TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

Jamestown Philomenian Library

26 North Road

Monday, May 9, 2005

7:00 PM


 Interviews:

Time:

Name:

Committee:

 

 

 

6:50 PM

Wendy Waller

Coastal Resource Management Council Representative

 

AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:

            1)         Ft. Getty Master Plan

a)                  Report from Mary Meagher, Chair

 

I.                   CALL TO ORDER

 

II.                ROLL CALL

 

III.       COUNCIL SITTING AS ALCOHOLIC LICENSING BOARD

All approvals for licenses and permits are subject to the resolution of debts, taxes and appropriate signatures as well as, when applicable, proof of insurance.

 

IV.       CONSENT AGENDA

An item on the Consent Agenda need not be removed for simple clarification or correction of typographical errors.  Approval of the Consent Agenda shall be equivalent to approval of each item as if it had been acted upon separately.

1)         Adoption of Council minutes:

a)                                    April 11, 2005 Regular meeting (amended)April 25, 2005 Regular meeting

2)                  Bills and Payroll

3)         Minutes from Boards, Commissions and Committees:

                        a)         Jamestown Substance Abuse Prevention Task Force (04/06/2005)

b)                  Personnel Board (03/24/2005)

c)                  Zoning Board of Review (03/22/2005)

d)                  Beavertail State Park Advisory Committee (10/13/2004)

e)                  Water Resource Protection Committee (01/11/2005)

4)         CRMC Notices:

a)                  May 2005 Calendar

5)                  Proclamations & Resolutions from other Rhode Island cities and towns:

a)         Town of Portsmouth

i)                    Resolution requesting the RI General Assembly to increase the amount of Real Estate Conveyance received by Rhode Island and municipalities

ii)         Resolution in support of pension reform

 

V.                 EXECUTIVE SESSION ANNOUNCEMENT

1)         Pursuant to RIGL 42-46-5 (a) (1) Personnel

 

VI.       COUNCIL, ADMINISTRATOR, SOLICITOR, COMMISSION/COMMITTEE COMMENTS & REPORTS

-----------------------------------------

 

Town Administrator's Report

 

1.     Enclosed with this report are correspondence received in my office since the last Council Meeting. I have enclosed them with this report for your review and information. There are a few of them that I would like to call to the Council's attention:

 

a.     I have enclosed a copy of the June 17, 2004 Town Council Meeting Minutes when the Council adopted the Harbor Management Ordinance. I have also enclosed with these minutes a copy of the Emergency Resolution adopted by the Council on June 28, 2004 restricting swimming and diving from the floatation portion of the Wood-pile Pier. The Council needs to decide whether to re-issue this Resolution.

b.     I have invited Attorney General Patrick Lynch to attend your May 23, 2005 meeting to discuss the proposed hiring of legal experts to assist the State and other affected communities fight the proposed LNG Terminals. As soon as I receive confirmation from the Attorney General, I will inform the Council.

 

c.     Enclosed with this report for your review is a letter from Larry Parks providing the Council with copies of deeds and easements for the donated properties that the Council has voted to turn over to the Conanicut Land Trust. Larry is recommending that the Council vote to authorize the Town Administrator to execute these documents on behalf of the Town. I would ask the Town to take this action at Monday's meeting.

 

d.     Larry Parks provided me with a copy of the North Kingstown Ordinance that provides for a tax exemption for totally disabled persons. Larry feels that a deaf individual could be covered under this statute if they can prove to be totally disabled. I believe this is what the Council requested. If acceptable to the Council, I will draft a similar Ordinance for the Town of Jamestown. I will await further instruction from the Council.

 

2.     As some of you may be aware, the USGA 2006 U.S. Women's Open Championship will be held at the Newport Country Club from June 26, 2006 to July 2, 2006.   I have been contacted by Joe Butz and Amy Lillibridge, Championship Directors, requesting permission to place a sign at the entrance of the Newport Pell Bridge advertising this event over the next year. I have attached a sample sign (Item E) for the Council's review. This metal sign would be 8' wide x 4' high and mounted similarly to the other road signs in the area. The design may change slightly in regard to the layout of the wording. The content would remain the same as in this prototype. They would also approach the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority regarding the possibility of co-branding this sign. If this occurs, the RITBA logo would appear in the bottom left hand corner of the sign and would be similar in size to the USGA logo. Before the RITBA agrees to approve this request, they would like the approval from the Council. I would request that the Council approve this request at Monday's meeting.

 

3.     Members of the Incentive Committee have been working over the last several months to develop an Incentive Plan for members of the Jamestown Emergency Medical Services. Enclosed with this report (Item F) is the proposed plan. Basically, it would authorize the expenditure of $60,000.00 as an incentive for both the Drivers and EMT's. The only issue left to resolve would be the compensation of the JEMS Director. I will review this matter over the next couple of months and bring back a formal recommendation to the Council. I would ask the Council to approve this Plan at Monday's meeting.

 

4.     Related to this Incentive Plan is the proposal to increase the Property Tax Exemption for both members of the Volunteer Fire Department and Jamestown Emergency Medical Services from $50,000.00 to $75,000.00. I have enclosed the proposed legislation (Item G) with this report for your consideration. It also officially changes the name in the legislation from the Jamestown Ambulance Association to Jamestown Emergency Medical Services. If acceptable, I would request that the Council vote to approve this legislation at Monday's meeting and submit it to the Legislature for approval.

