer or professionally for my entire adult life.

[1:13:52] That's a long time.

[1:13:54] I'd like to take a moment to speak for the shelter dogs if I could.

[1:13:58] 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.

[1:14:07] But at that time, we were utilizing about 15 million dogs every year in the US.

[1:14:11] that number has declined incredibly down to about 1 million per year. At the same time, the number of

[1:14:17] puppies sold in pet stores across the country has also declined dramatically. That is not coincidence.

[1:14:25] This humane progress has largely been made by changing mindsets and asking people to think about

[1:14:31] dog adoption as their first option. And while this trend has been so positive, we still could do

[1:14:37] as a culture and also we have to be careful not to go backwards.

[1:14:43] These days I

[1:14:44] co-direct a very small scale foster-based dog rescue called self-paused and

[1:14:48] lately we've been focusing our efforts on helping dogs and shelters in Texas.

[1:14:54] This, this Hill Ross has a photo of a sweet mom and dog that the shelter

[1:15:00] 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.

[1:15:12] Because placement could not be found for them. You see, shelters are still overcrowded, and take as relentless, rescues are fall, overcapacity,

[1:15:19] The clusters are full over capacity and not enough dog adoptions are happening and so dogs are still buying and shelters every day.

[1:15:26] Perfectly nice dogs perfectly healthy dogs even puppies.

[1:15:31] The crux of the problem is that there's still are too many dogs and not enough homes for them all.

[1:15:36] And the worst thing that could happen to exacerbate that problem is to have puppies continuously and discriminately bred at large scale commercial canals

[1:15:43] to be shipped across several states and end up being sold at a storefront to any impulse

[1:15:48] buyer with a credit card. The point is that whenever one puppy is sold in a retail store,

[1:15:56] two really sad things happen. One is that a puppy like Serena's does not get a home.

[1:16:05] And the other is that a mom dog in a cage in a puppy mill is forced to have another puppy,

[1:16:10] Another litter to replace that inventory that should never be called that.

[1:16:16] The mom dog will suffer her whole life in notoriously exploitative and neglectful conditions

[1:16:21] and all of this is only for the sake of money and greed of everybody involved in that model of business.

[1:16:27] There is no reason to allow that puppy mill to pet store pipeline to continue that cycle here in our town.

[1:16:33] And if you agree that this is an ethical issue at its foundation,

[1:16:38] then you also understand that there can be no loopholes, no grandfathers, no exceptions.

[1:16:43] Thank you for your courage.

[1:16:46] Okay.

[1:16:50] William Tweetie, please.

[1:16:57] My name is William Tweetie, 426 Washington Street and Coventry.

[1:17:02] Good evening members of the council.

[1:17:04] Mayor, manager Mollis.

[1:17:07] I am the owner and trainer at 4POSK and I training LLC along with my wife Donna.

[1:17:11] 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.

[1:17:20] 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.

[1:17:26] 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.

[1:17:33] Where pet store puppies come from, they're sold to retail stores, organizations, large commercial

[1:17:39] breeding operations such as the store owner said, but the A.K.A. puppy mills that passed

[1:17:43] who brokers before even reaching the store.

[1:17:45] This means the buyer often never meets the breeder, never meets a mother, the father, never

[1:17:50] sees conditions a puppy was born into.

[1:17:53] They see only an adorable puppy behind glass or a cage.

[1:17:56] What comes home with that puppy often does not become apparent for days, even weeks.

[1:18:00] We routinely see puppies affected with geodia intestinal parasites, respiratory infections,

[1:18:05] poverty virus, distemper and other preventable infectious diseases.

[1:18:11] The American Veterinary Medical Association notes canine poverty virus, can mortality rate

[1:18:15] can exceed 90% in puppies, particularly in high risk environments.

[1:18:20] The ASPCA is documented on large-scale commercial breeding environments, puppy mills,

[1:18:25] Well, it's an overcrowding limited veterinary, veterinary oversight, an increased risk of disease

[1:18:30] and congenital health issues.

[1:18:33] The first week of a puppy's life, a critical for development, puppies need proper maternal,

[1:18:39] litermate interaction, early socialization, exposure to normal household environments.

[1:18:44] From puppies of bread at high commercial facilities, separated early, transport and long

[1:18:48] distances placed in retail establishments.

[1:18:50] We see increased risk of fear, anxiety, post socialization, and long-term behavioral disorders.

[1:18:55] Federal and every behavior research consistently links high stress and adequate socialization

[1:19:01] of fair-best behaviors and aggression in adult dogs.

[1:19:05] As a professional trainer, I can tell you that selling someone a puppy is an easy part.

[1:19:11] The family would have it for 10, 12, 15 years.

[1:19:14] They are the ones who sit in the Federal Center offices, pay extensive bills, manage behavioral

[1:19:19] challenges, and form deep emotional bonds before problems were even understood.

[1:19:22] The Centers for Disease Control, and Prevention, has investigated outbreaks of multi-drug

[1:19:29] resistance, can't be low-backed, infections linked to poppy soil poppies.

[1:19:35] One documented outbreak, 113 people became ill across 17 states and 23 were hospitalized.

[1:19:41] The CDC surveillance has identified extensive drug-resistant strains associated with pet store

[1:19:47] exposure.

[1:19:48] These are documented public health events not the article risk.

[1:19:53] The Rhode Island Law does not have a single statewide ban on selling puppies and pets to us.

[1:19:57] Instead of regulations and towns such as Providence.

[1:20:00] SEC's province, west wall, smithfield and one socket have individual audiences.

[1:20:06] Let's see, I'll skip ahead. Responsible breeding prioritized health, temperament, conduct genetic

[1:20:11] testing, provide proper socialization, know where the puppies are placed and often know

[1:20:16] the buyers get to meet the parents of the dog. The puppy should never be an impulse purchase.

[1:20:22] It's an living animal with a long-term commitment. Petstores can remain successful by selling

[1:20:28] puppies, supplies, all these other things associated with dogs.

[1:20:33] Partnering with shelters, hosting rescue adoption events.

[1:20:36] In fact, provenance has already prohibited sale of dogs and cats and pets

[1:20:40] to us while allowing rescue adoptions.

[1:20:43] In conclusion, when someone walks into a pet store,

[1:20:45] falls in love with a puppy, they should not have to wander.

[1:20:47] Where it came from?

[1:20:48] How was raised?

[1:20:49] What conditions it was exposed to or what health risk it may carry?

[1:20:53] We can do better.

[1:20:54] Puppies are not inventory.

[1:20:55] They are living beings whose health and development depend on what happens that I'm long before they ever come home.

[1:21:01] I respectfully ask this Council of the Pass and Audence, ending the retail sales of commercially bright poppies in our community,

[1:21:07] and to support shelters, rescues, and responsible breeders, and only humane and transparent pathways to pet ownership.

[1:21:14] Because by the end of the day, it comes down to one simple question,

[1:21:17] that we want poppies treated as products or as lawyers worth protecting from the very beginning.

[1:21:22] Thank you for considering.

[1:21:24] Thank you.

[1:21:32] You might like a pro, listen.

[1:21:35] Thanks.

[1:21:35] I've watched a lot of this.

[1:21:38] A listen app, 24 Parkside Way.

[1:21:39] First, I want to thank the members of the council who have taken an active role in the bit you

[1:21:44] mark asphalt issue.

[1:21:45] As many of you know, I'm a neighbor who has been directly impacted.

[1:21:49] And your efforts do not go unrecognized tonight.

[1:21:51] I don't want to talk about the asphalt smell.

[1:21:53] The floor cameras, which I pose for the record.

[1:21:56] But my concerns for the impact of mass deforestation.

[1:22:00] Last month on for would drive 27 acres for a forest came down.

[1:22:05] 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.

[1:22:12] And it sounds like we have a lot of animal lovers in the room.

[1:22:15] So I'm thinking we're a little concerned for the animals on that land.

[1:22:18] That land sits inside our ground water well red and recharge area and right beside the hunt river.

[1:22:26] And it happened because the parcel wasn't big enough to count as core forest under state rules, so nothing stopped it.

[1:22:33] Most of this town sits on top of the hunt on a quartet, petacrompsket, aquifer that is a mouthful.

[1:22:39] 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.

[1:22:54] And yet one project at a time we keep shipping away at the land that recharges it.

[1:22:59] 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.

[1:23:06] And you're something that needs our attention.

[1:23:09] That cleared land is about to become a working solar farm.

[1:23:13] And solar farms need to keep the ground under panels clear of brush and weeds.

[1:23:18] Nationally, most operators do that with herbicides and pesticides.

[1:23:22] We already know roundup causes cancer, yet it's still on the shelves.

[1:23:26] So what do we think happens if these chemicals are used in the land above our groundwater

[1:23:30] wellhead and recharge area?

[1:23:32] 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.

[1:23:42] 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.

[1:23:52] In 2024, Narraganset Bay estuary program study estimated Rhode Island lost nearly 4,000 acres of undeveloped forest land to solar development statewide.

[1:24:03] And asking for a real look at how much recharge area we have left, how close we already are to a real problem.

[1:24:09] And a commitment that future projects be measured against what we have left to lose, not just what fits in a zoning code.

[1:24:15] I'll add one more thing before I sit down on Wednesday, August 19th at 6.30 p.m.

[1:24:21] Nathan Cornell, President of the Rhode Island Growth Tree Society, will be at the North

[1:24:25] Kingston Free Library, 100 Boon Street, presenting on Rhode Island's Forrest, and then

[1:24:30] need to protect them.

[1:24:31] Thank you.

[1:24:33] Thank you, Alyssa.

[1:24:36] I'm leaving Swanson.

[1:24:40] Hello, my name is Nathan Swanson.

[1:24:42] I live at 540 School Street in North Kingston.

[1:24:44] I've lived in North King's town for pretty much my whole life.

[1:24:49] What I believe her name was Alyssa just came up here and said,

[1:24:52] that is the stuff that keeps me up at night.

[1:24:55] I live right near all of this stuff that's happening right down the road from the...

