[1:47] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the

[1:50] United States of America and to the

[1:52] republic for which it stands, one nation

[1:55] under God, indivisible, with liberty and

[1:58] justice for all.

[2:03] Call your daughter at 5:30. Roll call.

[2:12] Councilman Parmley,

[2:14] >> present.

[2:15] » present.

[2:15] >> Councilman McCormack,

[2:16] » Councilman McCormack,

[2:16] >> present.

[2:17] » present.

[2:18] >> Councilman Grandandy,

[2:19] » Councilman Grandandy,

[2:19] >> present.

[2:20] » present.

[2:20] >> Councilwoman Yu,

[2:21] » Councilwoman Yu,

[2:21] >> present.

[2:22] » present.

[2:22] >> Councilman Musat,

[2:25] » Councilman Musat,

[2:25] >> Muser,

[2:28] Council Vice President Diagustinino,

[2:31] >> present.

[2:31] » present.

[2:31] >> And Council President Collins,

[2:33] » And Council President Collins,

[2:33] >> present. Item four, possible motions to

[2:36] » present. Item four, possible motions to

[2:36] convene into closed executive session.

[2:39] A, the town council may convene into

[2:41] executive close session pursuant to

[2:43] Rhode Island general laws 4246582

[2:47] pending litigation, Situit versus Riley,

[2:50] uh, PC 2023 06218.

[2:55] discussion and or potential action,

[2:57] announcement and or votes from executive

[3:00] session and/or open session concerning

[3:02] pending litigation regarding Situit

[3:05] versus Riley PC 2023 06218.

[3:10] Now item B is the town council may

[3:13] convene into executive sessions to

[3:14] discuss take possible action and or vote

[3:17] pursuant to the relevant requirements of

[3:19] Rhode Island general laws 42465A

[3:24] subsection one discussion of the job

[3:26] performance character or physical or

[3:29] mental health of a person or persons

[3:32] specifically to allow the town council

[3:33] to conduct the interviews of potential

[3:36] department of public works director

[3:38] candidates provided either such person

[3:40] or persons affected shall have been

[3:43] notified and advanced in writing and

[3:44] advised that they may require that the

[3:47] discussion be held at open meeting.

[3:50] Discussion and/or potential action,

[3:53] announcement and/or votes from executive

[3:55] session and or open session concerning

[3:58] interviews of potential department of

[4:01] public works directive candidates. A

[4:03] motion. So moved.

[4:05] Motion made and seconded. All in favor?

[4:07] I.

[4:07] >> I. Any against?

[4:09] » I. Any against?

[4:09] passes. also invite the solicitor and

[4:13] peg in plus the candidates. This

[1:32:44] call the meeting to order at 7 p.m.

[1:32:46] Thank you.

[1:32:46] >> You're welcome.

[1:32:49] » You're welcome.

[1:32:49] >> Uh

[1:32:53] just want to make that the motion to

[1:32:54] seal the uh executive session minutes.

[1:32:57] There was uh the announcement of the

[1:32:59] vote uh that was taken uh to pick a

[1:33:02] highway director. Uh it was unanimous

[1:33:04] but right now it's going to be

[1:33:06] confidential. Uh we'll have a meeting in

[1:33:09] the future to announce it.

[1:33:12] Uh item seven, proclamation,

[1:33:15] presentations and acknowledgements.

[1:33:17] Review discussion andor potential action

[1:33:19] andor vote. Acknowledgement of the

[1:33:22] retirement of Kirk Loyel as a department

[1:33:25] of public works director. Kirk

[1:33:29] up here.

[1:33:35] Please come on up. Kirk

[1:33:57] The first one is from the town of

[1:33:59] Situit. It's the town of Situit by these

[1:34:02] present be it known that the town

[1:34:04] council of the town of Situit presents

[1:34:06] this certificate to Kurt Loyel in

[1:34:09] grateful recognition of over 5 years of

[1:34:11] commendable service to the town of

[1:34:13] Situit as director of public works.

[1:34:16] Whereas the Situate Town Council

[1:34:18] recognizes your dedication and

[1:34:20] outstanding service, we set our hand

[1:34:22] onto this certificate which is tended on

[1:34:25] the 8th day of January 2026. With the

[1:34:28] congratulations and thanks of the

[1:34:30] Situate Town Council and the citizens of

[1:34:32] the town of Situit. This is attested by

[1:34:35] Margaret Long, town clerk, signed by me

[1:34:37] as the council president.

[1:34:52] be on behalf of the state of Rhode

[1:34:54] Island. It's a Senate citation.

[1:34:57] It be it hereby known to all that the

[1:34:59] Rhode Island Senate hereby offers a

[1:35:02] sincerest congratulations to Kurt

[1:35:04] Loiselle in recognition of the momentous

[1:35:08] occasion of celebrating your retirement

[1:35:10] after many years of dedicated and

[1:35:12] faithful service to the town of Situ and

[1:35:15] your community. The entire membership

[1:35:18] extends its very best wishes on this

[1:35:20] memorable occasion and express the hope

[1:35:24] for continued good fortune presented

[1:35:26] this 10th day of January 2025 at the

[1:35:30] state house in state of Rhode Island. It

[1:35:32] was signed by Valerie Lawson, the

[1:35:34] president of Senate, Senator Gordon

[1:35:36] Rogers, the minority whip, and Jessica

[1:35:38] Dela Cruz, the minority leader of the

[1:35:40] Senate.

[1:35:48] You're good. You're good.

[1:35:51] And the last one is the state of Rhode

[1:35:52] Island citation. Be it hereby known to

[1:35:56] all that the Rhode Island House of

[1:35:58] Representatives hereby offers to

[1:36:00] sincerest congratulations to Kurt

[1:36:03] Loiselle, Director Situit Department of

[1:36:05] Public Works. In recognition of your

[1:36:08] retirement after many years of

[1:36:09] dedicated, faithful, and distinguished

[1:36:12] service to the people of the town of

[1:36:14] Situit as the director of public works,

[1:36:17] the entire membership extends its very

[1:36:19] best wishes on this memorable occasion

[1:36:22] and expresses the hope for continued

[1:36:24] good fortune given on the 10th day of

[1:36:26] January 2026 at the state house in

[1:36:29] Providence, Rhode Island. proposed by

[1:36:32] representative Robert Katrochi and it

[1:36:35] was signed by speaker of the house Joe

[1:36:38] um

[1:36:40] Christopher Blninkski I guess it is

[1:36:43] minor majority leader and Michael

[1:36:46] Chippendale the minority leader

[1:36:49] I want to say thank you

[1:36:53] Tom when I got a police department you

[1:36:54] only been one hell of a job and I tried

[1:36:57] to get you there another six years but

[1:36:59] it wouldn't Wait

[1:37:00] a minute.

[1:37:19] Uh let's see. All right. Item B, update

[1:37:24] from the human resources committee.

[1:37:27] uh HRC determination of next steps

[1:37:29] including without limitation authorizing

[1:37:32] the town solicitor's office to review,

[1:37:35] edit, and clarify recommended personnel

[1:37:39] policy changes from the HRC and human

[1:37:42] resources consultant TMDA HR solutions.

[1:37:46] setting up future workshop meetings to

[1:37:48] discuss, review, and begin the process

[1:37:51] to amend the town of Situate human

[1:37:54] resources manual and also employee job

[1:37:58] descriptions. Abby,

[1:38:04] » thank you very much, Kirk. Thank you

[1:38:06] very much for for everything you've done

[1:38:08] for the town. Um, I want to first I'm

[1:38:11] going to hand out the actual report to

[1:38:14] the committee. And if Peg, you could add

[1:38:17] it to the minutes. I apologize for not

[1:38:19] having an advance, but this is just a

[1:38:21] summary.

[1:38:23] I'm going to give the a bridged summary,

[1:38:26] but again, this is still in a bridge

[1:38:29] summary, so you'll know um the full

[1:38:33] details, I guess, hopefully at the end

[1:38:35] of this.

[1:38:45] Oh, I took

[1:38:54] So, I apologize in advance for the long

[1:38:56] windedness, but there's a lot here. So,

[1:38:59] first and foremost, I'd like to um

[1:39:01] acknowledge the HR committee. I would

[1:39:04] like to extend gratitude to the um

[1:39:07] department heads, employees, the town

[1:39:09] council for this opportunity. Also, a

[1:39:12] special thank you to Caitlyn Seisand, is

[1:39:15] that how you say her married name? And

[1:39:17] Karen Bey for their uh knowledge and

[1:39:19] guidance. I know our committee started

[1:39:22] in 2021 and it has gone through various

[1:39:25] changes, but I feel confident that with

[1:39:28] each change, we continued. And um I'd

[1:39:32] like to thank each and every member. Um

[1:39:35] originally the charge that we were given

[1:39:37] was to identify significant deficiencies

[1:39:40] in existing policies and practices,

[1:39:42] review the report issued by the Rhode

[1:39:44] Island Interlocal Risk Management Trust,

[1:39:46] and assess its recommendations,

[1:39:49] prioritize actions to address any high

[1:39:51] priority deficiencies, prepare a report

[1:39:54] for the town council and recommend

[1:39:56] recommendations to address near-term and

[1:39:58] long-term human resource needs. So

[1:40:06] overall, we as a committee began by

[1:40:11] diving deep into the actual handbook.

