Town Council - Regular Meeting

That's all correct. All right, we're going to salute the flag.

Hi. If I can get my hand up.

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. I hit my arm up there. That was weird. Kelly, we have a public hearing. Open the public hearing. Those ordinance change regarding town code 2.2 for portable housing and five lot divisions. So this is for the public. It's your time. Anyone would like to go up the podium and speak on this. That would be the time. I'm seeing any of all the public hearing. Thank you. I'd like to have a comment. We have it on the agenda if you want to save it for that. Okay, that's fine. Okay. Any announcements? Not seeing any. Thank you. Approval of minutes. Do we have a motion?

Motion to approve the minutes of July 23rd, 2026 and July 30th, 2026.

All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? I don't see any thank you.

Department head reports? Motion to file. Second.

All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? I don't see any thank you. Water of endorsement for proposed service for Little Compton Agricultural Conservancy Trust for Luke Driver. Question and action. Anya, have you written down? So would you like to speak briefly on it?

Sure. In your packet, you have a copy of a proposal from Luke Driver to the Little Compton Agricultural Conservation Trust to do work on land that is either owned outright by them or they have easements. I think that for the coming year, it'll be exclusively properties that they own. Can you hear me? Okay. And so it's a proposal to do work to maintain stone walls and wood lots in the sense of moving invasive plants, particularly vines, Luke Driver has talked with you in the past about the importance of this and why he has proposed doing this. He's been doing some good work. And in fact, you have a bill to pay tonight for some work he did for us at the transfer station under a separate proposal. And so this is, he is just looking for your endorsement for his proposal to the Ag Trust to use some of their monies for this purpose.

I'd like to make a motion. Okay. I hate to read it. Okay. I like to make a motion to spread the town council support for the work with drivers proposed a little competent agricultural conservancy trust to protect forests and stone walls on LCACT on protected land from invasive species. We believe this is a good use of LCACT resources and represents a good stewardship of land that is conserved with local taxes.

That's your motion?

I have a few. I have a few. That's my motion. Do I have a second? Further discussion. Luke, thank you for what you've done. It's been important. I think it's really going to catch fire. I don't know if that's a, if it catches fire and burns all the invasive species. Thank you so much.

Oh, goodness knows the Ag Trust has got plenty of money to spend.

They've got a couple of coins left, I think. All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed? Not seeing any. Thank you, Luke. Old business, too. Discussion of Town Palms Needs Assessment Committee Discussion. I'm sorry just what I said discussion the solution Tom comes the assessment committee discussion action I'd like to thank the commons needs assessment committee for the volunteer work that they've done I'm going to make a motion to dissolve this committee to have a second second for the discussion all in favor aye thank you I'm going to abstain from that motion I've got four in one abstention new business, proposed ordinance change regarding down code 2.2.4, affordable housing in five large subdivisions, discussion and action. Tony, we've discussed this a little bit, me and you, would you like to kick it off?

So what you have here for the affordable housing in five lots subdivision. This is what's known as an inclusionary zoning ordinance. And it requires for a subdivision of five lots or more, 20% of the lots shall be for affordable housing. That means one in five. go over to the affordable housing. And under the proposal that you have here, the applicant can build one affordable housing unit on that fifth lot, so to speak. And alternative two, the applicant can deed one of the lots to the Little Compton Housing Trust, either or. That's the 1st thing the only other thing that I think. I think you need to discuss tonight in connection. With this ordinance has to do with 2 discrete. legal issues. The first being that, you know, typically when an ordinance is passed, it's prospective in nature. But what you should have here is some clarifying language that would only apply to those subdivisions that are applied for after the enactment of the ordinance. That's the first thing. The second thing is, you know, you have the term in here, subdivisions. that can create some confusions because an administrative subdivision is the moving of a lot line. So I would recommend that you have language in there that this is only for subdivisions that create new lots.

Got it. So moving forward and... We lost. Any other discussion?

So how come maybe the chair can explain this. How come alternative three was struck? How come? I mean, why was this need to be changed?

Mike in Spain, you wrote the alternative three was fee in lieu. Right. And prior to the new legislation, the fee-in-lieu would have had the fifth lot being 20% equal in value to the other lots. That's no longer the case. Now fee-in-lieu is based on the area median income of what a lot would be in our town for, I believe it's a three-bedroom family. So if we had a subdivision that was million-dollar lots, the fee in lieu then be valued at the area median income, which is projected to be about $280,000.

