I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
United States of America and to the
republic for which it stands, one nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all.
Call your daughter at 5:30. Roll call.
Councilman Parmley,
>> present.
» present.
>> Councilman McCormack,
» Councilman McCormack,
>> present.
» present.
>> Councilman Grandandy,
» Councilman Grandandy,
>> present.
» present.
>> Councilwoman Yu,
» Councilwoman Yu,
>> present.
» present.
>> Councilman Musat,
» Councilman Musat,
>> Muser,
Council Vice President Diagustinino,
>> present.
» present.
>> And Council President Collins,
» And Council President Collins,
>> present. Item four, possible motions to
» present. Item four, possible motions to
convene into closed executive session.
A, the town council may convene into
executive close session pursuant to
Rhode Island general laws 4246582
pending litigation, Situit versus Riley,
uh, PC 2023 06218.
discussion and or potential action,
announcement and or votes from executive
session and/or open session concerning
pending litigation regarding Situit
versus Riley PC 2023 06218.
Now item B is the town council may
convene into executive sessions to
discuss take possible action and or vote
pursuant to the relevant requirements of
Rhode Island general laws 42465A
subsection one discussion of the job
performance character or physical or
mental health of a person or persons
specifically to allow the town council
to conduct the interviews of potential
department of public works director
candidates provided either such person
or persons affected shall have been
notified and advanced in writing and
advised that they may require that the
discussion be held at open meeting.
Discussion and/or potential action,
announcement and/or votes from executive
session and or open session concerning
interviews of potential department of
public works directive candidates. A
motion. So moved.
Motion made and seconded. All in favor?
I.
>> I. Any against?
» I. Any against?
passes. also invite the solicitor and
peg in plus the candidates. This
call the meeting to order at 7 p.m.
Thank you.
>> You're welcome.
» You're welcome.
>> Uh
just want to make that the motion to
seal the uh executive session minutes.
There was uh the announcement of the
vote uh that was taken uh to pick a
highway director. Uh it was unanimous
but right now it's going to be
confidential. Uh we'll have a meeting in
the future to announce it.
Uh item seven, proclamation,
presentations and acknowledgements.
Review discussion andor potential action
andor vote. Acknowledgement of the
retirement of Kirk Loyel as a department
of public works director. Kirk
up here.
Please come on up. Kirk
The first one is from the town of
Situit. It's the town of Situit by these
present be it known that the town
council of the town of Situit presents
this certificate to Kurt Loyel in
grateful recognition of over 5 years of
commendable service to the town of
Situit as director of public works.
Whereas the Situate Town Council
recognizes your dedication and
outstanding service, we set our hand
onto this certificate which is tended on
the 8th day of January 2026. With the
congratulations and thanks of the
Situate Town Council and the citizens of
the town of Situit. This is attested by
Margaret Long, town clerk, signed by me
as the council president.
be on behalf of the state of Rhode
Island. It's a Senate citation.
It be it hereby known to all that the
Rhode Island Senate hereby offers a
sincerest congratulations to Kurt
Loiselle in recognition of the momentous
occasion of celebrating your retirement
after many years of dedicated and
faithful service to the town of Situ and
your community. The entire membership
extends its very best wishes on this
memorable occasion and express the hope
for continued good fortune presented
this 10th day of January 2025 at the
state house in state of Rhode Island. It
was signed by Valerie Lawson, the
president of Senate, Senator Gordon
Rogers, the minority whip, and Jessica
Dela Cruz, the minority leader of the
Senate.
You're good. You're good.
And the last one is the state of Rhode
Island citation. Be it hereby known to
all that the Rhode Island House of
Representatives hereby offers to
sincerest congratulations to Kurt
Loiselle, Director Situit Department of
Public Works. In recognition of your
retirement after many years of
dedicated, faithful, and distinguished
service to the people of the town of
Situit as the director of public works,
the entire membership extends its very
best wishes on this memorable occasion
and expresses the hope for continued
good fortune given on the 10th day of
January 2026 at the state house in
Providence, Rhode Island. proposed by
representative Robert Katrochi and it
was signed by speaker of the house Joe
um
Christopher Blninkski I guess it is
minor majority leader and Michael
Chippendale the minority leader
I want to say thank you
Tom when I got a police department you
only been one hell of a job and I tried
to get you there another six years but
it wouldn't Wait
a minute.
Uh let's see. All right. Item B, update
from the human resources committee.
uh HRC determination of next steps
including without limitation authorizing
the town solicitor's office to review,
edit, and clarify recommended personnel
policy changes from the HRC and human
resources consultant TMDA HR solutions.
setting up future workshop meetings to
discuss, review, and begin the process
to amend the town of Situate human
resources manual and also employee job
descriptions. Abby,
» thank you very much, Kirk. Thank you
very much for for everything you've done
for the town. Um, I want to first I'm
going to hand out the actual report to
the committee. And if Peg, you could add
it to the minutes. I apologize for not
having an advance, but this is just a
summary.
I'm going to give the a bridged summary,
but again, this is still in a bridge
summary, so you'll know um the full
details, I guess, hopefully at the end
of this.
Oh, I took
So, I apologize in advance for the long
windedness, but there's a lot here. So,
first and foremost, I'd like to um
acknowledge the HR committee. I would
like to extend gratitude to the um
department heads, employees, the town
council for this opportunity. Also, a
special thank you to Caitlyn Seisand, is
that how you say her married name? And
Karen Bey for their uh knowledge and
guidance. I know our committee started
in 2021 and it has gone through various
changes, but I feel confident that with
each change, we continued. And um I'd
like to thank each and every member. Um
originally the charge that we were given
was to identify significant deficiencies
in existing policies and practices,
review the report issued by the Rhode
Island Interlocal Risk Management Trust,
and assess its recommendations,
prioritize actions to address any high
priority deficiencies, prepare a report
for the town council and recommend
recommendations to address near-term and
long-term human resource needs. So
overall, we as a committee began by
diving deep into the actual handbook.