[1:40:13] The handbook itself um had not been

[1:40:17] revised since 2018. And even with the

[1:40:20] 2018 revision, it wasn't a full

[1:40:22] revision. There was some small add-ins

[1:40:24] and whatnot. So, as a committee, we went

[1:40:27] through our own revision process of that

[1:40:30] employee handbook. We also reviewed um

[1:40:33] different town policies and procedures

[1:40:35] that were currently in use and also the

[1:40:37] ones that we are currently lacking. And

[1:40:41] by lacking, I say it's almost as though

[1:40:43] they need to be um just revisited and

[1:40:47] streamlined, whether it be to reflect

[1:40:50] current laws or whether it be just to

[1:40:52] reflect a more definitive policy for the

[1:40:56] employees to adhere to. Um the second

[1:40:59] thing we third thing, I'm sorry, we

[1:41:00] looked at was the interlocal trust

[1:41:01] assessment. And what we found was that

[1:41:03] many of the recommendations that came

[1:41:05] from the trust assessment were very

[1:41:07] similar to the ones that we had come up

[1:41:09] with in diving into the handbook and the

[1:41:11] town policies and procedures.

[1:41:14] Uh next we collaborated

[1:41:17] with Dr. Sakina Lwal of the TMDA

[1:41:21] HR solutions which was the HR consultant

[1:41:24] firm where we used some of the monies

[1:41:26] from the app funding for those purposes

[1:41:29] and she was extremely helpful with that.

[1:41:32] She took all of the things that not only

[1:41:34] our committee went through the trust

[1:41:36] went through but then she from an

[1:41:38] outside non-bias point of view she also

[1:41:41] reviewed and made recommendations on

[1:41:43] that. Um lastly, we got feedback from

[1:41:48] not only our committee but all the town

[1:41:50] department heads. We asked the

[1:41:52] department heads to not only fill out a

[1:41:54] survey that the HR consultant had

[1:41:56] provided for us, but we also asked the

[1:41:59] department heads to thoroughly go

[1:42:01] through the handbook and with their

[1:42:04] experience with the handbook for their

[1:42:05] non-UN employees, what worked, what

[1:42:08] didn't work, what it needed tweaking,

[1:42:09] what always came up as an issue. We

[1:42:11] asked them to talk to the employees

[1:42:13] within their departments for the same

[1:42:15] things and then we invited each of them

[1:42:17] to one of the meetings to report back on

[1:42:19] their findings.

[1:42:20] Um the key findings and recommendations

[1:42:22] that we found or came out of this

[1:42:25] overall were we need to standardize HR

[1:42:28] forms uh job descriptions applications

[1:42:31] evaluation forms. Some of these things

[1:42:33] have already been started. Um I know

[1:42:36] I've we've shared the forms job

[1:42:39] descriptions with the

[1:42:43] well we shared it with the committee and

[1:42:45] they were basically just put in a

[1:42:47] standardized form. So when we are you as

[1:42:49] the council have an uh an opening it

[1:42:53] would be something where you would pull

[1:42:55] the standardized form. They all look the

[1:42:57] same. Obviously, the job descriptions

[1:42:58] and whatnot are going to change, but

[1:43:02] it's a professional um form. The

[1:43:05] department head looks it over. Is there

[1:43:06] anything we need to change? And then we

[1:43:08] go from there. It's a it's a starting

[1:43:10] point. It's a formal form. Um

[1:43:14] applications also need to be

[1:43:16] standardized. Evaluation forms need to

[1:43:18] be standardized. uh also standardized

[1:43:21] policies and practices, the recruitment,

[1:43:23] selection, separation policies, posting

[1:43:26] positions. Situit is an amazing town. Um

[1:43:29] it was amazing to be on the council and

[1:43:32] be a part of it. We have excellent

[1:43:34] employees, contract, non-union,

[1:43:37] but I think we're also a town that we've

[1:43:40] always done it this way. So we need to

[1:43:42] look at the fact of like when the people

[1:43:44] that have not always been here retire or

[1:43:47] so on and so forth. There's something

[1:43:49] standardized to move forward in the next

[1:43:52] council or the next department head has

[1:43:54] something to go off of and they're not

[1:43:55] trying to recreate the wheel. Uh another

[1:43:58] thing for standardized policies and

[1:44:00] practices would be employee entry and

[1:44:03] exit procedures. Um standardized audit

[1:44:06] of time cards and again this is just a

[1:44:08] rough list. The third thing that came up

[1:44:11] was employee protection um with having

[1:44:16] the council elected every two years and

[1:44:19] um there was some concern brought about

[1:44:22] our committee about um whether or not

[1:44:25] the protection of the employees if

[1:44:27] there's a new council will my job be in

[1:44:29] jeopardy so on and so forth they just

[1:44:30] wanted more clarification on that they

[1:44:33] situate does not have a town charter so

[1:44:35] there's no town manager that came up

[1:44:36] quite a bit and the HR recommends a

[1:44:39] proactive review of non union employee

[1:44:42] protection policies to align with

[1:44:44] municipal governance best practices and

[1:44:46] mitigate risks associated with changes

[1:44:48] in elected leadership.

[1:44:51] Um nextly just standardization of

[1:44:54] employee files. The HR committee

[1:44:56] reviewed and agrees with the trust

[1:44:58] personnel file assessment opportunities

[1:45:00] exist to improve organization of files

[1:45:03] um confident confidentiality

[1:45:06] uh policies and procedures retention I9

[1:45:09] compliance also standardization and

[1:45:11] corrective action are recommended to

[1:45:13] support compliance and best practices

[1:45:16] the non-UN employee handbook review

[1:45:19] specifically the last version was made

[1:45:22] in the late 1990s like I said Four

[1:45:25] updates have been made in 2018, but it

[1:45:28] was not a full review. Um, some of these

[1:45:31] would include uh employee conduct,

[1:45:34] discipline, and there was a new holiday

[1:45:36] added in 2019 2018. Priority priority

[1:45:40] areas that came up include uh expansion

[1:45:43] of the harassment policy beyond the

[1:45:46] sexual harassment policy that's already

[1:45:47] there. Clarification of employment at

[1:45:50] will language, policies regarding

[1:45:52] relatives, personal relationships,

[1:45:55] payweek definitions, payroll practices,

[1:45:57] meal and rest breaks, employee

[1:45:59] assistance programs, workforce

[1:46:01] compensation procedures, confidentiality

[1:46:03] expectations, and as the list goes on

[1:46:06] and on.

[1:46:08] And again, these exist, but we need to

[1:46:10] update them to reflect current times.

[1:46:13] Um, so our recommendation as a committee

[1:46:15] was that all sections should be be

[1:46:17] reviewed, updated, and consolidated for

[1:46:19] clarity, consistency, and legal

[1:46:20] compliance. Another one that came up was

[1:46:23] the leave of absence uh policy and

[1:46:25] procedures,

[1:46:27] just the different there's no like

[1:46:29] formal policy here in place.

[1:46:32] Um [clears throat]

[1:46:36] then we like I said we looked at the

[1:46:38] department head had them look at the

[1:46:39] look at it. Some of the things that

[1:46:41] stood out were the there was a vaccine

[1:46:44] policy um one of the departments would

[1:46:46] like that removed lunch breaks um

[1:46:49] handbook there was wording different

[1:46:51] wording updates that you'll see in your

[1:46:52] report. Uh benefits obviously do we have

[1:46:56] to change the percentages so on and so

[1:46:58] forth. The other thing that came about

[1:47:00] from our work with the HR consultant was

[1:47:04] uh training. So part of for example if I

[1:47:08] use myself as an employee of the Situate

[1:47:10] school department in the beginning of

[1:47:11] the year we're required to do different

[1:47:13] trainings and they're not long trainings

[1:47:15] they're just some of them are brief um

[1:47:17] videos but it is things for example how

[1:47:20] to use an EpiPen or um safety

[1:47:22] precautions in the school or so on and

[1:47:25] so sexual harassment things like that.

[1:47:28] Um we have implemented with the help of

[1:47:30] Karen as well um that already in the

[1:47:33] town. We're um using a group called

[1:47:36] Reliant and Karen gets a report and what

[1:47:40] we would like to do with that is not say

[1:47:42] okay you have to do all of these

[1:47:43] trainings. Obviously, if people want to

[1:47:46] do more trainings, we'd be more than

[1:47:47] happy with that. But as a committee,

[1:47:51] we're recommending that there are some

[1:47:52] have-tos. And again, we're we're asking

[1:47:55] to look to legal for that. But some have

[1:47:57] to that you have to do. And then also to

[1:47:59] think about it per department. Some

[1:48:02] departments may already have this

[1:48:03] instituted within their contract or

[1:48:05] within their specific job criteria. For

[1:48:08] example, DBW obviously has to do

[1:48:10] different ones than it would have to be

[1:48:11] for the town clerk. Um so that needs to

[1:48:14] be uh clearly defined.