[1:25:00] 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.

[1:25:20] I'm also here about the flat cameras.

[1:25:22] I do not believe in the surveillance state.

[1:25:25] I understand they have their uses,

[1:25:28] but I believe that they will be used

[1:25:32] for the wrong things in a lot of cases.

[1:25:36] As far as the, there's so many things I could talk about,

[1:25:39] but I live on school street.

[1:25:41] We have those speed cameras.

[1:25:43] I don't think they were a great idea.

[1:25:45] I don't like the signage.

[1:25:47] There's so much signage, it's unclear when they're on,

[1:25:50] when they're not on, it does not slow down people.

[1:25:54] It slows down some people.

[1:25:56] It does not slow down most people.

[1:25:57] I think speed bumps would have been a much better idea.

[1:26:01] Closer to the school, because where the cameras are,

[1:26:04] they're not even catching the people that are speeding

[1:26:06] by the school.

[1:26:07] I walked down that road four times a day.

[1:26:10] I know how fast people are going.

[1:26:12] And I think 20 miles an hour is too low.

[1:26:15] I think it should be more consistent, 25 everywhere.

[1:26:18] I think that's at least giving a little bit more leeway

[1:26:20] when you pull out of a driveway

[1:26:21] and you don't realize, oh, my God, I hit 31,

[1:26:24] like in a half, in a eighth of a mile,

[1:26:27] or something like that, granted we haven't gotten any tickets yet,

[1:26:30] but it's scary because I have five people on that road.

[1:26:34] So I'm really here about the flop cameras today,

[1:26:37] but Bitchumar, sludge, all that stuff is just weighing heavily,

[1:26:41] heavily on everybody in this town.

[1:26:43] And as far as the puppies go, I am a big fan of animal stores and I need fish and I need food

[1:26:52] and I need things like that.

[1:26:54] I do not believe that puppies should be coming from puppy mills

[1:26:58] and I would hope that they would be ethnically sourced and whatnot.

[1:27:02] I feel badly that this person has invested money and whatnot.

[1:27:06] I just got a rescue puppy.

[1:27:08] I sort of feel like the rescue is also a puppy mill

[1:27:11] to get a pregnant dog and let it have 13 dogs and then have to place 14 dogs.

[1:27:18] I don't believe in any of that either and I don't know a lot of breeders that are

[1:27:24] reputable.

[1:27:25] So thank you all for your time.

[1:27:27] Thank you.

[1:27:30] Todd Chinham

[1:27:35] Hi, my name is Todd Chin.

[1:27:38] I live at 35 high bank avenue and I've been a citizen of North King's town since 1967.

[1:27:45] 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.

[1:27:57] 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.

[1:28:08] 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.

[1:28:19] 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.

[1:28:29] It is documented that they've been cited for neglect and animal cruelty.

[1:28:36] 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.

[1:29:03] if we are an outlet that allows that to happen, then we're

[1:29:09] we're complicit in those animals trafficking and we are supporting that whole

[1:29:14] avenue.

[1:29:18] You know, these puppy mills, these source breeders, whatever you want to

[1:29:24] call them, it would be unlawful in our state and yet we're allowing that product

[1:29:29] that product to show up here in North King's town. So that's what I have to say about the animals

[1:29:36] as far as the flat cameras go. That data that goes to the that goes directly to the North King's town

[1:29:43] police department doesn't it have to go from that camera out to the cloud somewhere out in the

[1:29:49] ether and I just don't think that that channel can be so direct that we can be guaranteed that

[1:29:58] that information.

[1:30:00] 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.

[1:30:21] Thank you.

[1:30:26] Does that one of Elts was to speak this evening?

[1:30:29] Thank you.

[1:30:30] If you do, if you could line up over there and speak, that'd be great.

[1:30:44] My name is Emily Gamaj, I live at 10 Phillips Street.

[1:30:48] I'm just here to state my opposition to continuing the Flock contract.

[1:30:54] I think that just like everyone else has said tonight, you can't dare guarantee data security.

[1:31:00] 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.

[1:31:12] If you read the news, this is one of the biggest issues of our age.

[1:31:18] The fact that you can generate so much information with these cameras, any powerful person is going to want to know,

[1:31:25] our movements, what we do, there's financial incentive there, there's incentive for

[1:31:31] dissidents for people who disagree with what's the current political administration or people

[1:31:39] within that administration, there's tons of incentive for this technology to be misused.

[1:31:47] Turning a blind eye to that, it's like, I mean, didn't we all read 1984? Wasn't that like,

[1:31:52] We're supposed to read that in high school, like I was a big Philip K. Dick fan, like

[1:31:58] Literature, like great minds have been warning us about this technology for ages for ages for like

[1:32:05] Almost a hundred years now people have been warning us about this and now it's here and we have to fight back

[1:32:11] This battle is already lost. We all have phones in our pockets. You know

[1:32:15] People will want to say oh, well, why does it matter if we've already lost all of these other battles against our privacy?

[1:32:21] And it matters because we don't have to have this, right?

[1:32:25] We've created a society where we have to kind of have our phones.

[1:32:29] We're kind of like, bought into all of this other stuff that we're forced to,

[1:32:32] our laptops, all these things that we have to do in order to like,

[1:32:35] work, live, get fed.

[1:32:37] All of that stuff is already grandfathered in.

[1:32:40] Yes, this is a plus one spot where we can make a stand for our privacy.

[1:32:44] In our town on our roads that this data cannot be used improperly.

[1:32:49] so i know everybody probably wants to go home at some point tonight i'm not gonna keep going on and on forever

[1:32:55] but i'm very much against it i've had these stickers surveillance kills liberty

[1:33:00] if anyone wants one they can grab from one from me on the way out i made a myself

[1:33:05] i really do believe that surveillance kills liberty thank you

[1:33:09] she's been she's been she's been what was your neighbor doing

[1:33:13] Emily good night

[1:33:16] 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.

[1:33:25] I'm the mound about Marta here, yes.

[1:33:28] Thank you for your sacrifice.

[1:33:31] Thank you, I appreciate that.

[1:33:33] Mr. Welch?

[1:33:40] Thank you, and good evening.

[1:33:42] Richard Welch, eight arrow lane here in town.

[1:33:45] 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.

[1:34:00] I am not in favor of either of them, and with that I will move on.

[1:34:05] I think some people have stated the situation very eloquently, and certainly the direction

[1:34:13] should be.

[1:34:14] The people are speaking, and now we just need representatives to listen and act accordingly.

[1:34:23] I'm thinking down the road a little bit, post-road, in particular, those of us who travel

[1:34:31] that on a daily basis, on tearing out of vehicles apart.

[1:34:40] Thank you.

[1:34:42] I spoke to a local business person and said, he already spent $1,100 on the front end

[1:34:48] of his vehicle.

[1:34:49] He said, I don't know how I'm going to make it through the winter, if the road stays as

[1:34:54] it is.

[1:34:55] I have to have observed that this is a project that

[1:35:00] It is just happening. It has no direction. It has no supervision. People are just doing as they

[1:35:08] damn well, please. I have complained, as Ralph knows, about the lousy patching jobs that they have

[1:35:15] done, some of them created potholes that were worse than what nature had done. The state

[1:35:23] has not been there at all. I've only seen them there once, and the only reason I could

[1:35:29] say that they were there is because the vehicle was a state DOT vehicle. Never witnessed

[1:35:36] a person there that was obviously a state inspector. This is our town that's a state road,

[1:35:45] but it's our town. We need to do something about that mess. Now, that road is not scheduled

[1:35:53] to be finished until next year, which means that honor about the first of December, they will

[1:36:00] stop doing whatever they're doing and won't start up again until the end of much sometime

[1:36:05] in April.

[1:36:06] We're going to go four or five months through the crack that we're living with right now.

[1:36:13] We need to put our foot down and get them to straighten out that road and not leave it

[1:36:20] way it is right now through the winter.

[1:36:23] This is another tax on those of us who live in town that you folks have not given us.

[1:36:31] The taxes on us maintaining our own vehicles, the roads are not suitable, our cars get

[1:36:37] inspected to make sure they're suitable, but not the roads.

[1:36:42] You all have a job to do, and I hope you will do it.

[1:36:46] 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.

[1:37:02] So before I move on, I just want to say that really impressed with the public comment. Very respectful.

[1:37:11] I've been, we've had some meetings have been contentious, there's not been contentious.

[1:37:16] I think the public listened to one of those comments, I appreciate that, and certainly

[1:37:22] will weigh heavily in our deliberations, but I really do appreciate the substance and the tone

[1:37:31] of the commentary here tonight, so I want to thank everyone here tonight, thank you.

[1:37:37] Most of the items we talked about are going to be later on on agenda.

[1:37:40] We've got to take care of some other business between before then.

[1:37:45] And the first thing is our consent agenda.

[1:37:47] All items on the consent agenda are to be considered to be routine by the town council.

[1:37:52] And we'll be enacted way one motion.

[1:37:55] Don't be no separate discussion of these items.

[1:37:57] Or as a council member or citizen, so request.

[1:38:00] And which event that item will be removed from the consent agenda and

[1:38:03] it in its normal sequence on the regular agenda. So first I'd like to ask any member of the council

[1:38:10] if they want to remove anything from item five through 17. Number 13 and number 14.

[1:38:21] Today we're in the public, we're going to remove anything. Here and then I went into an emotion

[1:38:27] of the proof items 5 through 12 and 15 through 17.

[1:38:32] Is that moved?

[1:38:34] All of the data say aye.

[1:38:35] Aye.

[1:38:36] Any opposed?

[1:38:37] The eyes have it.

[1:38:38] Mr. McCoy?

[1:38:39] The floor is yours.

[1:38:41] Because I'm a member of the VFW post 152, I'm going to recuse myself for both of those.

[1:38:47] So I'm going to step to the back.

[1:38:50] Any two emotional proof?

[1:38:52] So moved.

[1:38:54] All of the data say aye.

[1:38:56] Any opposed?