The handbook itself um had not been
revised since 2018. And even with the
2018 revision, it wasn't a full
revision. There was some small add-ins
and whatnot. So, as a committee, we went
through our own revision process of that
employee handbook. We also reviewed um
different town policies and procedures
that were currently in use and also the
ones that we are currently lacking. And
by lacking, I say it's almost as though
they need to be um just revisited and
streamlined, whether it be to reflect
current laws or whether it be just to
reflect a more definitive policy for the
employees to adhere to. Um the second
thing we third thing, I'm sorry, we
looked at was the interlocal trust
assessment. And what we found was that
many of the recommendations that came
from the trust assessment were very
similar to the ones that we had come up
with in diving into the handbook and the
town policies and procedures.
Uh next we collaborated
with Dr. Sakina Lwal of the TMDA
HR solutions which was the HR consultant
firm where we used some of the monies
from the app funding for those purposes
and she was extremely helpful with that.
She took all of the things that not only
our committee went through the trust
went through but then she from an
outside non-bias point of view she also
reviewed and made recommendations on
that. Um lastly, we got feedback from
not only our committee but all the town
department heads. We asked the
department heads to not only fill out a
survey that the HR consultant had
provided for us, but we also asked the
department heads to thoroughly go
through the handbook and with their
experience with the handbook for their
non-UN employees, what worked, what
didn't work, what it needed tweaking,
what always came up as an issue. We
asked them to talk to the employees
within their departments for the same
things and then we invited each of them
to one of the meetings to report back on
their findings.
Um the key findings and recommendations
that we found or came out of this
overall were we need to standardize HR
forms uh job descriptions applications
evaluation forms. Some of these things
have already been started. Um I know
I've we've shared the forms job
descriptions with the
well we shared it with the committee and
they were basically just put in a
standardized form. So when we are you as
the council have an uh an opening it
would be something where you would pull
the standardized form. They all look the
same. Obviously, the job descriptions
and whatnot are going to change, but
it's a professional um form. The
department head looks it over. Is there
anything we need to change? And then we
go from there. It's a it's a starting
point. It's a formal form. Um
applications also need to be
standardized. Evaluation forms need to
be standardized. uh also standardized
policies and practices, the recruitment,
selection, separation policies, posting
positions. Situit is an amazing town. Um
it was amazing to be on the council and
be a part of it. We have excellent
employees, contract, non-union,
but I think we're also a town that we've
always done it this way. So we need to
look at the fact of like when the people
that have not always been here retire or
so on and so forth. There's something
standardized to move forward in the next
council or the next department head has
something to go off of and they're not
trying to recreate the wheel. Uh another
thing for standardized policies and
practices would be employee entry and
exit procedures. Um standardized audit
of time cards and again this is just a
rough list. The third thing that came up
was employee protection um with having
the council elected every two years and
um there was some concern brought about
our committee about um whether or not
the protection of the employees if
there's a new council will my job be in
jeopardy so on and so forth they just
wanted more clarification on that they
situate does not have a town charter so
there's no town manager that came up
quite a bit and the HR recommends a
proactive review of non union employee
protection policies to align with
municipal governance best practices and
mitigate risks associated with changes
in elected leadership.
Um nextly just standardization of
employee files. The HR committee
reviewed and agrees with the trust
personnel file assessment opportunities
exist to improve organization of files
um confident confidentiality
uh policies and procedures retention I9
compliance also standardization and
corrective action are recommended to
support compliance and best practices
the non-UN employee handbook review
specifically the last version was made
in the late 1990s like I said Four
updates have been made in 2018, but it
was not a full review. Um, some of these
would include uh employee conduct,
discipline, and there was a new holiday
added in 2019 2018. Priority priority
areas that came up include uh expansion
of the harassment policy beyond the
sexual harassment policy that's already
there. Clarification of employment at
will language, policies regarding
relatives, personal relationships,
payweek definitions, payroll practices,
meal and rest breaks, employee
assistance programs, workforce
compensation procedures, confidentiality
expectations, and as the list goes on
and on.
And again, these exist, but we need to
update them to reflect current times.
Um, so our recommendation as a committee
was that all sections should be be
reviewed, updated, and consolidated for
clarity, consistency, and legal
compliance. Another one that came up was
the leave of absence uh policy and
procedures,
just the different there's no like
formal policy here in place.
Um [clears throat]
then we like I said we looked at the
department head had them look at the
look at it. Some of the things that
stood out were the there was a vaccine
policy um one of the departments would
like that removed lunch breaks um
handbook there was wording different
wording updates that you'll see in your
report. Uh benefits obviously do we have
to change the percentages so on and so
forth. The other thing that came about
from our work with the HR consultant was
uh training. So part of for example if I
use myself as an employee of the Situate
school department in the beginning of
the year we're required to do different
trainings and they're not long trainings
they're just some of them are brief um
videos but it is things for example how
to use an EpiPen or um safety
precautions in the school or so on and
so sexual harassment things like that.