[1:48:17] Um also some safety observations with

[1:48:19] the town. Um there's safety plans that

[1:48:22] exist at DPW. There's uh no regular

[1:48:25] safety meetings for employees and again

[1:48:28] putting my teacher hat out. I think

[1:48:29] about the schools and you know what we

[1:48:31] do in fire drills and so on and so

[1:48:33] forth, but for the town employees and

[1:48:35] the town buildings, those things don't

[1:48:38] exist. So, the town lacks formal

[1:48:40] buildingwide safety procedures, fire

[1:48:43] evacuation plans, and overall emergency

[1:48:45] preparedness protocols. And honestly, we

[1:48:47] have some of the best in this emergency

[1:48:49] field, and I feel like we should

[1:48:51] absolutely utilize both, you know, the

[1:48:53] fire chief's, EMS director, the chief of

[1:48:55] police to help with those things. Um so

[1:49:00] moving on to next steps.

[1:49:03] We as a committee um feel as though

[1:49:06] we've come to that stop where we can't

[1:49:08] go any further. We've reviewed, we've

[1:49:10] talked to consultants, we've talked to

[1:49:12] department heads, we went through

[1:49:13] policies, handbooks, so on and so forth.

[1:49:15] So, what we're asking as a committee

[1:49:17] from the council is to um if you would

[1:49:21] authorize the solicitor's office to

[1:49:23] review, edit, and clarify any of the

[1:49:26] recommended personnel policies,

[1:49:28] procedures that we currently have and to

[1:49:30] update them um in coordination with what

[1:49:34] the HR committee is recommending and

[1:49:36] obviously what the HR consultant firm is

[1:49:38] recommending. but also too um we felt as

[1:49:42] though that the work that we put in we'd

[1:49:45] also like to be a part of the

[1:49:46] conversation. So I did see on the agenda

[1:49:48] tonight that we were up for renewal. So

[1:49:50] we would request that um you renew our

[1:49:53] committee. But in the fact of because I

[1:49:56] feel as though the charge is done, but

[1:49:58] we would like the town council to maybe

[1:50:02] think about having workshop meetings to

[1:50:05] accomplish all of this work. And with

[1:50:07] that, these workshop meetings, it would

[1:50:09] lend the public to be able to speak on

[1:50:12] it. It would lend department heads to

[1:50:14] speak at length at the different

[1:50:16] specific area that we're discussing for

[1:50:19] that workshop, but also to the HR

[1:50:21] committee could also um come to

[1:50:23] represent their findings as well. Um, so

[1:50:27] with that being said, we'd like to think

[1:50:30] about future workshop meetings maybe on

[1:50:31] that fourth Thursday of each month to

[1:50:34] review any proposed changes that we have

[1:50:37] set forward. The other thing I'd like to

[1:50:39] acknowledge is that again I uh say this

[1:50:42] is a summary of what we've done. There's

[1:50:44] also

[1:50:45] >> there's also this handbook. So this is a

[1:50:48] » there's also this handbook. So this is a

[1:50:48] thick handbook that the HR consultant

[1:50:51] had put together. Karen does have a copy

[1:50:53] of it and there's a link to it. Um, but

[1:50:55] I just want to find out the best figure

[1:50:57] out the best way. I was talking to David

[1:50:58] earlier as to how to distribute this to

[1:51:01] the council. Um,

[1:51:02] >> can you can you send us the link so we

[1:51:04] » can you can you send us the link so we

[1:51:04] can review it online?

[1:51:05] >> Yes, I can. I'm just Yes, I will figure

[1:51:08] » Yes, I can. I'm just Yes, I will figure

[1:51:08] that out. Definitely figure that out for

[1:51:09] you. Um, and this is also too why I it's

[1:51:13] important to have the workshop model

[1:51:14] because there's no way that we could

[1:51:16] come together and say, could you just

[1:51:18] approve this please? And again, we have

[1:51:20] no authority to go further with any of

[1:51:22] that. So I think that would be the best

[1:51:24] route. So I thank you for your time.

[1:51:27] Again, I have to thank the committee,

[1:51:28] all the members for all the years, and I

[1:51:31] also thank you for your patience. And

[1:51:34] I'll answer any questions if anyone has

[1:51:35] any.

[1:51:35] >> Well, first off, thanks so much for your

[1:51:37] » Well, first off, thanks so much for your

[1:51:38] commitment and your committee's

[1:51:39] commitment because this has been a long

[1:51:40] slog. Um, and it looks like there's a

[1:51:43] lot to work with here. And I certainly

[1:51:44] would endorse having special, you know,

[1:51:47] work sessions to go through this. I

[1:51:49] think it's the right way of going about

[1:51:50] it.

[1:51:53] I mean, I'm not sure we can do anything

[1:51:54] tonight necessarily with regard to

[1:51:56] allocating funds for for uh you know,

[1:51:59] the legal end of it, but um you know,

[1:52:01] that could be a the February agenda or

[1:52:03] something like that.

[1:52:05] >> Great. And if you don't mind, I'd like

[1:52:07] » Great. And if you don't mind, I'd like

[1:52:07] to provide Richard because I know he's

[1:52:11] do you mind if I pass that along? It's

[1:52:13] going to be in the minutes I

[1:52:16] >> Tim. I did speak to Abby and I told her,

[1:52:18] » Tim. I did speak to Abby and I told her,

[1:52:18] you know, get a hold of me and we'll put

[1:52:20] on whatever she wants on the agenda and

[1:52:22] we'll set up the workshops.

[1:52:23] >> Yep.

[1:52:24] » Yep.

[1:52:24] >> So, I appreciate it.

[1:52:26] » So, I appreciate it.

[1:52:26] >> Great.

[1:52:27] » Great.

[1:52:27] >> They are at least I speak for myself on

[1:52:30] » They are at least I speak for myself on

[1:52:30] this as the chair and I don't speak for

[1:52:33] committee members because they were

[1:52:34] excellent and they had a lot of

[1:52:36] knowledge on the human resource end of

[1:52:38] things um that I would look to the

[1:52:41] solicitors to say where do we start? So,

[1:52:45] but that's just my caveat to that. But

[1:52:47] thank you very much. Appreciate it.

[1:52:52] >> Uh, Mr. President, just uh briefly on on

[1:52:55] » Uh, Mr. President, just uh briefly on on

[1:52:55] that uh part of it, the solicitor's

[1:52:57] office. So, it is on for authorization

[1:53:00] to uh have the solicitor's office start

[1:53:04] its review or be a consultant with

[1:53:06] regard to these uh potential workshops.

[1:53:09] Uh what I can say is we have the

[1:53:12] non-retainer budget already approved by

[1:53:15] the town. It would we would work within

[1:53:16] that budget. It's just this is kind of a

[1:53:19] specific you know project that um it's a

[1:53:22] belt and suspenders approach as opposed

[1:53:24] to going down and investing that time

[1:53:26] that the council is on board with you

[1:53:29] know using that non-retainer budget uh

[1:53:32] for the solicitor's office to conduct

[1:53:34] that review and advise as needed. So

[1:53:37] that is available on as an action item

[1:53:39] as part of this uh agenda item.

[1:53:45] » I make a motion to authorize the use of

[1:53:46] the budget for uh for this project.

[1:53:49] >> I'll second that motion made second. We

[1:53:51] » I'll second that motion made second. We

[1:53:51] have discussion on it.

[1:53:57] » Richard, Mr. President, Richard

[1:53:59] Finnegan. Richard, I want to thank

[1:54:00] having you on our committee for doing

[1:54:02] all this good work.

[1:54:04] This is very important to the employees.

[1:54:06] the top. So, I I would hope we we don't

[1:54:09] delay anything longer than it has been

[1:54:11] delayed and we use the solicitor's

[1:54:14] office and get the job done. Thank you.

[1:54:18] >> Thank you, Richard.

[1:54:20] » Thank you, Richard.

[1:54:20] Okay. All in favor?

[1:54:21] >> I

[1:54:21] » I

[1:54:21] >> I. Any against? It passes.

[1:54:24] » I. Any against? It passes.

[1:54:24] >> Thank you very much.

[1:54:25] » Thank you very much.

[1:54:25] >> Thanks, Abby.

[1:54:27] » Thanks, Abby.

[1:54:27] >> Thank you, Abby.

[1:54:29] » Thank you, Abby.

[1:54:29] >> Item eight, public hearing, review,

[1:54:31] » Item eight, public hearing, review,

[1:54:31] discussion, andor potential action and

[1:54:33] or vote. No, no virtual participation on

[1:54:36] these public hearing items. I have a

[1:54:38] motion.

[1:54:40] >> Motion open public hearing.

[1:54:42] » Motion open public hearing.

[1:54:42] >> Second.

[1:54:43] » Second.

[1:54:43] >> Roll call.