[1:38:56] The eyes have a little bit of reports starting with the talent manager.

[1:39:03] Thank you Mr. President.

[1:39:05] So I know we have a busier agenda, but I know I have a busier manager because I'll try

[1:39:08] to fly through this if I can.

[1:39:10] First, regarding school department bond projects, the high school roof replacement

[1:39:14] is part of the capital improvement projects is ongoing and schedule for completion

[1:39:18] prior to the first day of school.

[1:39:20] The school department project team continues to have successful meetings with

[1:39:24] with it to the new WIC for NILSchool project, and the town continues having internal

[1:39:28] meetings with the project team in order to assist them in multiple areas relative to the

[1:39:33] NILSchool. There was a meeting of the building advisory committee schedule for this evening,

[1:39:38] but it had to be rescheduled regretfully. So I'll include an update on the upcoming advisory

[1:39:43] committee meeting as well as the NILSchool and the capital improvement projects in my next

[1:39:47] manager report.

[1:39:50] As for the public safety bond projects, we've been very active and

[1:39:53] We're currently regarding the public safety complex bond projects due to the hard work and commitment of members of the team on a

[1:40:00] Recognized form of fire, chiefs got a tell, chief John Ledigree, chief John Irvin, members of the

[1:40:05] team in command staff, our architect, D.B.V.W. Demioconstruction and others, I will let some good news later

[1:40:12] rounds report in tonight's agenda. I'll be asking the town council to approve the GMP, which

[1:40:16] the guaranteed maximum price in order to make our August 18 deadline, which will keep the project on schedule,

[1:40:23] which will result in a moving date for the public safety complex of April 2028, and a September

[1:40:28] 2020-29 move-in-date for the new firehead court is in station one on post-road.

[1:40:34] The preliminary work to the post-road, relating to the post-road, West Main Street

[1:40:37] sidewalk project continues, alternating one-way traffic along post-road for the drainage work

[1:40:42] necessary for the sidewalk project and then separately, one-way traffic is taking place along

[1:40:47] West Davis Hill Road for curb construction. I continue to keep the public and the town council

[1:40:52] up to date on this longing anticipated and long planned out project.

[1:40:57] The renovation of the municipal office building continues to move forward.

[1:41:01] The work is taking shape and is being well received by visitors and employees alike.

[1:41:05] There are multiple offices being temporarily relocated within the building, as well as

[1:41:10] two here, and I town hall 80 Boston, that road.

[1:41:13] I continue thanks to the employees and the visitors for the understanding and for the work

[1:41:18] during the construction.

[1:41:19] Just to remind that the municipal office buildings are operated under a summer pilot program,

[1:41:24] this summer until September 4th, you can visit our website to our social media to see our updated hours

[1:41:31] up until September 4th. I'm early this year, we requested through REMA, Rhode Island Emergency

[1:41:38] Management Association, to FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Association for reimbursement of

[1:41:43] 340,949 dollars of direct expenses relating to the blizzard of 2026 in Rhode Island's major

[1:41:55] many states whose request for reimbursement was denied. While this will not have a direct impact

[1:42:00] on our fiscal year 2026 budget, or our fiscal year 2027 forecast, because we budget any

[1:42:06] unrestricted unused winter storm funds from friarist budgets into restricted account, strictly

[1:42:12] for future storms. We were looking forward to the reimbursement on our replenish this account

[1:42:17] for our winter storms, so we will be working with the Rhode Island League of Citizens towns

[1:42:21] as well as Rimmer, a federal delegation, and others to request reconsideration of this denial

[1:42:26] and I'll keep the town council up to date.

[1:42:29] Also, I'm meeting with the Revolution when the relative to the offshore wind farm project

[1:42:33] I now take in place monthly, versus by weekly.

[1:42:36] Our last meeting in July had Revolution wind up dead in the town on the continued commissioning

[1:42:40] of the wind farm.

[1:42:42] The removal of the trailers of Camp Aventus site, landscaping taking place at the Camp Aventus site,

[1:42:47] installation of the remaining five offshore wind turbines that in the interconnection now being under

[1:42:52] an energy operations and the establishment of new contacts with ever-sourcing the town

[1:42:57] as the project begins transitioning into completion our next monthly meeting with them will take

[1:43:02] place of this Thursday.

[1:43:06] Last month the ACLU of Ryanland published the report analyzing each city

[1:43:10] in town's role in providing access and participation in the public meetings.

[1:43:14] North King's Town Fair did very well on this report as we live stream our meetings.

[1:43:19] We provide archive video of all meetings and we include detailed agenda attachments.

[1:43:25] As well as we provide significant public input, which we saw this evening.

[1:43:29] It is my opinion that we are very effective in where somewhat we receive in this report

[1:43:33] in the current procedures.

[1:43:36] Also good energy has informed us that Rhode Island energy has filed that proposed last resort

[1:43:40] service rates, winter rates, and the winter rate will increase to a residential rate of $17

[1:43:45] dollars in 29 cents per kilowatt hour effective October 1st. The ocean state community

[1:43:51] electricity is pricing of $13, 13 dollars in 0.519 cents per kilowatt hour is fixed through

[1:43:59] the end of October. That means that anyone participating in the aggregation program will experience

[1:44:06] savings of approximately three cents per kilowatt hour versus Rhode Island Energy's last

[1:44:11] resort pricing for the month of October. Next, there will be sending out a million this

[1:44:16] month so that we customers are aware of the savings and then ocean state community electricity

[1:44:20] will be pricing affected in November 1st for the winter and that will be expected to be finalized

[1:44:25] in shade and September. I'll update the council and the public are relative to those figures

[1:44:30] once this information becomes available.

[1:44:36] As the council is aware and has been reported in the

[1:44:38] local press, the QDC Board of Directors recently approved a workforce housing project with

[1:44:42] the Enquince of Business Park that is different from the original project that was approved

[1:44:46] by the Plain and Commission in 2023.

[1:44:49] While the overall unit per acre is still in line with what was approved by the Plain and Commission,

[1:44:54] the total units in the makeup of the units via bedroom size differ from the original

[1:44:58] proposal.

[1:45:00] 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.

[1:45:11] While we don't see any significant issue with this because on surface the proposals are very similar.

[1:45:16] 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.

[1:45:26] To

[1:45:30] comment within the management within this report on the current and as brought up this evening the current clear-cutting and proposed solar project

[1:45:36] Take in place around taking place along route four a burning the residential neighborhoods of fur would drive and maple would drive and others

[1:45:42] This proposed project has had a significant adverse impact on the abutting neighborhoods

[1:45:48] The aesthetics of this area while of life and really increased noise

[1:45:53] In my commentary at the last council meeting I had brought the history of this pride of property in

[1:45:58] In how this project could have been avoided many years ago, if the property was allowed to be

[1:46:03] resumed the residential.

[1:46:04] In no way does that mean that the residents were to blame for this turn of events?

[1:46:09] I want to clarify that.

[1:46:11] This is not a project the abutting residents wanted.

[1:46:14] This is not a project prior or current town council wants and is not a project this time

[1:46:19] administration wants.

[1:46:20] Regretfully the town does not have any legal or administrative authority to prevent this project

[1:46:25] from moving forward.

[1:46:26] And the developer received all properly property state permitting to click up this property.

[1:46:33] There are, however, some steps that we can are going to attempt to take to protect the residents in this area.

[1:46:39] First, we have aggressively enforce the 70M requirement for heavy machinery to access this property.

[1:46:45] 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.

[1:46:54] And the town will be willing to contribute to these efforts if that's what it takes.

[1:46:59] And third we will enforce the required buffer zones, I'm sorry, yes, thank you.

[1:47:05] And third we will enforce the required buffer zones at all costs.

[1:47:10] I felt this is an important issue in one that we're working on daily to let the public know

[1:47:15] on what is going on this evening.

[1:47:17] I also wanted to clarify that at no time does the town feel the residents are to blame for this.

[1:47:22] But the decision was made years ago with good intentions and regretfully those good intentions

[1:47:27] that brought us to this scenario.

[1:47:29] This is not an issue isolated in North Kingston.

[1:47:32] This issue is taking place in cities and towns across Rhode Island and most likely on-nation.

[1:47:37] While options to power on needs or the next century are being analyzed by individuals, well

[1:47:41] beyond my expertise.

[1:47:44] Option such as solar, wind, nuclear, oil, it is my opinion that all these options have detrimental

[1:47:51] effects and impacts to our environment and solar is no exception.

[1:47:56] I'll continue to join the town council and fight on behalf of the residents impacted by

[1:48:00] this development and do all we can to lessen the impact of this regretful development.

[1:48:04] I also want to thank those who commented this evening because by commenting you gave us

[1:48:09] some idea to be talking about legal counsel and if this can help us further prevent this

[1:48:15] project, then we will do all we can to work with the council on that.

[1:48:22] Or in other schools, the school's own speed cameras

[1:48:25] or the resume operation with the student return

[1:48:26] to classrooms on August 31st,

[1:48:30] and will be in operations during school days only.

[1:48:32] As the town council requested,

[1:48:34] we were rolling out an aggressive information

[1:48:36] and public relations campaign

[1:48:38] regarding the speed cameras starting tomorrow,

[1:48:40] August 18th.

[1:48:42] Through a grant the town received

[1:48:43] in the Ryder Research Recovery Corporation,

[1:48:45] this will grant policy program.

[1:48:47] We'll be holding an educational workshop

[1:48:49] I'm learning to compost on August 27th at 5 p.m. at a talent hole here at 80

[1:48:54] bus the next road. The first 100 residents will be able to take home their own free composting

[1:48:58] bin and interested residents can pre-register by emailing back in the mind and a playing

[1:49:03] department at blamont at nothkingstownride.gov.

[1:49:11] Early person in voting early in person voting

[1:49:14] for the primary election will begin on municipal office building at 100 fairway drive starting at

[1:49:19] on August 20th of this week, and we'll continue through Tuesday, September 8th at 4 p.m.