Um we have implemented with the help of
Karen as well um that already in the
town. We're um using a group called
Reliant and Karen gets a report and what
we would like to do with that is not say
okay you have to do all of these
trainings. Obviously, if people want to
do more trainings, we'd be more than
happy with that. But as a committee,
we're recommending that there are some
have-tos. And again, we're we're asking
to look to legal for that. But some have
to that you have to do. And then also to
think about it per department. Some
departments may already have this
instituted within their contract or
within their specific job criteria. For
example, DBW obviously has to do
different ones than it would have to be
for the town clerk. Um so that needs to
be uh clearly defined.
Um also some safety observations with
the town. Um there's safety plans that
exist at DPW. There's uh no regular
safety meetings for employees and again
putting my teacher hat out. I think
about the schools and you know what we
do in fire drills and so on and so
forth, but for the town employees and
the town buildings, those things don't
exist. So, the town lacks formal
buildingwide safety procedures, fire
evacuation plans, and overall emergency
preparedness protocols. And honestly, we
have some of the best in this emergency
field, and I feel like we should
absolutely utilize both, you know, the
fire chief's, EMS director, the chief of
police to help with those things. Um so
moving on to next steps.
We as a committee um feel as though
we've come to that stop where we can't
go any further. We've reviewed, we've
talked to consultants, we've talked to
department heads, we went through
policies, handbooks, so on and so forth.
So, what we're asking as a committee
from the council is to um if you would
authorize the solicitor's office to
review, edit, and clarify any of the
recommended personnel policies,
procedures that we currently have and to
update them um in coordination with what
the HR committee is recommending and
obviously what the HR consultant firm is
recommending. but also too um we felt as
though that the work that we put in we'd
also like to be a part of the
conversation. So I did see on the agenda
tonight that we were up for renewal. So
we would request that um you renew our
committee. But in the fact of because I
feel as though the charge is done, but
we would like the town council to maybe
think about having workshop meetings to
accomplish all of this work. And with
that, these workshop meetings, it would
lend the public to be able to speak on
it. It would lend department heads to
speak at length at the different
specific area that we're discussing for
that workshop, but also to the HR
committee could also um come to
represent their findings as well. Um, so
with that being said, we'd like to think
about future workshop meetings maybe on
that fourth Thursday of each month to
review any proposed changes that we have
set forward. The other thing I'd like to
acknowledge is that again I uh say this
is a summary of what we've done. There's
also
>> there's also this handbook. So this is a
» there's also this handbook. So this is a
thick handbook that the HR consultant
had put together. Karen does have a copy
of it and there's a link to it. Um, but
I just want to find out the best figure
out the best way. I was talking to David
earlier as to how to distribute this to
the council. Um,
>> can you can you send us the link so we
» can you can you send us the link so we
can review it online?
>> Yes, I can. I'm just Yes, I will figure
» Yes, I can. I'm just Yes, I will figure
that out. Definitely figure that out for
you. Um, and this is also too why I it's
important to have the workshop model
because there's no way that we could
come together and say, could you just
approve this please? And again, we have
no authority to go further with any of
that. So I think that would be the best
route. So I thank you for your time.
Again, I have to thank the committee,
all the members for all the years, and I
also thank you for your patience. And
I'll answer any questions if anyone has
any.
>> Well, first off, thanks so much for your
» Well, first off, thanks so much for your
commitment and your committee's
commitment because this has been a long
slog. Um, and it looks like there's a
lot to work with here. And I certainly
would endorse having special, you know,
work sessions to go through this. I
think it's the right way of going about
it.
I mean, I'm not sure we can do anything
tonight necessarily with regard to
allocating funds for for uh you know,
the legal end of it, but um you know,
that could be a the February agenda or
something like that.
>> Great. And if you don't mind, I'd like
» Great. And if you don't mind, I'd like
to provide Richard because I know he's
do you mind if I pass that along? It's
going to be in the minutes I
>> Tim. I did speak to Abby and I told her,
» Tim. I did speak to Abby and I told her,
you know, get a hold of me and we'll put
on whatever she wants on the agenda and
we'll set up the workshops.
>> Yep.
» Yep.
>> So, I appreciate it.
» So, I appreciate it.
>> Great.
» Great.
>> They are at least I speak for myself on
» They are at least I speak for myself on
this as the chair and I don't speak for
committee members because they were
excellent and they had a lot of
knowledge on the human resource end of
things um that I would look to the
solicitors to say where do we start? So,
but that's just my caveat to that. But
thank you very much. Appreciate it.
>> Uh, Mr. President, just uh briefly on on
» Uh, Mr. President, just uh briefly on on
that uh part of it, the solicitor's
office. So, it is on for authorization
to uh have the solicitor's office start
its review or be a consultant with
regard to these uh potential workshops.
Uh what I can say is we have the
non-retainer budget already approved by
the town. It would we would work within
that budget. It's just this is kind of a
specific you know project that um it's a
belt and suspenders approach as opposed
to going down and investing that time
that the council is on board with you
know using that non-retainer budget uh
for the solicitor's office to conduct
that review and advise as needed. So
that is available on as an action item
as part of this uh agenda item.
» I make a motion to authorize the use of
the budget for uh for this project.
>> I'll second that motion made second. We
» I'll second that motion made second. We
have discussion on it.
» Richard, Mr. President, Richard
Finnegan. Richard, I want to thank
having you on our committee for doing
all this good work.
This is very important to the employees.
the top. So, I I would hope we we don't
delay anything longer than it has been
delayed and we use the solicitor's
office and get the job done. Thank you.
>> Thank you, Richard.
» Thank you, Richard.
Okay. All in favor?
>> I
» I
>> I. Any against? It passes.
» I. Any against? It passes.
>> Thank you very much.
» Thank you very much.
>> Thanks, Abby.
» Thanks, Abby.