[1:54:49] » Councilman Muser.

[1:54:50] >> Present.

[1:54:51] » Present.

[1:54:51] >> Council vice president Dagustinino.

[1:54:53] » Council vice president Dagustinino.

[1:54:53] >> I.

[1:54:54] » I.

[1:54:54] >> Council President Collins.

[1:54:56] » Council President Collins.

[1:54:56] >> Hi.

[1:54:56] » Hi.

[1:54:56] >> Councilman Yu.

[1:54:58] » Councilman Yu.

[1:54:58] >> I.

[1:54:59] » I.

[1:54:59] >> Councilman Grandandy.

[1:55:00] » Councilman Grandandy.

[1:55:00] >> Hi.

[1:55:01] » Hi.

[1:55:01] >> Councilman McCormack.

[1:55:02] » Councilman McCormack.

[1:55:02] >> Hi. and Councilman Pomaly.

[1:55:04] » Hi. and Councilman Pomaly.

[1:55:04] >> Hi.

[1:55:05] » Hi.

[1:55:06] Item A, first reading of ordinance

[1:55:08] 26-01,

[1:55:10] amending section 34 of article 2,

[1:55:12] section 60 and 61 of article 4 of

[1:55:16] chapter 3 of the code of ordinances, and

[1:55:19] adding a new section 62 to article 4 of

[1:55:22] chapter 3 of the code of ordinances,

[1:55:24] proposed amendments to the animal

[1:55:26] control violation/citation

[1:55:29] penalties, and adding a new fee schedule

[1:55:31] to cover the administrative cost for the

[1:55:34] care of shelter animals. animal is

[1:55:36] recommended by the animal control

[1:55:37] director and police chief. So moved.

[1:55:40] >> Second.

[1:55:41] » Second.

[1:55:41] >> Motion made and second. A discussion on

[1:55:43] » Motion made and second. A discussion on

[1:55:43] it.

[1:55:44] >> Long overdue.

[1:55:45] » Long overdue.

[1:55:45] >> Yeah, these these recommendations look

[1:55:48] » Yeah, these these recommendations look

[1:55:48] very good for us comparatively.

[1:55:49] >> Yeah.

[1:55:50] » Yeah.

[1:55:50] >> Um I do think this is excellent as well.

[1:55:52] » Um I do think this is excellent as well.

[1:55:52] Um I um Councilman uh McCormack did

[1:55:56] mention that we wanted to talk to our

[1:55:58] director or whatever we

[1:56:01] >> Dave back um about how much time they

[1:56:03] » Dave back um about how much time they

[1:56:04] actually spend in Foster though as well

[1:56:06] as

[1:56:07] >> Yeah. I was kind of hoping Dave might be

[1:56:08] » Yeah. I was kind of hoping Dave might be

[1:56:08] here but

[1:56:09] >> yeah so maybe we could uh Oh well the

[1:56:11] » yeah so maybe we could uh Oh well the

[1:56:11] chief is here.

[1:56:12] >> The chief's here. Chief can answer. He

[1:56:13] » The chief's here. Chief can answer. He

[1:56:13] falls under the chief. So the chief and

[1:56:15] I talked about this.

[1:56:16] >> Oh good. Okay. because we you know

[1:56:18] » Oh good. Okay. because we you know

[1:56:18] >> so

[1:56:20] » so

[1:56:20] conversation with the animal control uh

[1:56:23] director uh we are under contract for

[1:56:27] three years uh they pay their fair they

[1:56:31] pay their share and there's no

[1:56:33] stipulations in that contract as to how

[1:56:35] many calls some sometimes they're busier

[1:56:38] than we are and it's just the way it's

[1:56:40] been rolling this way it's as Dave

[1:56:43] explained it's the wild west out there

[1:56:44] and dogs run all over the place animals

[1:56:46] run free So they they get a lot of calls

[1:56:48] for this stuff.

[1:56:49] >> That's in Foster. It's a wild west.

[1:56:50] » That's in Foster. It's a wild west.

[1:56:50] >> That's in Foster. Yeah.

[1:56:54] » So we'll have to revisit this when this

[1:56:56] contract's up.

[1:56:58] >> Oh, absolutely. They do they do more

[1:57:00] » Oh, absolutely. They do they do more

[1:57:00] work in Foster than in situ.

[1:57:03] >> Thanks, Eric. Thanks, Chief.

[1:57:05] » Thanks, Eric. Thanks, Chief.

[1:57:05] >> Okay. Thank you,

[1:57:09] » Richard Finnegan. the turn-in fees. What

[1:57:12] What's What is that? When you bring a

[1:57:15] animal to the dog pound,

[1:57:18] that's what I would assume, but I don't

[1:57:20] know.

[1:57:24] Attorney fee, as far as I've known it,

[1:57:26] is when an owner of an animal, cat, dog,

[1:57:30] cannot

[1:57:32] physically or or for whatever reason

[1:57:34] handle an animal or care for the animal

[1:57:37] anymore. So they forfeit the animal to

[1:57:40] the shelter to seek adoption elsewhere.

[1:57:42] So that's that's the fee involved with

[1:57:44] that.

[1:57:45] >> Could be a hoarding situation too,

[1:57:47] » Could be a hoarding situation too,

[1:57:47] Chief. Correct. Where the the animals is

[1:57:49] confiscated.

[1:57:52] » I believe that's a different sort of set

[1:57:54] of f not not fines but charges.

[1:57:57] >> Mhm.

[1:58:03] like the council just mentioned that

[1:58:05] we're doing a lot of work in foster and

[1:58:09] I see it's a sliding scale for these

[1:58:11] fines between like $25 and $125.

[1:58:17] So I I would hope if we're finding

[1:58:20] somebody in foster it would be at the

[1:58:23] higher end of the scale so we can recoup

[1:58:26] some of our cost back. It's it's enough

[1:58:29] for our residents, our taxpayers paying

[1:58:33] for foster residents. So, I think they

[1:58:37] need to step up and I would hope that uh

[1:58:41] dog officer sees it that way. Thank you.

[1:58:44] >> Maybe we can use their municipal court,

[1:58:46] » Maybe we can use their municipal court,

[1:58:46] too, which would be nice.

[1:58:47] >> Yeah,

[1:58:47] » Yeah,

[1:58:48] >> Chief, I'm sure that uh when when things

[1:58:50] » Chief, I'm sure that uh when when things

[1:58:50] are handled by the the animal shelter

[1:58:52] that they don't discriminate, right?

[1:58:54] They charge everybody the same.

[1:58:56] >> Yeah, there's no discriminate.

[1:58:57] » Yeah, there's no discriminate.

[1:58:57] Everyone's charged uh

[1:59:00] reasonably the same. Obviously there are

[1:59:02] circumstances where someone may not be

[1:59:04] able to afford a certain percentage but

[1:59:06] as far as Mr. Finnegan said the fines

[1:59:08] foster per the contract for takes care

[1:59:10] of their own fines the fines go to the

[1:59:12] town of Foster any

[1:59:14] ordinance violations and for the fines

[1:59:16] are collected by them. Great. Thank you.

[1:59:20] And

[1:59:20] >> and to that uh point, so the sliding

[1:59:22] » and to that uh point, so the sliding

[1:59:22] scale when it comes to fines within

[1:59:24] situate, it's a first offense is one

[1:59:27] then second offense then third offense.

[1:59:29] That's the the slide. So that an offense

[1:59:31] is an offense. It's not based on

[1:59:34] anything other than the number of

[1:59:35] offenses regarding that animal. Uh what

[1:59:37] I would say is the other uh fees that

[1:59:40] are a part of this. Some are old, some

[1:59:42] are brand new uh that you see in the

[1:59:44] ordinance. Those are applicable to

[1:59:46] whoever shows up at the shelter to adopt

[1:59:50] or if there's an impound or a boarding

[1:59:51] fee. Those are our fees uh to use the

[1:59:55] shelter. So if there's a dog that's

[1:59:57] seized, it has to be boarded there. That

[2:00:01] fee applicable per day impound fee that

[2:00:05] that's going to be charged. That's what

[2:00:06] you're that's what in theory if this

[2:00:08] ordinance were to pass, you would be

[2:00:10] setting the charges for the use of the

[2:00:12] shelter. But the fines, as the chief

[2:00:14] alluded to, are particular to each town

[2:00:17] as a as a penalty. But if you're using

[2:00:20] the shelter or uh adopting a uh an

[2:00:24] animal from the shelter, you're setting

[2:00:26] the fees in general because it's your

[2:00:27] shelter.

[2:00:29] And chief, I think it's going to be

[2:00:31] important to monitor the collection

[2:00:33] procedure both in Situit and Foster just

[2:00:36] to make sure that they're actually

[2:00:37] making the efforts to collect the fees,

[2:00:43] » the fees for the shelter.

[2:00:45] >> Yeah.

[2:00:45] » Yeah.

[2:00:46] >> Yeah. I have full confidence in the

[2:00:48] » Yeah. I have full confidence in the

[2:00:48] director in handling that.