[1:49:25] Early voting will be available weekdays during the business hours with the exception of Labor Day, Monday, September 7th.

[1:49:31] 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.

[1:49:39] and you can find your polling place at the Secretary of State's website.

[1:49:44] We are excited to announce it will be hosting our third annual Family Day event at Wilson Park on Saturday, August 29th

[1:49:50] from noon to 5 p.m. It's a free admission day of fun in community connections that include

[1:49:55] rides, inflatable, face painting, a cutting zoo.

[1:50:00] Light Music, Community Boots and Demonstration for our five employees departments in much more. This is not possible without our youth in adult volunteers.

[1:50:08] So I encourage anyone to visit our website if you are interested in volunteering for the morning or afternoon shift at Wilson Park.

[1:50:20] I'll now provide an update on the quansit related issues. First, I attended the July 21 meeting of the QDC Board of Directors.

[1:50:28] 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.

[1:50:36] I met with Quadset Chief Executive Steve King at a monthly standing meeting on July 16.

[1:50:40] These many continue to be productive.

[1:50:43] We discussed the continued order complaints.

[1:50:45] And upcoming meeting we have with Bittema's Legal Council.

[1:50:48] QDC has been tracking complaints as well.

[1:50:51] We briefly discussed the process issue and the fact that is on hold,

[1:50:54] and what the Legislative Commission's meeting.

[1:50:57] We discussed the proposed battery storage facility

[1:50:59] and confirmed that we are both waiting

[1:51:01] to hear from the Energy Facility Sighting Board,

[1:51:04] and Mr. King confirmed that there

[1:51:06] is a second smaller battery storage facility

[1:51:08] playing for quansit business block.

[1:51:10] We updated each other on the ongoing discussion

[1:51:11] between our planning departments,

[1:51:13] regarding quansit zoning regulations.

[1:51:15] I provided him with a signed water tower easement,

[1:51:18] and we discussed plans to draft an extension

[1:51:19] to the expired Parkwide pilot program.

[1:51:23] Mr. King, then provided me with an update on short term and long term planes to the

[1:51:27] park, including the workforce housing project, future tenants and developments, a

[1:51:32] wind turbine and a east-grinaged property, the electric boat rail development, a canopy solar

[1:51:37] park, and other minor issues, and Mr. King and I will be meeting again this coming Wednesday morning.

[1:51:43] As mentioned, I planed the public and continued conversation with the QDC relative to changing

[1:51:47] and zoning regulations. We are hoping these changes will be on a soon to be future meeting

[1:51:51] the Plain Acropolis Commission.

[1:51:54] We've not received any of the information from EPA relative to the notification we sent

[1:51:59] them about intent to file a citizen suit under the Federal Clean Air Act, considering the

[1:52:03] QSS, Biosolids, Parallels of Facility, solicitor James Cowling here tonight with discuss this

[1:52:09] with Desert Hall Browning, our external legal counsel, it will be scheduling a meeting with

[1:52:13] them this week to discuss next steps.

[1:52:16] We don't have any news report relating to the battery storage facility, although, as I mentioned,

[1:52:20] we are waiting to hear from the Energy Facilities Funding Board in regards to the paralysis

[1:52:24] facility where we are waiting the first meeting of the Legislative Commission.

[1:52:30] In regard to the Ashford or Issue in Bichema, we have a meeting scheduled to Bichema as

[1:52:35] legal counsel tomorrow, August 18, Council President Miancini and Council person Leneia

[1:52:40] Drobe joining us.

[1:52:42] I've been in regular contact with RIDM and the director Mr. Terry Gray.

[1:52:46] They have set up an online reporting tool to allow the public through port order complaints

[1:52:50] and as a July 3rd, 23rd during this period, they received 306 reports in total they received over 100 complaints.

[1:52:58] 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,

[1:53:07] any air containment which creates an environmental and objectionable order beyond the property line.

[1:53:13] The town received confirmation from RADM and Friday afternoon that the issue that first noticed

[1:53:19] a violation to Bichema and August 12th alleging violation of the Rhode Island's air

[1:53:24] pollution control regulations.

[1:53:27] They determined that the orders were objectionable and strong enough for the inspector

[1:53:31] to feel nauseous.

[1:53:32] Bichema was fined $8,500 and ordered to come up with an order mitigation plan and a separate

[1:53:38] out of the town council's request, I'm invited director Gray and members of his team to attend

[1:53:43] a town council public meeting. He has advised he was unavailable this evening, but is looking

[1:53:49] as scheduled for us September and meeting dates. Again, this is a lot of hope this update is

[1:53:53] helpful. We'll have another update in September and that will include my meeting with Mr. King

[1:53:58] that's taking place once they're morning. As always, the council have had any questions I'm

[1:54:23] I don't know how that could be, the housing, I know that there was never any intent to put

[1:54:34] housing there, but it was approved by the Planning Commission.

[1:54:39] Okay, so we had an agreement but now we don't.

[1:54:41] I don't know if any agreement that prohibited housing within QDC.

[1:54:44] If it was, it would be for my time and I would definitely check into that.

[1:54:48] And then can you please tell me what's happening with the DEM, Urban and Community grant program for the Post Road?

[1:54:53] Do you have any information on that?

[1:54:54] That is the tree program.

[1:54:56] So we asked to work with them in those trees that we put up.

[1:55:00] 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.

[1:55:10] Who enforces and are they ever going to enforce?

[1:55:14] So we do enforce in, believe it or not, there's nothing right now in violation.

[1:55:20] Of locals only was.

[1:55:22] Um, and this school speed cameras apparently a couple of them are obscured by overgrowth of shrubbery.

[1:55:30] Who died? Yeah, I'm told two different rows. One of them is, um,

[1:55:35] Will Street? No. Stony. I don't know. But two two different

[1:55:39] Croats have signs that are obscured by. I will take a look. I can take that all cameras are working.

[1:55:45] Okay. No. I mean, so when you're coming up, you apparently can't see these gigantic,

[1:55:49] I think I'll dig those yellow fluorescent signs right because they're obscured by trees now. I mean things grow.

[1:55:56] I will take a look. Thank you.

[1:55:57] Is there anything?

[1:56:00] No, I do not have anything.

[1:56:02] What do you know Matt?

[1:56:05] So Ralph you were talking about the reimbursement for basically the blizzard.

[1:56:11] Is there any information about whether the state is going to

[1:56:16] through the like the attorney general, try to take any kind of legal action to get the funds that the state need.

[1:56:24] So I know the attorney generals of the states that were denied are looking at potential legal action.

[1:56:30] 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.

[1:56:35] Right. And on the Ocean State Community Electricity, if part of the update that we can get at a future date,

[1:56:45] I would like to know how many people are still enrolled in that program,

[1:56:53] I think I have that.

[1:56:59] And they're going to let us know, so people have these gigantic savings from October 1 to October 31.

[1:57:05] And then they're going to just let people know what they're going to charge.

[1:57:09] Yes, just like Ryan and Energy did.

[1:57:10] So they might get 31 days and then not get it again, like they already aren't.

[1:57:15] In September, they're going to, as Ryan and Energy just announced their winter rates in September,

[1:57:20] or good energy, the analysis they went to rates.

[1:57:23] All right, the next thing is it was brought up earlier

[1:57:27] by one of our people during public comment.

[1:57:30] So with regards to the solar project

[1:57:34] that's over by Route 403, it sounds like we should entertain

[1:57:41] or initiate action to put in some kind of ordinance

[1:57:46] are banned on the use of, I guess, pesticides or round-up or whatever, the appropriate things

[1:57:55] are that they would use to control grass to make sure that we're proactive and not reactive

[1:58:03] in that regard.

[1:58:05] That is one of the, again, I appreciate that commentary.

[1:58:08] That is one of the two things that I wrote down this evening from the commentary.

[1:58:12] One is the, I want to take, I want to find out exactly what we can do regarding that.

[1:58:16] I wrote a source and then this is the second issue which I like to talk to the solicitor

[1:58:19] about. I'm not sure if there's any grounds for it but it just gave me an idea and if it is

[1:58:24] and if there's grounds for it I'll definitely share it with the town council in the public but

[1:58:28] something where maybe we can take some proactive action.

[1:58:31] All right and then I know that the municipal court adjudicated all the cases associated with

[1:58:38] the school's speed cameras. Yes. So I'm interested in knowing how much money was collected,

[1:58:44] And how many of those violators were North Kingstown residents and how many were non-North

[1:58:51] Kingstown residents?

[1:58:54] I will get that the chief gave that information at the last meeting.

[1:58:57] I'll give an update.

[1:58:57] If I remember right, well over half of the violators were non-residents.

[1:59:02] I think it was 60 something percent on Stony Wayne, but I'll get updated numbers on that.

[1:59:06] So essentially what I'm trying to understand is are the people who live like for instance

[1:59:12] on school street, or are they being hit unfairly here?

[1:59:18] And I can tell you that I will get that information, but our preliminary information shows

[1:59:22] that the great majority of violators are non-residents.

[1:59:34] All right.

[1:59:35] I think that's it for now.

[1:59:36] Thank you.

[1:59:38] Just want to make comment, I can tell some people talked about the solar bomb, and that's

[1:59:45] certainly is a very objectionable project to look at.

[1:59:47] But the zoning history of that is that in 2016, somebody tried to put a solar farm in southern,

[1:59:58] not the king's town in a residence.

[2:00:00] 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.

[2:00:30] And after that decision, there was one in a solar farm,

[2:00:34] an industrial area of a drybridge road.

[2:00:38] And most people in the community thought

[2:00:40] that was a good thing.

[2:00:41] It was an industrial area.

[2:00:43] This particular piece of property is owned industrial.

[2:00:47] So I don't know if I know there's a request

[2:00:49] to change the zoning laws.

[2:00:50] I don't know if based on my recollection of that experience.

[2:00:54] I don't know if we can change the zoning laws

[2:00:56] to make it any more narrow for these type of farms.

[2:00:59] It is pretty narrow.