>> Thank you, Abby.
» Thank you, Abby.
>> Item eight, public hearing, review,
» Item eight, public hearing, review,
discussion, andor potential action and
or vote. No, no virtual participation on
these public hearing items. I have a
motion.
>> Motion open public hearing.
» Motion open public hearing.
>> Second.
» Second.
>> Roll call.
» Councilman Muser.
>> Present.
» Present.
>> Council vice president Dagustinino.
» Council vice president Dagustinino.
>> I.
» I.
>> Council President Collins.
» Council President Collins.
>> Hi.
» Hi.
>> Councilman Yu.
» Councilman Yu.
>> I.
» I.
>> Councilman Grandandy.
» Councilman Grandandy.
>> Hi.
» Hi.
>> Councilman McCormack.
» Councilman McCormack.
>> Hi. and Councilman Pomaly.
» Hi. and Councilman Pomaly.
>> Hi.
» Hi.
Item A, first reading of ordinance
26-01,
amending section 34 of article 2,
section 60 and 61 of article 4 of
chapter 3 of the code of ordinances, and
adding a new section 62 to article 4 of
chapter 3 of the code of ordinances,
proposed amendments to the animal
control violation/citation
penalties, and adding a new fee schedule
to cover the administrative cost for the
care of shelter animals. animal is
recommended by the animal control
director and police chief. So moved.
>> Second.
» Second.
>> Motion made and second. A discussion on
» Motion made and second. A discussion on
it.
>> Long overdue.
» Long overdue.
>> Yeah, these these recommendations look
» Yeah, these these recommendations look
very good for us comparatively.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> Um I do think this is excellent as well.
» Um I do think this is excellent as well.
Um I um Councilman uh McCormack did
mention that we wanted to talk to our
director or whatever we
>> Dave back um about how much time they
» Dave back um about how much time they
actually spend in Foster though as well
as
>> Yeah. I was kind of hoping Dave might be
» Yeah. I was kind of hoping Dave might be
here but
>> yeah so maybe we could uh Oh well the
» yeah so maybe we could uh Oh well the
chief is here.
>> The chief's here. Chief can answer. He
» The chief's here. Chief can answer. He
falls under the chief. So the chief and
I talked about this.
>> Oh good. Okay. because we you know
» Oh good. Okay. because we you know
>> so
» so
conversation with the animal control uh
director uh we are under contract for
three years uh they pay their fair they
pay their share and there's no
stipulations in that contract as to how
many calls some sometimes they're busier
than we are and it's just the way it's
been rolling this way it's as Dave
explained it's the wild west out there
and dogs run all over the place animals
run free So they they get a lot of calls
for this stuff.
>> That's in Foster. It's a wild west.
» That's in Foster. It's a wild west.
>> That's in Foster. Yeah.
» So we'll have to revisit this when this
contract's up.
>> Oh, absolutely. They do they do more
» Oh, absolutely. They do they do more
work in Foster than in situ.
>> Thanks, Eric. Thanks, Chief.
» Thanks, Eric. Thanks, Chief.
>> Okay. Thank you,
» Richard Finnegan. the turn-in fees. What
What's What is that? When you bring a
animal to the dog pound,
that's what I would assume, but I don't
know.
Attorney fee, as far as I've known it,
is when an owner of an animal, cat, dog,
cannot
physically or or for whatever reason
handle an animal or care for the animal
anymore. So they forfeit the animal to
the shelter to seek adoption elsewhere.
So that's that's the fee involved with
that.
>> Could be a hoarding situation too,
» Could be a hoarding situation too,
Chief. Correct. Where the the animals is
confiscated.
» I believe that's a different sort of set
of f not not fines but charges.
>> Mhm.
like the council just mentioned that
we're doing a lot of work in foster and
I see it's a sliding scale for these
fines between like $25 and $125.
So I I would hope if we're finding
somebody in foster it would be at the
higher end of the scale so we can recoup
some of our cost back. It's it's enough
for our residents, our taxpayers paying
for foster residents. So, I think they
need to step up and I would hope that uh
dog officer sees it that way. Thank you.
>> Maybe we can use their municipal court,
» Maybe we can use their municipal court,
too, which would be nice.
>> Yeah,
» Yeah,
>> Chief, I'm sure that uh when when things
» Chief, I'm sure that uh when when things
are handled by the the animal shelter
that they don't discriminate, right?
They charge everybody the same.
>> Yeah, there's no discriminate.
» Yeah, there's no discriminate.
Everyone's charged uh
reasonably the same. Obviously there are
circumstances where someone may not be
able to afford a certain percentage but
as far as Mr. Finnegan said the fines
foster per the contract for takes care
of their own fines the fines go to the
town of Foster any
ordinance violations and for the fines
are collected by them. Great. Thank you.
And
>> and to that uh point, so the sliding
» and to that uh point, so the sliding
scale when it comes to fines within
situate, it's a first offense is one
then second offense then third offense.
That's the the slide. So that an offense
is an offense. It's not based on
anything other than the number of
offenses regarding that animal. Uh what
I would say is the other uh fees that
are a part of this. Some are old, some
are brand new uh that you see in the
ordinance. Those are applicable to
whoever shows up at the shelter to adopt
or if there's an impound or a boarding
fee. Those are our fees uh to use the
shelter. So if there's a dog that's
seized, it has to be boarded there. That
fee applicable per day impound fee that
that's going to be charged. That's what
you're that's what in theory if this
ordinance were to pass, you would be
setting the charges for the use of the
shelter. But the fines, as the chief
alluded to, are particular to each town
as a as a penalty. But if you're using
the shelter or uh adopting a uh an
animal from the shelter, you're setting
the fees in general because it's your
shelter.
