I would have rather paddled around Green Hill Pond finding goose nests but I decided we should close out Sunshine Week by providing our readers detailed links to our Town Council meeting video.
Having the meeting off-site has evidently complicated the process of producing the ClerkBase video so I spent half the day Saturday watching the entire Council meeting again (so you won't have to!) and capturing links so our readers can find the video for specific agenda items.
While I was doing it I decided to provide separate links for each speaker at the lighting ordinance hearing. I added commentary in a few places to try to help our readers know what was discussed before watching a video segment.
TOWN COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING – March 12, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.
Charlestown
Elementary School, 363 Carolina Back Road, Charlestown, RI
Video
1. CALL TO ORDER, Moment of Silence,
Pledge of Allegiance
2. ROLL CALL
Motion to
move items 7a, 8a and 9a to be heard next on the agenda.
7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Video
a. Presentation of a Hometown Hero to RICAN
8. NEW BUSINESS
Video
a. Discussion and potential action
regarding asking volunteers to be trained in the proper method of “oiling”
Canadian Geese eggs that is approved by the United States Humane Society and
other groups interested in humanely reducing the Canadian Geese population in
Charlestown
GeesePeace
website referred to in the talk.
9. PUBLIC HEARINGS
Video
a.
Public hearing and potential
action regarding Ordinance 347 amending Chapter 218 Zoning, Section 75
Nuisances, D Lighting and Chapter 155 Nuisances, Article III Lighting, Section
15.
Video
Start of Gentz Comments and reading of 14 page letter objecting to “lighted football
stadium” and saying “commercial activities” are prohibited
Video Tom Gentz saying no one else can talk about sports lighting
Video Ruth Platner discussion of the ordinance and requested changes since it was posted
Video
Demo of Parshield ®
Video
Janice Falcone, General Stanton Inn
Video
Motel is like an apartment/condo, no one is going to inspect this stuff,
Video
Planning has literature saying lights on motion detectors are safer than lights
that are on
Video
Forrester Safford
Video
Frank Glista, Economic Improvement Commission Chair, presenting business
petition
Video
Ann Cook, Chamber of Commerce, comments including criticism of lights giving
false sense of security
Video
Bonnie (could not catch name), Frosty Drew Treasurer
Video
Francine Jackson, Frosty Drew Observatory Director
Video
Paula Andersen, Park and Rec Commission Chair
Video
Charlie Vandemoer, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Video
Scott MacNeill, media director of Frosty Drew Observatory, lighting and
security
Video
Dr. Lew Johnson, suggested three changes
Video
Larry Dunn, Frosty Drew Board of Directors
Video
Lisa DiBello, comment on freedom of speech on blogs
Video
Rob Lyons, local businessman, advocating “education, not regulation”
Video
Cathy Collette, expressing support for ordinance
Video
Holly Eaves, member of Frosty Drew Board, expressing support
Video
Beth Richardson, specific questions on ordinance wording, discussion with Platner
on sodium vapor lighting, Platner explanation that temporary lighting for
Ninigret festivals would not be regulated
Video
Tom Ferrio, advocating carrot rather than stick
Video
Frank Glista, returning to add to previous comments
Video
Peter Ruggiero explaining residential exemption
Council
Comments
Video
Marge Frank
Video
Tom Gentz
Video
Discussion of next steps to revise the ordinance, possible grants, etc.
Video
Dan Slattery trying to help with Tom Ferrio’s example issue
3. PUBLIC COMMENT for items not on the
Agenda
Video
Forrester Safford, celebrating Chariho track team setting new national record
in 4x1 relay
4. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Video
Dan Slattery speaking at length about the motivation for the four Ninigret Park
motions under New Business on the agenda
Video
Gregg Avedisian arguing that the statements were more appropriate for that agenda item,
Lisa Dibello expressing concern about lighting grant, about not promptly
getting letter about Ninigret wind turbines, and about allegations about “replacing
the police chief”
Video
Peter Ruggiero replying to DiBello’s Police Chief memo and Town Administrator
badge concerns and Bill DiLibero explaining the badge
Video
Marge Frank commenting on beach facilities progress, the DEM progress on
denitrification rules,
Video
Tom Gentz on union negotiation progress, concern about not receiving letter
about Ninigret park wind generation prohibition.
Video
Ron Areglado expressing astonishment and outrage that it wasn’t made public sooner
that wind turbines at Ninigret Park were not legally feasible.