[2:01:00] Having said that, I do like the idea of an ordinance

[2:01:04] for pesticides, so that's something creative

[2:01:09] that we can take a look at.

[2:01:12] With that, what I'd like to do is move on,

[2:01:15] have the representatives of the QDC board come here.

[2:01:19] And after they come, I'd like to take a five minute break.

[2:01:22] So the representatives of the QDC board,

[2:01:24] I just want to know you're the last people before I break.

[2:01:30] No, no, no pressure at all.

[2:01:32] That is a hit, yes.

[2:01:34] Right.

[2:01:34] It's not so bad.

[2:01:35] Forty Stanford Avenue, I'm one of two representatives on the QDC board, the other one being

[2:01:40] Dave Myelik to my left here.

[2:01:43] There's quite a bit that goes on in these meetings, but I think the important things are that

[2:01:47] we've poured on those things that we speak about act on and vote on, and specifically,

[2:01:54] Similarly, we voted on three items, acted on three items, and they were, to ratifying, to

[2:02:02] firm the appointment of Thomas C. Plunkett, a square to the Audit Finance Committee of

[2:02:07] the Board of Directors, and that was passed, I believe it was unanimously.

[2:02:12] The second piece of business was an ethics policy, and this is in keeping with, part of

[2:02:23] was training, so training was done for all directors, all employees, and all officers, and that

[2:02:33] was done in person, 100% compliance, and then after that, in addition, this ethics policy

[2:02:40] was passed, this ethics policy follows Rhode Island General Law. This is the state law,

[2:02:46] 4-2-4-6, 10-10, that ethics policy for QDC was approved and again I believe that was unanimously

[2:02:56] approved.

[2:02:57] And then the last one Ralph had talked about this in his report a little earlier, but it's

[2:03:04] for approval by KTC, with brand properties for 140 workplace housing units in quansit

[2:03:12] on 60 year lease on 6.89 acres. As I think Ralph mentioned, there are two applicants earlier,

[2:03:22] they ducked out and ran properties. Ultimately, they came in with a viable solution.

[2:03:29] 40% of the units are designated for workforce housing, which is desperately needed out there.

[2:03:35] As you know, there are 220 sub-businesses in quansit, approximately 15,000 employees that will be

[2:03:41] as I understand 18,000 employees by the end of the year.

[2:03:46] Housing is desperately needed for those folks.

[2:03:49] At least 10% of the units will be reserved

[2:03:51] for low and moderate income housing.

[2:03:54] And preference will be given for, of course,

[2:03:57] business part employees, local governments,

[2:04:00] and those within a 25 mile radius.

[2:04:04] Construction will begin in late 2027.

[2:04:08] Again, this was approved through back in 2022 with the North Kingston Planning Department and the QDC Board.

[2:04:18] Pilot money, as you know, our taxes have not increased in three years now in large part to a number of things,

[2:04:27] but pilot money from my quansit.

[2:04:29] This will put us over $15 million as I understand it for pilot money from my quansit,

[2:04:34] specifically for this project $270,000 annual in pilot money, that was voted on and approved.

[2:04:45] Other things that go on are of course the Rhode Island Reddy Program,

[2:04:52] and that involves

[2:04:53] that's probably 50 or so, 50 or so businesses throughout the state from.

[2:05:00] A $400 million grant, which helps with technical assistance and pre-permating, which is a beauty of that program.

[2:05:11] Good evening, everyone. David Myle, your other representatives to the QDC.

[2:05:21] And my comments will not be as interesting or passionate as those that spoke about the flood cameras and about the pet store.

[2:05:28] really very impressed with the speakers tonight.

[2:05:34] So, by the way, this meeting was held July 21st of the QDC Board.

[2:05:38] There was no August meeting.

[2:05:40] The August meeting was canceled, so next meetings in September.

[2:05:43] I don't want to make a quick comment on the Gateway Housing project that Randy talked about.

[2:05:49] Within the materials that were provided for the board meeting

[2:05:52] was background information on the Gateway Housing project.

[2:05:55] 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.

[2:06:08] It doesn't say anywhere that it was limited to 120 units.

[2:06:13] So when this all came up after the fact that it was news to ram the NI.

[2:06:17] So to me, that's kind of a deficient background information.

[2:06:22] I would agree with that.

[2:06:24] Just by point of clarity.

[2:06:26] So I was a little upset with that.

[2:06:30] But enough about that.

[2:06:34] As part of the package that we get for our meetings, there's a staff report.

[2:06:38] And part of the staff report includes a rail summary.

[2:06:42] And that's in every report that we get.

[2:06:44] And that is the rail car loads for the month or the previous months before the meeting

[2:06:50] for the various businesses and concepts.

[2:06:53] So when I was doing my due to diligence for the meeting,

[2:06:56] I go through the packet very thoroughly.

[2:06:58] I noted that from May, 2026 to June, 2026,

[2:07:03] the number of Bicchumar carloads went from 14 in May to 64 in June.

[2:07:12] So that got my attention.

[2:07:14] So at the meeting, I asked Steve King,

[2:07:18] Can this increased activity be attributed to the cause of the increased complaints that we're hearing for residents to me?

[2:07:27] It's pretty simple math.

[2:07:30] Indeed, King's response was up to the time of that meeting, which was July 21.

[2:07:35] The complaints were actually down, he said.

[2:07:37] There were only 13 complaints and four were from the same resident.

[2:07:41] So he kind of tried to diminish it.

[2:07:43] 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

[2:07:53] and they are deodorizing the car's when emptied.

[2:07:58] So that was the response, but clearly the latest action by DEM shows that whatever steps Bichumar is taking are not working.

[2:08:07] So, for my standpoint, if bitch-more cannot eliminate this nuisance to the surrounding

[2:08:14] neighborhoods, then they need to be shut down.

[2:08:23] Right, can I?

[2:08:24] I will say that.

[2:08:26] I was just going to follow up, because I call it all the correspondence, and I made a specific

[2:08:33] note on the number of asphalt complaints for the past five weeks, which is the amount

[2:08:39] time since the last meeting. There were quite a bit fewer complaints sent to the council

[2:08:46] than the previous five weeks. But before that, it was about the same. So it really

[2:08:52] rose between about early June to early July. That does correlate. Yes, with our numbers.

[2:09:01] And when the governor was here, that's exactly what he said, too, by the way. So one question for

[2:09:07] I'm sorry Matt, do you want to come in?

[2:09:10] I do.

[2:09:11] So first off, Bichemar never should have been in West Davisville.

[2:09:17] The efforts to make the asphalt smell better or smell less in my view or BS.

[2:09:28] You're still dealing with asphalt.

[2:09:31] If you go to Bichemar's website and look at the products

[2:09:35] that they're bringing into North Kingston, the products safety data sheets, say that they're

[2:09:42] possible carcinogenic products. So it doesn't matter how great it smells or how less it smells

[2:09:51] if people can still ingest it. That's the health concern.

[2:09:58] So the thing that I'm interested

[2:10:00] And with the two of you, is because DEM has now cited the company for a notice violation.

[2:10:11] I'm interested in learning what the terms and conditions are that impact the termination of the lease for a bitchmark at West Davisville.

[2:10:23] 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.

[2:10:40] But I think the $8,500 fine is also insufficient.

[2:10:50] But I think we need to continue to push to terminate their lease and their business over

[2:11:01] there at West Davis.

[2:11:02] We would certainly look at the approval that QDC provided for them, but to my understanding

[2:11:10] without looking at it, they have to be in compliance.

[2:11:13] And if they're not, that is grounds for termination of the lease.

[2:11:21] Was your ethics, did your ethics trading and corporate QDCs, statutory obligation to foster

[2:11:30] and maintain an effective working relationship with the host community?

[2:11:35] It did not, but I raised it during the training.

[2:11:41] The training was done by QDC's Council Hinkley Allen, and I brought that up as a point

[2:11:46] during the training.

[2:11:47] and what it was their response. It's disappointing, by the way, that didn't mention it, but

[2:11:51] what was your response? Dolly noted.

[2:11:59] Any other questions? I think we will set. We'll take a five-minute

[2:12:02] break.

[2:12:12] We're going to start up again. We'll have a lot of items. We want to do them thoroughly. We

[2:12:19] 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.

[2:12:31] Go ahead and still McCoy.

[2:12:33] All right, thank you President Nancy.

[2:12:35] 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.

[2:12:43] I will be in Washington, D.C., and I didn't want to wait until the second meeting in September

[2:12:51] to have this discussion.

[2:12:52] I think this is an important issue that needs our attention immediately.

[2:12:56] So, I have some prepared statement that I'd like to read.

[2:13:05] As an elected official of this town, I take the matter of public safety very seriously.

[2:13:11] 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,

[2:13:20] with all the equipment, resources, and infrastructure that they have requested during my tenure in office.

[2:13:29] 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

[2:13:41] flock automated license plate readers. Prior to our meeting, members of the town council were

[2:13:48] provided with a product literature from flock safety that highlighted the benefits of the system

[2:13:53] in cases of amber and silver alerts and other law enforcement cases. During our meeting,

[2:14:01] then acting police chief John Urban and Detective Captain Jeff Seenonch of the North King's

[2:14:06] Sound Police Department gave a short presentation on the flock system.

[2:14:14] The town council members also, who were present at the time, had several questions for the

[2:14:22] chief and for detective captains, a nonge.

[2:14:27] And then bottom line is we receive no letters or public comment, written or oral either

[2:14:34] against the use of flock APRs at that meeting.

[2:14:40] Since that time, much has changed in our nation.

[2:14:44] Much of it, I find very unsettling.

[2:14:48] As a result, America's trust in its government at the federal

[2:14:51] state and municipal levels has been diminished.

[2:14:56] America's trust in federal state and local law enforcement has also been

[2:15:02] America's trust in the use of systems, like flock, automatic license plate renner, readers, has diminished.

[2:15:10] 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.

[2:15:19] I fear that things could get worse in the future.

[2:15:24] Since October 2023, we've had some changes to the membership of the North King's Town Town Council.