And chief, I think it's going to be
important to monitor the collection
procedure both in Situit and Foster just
to make sure that they're actually
making the efforts to collect the fees,
» the fees for the shelter.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> Yeah. I have full confidence in the
» Yeah. I have full confidence in the
director in handling that.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> But we do them.
» But we do them.
And that was a point of emphasis with
this renewal of the the contract with
the town of Foster of um if for instance
uh something goes to trial uh or and or
gets dismissed uh the town of Foster is
still responsible to cover our fees uh
for boarding and whatnot. So that that
that was a point of emphasis with this
renewal and a change from a previous
contract. So
» okay, no other discussion. All in favor?
I any against it passes. Item B, first
reading of ordinance 26-02
amending section 4 of article one of
chapter 6 of the code of ordinances
proposed amendment to increase the BV
beverage viculating like liquor license
limit from 3 to 4 total licenses as
requested by Michael DeFazio owner of
the Fazio Farm and Winery.
>> So moved.
» So moved.
Motion made second. We have a discussion
on that.
Discussion from the public.
» Hi. Um, council members. Uh, Sabrina
Magguire
Cafe. 985 Chopnist Hill Road. Um, I do
have a uh BBL license at my business.
Um, limited to beer and wine only. If uh
the decision is to add a license, I
would definitely apply for it. Um, I'm
in favor of this. Um, and I was in the
process of uh, honestly finding out what
the steps were to increase my limited
license to a full liquor license. I am
not looking to uh, necessarily change my
business model, but I am looking to
offer additional options to my guests
that come to my restaurant.
um not looking to extend my hours or or
change the way we do business but again
just the options that I have. I think it
will obviously increase the volume in
which we do uh have repeat business and
ultimately keep us afloat. Um, I do fear
that if another, uh, establishment
on my road, in my street, uh, opens with
a full liquor license, it would be
detrimental to my business, which is
already up and running. And like I said,
I've had a liquor license with
restrictions on it for two years, which
I've abided by every single one with no
problems, with no issues. and I just
want to make sure that I am considered
uh along with this decision.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Any other discussion, public comment?
» Any other discussion, public comment?
>> Mr. President, if I could just comment
» Mr. President, if I could just comment
on I guess the question that was
presented. Uh so while this request was
made by another uh potential uh holder
of a license, this is an ordinance of
general application if you were to pass
it. And again, both of the ordinances
tonight, this is only the first reading.
It would need a second reading next
month in order to pass. um that's only
one step in the regulatory process when
it comes to liquor licenses, whether
it's a BV or a BBL uh or class A's as
you're all intimately familiar at this
point. Um so again, anyone could apply
at that point and they would need to
qualify uh otherwise for the liquor
license and go through that liquor
license process. Uh I would say uh there
would also be other we'll say land use
uh required uh possible amendments or
special use permits. I know the uh
proprietor who proposed this uh
ordinance amendment has filed for a
special use permit that would be heard
at the end of this month the this fourth
Tuesday of the month uh before zoning
that's been filed that's been
advertised. Um but again that's just a
step in the process and still would come
back to you to apply for any available
open license. So and that would apply to
any rier uh looking to uh have a liquor
license.
» Okay. Thank you Dave. No other comment.
All in favor
>> I
» I
>> I Any against?
» I Any against?
It passes.
Motion to close the public hearing.
>> So moved.
» So moved.
>> Motion been made and seconded. All in
» Motion been made and seconded. All in
favor? I. Any against? Passes.
Item nine, public comment for items not
on the agenda.
Richard Fing, just for clarification,
you said in the executive session there
was a vote tonight.
>> Yes.
» Yes.
>> And you hired somebody.
» And you hired somebody.
>> We've uh picked somebody. Yes, there
» We've uh picked somebody. Yes, there
was.
>> You didn't hire somebody?
» You didn't hire somebody?
>> Yeah, we did.
» Yeah, we did.
>> It's got to be Well, it's got to be
» It's got to be Well, it's got to be
negotiated.
>> Hold on. Hold on. So there was a vote
» Hold on. Hold on. So there was a vote
taken in close session
that the results of that vote, the
specifics of that vote cannot yet be
disclosed. They have to remain
confidential. Um
if and when we'll say the results of
that vote uh require further action,
there will be an open session item in
which someone will be hired under terms
and conditions that'll be specific in
that motion in that open session item.
So there was a we'll call it an interimm
vote that was taken that has to remain
confidential in order to uh protect the
hiring process.
No one's been hired. There's the was
your question. Was someone hired? No one
has been my question. Thank you councel.
I went to the school committee meeting.
They talked about
uh Alice training and a whole bunch of
other things.
But the issue came up that the town's
people appropriated $190,000
last year. I know some of the councilmen
wants to um claw back some of that money
and I just want to com commend the chief
of police and the men and women of the
police department for protecting our
children, teachers and staff at each
school in this town during the Brown
University manh hunt. I went by the
schools and I saw a patrol car with an
officer in the car at every school.
So, I appreciate that, Chief, and I
appreciate your men and women on the
force.
My understanding is that
they those officers
were held over
one way or the other during the day or
or at night were held over and the town
paid overtime.
Town council is going to send a bill to
the school
department to recoup some monies.
I conferred with the chief and the
solicitor on this and it was felt that
it was within my power to to say to the
chief to do what he had to do. I talked
to the chief. He had money in his
overtime budget. he handled it. Uh if
worse come to worse down the road, it
was going to cause a problem. I was
going to call a special meeting, excuse
me, and have the council ratify my
action. Uh it didn't cause a problem. I
had talked to the chief about it, but
the safety of the kids and everything
like that, but what was going on, it was
well within our realm to do what we did.