[2:00:49] >> Yeah.

[2:00:50] » Yeah.

[2:00:50] >> But we do them.

[2:00:52] » But we do them.

[2:00:52] And that was a point of emphasis with

[2:00:53] this renewal of the the contract with

[2:00:55] the town of Foster of um if for instance

[2:01:00] uh something goes to trial uh or and or

[2:01:04] gets dismissed uh the town of Foster is

[2:01:07] still responsible to cover our fees uh

[2:01:09] for boarding and whatnot. So that that

[2:01:11] that was a point of emphasis with this

[2:01:13] renewal and a change from a previous

[2:01:14] contract. So

[2:01:19] » okay, no other discussion. All in favor?

[2:01:21] I any against it passes. Item B, first

[2:01:25] reading of ordinance 26-02

[2:01:29] amending section 4 of article one of

[2:01:31] chapter 6 of the code of ordinances

[2:01:34] proposed amendment to increase the BV

[2:01:36] beverage viculating like liquor license

[2:01:39] limit from 3 to 4 total licenses as

[2:01:42] requested by Michael DeFazio owner of

[2:01:45] the Fazio Farm and Winery.

[2:01:48] >> So moved.

[2:01:50] » So moved.

[2:01:50] Motion made second. We have a discussion

[2:01:51] on that.

[2:01:56] Discussion from the public.

[2:02:13] » Hi. Um, council members. Uh, Sabrina

[2:02:16] Magguire

[2:02:18] Cafe. 985 Chopnist Hill Road. Um, I do

[2:02:22] have a uh BBL license at my business.

[2:02:28] Um, limited to beer and wine only. If uh

[2:02:31] the decision is to add a license, I

[2:02:34] would definitely apply for it. Um, I'm

[2:02:39] in favor of this. Um, and I was in the

[2:02:43] process of uh, honestly finding out what

[2:02:46] the steps were to increase my limited

[2:02:49] license to a full liquor license. I am

[2:02:52] not looking to uh, necessarily change my

[2:02:55] business model, but I am looking to

[2:02:58] offer additional options to my guests

[2:03:00] that come to my restaurant.

[2:03:03] um not looking to extend my hours or or

[2:03:06] change the way we do business but again

[2:03:09] just the options that I have. I think it

[2:03:11] will obviously increase the volume in

[2:03:13] which we do uh have repeat business and

[2:03:18] ultimately keep us afloat. Um, I do fear

[2:03:23] that if another, uh, establishment

[2:03:27] on my road, in my street, uh, opens with

[2:03:31] a full liquor license, it would be

[2:03:33] detrimental to my business, which is

[2:03:35] already up and running. And like I said,

[2:03:36] I've had a liquor license with

[2:03:39] restrictions on it for two years, which

[2:03:41] I've abided by every single one with no

[2:03:44] problems, with no issues. and I just

[2:03:46] want to make sure that I am considered

[2:03:50] uh along with this decision.

[2:03:55] >> Thank you.

[2:03:55] » Thank you.

[2:03:55] >> Thank you.

[2:03:58] » Thank you.

[2:03:58] >> Any other discussion, public comment?

[2:04:02] » Any other discussion, public comment?

[2:04:02] >> Mr. President, if I could just comment

[2:04:03] » Mr. President, if I could just comment

[2:04:03] on I guess the question that was

[2:04:05] presented. Uh so while this request was

[2:04:09] made by another uh potential uh holder

[2:04:13] of a license, this is an ordinance of

[2:04:15] general application if you were to pass

[2:04:17] it. And again, both of the ordinances

[2:04:19] tonight, this is only the first reading.

[2:04:21] It would need a second reading next

[2:04:22] month in order to pass. um that's only

[2:04:26] one step in the regulatory process when

[2:04:29] it comes to liquor licenses, whether

[2:04:31] it's a BV or a BBL uh or class A's as

[2:04:34] you're all intimately familiar at this

[2:04:36] point. Um so again, anyone could apply

[2:04:40] at that point and they would need to

[2:04:42] qualify uh otherwise for the liquor

[2:04:44] license and go through that liquor

[2:04:46] license process. Uh I would say uh there

[2:04:50] would also be other we'll say land use

[2:04:52] uh required uh possible amendments or

[2:04:56] special use permits. I know the uh

[2:04:59] proprietor who proposed this uh

[2:05:01] ordinance amendment has filed for a

[2:05:04] special use permit that would be heard

[2:05:06] at the end of this month the this fourth

[2:05:09] Tuesday of the month uh before zoning

[2:05:11] that's been filed that's been

[2:05:12] advertised. Um but again that's just a

[2:05:16] step in the process and still would come

[2:05:19] back to you to apply for any available

[2:05:22] open license. So and that would apply to

[2:05:25] any rier uh looking to uh have a liquor

[2:05:29] license.

[2:05:32] » Okay. Thank you Dave. No other comment.

[2:05:35] All in favor

[2:05:35] >> I

[2:05:36] » I

[2:05:36] >> I Any against?

[2:05:38] » I Any against?

[2:05:38] It passes.

[2:05:41] Motion to close the public hearing.

[2:05:43] >> So moved.

[2:05:45] » So moved.

[2:05:45] >> Motion been made and seconded. All in

[2:05:46] » Motion been made and seconded. All in

[2:05:46] favor? I. Any against? Passes.

[2:05:50] Item nine, public comment for items not

[2:05:53] on the agenda.

[2:06:09] Richard Fing, just for clarification,

[2:06:12] you said in the executive session there

[2:06:15] was a vote tonight.

[2:06:17] >> Yes.

[2:06:18] » Yes.

[2:06:18] >> And you hired somebody.

[2:06:20] » And you hired somebody.

[2:06:20] >> We've uh picked somebody. Yes, there

[2:06:22] » We've uh picked somebody. Yes, there

[2:06:22] was.

[2:06:23] >> You didn't hire somebody?

[2:06:26] » You didn't hire somebody?

[2:06:26] >> Yeah, we did.

[2:06:29] » Yeah, we did.

[2:06:29] >> It's got to be Well, it's got to be

[2:06:30] » It's got to be Well, it's got to be

[2:06:30] negotiated.

[2:06:31] >> Hold on. Hold on. So there was a vote

[2:06:33] » Hold on. Hold on. So there was a vote

[2:06:33] taken in close session

[2:06:36] that the results of that vote, the

[2:06:38] specifics of that vote cannot yet be

[2:06:39] disclosed. They have to remain

[2:06:40] confidential. Um

[2:06:43] if and when we'll say the results of

[2:06:46] that vote uh require further action,

[2:06:50] there will be an open session item in

[2:06:52] which someone will be hired under terms

[2:06:54] and conditions that'll be specific in

[2:06:56] that motion in that open session item.

[2:06:59] So there was a we'll call it an interimm

[2:07:02] vote that was taken that has to remain

[2:07:03] confidential in order to uh protect the

[2:07:06] hiring process.

[2:07:09] No one's been hired. There's the was

[2:07:11] your question. Was someone hired? No one

[2:07:13] has been my question. Thank you councel.

[2:07:20] I went to the school committee meeting.

[2:07:22] They talked about

[2:07:26] uh Alice training and a whole bunch of

[2:07:29] other things.

[2:07:31] But the issue came up that the town's

[2:07:36] people appropriated $190,000

[2:07:40] last year. I know some of the councilmen

[2:07:44] wants to um claw back some of that money

[2:07:49] and I just want to com commend the chief

[2:07:52] of police and the men and women of the

[2:07:55] police department for protecting our

[2:07:57] children, teachers and staff at each

[2:08:01] school in this town during the Brown

[2:08:04] University manh hunt. I went by the

[2:08:08] schools and I saw a patrol car with an

[2:08:11] officer in the car at every school.

[2:08:16] So, I appreciate that, Chief, and I

[2:08:18] appreciate your men and women on the

[2:08:20] force.

[2:08:22] My understanding is that

[2:08:25] they those officers

[2:08:29] were held over

[2:08:31] one way or the other during the day or

[2:08:33] or at night were held over and the town

[2:08:36] paid overtime.

[2:08:39] Town council is going to send a bill to

[2:08:43] the school

[2:08:45] department to recoup some monies.

[2:08:56] I conferred with the chief and the

[2:08:58] solicitor on this and it was felt that

[2:09:01] it was within my power to to say to the

[2:09:03] chief to do what he had to do. I talked

[2:09:06] to the chief. He had money in his

[2:09:07] overtime budget. he handled it. Uh if

[2:09:10] worse come to worse down the road, it

[2:09:12] was going to cause a problem. I was

[2:09:13] going to call a special meeting, excuse

[2:09:15] me, and have the council ratify my

[2:09:18] action. Uh it didn't cause a problem. I

[2:09:21] had talked to the chief about it, but

[2:09:23] the safety of the kids and everything

[2:09:24] like that, but what was going on, it was

[2:09:27] well within our realm to do what we did.

[2:09:29] So, we're not going to go to the school

[2:09:31] department and try to claw back the

[2:09:32] money.