[2:15:30] Two of my fellow counselors, Katie Anderson and Larry Mandel, have left the council, two more

[2:15:38] Beth Hill Ross and Linnea Drew were elected to take their places.

[2:15:43] Neither Beth nor Linnea were involved in the initial approval of the initial flock contract

[2:15:49] and will have the opportunity tonight to go on the record about the topic of the use of automated

[2:15:54] license plate readers.

[2:15:58] Among the five elected officials seated here tonight,

[2:16:01] I am the only one who has served in the U.S. military.

[2:16:07] I am the only one that has held a top secret sensitive compartment

[2:16:11] at information security clearance.

[2:16:14] I'm the only one who has experienced working on networked intelligence,

[2:16:19] surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting systems for the U.S. military.

[2:16:24] I'm the only one here who has tested and evaluated surveillance systems

[2:16:29] used for national defense and homeland security.

[2:16:34] I'm the only one who has worked as a systems engineer

[2:16:37] in an aerospace and defense industry that

[2:16:39] designs and builds integrated surveillance systems.

[2:16:44] Based on my knowledge and experience in these areas,

[2:16:49] in my discussions with legislators, policymakers,

[2:16:52] and our constituents, I have become increasingly

[2:16:56] concerned about the integrated and national surveillance

[2:17:00] network of automated license plate readers that flock safety and other companies are building.

[2:17:07] All in the name of increased public safety.

[2:17:12] While there is no denying the positive use of the system like flock APRs, ALPRs,

[2:17:18] there is also no denying the potential for abuse and misuse of this technology by members of federal

[2:17:24] state and local law enforcement.

[2:17:30] When a well-respected organization like the Americans

[2:17:32] civil liberties union mounts a nationwide campaign against the use of ALPR technology.

[2:17:41] It must be taken seriously.

[2:17:44] Since January 1920, the ACLU has fought to defend and protect the civil liberties of

[2:17:51] all Americans.

[2:17:53] That is why I ask for this matter to be placed on tonight's meeting agenda, and why I'm

[2:17:59] for us as an elected body to act tonight.

[2:18:04] I have listened, heard, and understand the concerns

[2:18:07] of our citizens who have contacted us about this issue, and I look forward to hearing

[2:18:13] your thoughts on this matter. I have a motion to make,

[2:18:30] President Mancini, and members of

[2:18:31] council. I move that the town of North Kingston immediately

[2:18:36] cancels any and all existing contracts with automated license plate

[2:18:41] reader vendors not limited to flock safety and that no new

[2:18:47] contracts for automatic license plate reader systems be entered into by

[2:18:52] the town of North Kingston without the express permission of the

[2:19:00] Automatic license plate readers regardless of make-model or vendor owned and operated by the North Kingstown Police Department

[2:19:08] 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

[2:19:22] be permanently removed from their installed locations within the town of North Kingstown within 30 days of this motion

[2:19:30] passing, and that all installed automatic license plate readers, regardless of make-model, or vendor,

[2:19:37] owned and operated by the Rhode Island State Police, be permanently removed from their installed

[2:19:42] locations within the town of North Kingston, within 30 days of this motion passing.

[2:19:49] And that the Director of Public Safety for the town of North Kingston, provide the members

[2:19:54] of the North Kingston Town Council with a written confirmation that these actions listed

[2:19:58] above have been taken.

[2:20:00] Take in their entirety and written certification that there are no automatic license plate readers installed and operating within the town of North Kingston.

[2:20:11] Do I have a second?

[2:20:12] Second?

[2:20:19] Okay. Discussion?

[2:20:22] So I'd like to start the discussion by saying, I think.

[2:20:27] Okay. Well, let me just amplify.

[2:20:29] so I don't recommend this motion lightly. It's not just based on the one hand out that we got from

[2:20:39] chief urban. It's not just based on a few Facebook posts. I have read both of the letters from the ACLU that

[2:20:49] were sent to us. I've read the letters that the ACLU has sent to other municipalities. I've read the

[2:20:56] testimony that ACLU has provided to both the Senate and the House Judiciary Committee,

[2:21:03] with regards to the three bills that were presented in 2 in 2026 and 1 in 2022.

[2:21:15] I have read the technical data.

[2:21:17] I have looked at the general orders for the North Kingstown town police.

[2:21:27] I have looked at the internal affairs reports for the North Kingstown police.

[2:21:33] I have read the testimony of other entities such as MSD International,

[2:21:40] Planned Parenthood of Southern New England, Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence,

[2:21:47] Rhode Island Coalition for Reproductive Freedom, and so collectively based on my knowledge and

[2:21:56] experience of these types of systems, how they can be networked, integrated, cyber vulnerabilities,

[2:22:04] these, many of the things that we're discussed by people who gave public comment today.

[2:22:11] That is why I am in support of my motion and recommend that we pass it this evening.

[2:22:20] Does anyone else have any comments?

[2:22:23] Yes.

[2:22:25] So Matt, I was sort of thinking after hearing everybody speak tonight, I can understand as to why

[2:22:34] you and I can understand why we want to have a

[2:22:38] stoppage of this right now until we further look into this.

[2:22:41] I realize that your motion states that you want to get rid of them all together.

[2:22:46] I do think that we have people who we appoint

[2:22:49] who are heads of offices that it would be good to

[2:22:53] basically say to them and we respect what you have to say

[2:22:56] and therefore we want to hear it before we take a motion.

[2:23:00] And so I would like to hear from the chief.

[2:23:02] even if I have decided after hearing everyone that I'm not going on with any more

[2:23:06] flock cameras, I still think we ought to give him the respect to say, hey, we want to

[2:23:11] hear your side of this before we terminate it all together.

[2:23:15] And so I'm okay with saying here tonight, we're going to suspend the use of them now.

[2:23:21] And I know you're not going to be at the next meeting, but we could easily say,

[2:23:24] and we'll suspend this until September 28th meeting, at which time if you're going to be

[2:23:30] 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

[2:23:42] 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

[2:23:56] 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

[2:24:03] So I'm not going to sit here and I'm not saying that I will support the flock cameras after hearing everyone tonight

[2:24:10] 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

[2:24:18] And that's I think the key thing here is I want his input and

[2:24:21] I'm going to change my mind.

[2:24:24] 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.

[2:24:33] 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?

[2:24:45] But this is a case where they recommended a system to us.

[2:24:52] We did not have a vigorous debate about protecting civil liberties.

[2:24:58] We were not informed.

[2:25:00] The contract was renewed.

[2:25:04] The other piece that happened here in our town is that the North

[2:25:12] King's town police have also acquired a drone system without coming to us for our permission

[2:25:18] to buy that. So I think that, you know, I respect the chief, I respect the police department

[2:25:28] 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.

[2:25:36] And I doubt very seriously that the chief is going to come to you with anything but disagreement on getting rid of this.

[2:25:47] 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.

[2:26:07] Tonight, we finish, please.

[2:26:10] Tonight, I asked the representative of the ACLU if there were certain conditions in which

[2:26:17] they would accept the flock cameras and they said yes, and it's based on the legislation that they had submitted.

[2:26:26] So my question, the chief would be, can we work out a compromise with the ACLU standards?

[2:26:37] that would be acceptable to law enforcement. I don't know the answer to that. And I'm

[2:26:42] not going to get the answer to that. Right. So can I comment on that?

[2:26:48] So, you know,

[2:26:48] per my earlier statement,

[2:26:53] my concerns are not primarily with the North King's town police

[2:26:57] department, right? They have a general order that talks about how the system is supposed

[2:27:03] to be used.

[2:27:06] They have an audit program. Okay. The police department has provided us with copies

[2:27:11] of the audits. I believe there is three or four of them. I have reviewed those. I have also

[2:27:16] reviewed the internal fares reports for every year, which are posted on the North Kingston Police

[2:27:23] Department website, which indicates that as much as we like all the members of our police

[2:27:30] Department, there are cases where sometimes people in the department don't follow the rules.

[2:27:39] So I'm more concerned about the fact that the data from these systems are put into

[2:27:49] a network, whether it's a statewide network, a national network, that the question was brought

[2:27:57] up earlier about who's looking at the data, right?

[2:28:00] 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?

[2:28:09] The technology exists for them to do that.

[2:28:13] And so, you know, that's not conspiracy theory.

[2:28:16] We had a couple software engineers here and other people talked to those kind of things earlier.

[2:28:22] So, from a civil liberties perspective I think that the best course of action, the best policy is for us to terminate our contract.

[2:28:34] Yeah, I don't think the ACLU would sign off on a piece of legislation that's going to allow any communities.

[2:28:40] Well, we have their rep right here sitting in the back, so we can ask them.

[2:28:45] And we're in deliberations now, so I'm not going to ask.

[2:28:49] What is things we need to be thinking about is not only that the message that we

[2:28:52] send to our constituents in that they're saying, hey, we don't want our civil liberties

[2:28:57] violate.

[2:28:58] But what sort of message do we also send to our police officers in that, you know, if we just

[2:29:03] say we're cutting you off, we're not doing anything, but we don't tell them what they can

[2:29:06] do.

[2:29:07] You know, it's a sort of thing.

[2:29:08] We need to have by having something that comes from the ACLU, we can say, this is what

[2:29:13] You can't do, but this is what you can do.

[2:29:16] It's both ways.

[2:29:17] We want to make sure that not only do our citizens

[2:29:20] understand we're protecting them,

[2:29:22] but also that the police know where does that

[2:29:24] how much does that protection go?

[2:29:26] And that's another reason why I would say,

[2:29:28] if we wait until the 28th,

[2:29:31] when our second meeting is in September,

[2:29:34] we can get better clarification.

[2:29:35] Like I said, I have no problems with voting tonight

[2:29:37] to say we're stopping the fall cameras

[2:29:39] until we come back on the 28th.

[2:29:42] And then in the 28th, more information, more things to be making sure that we're protecting

[2:29:47] our citizens, but also to understand what the police know are the boundaries in terms

[2:29:53] of surveillance.