So, we're not going to go to the school
department and try to claw back the
money.
I'm I'm confused, but I guess that's
that's the way I will have to be just
confused because I thought it was so
important for the town treasurer to have
a meeting with the school department to
educate them on what the fund balance
was. And so now we have an opportunity
to claw back some of that money and
we're not going to do it. And that's
your decision. But obviously
budgeting that 190 wasn't
so harmful to this tunnel.
That's all I want to say on that matter.
Um
I asked the school
new finance director Rob Baxter
whether the school department is paying
any late fees
on the bills that they receive.
So, the treasures tonight, I'd like to
know,
are the is the school department paying
late fees on any of the bills that they
receive?
>> Richard, I'll find out for you and I'll
» Richard, I'll find out for you and I'll
get back to you on it.
>> And I'd like to know the reason why that
» And I'd like to know the reason why that
they're paying those late fees.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> Are they not getting their bills into
» Are they not getting their bills into
the town? Because the town pays, my
understanding is the town pays to write
us write out those checks for the school
department. So, is the school district
not getting those bills into the town or
they're just being held
and we're paying late fees? Also, can
the town save money
by paying bills early?
Some some
entities say if you pay your
say trash pickup
early or on time within 30 days you get
a 10% discount.
Has the town looked into that and can we
save some money in that way?
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> So I I I'd be waiting for an answer for
» So I I I'd be waiting for an answer for
the next next meeting. You got it.
>> Appreciate
» Appreciate
one other issue. I I read the Helmer
report.
I I thought that was very interesting.
In that report, Mr. Dioro said it wasn't
his job to
look over whether anyone else made a
mistake. Any other building official
made a mistake at Macintosh Estates.
Whose job is it then?
Is the planning boards? I went to the
planning board
and they ruled that that last building
needed to be constructed according to
plan.
And if any member ever went up there,
they can see that building is not like
all the others.
So whose job is it to look over that?
I'd like to know.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> Because what I think
» Because what I think
that report shows
is that anybody any resident in this
town can do whatever they want to do and
the town most likely will not enforce it
and take any action against them and
I'll tell you the public why because we
don't have any money in this town so
they don't want to spend any money
>> you go Richard
Charles Collins, 14 Main Street. Mr.
Finnegan,
you spent a lot of time on that shop
development. You should know more than
anything about everything that went
wrong up there. You were working up
there. Why don't you inform the council
of all the problems up there? We have
you on video, your picture of your cars
in the newspaper. You're in the
documents obtained by Rhode Island DEM
where you claim to be um Mahomy's
lawyer, but then in front of this, well,
the previous council, then you said you
weren't. You should know everything
that's going on up at Chesto.
I digress.
Sorry guys, I haven't been here in a
while. Um, as you all know, due to the
town's actions or lack thereof, all my
friends were sued. Fortunately, they all
won their cases. also
um one or possibly more of your
colleagues
uh tried to have charges filed on me for
trying to expose what happened on Chamas
Hill and not happy about it. I'm going
to I'm not going to lie. Um but that's
okay. My friends won their lawsuits. I
know the towns is still ongoing but with
the recent um pummel as I would call it
the propaganda investigation as it's
completely ridiculous
um I had to come back here and talk to
you about this guys tonight. Now my
first question is going to be a legal
question. Um so it probably would be for
the lawyers to answer. Um,
is it's correct me if I'm wrong, but is
it or is it not highly improper to do
one thing for one resident and not for
another? Wouldn't that be considered
like favoritism, discrim discriminatory?
Where is the lawyer?
>> Can you can you give an example of
» Can you can you give an example of
what you're talking about there? I mean,
it's a very broad statement.
>> Okay. Yeah, sure. I can give you an
» Okay. Yeah, sure. I can give you an
example. Um, so in 2016,
um, my father, President Collins, at the
request of John Mahoney, former council
president, land developer on Chopmist
Hill,
uh, made several accusations of
corruption against the former, um,
building official, David Pansel.
Um,
Councilman or President Collins then
initiated an outside independent
investigation at his request. Now, Mr.
Mahoney made these allegations with
little to no evidence and ultimately Mr.
Provenel was cleared.
Now my question is with the overwhelming
evidence of you know whatever you want
to call it fraud corruption violations
um whatever on Chopm still I want to
know why the residents of Chop still
have haven't been given the same
courtesy and why there hasn't been an
outside investigation. We haven't even
had a public hearing yet. It's been six
years and now you have Mr. Hmel in the
newspaper with his ridiculous report and
it's totally not factual. So I I want to
know what are we going to do about this
because I feel like we're setting the
town up for more lawsuits and you know
at some point it needs to end. I mean
this has been going on six years now.
>> All right. This is public comment Chuck.
» All right. This is public comment Chuck.
That's all it is. So I'll find out for
you and get back to you.
>> Okay. So all right that's fine. So by
» Okay. So all right that's fine. So by
the next agenda, what I'd like to see as
a request, I'd like to see the same
thing Mr. Mahoney got an outside
independent investigation or at least
something on the agenda to initiate
that. If not that, I would like to see a
public hearing because if you don't feel
that you have enough evidence to
initiate an outside investigation, then
I mean I know I've given you guys plenty
already. I mean, you have plenty, but if
you need more, I have plenty more. Now,
if I can't get the public hearing and I
can't get you guys to defend these
people up there, I'm going to have to
show them how to protect themselves and
then I could almost guarantee people are
going to sue the town over this. And I'd
like not for that not to happen. So,
we'll I'll wait I'll wait until the next
uh council agenda and then we'll go from
there. Thank you for your time.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
Any other public comment?