 

5.    There will be two Household Hazardous Waste Days in the area this year. The first will be held in South Kingstown on June 11th and the second one will be held in Newport on October 1st. Jamestown residents can participate in either one of these events by scheduling an appointment through the Rhode Island Resource Recovery at (401) 942-1430 x 241.

 

6.     For a variety of reasons, I have decided to withdraw my request to amend the hours of operation at the Town Hall, Town Office Building and Planning Office. Therefore, no further action by the Council is necessary.

 

1)         Town Administrator report - the following action items are referenced in the Town Administrator’s report:

1(a).     Review resolution regarding public pier restricting swimming, diving and fishing

1(c).     Authorize Town Administrator to execute deeds and easements on property donated to the Conanicut Island Land Trust

1(d).     Proposed Ordinance for Tax Exemptions of totally disabled persons; if favorable vote to schedule hearing

2.         Authorization for a sign to be placed at the entrance of the Newport Pell Bridge from June 26, 2006 to July 2, 2006 for the USGA 2006 Women’s Open Championship

3.         Approval of incentive plan for Jamestown Emergency Medical Services

4.         Proposed legislation re: increase on property tax exemption for the Jamestown Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services

2)         Ft. Getty Master Plan Committee

            a)         Committee recommendation; if favorable vote to adopt plan

 

VII.     PUBLIC HEARING 

 

VIII.    ORDINANCES AND RESOLUTIONS

 

IX.                          COMMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS

1)         Letter from Dr. Joseph J. England re: parking on Howland Avenue

2)         Letter from Jeffrey McDonough, Jamestown Press Publisher re: legal advertising

3)         Letter from Richard Ruggiero, Bristol Town Council Chairman re: Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) onshore terminals

4)         Email from Kevin Ford and Maria Asciolla re: 455 Davit Avenue fence

            5)         Letter from Cynthia Levesque re: Bus shelter on frontage road

6)                  Letter from RC Cournoyer Enterprises Inc., ISDS Application #0315-0037 of Robert Haberland; plat 15 lots 84 & 85, Starboard Avenue

7)         Letter from Dennis Webster re: RI Bridge & Turnpike Authority

 

X.        LICENSES & PERMITS

All approvals for licenses and permits are subject to the resolution of debts, taxes and appropriate signatures as well as, when applicable, proof of insurance.

1)         One Day Peddler License:

a)         Application of the Jamestown Medical Fund to sell flowers on Saturday, May 21st from 9:00 a.m. to Noon at the East Ferry Beach green (no insurance form submitted)

            2)                                 One Day Entertainment License

a)         Application of Harriet Mistowski dba: Jamestown Golf Course to hold the 4th Annual Tournament of the Ocean State Parrot Head Club on Sunday, September 11th from Noon to 4:00 p.m. at 245 Conanicus Avenue (no insurance form submitted)

 

XI.       OPEN FORUM

1)                  Scheduled request to address

a)         Representative Bruce Long re: Legislative Update

2)                  Non-scheduled request to address

 

XII.     APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS

 

XIII.    UNFINISHED BUSINESS

1)         Property Tax Exemptions re: proposed amendment to include a tax exemption for totally disabled persons (cont. from 04/25/2005)

2)         State Pension fund (cont. from 04/25/2005)

                        a)         Report from the Town Solicitor

3)                  School Committee (cont. from 04/25/2005)

a)                  Request for endorsement for the following resolutions:

i)                    Charter School Analysis

ii)                   Regional Busing

iii)                 Scope of Bargaining

b)                  Additional information provided by the School Committee Chair

4)                  FY 2005 Community Development Block Grant (cont. from 04/25/2005)

a)                  Approval of priority project and adoption of resolution

5)         Open Meetings Resolution – Revised (per Councilor Settipane)

 

XIV.    NEW BUSINESS  

1)         Public Pier

                        a)         Amend resolution re: restriction of swimming, diving and fishing

2)         Permission to place a sign promoting the USGA 2006 Women’s Open from June 26, 2006 to July 2, 2006 at the Newport Pell Bridge

3)         Jamestown Emergency Medical Services Incentive Plan; if favorable, vote to approve

4)         Proposed legislation to increase the tax exemption from $50,000.00 to $75,000.00 for the Jamestown Fire Department and Emergency Medial Services; if favorable, vote to forward to the Rhode Island General Assembly for passage

5)         Harbor Management Commission budget; if favorable, vote for adoption

6)         Request to waive the $200.00 Ft. Getty Pavilion fee from the Jamestown Fire Department for an event held on July 31, 2005 from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

7)         Liquefied Natural Gas re: funding for legal challenge (per Council President Littman)

            8)         Town Budgeting/Long Term Planning (per Councilor Settipane)

a)         Establishment of Budget for Town Facilities – Town Hall & Public Works

b)         Union Contracts – Discussion of hiring Consultant and Negotiations

 

XV.      EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

XVI.    ADJOURNMENT

 

Pursuant to RIGL § 42-46-6(c) Notice of this meeting shall be posted on the Secretary of State’s website and at the Town Hall and the Jamestown Philomenian Library.

 

In addition to the two above-mentioned locations, notice also may be posted, from time to time, at the following locations:  Jamestown Police Station; Town Office; and on the Internet at www.jamestownri.com/meetings/index.htm and www.jamestownri.net/council/council.html

 

ALL NOTE: This meeting location is accessible to the physically challenged.  Hearing or speech impaired individuals requiring the services of an interpreter should call the Town Clerk at 401-423-7200 of facsimile 401-423-7230 not less than 3 business days prior to the meeting.