[2:29:54] Right.

[2:29:55] I think.

[2:29:56] Good.

[2:29:56] So I think in my mind there's

[2:30:00] 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.

[2:30:08] 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.

[2:30:18] And these tools and they are tools. They have the potential for great harm to innocent people.

[2:30:25] And yes, they're effective, that I don't think anyone up here would refute that excuse me.

[2:30:33] They are effective, but there's a cost and the cost is potentially and demonstrably innocent people.

[2:30:41] 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,

[2:30:48] not replace good old fashion police work, so I think what they can do is, you know, what

[2:30:53] they referred to as good old fashion police work and not use tools that can harm people.

[2:31:00] The second is about community trust in a previous issue that came up over the winter that

[2:31:06] was that involved the police department.

[2:31:10] You know, the chief talked a lot about their priority

[2:31:15] being that the community trusts in the police enough that they'll go to them with a problem,

[2:31:22] a concern, a crime, whatever. And what I think we're hearing from the residents is that

[2:31:29] this erodes their trust. And that is, according to the chief, really important to the department,

[2:31:36] and I believe that. And so I don't think that we should continue a practice that erodes the trust

[2:31:42] the community in our law enforcement. And the third is that, you know, some of the arguments

[2:31:49] are that we're already being tracked, so what's one other thing, right? But that's something that

[2:31:54] we're opting in. You don't have to have a cell phone. I mean, probably makes you laugh a lot harder,

[2:31:59] but that is a personal choice. I don't think that the town of North King's town should be

[2:32:04] party to surveillance that is operated by a for-profit company that's bound to its profits

[2:32:13] and its shareholders and not to the people.

[2:32:17] So I would like to see the contract terminated.

[2:32:21] Okay.

[2:32:21] Why don't we take a roll, call a Madam Clerk?

[2:32:34] Mr. Mancene, Leanna Drew, Elizabeth O'Wass, Kimberly Ampage, Matthew B. McCoy.

[2:32:41] Why don't you call the roll by each one individually?

[2:32:44] so they can vote for the public. So I'll have to start with Leneia.

[2:32:49] Lene Andrew, I vote yes on this motion. Matthew McCoy.

[2:32:56] Greg Manzini.

[2:32:58] I vote no.

[2:33:00] Matthew Ross, yes.

[2:33:02] And Tim Page.

[2:33:07] Oh, it's past.

[2:33:10] It's a terminated realm.

[2:33:12] Terminated the country.

[2:33:23] 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.

[2:33:34] Yeah, it's, like I said, I don't like these cameras, but I don't need that.

[2:33:39] It is the sort of thing we could, we could make for it.

[2:33:42] And she's me,

[2:33:46] I think that for our department, our police department, police department serves our people.

[2:34:01] We're going to move on.

[2:34:02] We're going to move on.

[2:34:05] Update, the numerous complaints received from the town left king's town in D.E.M.

[2:34:10] On the unacceptable asphalt smell.

[2:34:12] I think Ralph, you kind of covered that, but I still want to put on the agenda.

[2:34:18] I think that that has resulted in getting the governor here.

[2:34:24] There's resulted in DM doing extra off-hours inspections,

[2:34:29] and also has resulted in a meeting that we will have with him tomorrow.

[2:34:35] So I don't have much to add other than where you said,

[2:34:39] We'll have a meeting tomorrow and we'll see if we can resolve this and they can eradicate their challenges or their problems.

[2:34:49] I have a comment on this.

[2:34:52] So we have a request.

[2:34:56] I mean it's great that they've issued a notice violation.

[2:35:00] But we have requested from them information about their investigation of all the specific dates that people said that they smelled asphalt.

[2:35:15] We've requested information on how they have conducted their measurements, short of just somebody, this smells bad.

[2:35:26] We've requested the qualitative quantitative data that they're using, and initially I was told

[2:35:34] that we couldn't have this because the investigation was still ongoing.

[2:35:39] Now that they've issued a notice of violation, I believe that the EM should respond to the

[2:35:54] about what they tested for, what the standard was and how close their observations came to

[2:36:02] meeting or exceeding those standards.

[2:36:07] Okay, and I would ask that get brought up at tomorrow's meeting.

[2:36:14] With DEM will not be at tomorrow's meeting. Yeah, all right. Well, whenever you communicate with

[2:36:20] them next,

[2:36:23] and when with that for your L-F-E-Think, I'd be communicating in tomorrow. I'd

[2:36:26] this information, but they've been very clear that the investigation is ongoing and so they're

[2:36:31] not going to share that data. The fact that the given notice of violation does not mean

[2:36:34] their investigation has ceased. So I have asked. Okay, but a little bit. Roger that, but like

[2:36:41] certain elements that like silver instance, a listing of what they're would measure for and what

[2:36:49] this standards are for those things. So, you know, looking at the products, safety data sheets

[2:36:54] for asphalt, you should have certain chemical compositions

[2:36:58] that they would be testing for.

[2:37:01] So there are process of how they test for that.

[2:37:05] The standards that they're testing for should not be impactful

[2:37:09] on the investigation.

[2:37:11] I'm not saying I disagree.

[2:37:12] I'm saying that we have asked three times

[2:37:14] and we have not received the information.

[2:37:18] OK, well, does it take individuals to submit

[2:37:24] I don't know if there would be, I think there'd probably be an

[2:37:28] example from an upper request because I'm going to investigation.

[2:37:31] That's just my take.

[2:37:32] Something I will talk to this listener about.

[2:37:34] And if it's, he feels that it's an applicable request when more than

[2:37:38] happy to the town can do that work.

[2:37:41] That's what we're here for.

[2:37:41] I will submit the upper on behalf of the council.

[2:37:44] I just don't know.

[2:37:44] I'll let you know the responses.

[2:37:46] Thank you.

[2:37:50] All right, and then next is new business, authorization of the time is signed a contract with

[2:37:56] Dimeo, authorizing and noted to proceed with the construction with a GMP gross maximum price

[2:38:03] not to exceed 53 million, what 615,975,000 dollars for the construction of the public safety

[2:38:09] complex, and station one, and I am going to recuse myself, Kim.

[2:38:14] Thank you.

[2:38:15] All right.

[2:38:15] So to you step away, do

[2:38:24] you have anything you want to say about this?

[2:38:25] Definitely, I've spent a couple of minutes on this, but I'll be quick.

[2:38:28] So first, I want to thank the Council for their support and direction at the last meeting.

[2:38:31] I provided a world of information, a very lengthy analysis as to where we stood and you gave some clear direction.

[2:38:37] I do appreciate that.

[2:38:39] I also want to acknowledge as I did early in the manager report, the work of the team,

[2:38:43] a former fighter, chiefs, got to tell chief John Littercree, chief John Irvin,

[2:38:46] members of the Command staff, our architect, our general contractor, a lot of work went into making

[2:38:52] sure that we brought this figure down to a level which we could afford here in North Kingstown.

[2:38:58] At the last meeting, I advised the council that our preliminary GMP came in at 55.9 million.

[2:39:04] When I combined that with the soft course, the technology caused the cost of dispatch,

[2:39:09] site landscaping, architectural fees, contingencies. The total cost was 69,699,899.

[2:39:16] something that was much greater than we had funding for,

[2:39:19] although I really appreciate the council's commitment to the same

[2:39:21] we're going to move forward in this project.

[2:39:23] As a result of concessions about the internal group and work with DBVW,

[2:39:27] with Demio, the GMP figure that you have before you,

[2:39:31] of 53,615,975, is significantly less than the

[2:39:35] almost 56 million GMP because of the work of this team,

[2:39:39] and that brings the pride, and there were additional

[2:39:42] cuts in the soft course, which brings the project total right now

[2:39:46] of $64,923,125.

[2:39:50] As I mentioned in the Council, we're looking for some outside funding.

[2:39:53] $500,000 from our technology fund for the IT upgrades that would have taken place even if we didn't...

[2:40:00] Not have this because our talent's primary server is located at the public safety complex.

[2:40:05] $360,000 from a safe streets grant funding for the traffic warning signal that is going to coincide with the new station.

[2:40:12] $861,000 from restricted bond proceeds, which I'll be coming back to the council for final approval.

[2:40:19] And this will avoid some arbitrage penalties from the IRS. This is a bond that was approved years ago.

[2:40:24] and then a whole four one million dollar federal grant for EOC equipment should we get all that

[2:40:29] that brings the total number to 62.2 million. We're approved for 60 million out of bond.

[2:40:34] At some point, I would have come to the council and asked for approval to use fund balance.

[2:40:39] Of a minimum of 2.2 million, but less than, but maximum of 3.2 should we not get that federal grant.

[2:40:47] This evening though, you just have a simple, simple request on my pardon. That is,

[2:40:50] for us to be I wanted to give you that total number because it wouldn't be for you to ask

[2:40:54] you for approval of 53.6, not knowing where we're going to get the rest of the money from.

[2:41:00] So I wanted to give you an analysis of everything else that's taking place but tonight based

[2:41:05] on these new numbers, I'm asking for approval to sign the amended A1A133 exhibit.

[2:41:11] With Demio, we've provides a GMP of 63.6 million, which allows them to proceed at tomorrow

[2:41:18] August 18th, which will allow them to start the work in September and keep us on schedule.

[2:41:23] Happy to answer any questions, but again, thank you for your assistance last meeting.

[2:41:28] And I think this turned out much better than I expected.

[2:41:32] I think that's a really amazing job to you and the Chiefs.

[2:41:36] I think really to be commended.

[2:41:37] I'll pass that on. Thank you.

[2:41:40] Do we have a motion?

[2:41:41] I'll make the motion.

[2:41:42] Second.

[2:41:44] Is there any further discussion or comment?

[2:41:46] All right. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Aye.

[2:41:50] Those opposed, none posed. Greg, you can come back to the table.

[2:42:02] Next is item 23. Discussion of amendments to chapter three, the court of ordinances.