Okay, we'll move on to item 10, consent
items. Have a motion.
>> Move approval.
» Move approval.
>> I'd like to sec Oh, okay. Um, but I'd
» I'd like to sec Oh, okay. Um, but I'd
like to take out F uh two
or numal two.
>> My motion is amended to to take out
» My motion is amended to to take out
that.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Yes, sure.
» Yes, sure.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Okay. Any discussion on it?
» Okay. Any discussion on it?
Further discussion. All in favor? I. Any
against? It passes. We'll go to uh
consent items number two.
>> So, we decided last month, I believe,
» So, we decided last month, I believe,
that we were going to uh we didn't
really need to have the uh Clayville uh
schoolhouse revitalization committee. Um
and so I'm not sure why it's still on
here. And I I do know that Mr. Ramble, I
I don't believe he was interested in in
continuing that at all. But we did
decide last month that we were just
going to move forward with a architect
to uh review and that we didn't need a
committee at this point in time.
>> Okay. So that's removed.
» Okay. So that's removed.
>> Is that okay?
» Is that okay?
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> All right.
» All right.
>> Thank you. I appreciate that.
» Thank you. I appreciate that.
>> Item 11, appointments.
» Item 11, appointments.
>> Review discussion andor potential action
» Review discussion andor potential action
and or vote. A sustainability initiative
committee term expiring 123126.
Name submitted. Victoria
Castada.
>> Move approval.
» Move approval.
>> Second.
» Second.
>> Motion made and second. Any discussion?
» Motion made and second. Any discussion?
Following. No discussion. All in favor?
>> I.
» I.
>> I. Uh, passes. Item 12, resolutions.
» I. Uh, passes. Item 12, resolutions.
There is none. Item 13, town business
review discussion andor potential action
andor vote a. Appointment of
um
Oh, we're going to have to hold this
off. Excuse me. Huh? We can go. Yes.
Want
>> to table A?
» to table A?
>> You don't need to table A. You just move
» You don't need to table A. You just move
on.
>> Okay. No action. I
» Okay. No action. I
>> Sorry.
» Sorry.
>> So, Chuck, did we actually
» So, Chuck, did we actually
vote on the consent items or No, like I
Oh, we did. Okay. All right.
>> Yep. No. Item B, approval of the
» Yep. No. Item B, approval of the
subleasase agreement with Wed Shun One
LLC. subleasy agreement
as a contractual further assurance
requirement of the net metering/power
purchase agreement with Green
Development LLC net metering agreement
previously approved by a town council on
June 14th 2018 authorization of the town
council president to execute subleasase
agreement in any and all andary
documents to effectuate the foregoing
and the net meeting agreement originally
authorized on June 14th, 2018.
>> Move.
» Move.
>> Second.
» Second.
>> Motion made. Second. Any discussion?
» Motion made. Second. Any discussion?
No discussion. All in favor?
>> I.
» I.
>> I. Any against? It passes. Item C.
» I. Any against? It passes. Item C.
Request from the Situa Business
Association to expend $840
from the opera matching grant allocation
funds.
funds will be used towards the purchase
of a storage unit needed to store
supplies used for the annual Christmas
in the village event.
>> Move approval.
» Move approval.
>> Second.
» Second.
>> Motion made. Second. We have discussion
» Motion made. Second. We have discussion
on that.
>> So I do have uh a question on that. Um
» So I do have uh a question on that. Um
this is um the matching grants. I
thought at the end of this whole thing
we did away with the matching grants and
kind of allocated that money elsewhere.
So seeing this on the agenda, I guess
that didn't happen. Um, but as far as
matching grants are concerned, did they
actually get a grant for somewhere for
us to match that grant to buy this
building? Because I think that's what
the matching grant was all about is
that, you know, a a nonprofit in the
town of Situate would get a grant for
something and we would match it with
that matching grants, not
>> give money and have them match the money
» give money and have them match the money
out of their funds.
>> I think the details in the packet
I said I I think the uh the detail is
further in the lodge packet where they
lay out the whole.
>> So that's all fine and dandy, but again
» So that's all fine and dandy, but again
we needed to have purchase orders for
anything that we were going to spend
money with opera funds back at a certain
date. Now, we've been able to revert
some of those funds to things that were
similar, but again, I I thought this
matching grant, if I wasn't mistaken,
some of it went to paving, some of it
went elsewhere. I thought we expended
that money uh realizing that we wouldn't
be able to do anything with it after the
fact.
Uh this $840 was the balance left in the
matching grant fund wasn't re allocated
short as I know.
>> So there wasn't there was thousands in
» So there wasn't there was thousands in
that amount though at the end and we
reallocated all of that but we didn't
reallocate $840 and that's what's left.
Is that what we're saying?
>> No, the rest of it was spent for other
» No, the rest of it was spent for other
matching grant projects that the council
approved.
>> Yes. I can get the list.
» Yes. I can get the list.
>> Yes.
» Yes.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> There's a list in the package,
» There's a list in the package,
>> right? The list is several lists.
I I have no other comment. I mean, I
just don't
see the purpose of it.
It says
it says that uh the situate business
association would like to ask for $840
from the arper matchy grant allocation.
We would use this money to fund and part
a storage unit that is needed to store
the supplies used for our annual
Christmas in the situ villages. We host
this event annually that is free of cost
to the community. We have obtained a
$250.