[2:09:39] I'm I'm confused, but I guess that's

[2:09:40] that's the way I will have to be just

[2:09:43] confused because I thought it was so

[2:09:45] important for the town treasurer to have

[2:09:49] a meeting with the school department to

[2:09:51] educate them on what the fund balance

[2:09:54] was. And so now we have an opportunity

[2:09:57] to claw back some of that money and

[2:09:59] we're not going to do it. And that's

[2:10:01] your decision. But obviously

[2:10:05] budgeting that 190 wasn't

[2:10:09] so harmful to this tunnel.

[2:10:12] That's all I want to say on that matter.

[2:10:15] Um

[2:10:18] I asked the school

[2:10:20] new finance director Rob Baxter

[2:10:25] whether the school department is paying

[2:10:28] any late fees

[2:10:30] on the bills that they receive.

[2:10:33] So, the treasures tonight, I'd like to

[2:10:36] know,

[2:10:38] are the is the school department paying

[2:10:41] late fees on any of the bills that they

[2:10:43] receive?

[2:10:44] >> Richard, I'll find out for you and I'll

[2:10:45] » Richard, I'll find out for you and I'll

[2:10:45] get back to you on it.

[2:10:47] >> And I'd like to know the reason why that

[2:10:49] » And I'd like to know the reason why that

[2:10:49] they're paying those late fees.

[2:10:51] >> Okay.

[2:10:51] » Okay.

[2:10:51] >> Are they not getting their bills into

[2:10:54] » Are they not getting their bills into

[2:10:54] the town? Because the town pays, my

[2:10:56] understanding is the town pays to write

[2:10:59] us write out those checks for the school

[2:11:01] department. So, is the school district

[2:11:05] not getting those bills into the town or

[2:11:10] they're just being held

[2:11:13] and we're paying late fees? Also, can

[2:11:16] the town save money

[2:11:19] by paying bills early?

[2:11:22] Some some

[2:11:24] entities say if you pay your

[2:11:28] say trash pickup

[2:11:30] early or on time within 30 days you get

[2:11:35] a 10% discount.

[2:11:37] Has the town looked into that and can we

[2:11:39] save some money in that way?

[2:11:41] >> Okay.

[2:11:42] » Okay.

[2:11:42] >> So I I I'd be waiting for an answer for

[2:11:45] » So I I I'd be waiting for an answer for

[2:11:45] the next next meeting. You got it.

[2:11:47] >> Appreciate

[2:11:49] » Appreciate

[2:11:49] one other issue. I I read the Helmer

[2:11:52] report.

[2:11:53] I I thought that was very interesting.

[2:11:56] In that report, Mr. Dioro said it wasn't

[2:11:59] his job to

[2:12:02] look over whether anyone else made a

[2:12:05] mistake. Any other building official

[2:12:07] made a mistake at Macintosh Estates.

[2:12:12] Whose job is it then?

[2:12:14] Is the planning boards? I went to the

[2:12:17] planning board

[2:12:20] and they ruled that that last building

[2:12:24] needed to be constructed according to

[2:12:27] plan.

[2:12:29] And if any member ever went up there,

[2:12:33] they can see that building is not like

[2:12:37] all the others.

[2:12:39] So whose job is it to look over that?

[2:12:41] I'd like to know.

[2:12:43] >> Okay.

[2:12:44] » Okay.

[2:12:44] >> Because what I think

[2:12:46] » Because what I think

[2:12:46] that report shows

[2:12:50] is that anybody any resident in this

[2:12:53] town can do whatever they want to do and

[2:12:55] the town most likely will not enforce it

[2:12:59] and take any action against them and

[2:13:03] I'll tell you the public why because we

[2:13:05] don't have any money in this town so

[2:13:08] they don't want to spend any money

[2:13:11] >> you go Richard

[2:13:14] Charles Collins, 14 Main Street. Mr.

[2:13:17] Finnegan,

[2:13:19] you spent a lot of time on that shop

[2:13:21] development. You should know more than

[2:13:23] anything about everything that went

[2:13:24] wrong up there. You were working up

[2:13:25] there. Why don't you inform the council

[2:13:28] of all the problems up there? We have

[2:13:31] you on video, your picture of your cars

[2:13:33] in the newspaper. You're in the

[2:13:34] documents obtained by Rhode Island DEM

[2:13:37] where you claim to be um Mahomy's

[2:13:39] lawyer, but then in front of this, well,

[2:13:41] the previous council, then you said you

[2:13:43] weren't. You should know everything

[2:13:45] that's going on up at Chesto.

[2:13:47] I digress.

[2:13:50] Sorry guys, I haven't been here in a

[2:13:52] while. Um, as you all know, due to the

[2:13:56] town's actions or lack thereof, all my

[2:13:59] friends were sued. Fortunately, they all

[2:14:01] won their cases. also

[2:14:05] um one or possibly more of your

[2:14:07] colleagues

[2:14:09] uh tried to have charges filed on me for

[2:14:12] trying to expose what happened on Chamas

[2:14:14] Hill and not happy about it. I'm going

[2:14:16] to I'm not going to lie. Um but that's

[2:14:19] okay. My friends won their lawsuits. I

[2:14:22] know the towns is still ongoing but with

[2:14:25] the recent um pummel as I would call it

[2:14:29] the propaganda investigation as it's

[2:14:32] completely ridiculous

[2:14:34] um I had to come back here and talk to

[2:14:37] you about this guys tonight. Now my

[2:14:39] first question is going to be a legal

[2:14:42] question. Um so it probably would be for

[2:14:46] the lawyers to answer. Um,

[2:14:51] is it's correct me if I'm wrong, but is

[2:14:55] it or is it not highly improper to do

[2:14:58] one thing for one resident and not for

[2:15:01] another? Wouldn't that be considered

[2:15:03] like favoritism, discrim discriminatory?

[2:15:08] Where is the lawyer?

[2:15:09] >> Can you can you give an example of

[2:15:12] » Can you can you give an example of

[2:15:12] what you're talking about there? I mean,

[2:15:15] it's a very broad statement.

[2:15:16] >> Okay. Yeah, sure. I can give you an

[2:15:17] » Okay. Yeah, sure. I can give you an

[2:15:18] example. Um, so in 2016,

[2:15:23] um, my father, President Collins, at the

[2:15:27] request of John Mahoney, former council

[2:15:30] president, land developer on Chopmist

[2:15:31] Hill,

[2:15:33] uh, made several accusations of

[2:15:35] corruption against the former, um,

[2:15:38] building official, David Pansel.

[2:15:41] Um,

[2:15:44] Councilman or President Collins then

[2:15:46] initiated an outside independent

[2:15:49] investigation at his request. Now, Mr.

[2:15:51] Mahoney made these allegations with

[2:15:53] little to no evidence and ultimately Mr.

[2:15:56] Provenel was cleared.

[2:15:59] Now my question is with the overwhelming

[2:16:03] evidence of you know whatever you want

[2:16:05] to call it fraud corruption violations

[2:16:09] um whatever on Chopm still I want to

[2:16:11] know why the residents of Chop still

[2:16:13] have haven't been given the same

[2:16:15] courtesy and why there hasn't been an

[2:16:17] outside investigation. We haven't even

[2:16:19] had a public hearing yet. It's been six

[2:16:21] years and now you have Mr. Hmel in the

[2:16:24] newspaper with his ridiculous report and

[2:16:28] it's totally not factual. So I I want to

[2:16:31] know what are we going to do about this

[2:16:35] because I feel like we're setting the

[2:16:37] town up for more lawsuits and you know

[2:16:41] at some point it needs to end. I mean

[2:16:42] this has been going on six years now.

[2:16:44] >> All right. This is public comment Chuck.

[2:16:46] » All right. This is public comment Chuck.

[2:16:46] That's all it is. So I'll find out for

[2:16:48] you and get back to you.

[2:16:49] >> Okay. So all right that's fine. So by

[2:16:51] » Okay. So all right that's fine. So by

[2:16:51] the next agenda, what I'd like to see as

[2:16:53] a request, I'd like to see the same

[2:16:55] thing Mr. Mahoney got an outside

[2:16:57] independent investigation or at least

[2:16:59] something on the agenda to initiate

[2:17:01] that. If not that, I would like to see a

[2:17:04] public hearing because if you don't feel

[2:17:06] that you have enough evidence to

[2:17:08] initiate an outside investigation, then

[2:17:11] I mean I know I've given you guys plenty

[2:17:13] already. I mean, you have plenty, but if

[2:17:15] you need more, I have plenty more. Now,

[2:17:17] if I can't get the public hearing and I

[2:17:20] can't get you guys to defend these

[2:17:22] people up there, I'm going to have to

[2:17:24] show them how to protect themselves and

[2:17:26] then I could almost guarantee people are

[2:17:29] going to sue the town over this. And I'd

[2:17:31] like not for that not to happen. So,

[2:17:34] we'll I'll wait I'll wait until the next

[2:17:36] uh council agenda and then we'll go from

[2:17:38] there. Thank you for your time.

