[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.