We have obtained $250 from the art
festival committee and would add this
$840.
Constituent Business Association would
add the remain the Situate Business
Association would add the remaining
amount to purchase the container unit
that we have priced at $2,500.
We would appreciate the support in
providing a town event that has be that
has be become it says because an annual
tradition for the community. So
>> sorry
» sorry
>> I don't see where they have received a
» I don't see where they have received a
grant from anybody else here.
Yeah.
>> Well, it's matching funds, right?
» Well, it's matching funds, right?
>> Yeah.
So, and where is this going to be h
housed? I mean, are we going to have to
worry about where this is going to be?
Because, you know, I do know that the
Rotary Club um you know, had requested
at one point in time, and I guess it
didn't go anywhere, to have a storage
container for their weekly farmers
market that they have all of this um you
know, stuff that they have to truck back
and forth for it. And um and that
apparently didn't get any traction. Uh
but again, you know, that's um you know,
just I just think that the this is a
once a year event and maybe they have a
lot of stuff to store for that, but then
we have the weekly farmers market and
the Rotary Club that you know does an
awful lot for the town as well. Um that
was looking for some type of a storage
unit as well. So I just
>> Do you want you want to leave a storage
» Do you want you want to leave a storage
unit at that that spot?
>> Well, that's the whole I'm not sure
» Well, that's the whole I'm not sure
where this is going to be housed. That
was my question.
>> But again, it's
» Richard
>> Richard filling in. I'm I'm looking at
» Richard filling in. I'm I'm looking at
that December 31st, 2025
line item 40 matching grants projected
return slash overage. It says 840
admitted says 171,340
balance
236
um I'm sorry 2,365,795
100%
and then it says 1013 2022 town council
meeting actual expenditure 170,500
and then it has the new
unspent84 40. Where did that Did that
840 come back
in that
I I'm a little confused.
The original allocation for matching
grants was $171,340.
Of that, $170,500
has been spent.
So, there's a balance remaining of $840.
If it's not spent, it would be returned
to the federal government at the end of
2026.
So the other expenditures the 170,500
the council approved 50,000 for the hope
library for HVAC 5,000 for visas for cat
cages 53,000 to the booster club
20,000 to the preservation society
15,000 to North Sichu PTA 7500 to
connecting with hope and 20,000 to the
friends of the situ animal shelter the
balance left in this original allocation
is $840.
Is the council sure that all this other
money is going to be
used? There's a lot of money left over.
There is and I hope I certainly hope
that you've got the 20,000 for the
Rotary Marggo round. You got $50,000 for
a dog park down in Clayville that comes
to fruition. So there is money to be
spent. We've got to we've got to get
moving on some of that stuff.
>> So is is the what's the council doing to
» So is is the what's the council doing to
make sure this money is spent? I mean,
this is a lot of money to give back to
the federal government. Um I I I think
we can use it more than they can use it.
So Richard, the people that the money's
already been allotted to have been
advised on it. They know they have to
spend it by December 31st, 2026. If not,
it doesn't get spent anywhere else. It
goes back to the US Treasury.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> And it was supposed to be allocated.
» And it was supposed to be allocated.
>> It is. It's allocated,
» It is. It's allocated,
>> right? It was allocated, but this $840
» right? It was allocated, but this $840
wasn't allocated.
>> That's
» That's
And it was supposed to be allocated by a
certain date was 2024, I believe, not
even 2025. So it was 2024 that all those
allocations had to be in and we went
through all this before. So you know
that's that's a horse of a different
>> if I may. So the 840 that was remaining
» if I may. So the 840 that was remaining
in the matching fund. It was allocated
to this fund that was set up for
matching. So that counted it as out
allocation for the 2024 deadline. So
apparently that's what's the balance.
They're applying for it. discretionary
move tonight if you'd like to match that
match the 84 that they're asking
» and the dog park does it have to be in
Clayville? Can it be somewhere else? It
can't can you know the powers to be get
together? If the people in Clayville
don't want this dog park, um I think
they're going to lash out at election
fund. So, I I I I it would behoove the
council to to say, "Okay, well, if it's
not going to go there, let's put it
somewhere because we're saying we're
going to have a dog park."
That's a lot of money. So, I I I hope we
get a dog park because that's Treasure
Pans's
pet project,
and I I just hope we don't give that
money back. Another thing I see a I see
town hall
um
renovations architect evaluation.
>> Excuse me, Richard. This is not on the
» Excuse me, Richard. This is not on the
agenda. We cannot comment on it. It's an
OM OMA violation. So, you can continue
to go on, but we're not going to
respond.
>> Mr. President, I call the question.
» Mr. President, I call the question.
There's a a motion and a
on in a 13C.
>> Okay. Okay, the motion's been called
» Okay. Okay, the motion's been called
>> and we're not talking about
» and we're not talking about
>> questions. Richard, I'm putting it to a
» questions. Richard, I'm putting it to a
vote.
>> All in favor?
» All in favor?
>> I. Any against?
» I. Any against?
>> It passes.
Item D, authorization for the Hope
Legacy Project Committee to seek funding
to implement improvements to the Hope
Park as recommended in the connecting
with hope vision plan.
>> So moved. Second.
» So moved. Second.
>> Motion made. Second. We have discussion
» Motion made. Second. We have discussion
on that.
I have no discussion. All in favor? I I.
Any against? It passes. Item 14,
adjourn.
>> Motion to adjurnn. Second.
» Motion to adjurnn. Second.
>> Motion made second. All in favor? I. I.
» Motion made second. All in favor? I. I.
Any against? We're adjourned. 8:00 p.m.