[2:17:39] >> Thank you.

[2:17:42] » Thank you.

[2:17:42] Any other public comment?

[2:17:46] Okay, we'll move on to item 10, consent

[2:17:48] items. Have a motion.

[2:17:53] >> Move approval.

[2:17:54] » Move approval.

[2:17:54] >> I'd like to sec Oh, okay. Um, but I'd

[2:17:57] » I'd like to sec Oh, okay. Um, but I'd

[2:17:57] like to take out F uh two

[2:18:01] or numal two.

[2:18:04] >> My motion is amended to to take out

[2:18:06] » My motion is amended to to take out

[2:18:06] that.

[2:18:06] >> Thank you.

[2:18:06] » Thank you.

[2:18:06] >> Yes, sure.

[2:18:08] » Yes, sure.

[2:18:08] >> Thank you.

[2:18:09] » Thank you.

[2:18:09] >> Okay. Any discussion on it?

[2:18:12] » Okay. Any discussion on it?

[2:18:12] Further discussion. All in favor? I. Any

[2:18:14] against? It passes. We'll go to uh

[2:18:18] consent items number two.

[2:18:21] >> So, we decided last month, I believe,

[2:18:23] » So, we decided last month, I believe,

[2:18:23] that we were going to uh we didn't

[2:18:25] really need to have the uh Clayville uh

[2:18:28] schoolhouse revitalization committee. Um

[2:18:31] and so I'm not sure why it's still on

[2:18:33] here. And I I do know that Mr. Ramble, I

[2:18:36] I don't believe he was interested in in

[2:18:38] continuing that at all. But we did

[2:18:39] decide last month that we were just

[2:18:41] going to move forward with a architect

[2:18:42] to uh review and that we didn't need a

[2:18:45] committee at this point in time.

[2:18:46] >> Okay. So that's removed.

[2:18:47] » Okay. So that's removed.

[2:18:47] >> Is that okay?

[2:18:48] » Is that okay?

[2:18:48] >> Yeah.

[2:18:48] » Yeah.

[2:18:48] >> All right.

[2:18:51] » All right.

[2:18:51] >> Thank you. I appreciate that.

[2:18:54] » Thank you. I appreciate that.

[2:18:54] >> Item 11, appointments.

[2:18:58] » Item 11, appointments.

[2:18:58] >> Review discussion andor potential action

[2:19:00] » Review discussion andor potential action

[2:19:00] and or vote. A sustainability initiative

[2:19:03] committee term expiring 123126.

[2:19:07] Name submitted. Victoria

[2:19:10] Castada.

[2:19:11] >> Move approval.

[2:19:12] » Move approval.

[2:19:12] >> Second.

[2:19:13] » Second.

[2:19:13] >> Motion made and second. Any discussion?

[2:19:17] » Motion made and second. Any discussion?

[2:19:17] Following. No discussion. All in favor?

[2:19:18] >> I.

[2:19:19] » I.

[2:19:19] >> I. Uh, passes. Item 12, resolutions.

[2:19:23] » I. Uh, passes. Item 12, resolutions.

[2:19:23] There is none. Item 13, town business

[2:19:26] review discussion andor potential action

[2:19:29] andor vote a. Appointment of

[2:19:33] um

[2:19:35] Oh, we're going to have to hold this

[2:19:36] off. Excuse me. Huh? We can go. Yes.

[2:19:41] Want

[2:19:41] >> to table A?

[2:19:42] » to table A?

[2:19:42] >> You don't need to table A. You just move

[2:19:43] » You don't need to table A. You just move

[2:19:43] on.

[2:19:44] >> Okay. No action. I

[2:19:45] » Okay. No action. I

[2:19:45] >> Sorry.

[2:19:46] » Sorry.

[2:19:46] >> So, Chuck, did we actually

[2:19:49] » So, Chuck, did we actually

[2:19:49] vote on the consent items or No, like I

[2:19:52] Oh, we did. Okay. All right.

[2:19:55] >> Yep. No. Item B, approval of the

[2:19:58] » Yep. No. Item B, approval of the

[2:19:58] subleasase agreement with Wed Shun One

[2:20:03] LLC. subleasy agreement

[2:20:06] as a contractual further assurance

[2:20:09] requirement of the net metering/power

[2:20:12] purchase agreement with Green

[2:20:13] Development LLC net metering agreement

[2:20:16] previously approved by a town council on

[2:20:19] June 14th 2018 authorization of the town

[2:20:22] council president to execute subleasase

[2:20:26] agreement in any and all andary

[2:20:29] documents to effectuate the foregoing

[2:20:32] and the net meeting agreement originally

[2:20:33] authorized on June 14th, 2018.

[2:20:39] >> Move.

[2:20:39] » Move.

[2:20:40] >> Second.

[2:20:40] » Second.

[2:20:40] >> Motion made. Second. Any discussion?

[2:20:44] » Motion made. Second. Any discussion?

[2:20:44] No discussion. All in favor?

[2:20:45] >> I.

[2:20:46] » I.

[2:20:46] >> I. Any against? It passes. Item C.

[2:20:50] » I. Any against? It passes. Item C.

[2:20:50] Request from the Situa Business

[2:20:52] Association to expend $840

[2:20:55] from the opera matching grant allocation

[2:20:57] funds.

[2:20:59] funds will be used towards the purchase

[2:21:01] of a storage unit needed to store

[2:21:03] supplies used for the annual Christmas

[2:21:06] in the village event.

[2:21:08] >> Move approval.

[2:21:09] » Move approval.

[2:21:09] >> Second.

[2:21:10] » Second.

[2:21:10] >> Motion made. Second. We have discussion

[2:21:12] » Motion made. Second. We have discussion

[2:21:12] on that.

[2:21:12] >> So I do have uh a question on that. Um

[2:21:15] » So I do have uh a question on that. Um

[2:21:15] this is um the matching grants. I

[2:21:17] thought at the end of this whole thing

[2:21:18] we did away with the matching grants and

[2:21:23] kind of allocated that money elsewhere.

[2:21:25] So seeing this on the agenda, I guess

[2:21:26] that didn't happen. Um, but as far as

[2:21:29] matching grants are concerned, did they

[2:21:31] actually get a grant for somewhere for

[2:21:33] us to match that grant to buy this

[2:21:35] building? Because I think that's what

[2:21:37] the matching grant was all about is

[2:21:39] that, you know, a a nonprofit in the

[2:21:43] town of Situate would get a grant for

[2:21:45] something and we would match it with

[2:21:47] that matching grants, not

[2:21:50] >> give money and have them match the money

[2:21:52] » give money and have them match the money

[2:21:52] out of their funds.

[2:21:54] >> I think the details in the packet

[2:22:04] I said I I think the uh the detail is

[2:22:07] further in the lodge packet where they

[2:22:09] lay out the whole.

[2:22:10] >> So that's all fine and dandy, but again

[2:22:12] » So that's all fine and dandy, but again

[2:22:12] we needed to have purchase orders for

[2:22:14] anything that we were going to spend

[2:22:15] money with opera funds back at a certain

[2:22:18] date. Now, we've been able to revert

[2:22:21] some of those funds to things that were

[2:22:23] similar, but again, I I thought this

[2:22:26] matching grant, if I wasn't mistaken,

[2:22:28] some of it went to paving, some of it

[2:22:30] went elsewhere. I thought we expended

[2:22:32] that money uh realizing that we wouldn't

[2:22:34] be able to do anything with it after the

[2:22:36] fact.

[2:22:42] Uh this $840 was the balance left in the

[2:22:46] matching grant fund wasn't re allocated

[2:22:49] short as I know.

[2:22:53] >> So there wasn't there was thousands in

[2:22:55] » So there wasn't there was thousands in

[2:22:55] that amount though at the end and we

[2:22:57] reallocated all of that but we didn't

[2:22:59] reallocate $840 and that's what's left.

[2:23:01] Is that what we're saying?

[2:23:03] >> No, the rest of it was spent for other

[2:23:04] » No, the rest of it was spent for other

[2:23:04] matching grant projects that the council

[2:23:06] approved.

[2:23:09] >> Yes. I can get the list.

[2:23:10] » Yes. I can get the list.

[2:23:10] >> Yes.

[2:23:12] » Yes.

[2:23:12] >> Okay.

[2:23:12] » Okay.

[2:23:12] >> There's a list in the package,

[2:23:14] » There's a list in the package,

[2:23:14] >> right? The list is several lists.

[2:23:52] I I have no other comment. I mean, I

[2:23:53] just don't

[2:23:58] see the purpose of it.

[2:24:09] It says

[2:24:11] it says that uh the situate business

[2:24:15] association would like to ask for $840

[2:24:18] from the arper matchy grant allocation.

[2:24:21] We would use this money to fund and part

[2:24:23] a storage unit that is needed to store

[2:24:24] the supplies used for our annual

[2:24:26] Christmas in the situ villages. We host

[2:24:29] this event annually that is free of cost

[2:24:32] to the community. We have obtained a

[2:24:34] $250.