5. PERSONS WISHING TO BE HEARD
6. ADMINISTRATOR, SOLICITOR, COMMISSION
REPORTS
Video
a. Town Administrator, his written
report plus a response to Mr. Areglado’s remarks.
b. Town Solicitor (none)
Video
Lillian Arnold, Conservation Commission Chair,
7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Video
b. Smoking Ban at the Town Beaches
8. NEW BUSINESS
Video
b. (tabled until April 9) Discussion and
possible action regarding the formation of a Stakeholder Commission to work
with a vendor to redesign the Ninigret Park Master Plan to be comprised of a
member of the Budget Commission, a member of the Conservation Commission, a
member of the Economic Improvement Commission, a member of the Parks and
Recreation Commission, a member of the Planning Commission, a representative
from Frosty Drew Observatory, a representative from U.S. Fish and Wildlife, a
representative from the Ninigret Park Neighborhood Community, a representative
from the Chamber of Commerce, the Town Planner, the Director of Parks and
Recreation, and the Town Solicitor
Video
c. Discussion and possible action regarding
honoring Bob Schiedler’s efforts in helping establish the Ninigret Park Dog
Park by naming the building used at the dog park after him
d. (tabled until April 9) Discussion of and
potential action regarding a Memorandum of Understanding the U. S. Fish and
Wildlife Service as a Ninigret Park Stakeholder
e. (tabled until April 9) Discussion of and
potential action regarding the addition of two documents to the ClerkBase
information system that will provide town residents with the background
information on the legal, ethical, and moral responsibilities that the Town
agreed to when it accepted the land transfer from the Federal Government that
became Ninigret Park
f. (tabled until April 9) Discussion of and
potential action regarding a Memorandum of Understanding with Ninigret Park
Stakeholders the Frosty Drew Observatory and all Abutters to Ninigret Park
Video
g. Discussion of and potential action
regarding a letter to Charlestown Legislators in opposition of House Bills
7617, 7618, 7619 and 7620
9. PUBLIC HEARINGS
b. Ordinance #346 amending Chapter 218 Zoning
Map Change, AP 13 Lot 96 – Ranalli, Henry J. & Nancy McNall from C1 to R40
originally ordered advertised for the March 12, 2012 meeting has been withdrawn
by the applicant.
10. COUNCIL SITTING AS BEVERAGE LICENSING
BOARD - None
11. LICENSES AND PERMITS
“CA” a.
Approval of events at Ninigret Park with a recommendation from the Parks
and Recreation Commission, subject to review of contracts by the Town
Solicitor, receipt of all applicable paperwork and insurance and that all event
details be satisfactorily met by the Parks and Recreation Director: (list
removed here, available on ClerkBase)
“CA” b.
Approval of an application received for a General Entertainment License
from Small Axe Café - Hours of Indoor Entertainment: Sunday, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00
p.m. and Wednesday, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
“CA” c. Approval of an application received for a
Flea Market License and a General Entertainment License from General Joseph
Stanton Inn – Hours of Indoor Entertainment: Daily, 8:00 p.m. – 12:00 Midnight
12. CONSENT AGENDA All items marked with
“CA” are to be considered consent agenda
Motion to
accept, approve and place on file the following as the consent agenda: 11a, 11b, 11c, 13a, 13b, 17a, 17b, 17c, 18a, 18b, 18c, 18d and 18e
13. MINUTES AND REPORTS
“CA” a. Town Council Minutes: February 8; February 13
(Executive and Regular Sessions)
“CA” b. Reports: Building Official, February 2012;
Chief of Police, February 2012; Parks and Recreation Director, February 2012;
Public Works Director, February 2012; Town Clerk, February 2012; Treasurer,
January 2012; Wastewater Management, February 2012
14. ANNOUNCEMENTS
a. Board and Commission vacancies
b. Voter ID requirement
15. ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS AND
PROCLAMATIONS
Video a.
Resolution in support of Legislative Amendments to RIGL §17-11-1 “An Act
Relating to Elections – Voting Districts and Officials”
b. Resolution in support of introduction and
passage of legislation authorizing School Committees to utilize bus monitors at
their discretion. (Video stops before this agenda item but the Council voted to
support this resolution.)
16. COMMUNICATIONS AND PETITIONS - None
17. APPOINTMENTS AND RESIGNATIONS
“CA” a. Appointment of Megan Berndt and Lara Wibeto
to the Juvenile Hearing Board, terms to expire in February of 2015.
“CA” b. Reappointment of Kim E. Freni to the Board of
Canvassers, term to expire in March 2018.
“CA” c. Reappointment of Robert Krause to the Coastal
Ponds Management Commission, term to expire in March 2015.
18. FISCAL
MATTERS
“CA” a. Approval of Abatements totaling $1,758.21 as
requested by the Tax Assessor.
“CA” b. Approval of the Rubberized Asphalt Chip Seal
Bid Award to All States Asphalt, Inc. for an amount of $83,699.00 to come from
line item 01.990.9961 as budgeted.
“CA” c. Approval of the Charlestown Elementary School
Sign Bid Award to Robson Corporation for an amount not to exceed $25,000 with
funds to come from impact fees.
“CA” d. Approval of the Professional Vendor Services
Bid Award for Charlestown Beach to Johnny Angels Clam Shack in the amount of
$4,504 and Blue Shutters Beach to Johnny Angels Clam Shack in the amount of
$4,504 from May 2012 through September 2012.
Video
e.
Approval of Beach fees as recommended by the Parks and Recreation
Commission:
(Proposed
fees removed from here because there were changed during discussion - article here.)
19. LEGAL MATTERS - None
20. ADJOURNMENT