[2:42:08] Title animals. Do you want to take it away, Mr. Townsville this summer or a town manager?

[2:42:15] Thanks, Greg. Just for a little background.

[2:42:18] As everyone knows, there's been a fair amount of discussion online in the town hall.

[2:42:23] regarding the status of puppies for sale at pet stores in North Kingston.

[2:42:28] In response to those complaints, both the town officials and the DM have visited the Establishen on Post Road, the proprietors here tonight.

[2:42:38] And on that note, there are two regulatory authorities in this space.

[2:42:42] First, DM controls and regulates pet stores and pet sales.

[2:42:47] And two, the town controls its zoning regulations.

[2:42:50] I'm at first note, I don't know what the gentleman's name, but he stated, and he's correct

[2:42:56] D.M. has conducted at least two separate unannounced inspections of the post-rode site based

[2:43:02] on numerous complaints.

[2:43:03] I think they received 50 or 60 up in Providence.

[2:43:08] The unannounced inspections took place on July 16, 2026 and August 3rd, 2026.

[2:43:13] And as he stated, in both inspections, they found the puppies on site healthy or the

[2:43:20] Additionally, the animals had proper ventilation and had access to water at all times.

[2:43:27] So on both instances, DM officials found there were no violation of any DM regulations

[2:43:33] related to pet stores and pet sales.

[2:43:37] So with that said, as Ralph noted earlier, there is regulatory power the town has in the zoning ordinance.

[2:43:45] 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.

[2:44:02] Per the zoning ordinance, the keeping and boarding of dogs for sale meets the definition of a candle.

[2:44:12] And to operate that kind of business requires a special use permit, which they don't have,

[2:44:17] and maybe they weren't asked to get that, but again, there was some miscommunication

[2:44:21] as to what was going on there.

[2:44:23] So at this point, the NOV, the notice of isolation has been issued to the proprietor.

[2:44:28] The legal process is underway, and once we have more clarity on where that goes with his

[2:44:34] attorney, we will update the council and the public.

[2:44:38] But in the interim, please know that the town officials and DM will ensure the health and safety

[2:44:43] the animals on site as best we can.

[2:44:46] The town, animal control officers involved, DM is involved, solicitors are involved, Ralph is

[2:44:51] involved.

[2:44:53] So, we hope to resolve this and the best chance of all parties going forward as soon as possible.

[2:45:03] And some people concerned about living or trying to eliminate all of these types of stories.

[2:45:12] That was mentioned, whether we could somehow eliminate the grandfather rights of this establishment.

[2:45:18] That would be extremely difficult to deal on a legal standpoint.

[2:45:23] So, as your opinion, legally, we can do it or we cannot do it.

[2:45:26] Well, somebody who can still pass the ordinance, I'm sorry Beth, go ahead.

[2:45:30] And that's what, that should happen in West, well, too, correct?

[2:45:33] It's a, um, the server was talking about, and I, it's those doors still in effect, but once

[2:45:39] they close, go out of business, retire, that would be eliminated.

[2:45:43] Okay.

[2:45:44] All right.

[2:45:45] Can you, yeah.

[2:45:46] I,

[2:45:48] can you go in, would you speak in the microphone?

[2:45:52] I'm really sure.

[2:45:53] This is important.

[2:45:56] I'm so, I'm not a lawyer, so I don't know any of things about this, but I just want to

[2:45:59] I'm sure that you've looked into the East Providence case that I believe was made it to federal

[2:46:07] court.

[2:46:08] I'd you mentioned that tonight.

[2:46:09] I'll have to check on that.

[2:46:10] Thank you.

[2:46:12] Can I also say that we're not talking about him as a pet store owner.

[2:46:16] We're talking about very poorly bread animals, bread and bread and bread and bread and bread

[2:46:23] again.

[2:46:24] These dogs are tortured, they're neglected.

[2:46:27] I got four kittens from a farm in West thumb and I feel over the course of 10 years.

[2:46:33] All bread back to the same females, father, son, whatever.

[2:46:36] Not one of them made it past five years.

[2:46:40] So these animals are not quality animals.

[2:46:43] You're hurting the town.

[2:46:44] You're hurting the people in the town.

[2:46:45] You're letting them take credit out to buy very, very over-priced animals.

[2:46:50] So that this man and his people can make money off of the backs of animals.

[2:46:54] I've done the animal rescue for over 40 years. I know the whole gig. I think most of us here do.

[2:47:00] I would like to see this shut all the way down and I will do what I can do to make sure it is.

[2:47:06] Well, outside of the Grandfathering issue, does anyone have any questions about this proposed ordinance?

[2:47:14] Do we have a proposed ordinance in front of us today that's in red, right?

[2:47:19] raises the draft proposal just for discussion.

[2:47:24] And you can comment when it comes up for public hearing.

[2:47:27] Right, so the process is to clarify for the public the process.

[2:47:33] It needs to have at least two readings correct.

[2:47:37] So it's a little bit published.

[2:47:38] And we should not have a let Angie come up with that's fine.

[2:47:41] We did it.

[2:47:43] And you know something, since we let one person proponent,

[2:47:46] we should let the if that guy want to set him up,

[2:47:48] we can let you come up, sir.

[2:47:51] The only old caution is that there is, I mean,

[2:47:54] not to protect his rights,

[2:47:56] but there is a violation in progress.

[2:47:59] I don't want to litigate this tonight.

[2:48:01] I'm not going to talk about that.

[2:48:03] All right.

[2:48:04] Mr. Mianzini.

[2:48:05] Yes, you want to talk about this?

[2:48:06] Yes, I don't know.

[2:48:07] Mr. Mianzini.

[2:48:08] Mr. Mianzini.

[2:48:10] Mr. Mianzini.

[2:48:11] Mr. Mianzini.

[2:48:14] Mr. Mianzini.

[2:48:15] Mr. Mianzini.

[2:48:16] I will be a couple more minutes, hopefully.

[2:48:19] So I usually get on doing this.

[2:48:22] We let a proponent come up before,

[2:48:24] so I think it's an all fairness we should let.

[2:48:27] I mean, yeah, that's fine.

[2:48:28] I appreciate it.

[2:48:29] I'm not going to say anything about disowning.

[2:48:31] But as far as the animal care goes,

[2:48:34] in 18 years of doing this and the animals

[2:48:36] from the state around get a tree and warranty,

[2:48:40] I don't have animals coming back with all these issues

[2:48:42] of hearts and bad.

[2:48:44] we wouldn't still be in business.

[2:48:47] That's why Rhode Island only has three stores left

[2:48:49] because there's three stores that do it right.

[2:48:51] So painting those with a broad spectrum bus

[2:48:53] of doing all these things that are wrong

[2:48:55] and just saying because you have got four kittens that were bad.

[2:48:59] That's true.

[2:48:59] I have customers who have dogs that are 15 and 16 years old

[2:49:05] come back to buy another one

[2:49:06] because they had such a good experience.

[2:49:08] So you can't take all the negative and think that that's me.

[2:49:12] It's not fair.

[2:49:13] 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?

[2:49:33] Okay, does anyone on the console have any of the thoughts?

[2:49:37] Okay, so for the public, we will draft this ordinance.

[2:49:42] We will put it on a future agenda.

[2:49:44] We'll have to advertise it.

[2:49:47] There's what we call the first reading.

[2:49:48] Using is not public testimony.

[2:49:50] First reading, it's more for people who can see the ordinance.

[2:49:54] And there's a second reading.

[2:49:56] And then that'll be advertised.

[2:49:58] And then that's using where we have...

[2:50:00] There was a public comment on the ordinance, and then at that point council will make a decision.

[2:50:07] So I would recommend that we make sure that it's published in time so that the first reading

[2:50:14] and hearing could be with our first meeting in September and the second reading and hearing

[2:50:19] being at our last meeting in September.

[2:50:22] 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

[2:50:28] And I think that's a different of the clerks' timetable on that.

[2:50:35] We've got, I think, that we have correspondence, which is our last item.

[2:50:40] So, Lydia.

[2:50:41] I'll be as quick as I can.

[2:50:43] From Holly Quinn and email about citizen comments, from Angie Sheen, an email about the

[2:50:48] second battery storage project, from Sherry Linda Blad, an email about the North Kingston Arts

[2:50:56] Council, allowing a candidate to post up at concerts, which they didn't do, for emails

[2:51:03] about a proposed doc at 353-RL, all against the proposed doc, from Sarah McPeak about

[2:51:11] noise abatement, for the root 403 noise, from Ben Fulcim and email about parking issues

[2:51:16] on LaFayette, from Andy Shean, actually multiple about the puppy sales, puppies and

[2:51:25] from Mark Howl-Oran, concerns about a proposed new road access to ghost neck benures, from

[2:51:33] Heather Murphy, concerns about school committee meetings and transparency, from the pet advocacy

[2:51:38] network and opposition to the ordinance we discussed this evening, from Director Wright

[2:51:45] on the name.

[2:51:47] And I don't remember, but somebody wrote in about the, they were opposed to the appearance

[2:51:52] in the hours of enforcement for the speed camera signs.

[2:51:55] From Sarily Norton, an email about her concern about local housing and infrastructure needs

[2:52:01] resulting from the electric boat expansion.

[2:52:04] And then I did batch emails because there's a lot more than this, but we received 24 complaints

[2:52:11] about the asphalt odor.

[2:52:14] And I mentioned earlier that that was less than the previous five weeks, but you know,

[2:52:19] That was a significant increase in the previous five weeks before that.

[2:52:23] We received 45 emails about the Fox system, 44 were concerned or opposed one was in favor.

[2:52:32] And we received seven emails in favor of passing the ordinance, the changing of the ordinance

[2:52:38] about pad sales.

[2:52:40] Thank you.

[2:52:41] Now all the business before the council, and a data motion to adjourn.

[2:52:45] So moved.

[2:52:46] Second.

[2:52:46] I'll learn from you to say hi.

[2:52:47] Bye.

[2:52:48] Thank you everybody.

Town Council

Agenda

Transcript