[2:24:36] We have obtained $250 from the art

[2:24:38] festival committee and would add this

[2:24:41] $840.

[2:24:49] Constituent Business Association would

[2:24:51] add the remain the Situate Business

[2:24:53] Association would add the remaining

[2:24:55] amount to purchase the container unit

[2:24:58] that we have priced at $2,500.

[2:25:02] We would appreciate the support in

[2:25:04] providing a town event that has be that

[2:25:08] has be become it says because an annual

[2:25:13] tradition for the community. So

[2:25:16] >> sorry

[2:25:18] » sorry

[2:25:18] >> I don't see where they have received a

[2:25:21] » I don't see where they have received a

[2:25:21] grant from anybody else here.

[2:25:25] Yeah.

[2:25:27] >> Well, it's matching funds, right?

[2:25:29] » Well, it's matching funds, right?

[2:25:29] >> Yeah.

[2:25:32] So, and where is this going to be h

[2:25:34] housed? I mean, are we going to have to

[2:25:35] worry about where this is going to be?

[2:25:37] Because, you know, I do know that the

[2:25:38] Rotary Club um you know, had requested

[2:25:41] at one point in time, and I guess it

[2:25:42] didn't go anywhere, to have a storage

[2:25:45] container for their weekly farmers

[2:25:47] market that they have all of this um you

[2:25:50] know, stuff that they have to truck back

[2:25:51] and forth for it. And um and that

[2:25:54] apparently didn't get any traction. Uh

[2:25:57] but again, you know, that's um you know,

[2:26:00] just I just think that the this is a

[2:26:02] once a year event and maybe they have a

[2:26:04] lot of stuff to store for that, but then

[2:26:06] we have the weekly farmers market and

[2:26:08] the Rotary Club that you know does an

[2:26:10] awful lot for the town as well. Um that

[2:26:13] was looking for some type of a storage

[2:26:15] unit as well. So I just

[2:26:17] >> Do you want you want to leave a storage

[2:26:19] » Do you want you want to leave a storage

[2:26:19] unit at that that spot?

[2:26:22] >> Well, that's the whole I'm not sure

[2:26:23] » Well, that's the whole I'm not sure

[2:26:24] where this is going to be housed. That

[2:26:25] was my question.

[2:26:26] >> But again, it's

[2:26:36] » Richard

[2:26:37] >> Richard filling in. I'm I'm looking at

[2:26:39] » Richard filling in. I'm I'm looking at

[2:26:39] that December 31st, 2025

[2:26:43] line item 40 matching grants projected

[2:26:47] return slash overage. It says 840

[2:26:51] admitted says 171,340

[2:26:55] balance

[2:26:57] 236

[2:26:59] um I'm sorry 2,365,795

[2:27:04] 100%

[2:27:06] and then it says 1013 2022 town council

[2:27:10] meeting actual expenditure 170,500

[2:27:15] and then it has the new

[2:27:18] unspent84 40. Where did that Did that

[2:27:22] 840 come back

[2:27:24] in that

[2:27:27] I I'm a little confused.

[2:27:33] The original allocation for matching

[2:27:35] grants was $171,340.

[2:27:39] Of that, $170,500

[2:27:42] has been spent.

[2:27:45] So, there's a balance remaining of $840.

[2:27:50] If it's not spent, it would be returned

[2:27:53] to the federal government at the end of

[2:27:56] 2026.

[2:28:01] So the other expenditures the 170,500

[2:28:05] the council approved 50,000 for the hope

[2:28:08] library for HVAC 5,000 for visas for cat

[2:28:12] cages 53,000 to the booster club

[2:28:16] 20,000 to the preservation society

[2:28:19] 15,000 to North Sichu PTA 7500 to

[2:28:23] connecting with hope and 20,000 to the

[2:28:27] friends of the situ animal shelter the

[2:28:28] balance left in this original allocation

[2:28:32] is $840.

[2:28:49] Is the council sure that all this other

[2:28:52] money is going to be

[2:28:54] used? There's a lot of money left over.

[2:28:58] There is and I hope I certainly hope

[2:29:00] that you've got the 20,000 for the

[2:29:02] Rotary Marggo round. You got $50,000 for

[2:29:05] a dog park down in Clayville that comes

[2:29:08] to fruition. So there is money to be

[2:29:09] spent. We've got to we've got to get

[2:29:12] moving on some of that stuff.

[2:29:13] >> So is is the what's the council doing to

[2:29:16] » So is is the what's the council doing to

[2:29:16] make sure this money is spent? I mean,

[2:29:20] this is a lot of money to give back to

[2:29:21] the federal government. Um I I I think

[2:29:24] we can use it more than they can use it.

[2:29:28] So Richard, the people that the money's

[2:29:31] already been allotted to have been

[2:29:32] advised on it. They know they have to

[2:29:34] spend it by December 31st, 2026. If not,

[2:29:38] it doesn't get spent anywhere else. It

[2:29:39] goes back to the US Treasury.

[2:29:42] >> Okay.

[2:29:42] » Okay.

[2:29:42] >> And it was supposed to be allocated.

[2:29:44] » And it was supposed to be allocated.

[2:29:44] >> It is. It's allocated,

[2:29:45] » It is. It's allocated,

[2:29:45] >> right? It was allocated, but this $840

[2:29:48] » right? It was allocated, but this $840

[2:29:48] wasn't allocated.

[2:29:49] >> That's

[2:29:51] » That's

[2:29:51] And it was supposed to be allocated by a

[2:29:53] certain date was 2024, I believe, not

[2:29:55] even 2025. So it was 2024 that all those

[2:29:58] allocations had to be in and we went

[2:30:00] through all this before. So you know

[2:30:04] that's that's a horse of a different

[2:30:06] >> if I may. So the 840 that was remaining

[2:30:09] » if I may. So the 840 that was remaining

[2:30:09] in the matching fund. It was allocated

[2:30:11] to this fund that was set up for

[2:30:13] matching. So that counted it as out

[2:30:15] allocation for the 2024 deadline. So

[2:30:19] apparently that's what's the balance.

[2:30:20] They're applying for it. discretionary

[2:30:23] move tonight if you'd like to match that

[2:30:25] match the 84 that they're asking

[2:30:31] » and the dog park does it have to be in

[2:30:34] Clayville? Can it be somewhere else? It

[2:30:36] can't can you know the powers to be get

[2:30:39] together? If the people in Clayville

[2:30:41] don't want this dog park, um I think

[2:30:44] they're going to lash out at election

[2:30:45] fund. So, I I I I it would behoove the

[2:30:48] council to to say, "Okay, well, if it's

[2:30:51] not going to go there, let's put it

[2:30:53] somewhere because we're saying we're

[2:30:54] going to have a dog park."

[2:30:57] That's a lot of money. So, I I I hope we

[2:31:00] get a dog park because that's Treasure

[2:31:03] Pans's

[2:31:05] pet project,

[2:31:07] and I I just hope we don't give that

[2:31:09] money back. Another thing I see a I see

[2:31:13] town hall

[2:31:15] um

[2:31:16] renovations architect evaluation.

[2:31:19] >> Excuse me, Richard. This is not on the

[2:31:21] » Excuse me, Richard. This is not on the

[2:31:21] agenda. We cannot comment on it. It's an

[2:31:23] OM OMA violation. So, you can continue

[2:31:26] to go on, but we're not going to

[2:31:27] respond.

[2:31:28] >> Mr. President, I call the question.

[2:31:30] » Mr. President, I call the question.

[2:31:30] There's a a motion and a

[2:31:33] on in a 13C.

[2:31:35] >> Okay. Okay, the motion's been called

[2:31:37] » Okay. Okay, the motion's been called

[2:31:37] >> and we're not talking about

[2:31:38] » and we're not talking about

[2:31:38] >> questions. Richard, I'm putting it to a

[2:31:41] » questions. Richard, I'm putting it to a

[2:31:41] vote.

[2:31:42] >> All in favor?

[2:31:43] » All in favor?

[2:31:43] >> I. Any against?

[2:31:46] » I. Any against?

[2:31:46] >> It passes.

[2:31:49] Item D, authorization for the Hope

[2:31:51] Legacy Project Committee to seek funding

[2:31:53] to implement improvements to the Hope

[2:31:55] Park as recommended in the connecting

[2:31:58] with hope vision plan.

[2:31:59] >> So moved. Second.

[2:32:01] » So moved. Second.

[2:32:01] >> Motion made. Second. We have discussion

[2:32:02] » Motion made. Second. We have discussion

[2:32:02] on that.

[2:32:06] I have no discussion. All in favor? I I.

[2:32:08] Any against? It passes. Item 14,

[2:32:12] adjourn.

[2:32:13] >> Motion to adjurnn. Second.

[2:32:15] » Motion to adjurnn. Second.

[2:32:15] >> Motion made second. All in favor? I. I.

[2:32:18] » Motion made second. All in favor? I. I.

[2:32:18] Any against? We're adjourned. 8:00 p.m.

Jan. 8, 2026 - Town Council Meeting

Transcript