So the other question I had, when it says Planning Board has approval as to location and cost of the housing units, And then down a little bit farther at the planning board's discretion with the approval of the planning board as to the choice and location of such lots. So suppose somebody had a 10-acre lot, going to split it up into two 2-acre lots, 300 feet wide, but it's very long. One of them is one lot toward a subcontinent harbor. So the planning board can say, we want that lot that's on the Sakonet River, and I don't care who owns the rest of them, but you guys are behind us. I mean, I don't think that's fair to the residents. That the planning board is the one that says, we'll pick, am I reading this correctly, that the planning board has a choice of any lots of those five lots? That's correct, yes. So like I'm getting back to it, there's a lot on Sakonit River. The planning board would say, well, we want that lot. I don't care if you've owned this for 100 years or now you're going to split it up because you've got five children. You're going to give each one of your children a lot. And now you're going to have to give one to the planning board. And they're going to decide where that's going to go. Well, the planning board wants the one on the ocean. I just don't think that's fair to the residents.

Okay. I think that the intent of that was that the opposite effect was that the fifth lot for an affordable house would not be actually equal of value or... presence desirable. And we wanted, and actually this, the only changes in this ordinance, which are being considered are from the 2006 ordinance when we started affordable housing. So those paragraphs and terms were established then. And I think they were established so that it would be fair and equal to the affordable housing Lot.

But what I'm saying, while we're going to be changing it, now's the time. And I personally don't like that. I just don't think it's fair that the planning board can get the best lot out of the five lots. So we're going to be changing this ordinance right now. I think we should take a look at that. I mean, if somebody's going to have to give up one of their lots, the five lots for affordable housing, I mean, I can understand it. If they don't want to be in a swamp, But also, I don't think they should, you know, if they're on the coast, they should get the lot that's bordering the coast.

Yeah, so that's alternative one you're talking about.

And both of them, it says that in both of them.

Okay.

In other words, as part of the subdivision application, the planning board would select, actually not select, but at least be able to determine where the affordable unit would go, and that means the affordable lot.

But in practice, wouldn't it be more likely that the developer would propose which lot that they propose to be the affordable lot and then the planning board or not?

Yes. Okay.

And just to be clear, it's not actually that this lot is going to the planning board. This lot would go to an affordable housing developer or the housing trust, correct? The way the language is written now. Just as Kathleen Matarones was saying, it would go to the planning board. Just to be clear, it's not going to the planning board. I see. I get your point.

I'm not saying the planning board is going to end up with it. What I'm saying, the planning board has the choice of what lot. So obviously, I thought they're going to take the best lot.

So what would happen in this circumstance is the developer would come in and say, this is the five lot subdivision. They take Gary's thing. they select which lot is going to be the affordable, the lot with the affordable housing unit, the planning board would be able to say, we're going to approve the subdivision, but on the condition that instead of this affordable lot going here, the affordable lot can go, will have to go here. And that's what the intent of the ordinance is.

I understand what the intent is, but I mean, if somebody is going to be given up a lot to affordable housing, I think that's a hindrance to them already. They're going to give up one of their five lots. Okay. I don't have a problem with that. Okay. But I do have a problem of the planning board saying, well, you know, this lot is going to be singled out. going to the housing trust or wherever it's going to go, I have a problem with that. And the developer says, no, I'm not going to give you that. Then the five lot subdivisions probably not going to go through. But it was me, and I was going to do it. I said, well, if that's the case, I'll put four lots on that subdivision. I won't go with five. And if that's the case, then maybe the planning board's cutting their toes off by making it that restrictive. That's my thought. Anyways, I just don't think it's fair to the person that's owned that property for however many years.

So the solution was the options for a solution to the language.

Do you have any? Well, option one is to go with what you have. Option two is to eliminate that language and just delete the after the comma. after lots in the second paragraph, delete with the approval of the planning board as to location and cost of the affordable housing units. What you might want to do is eliminate with the approval of the planning board, then eliminate location and just as to the cost of the affordable housing units.

Who makes the decision?

where the houses go. So then what would happen is the developer would say, look, this is where I'm going to put my affordable.

But would you rather have the developer make the decision or would you rather have the buyer?

I would think, you know, what I'm getting back to is I'm trying to protect the residents of this town. If somebody's going to come in, a big developer that's going to buy 10 acres and develop it, I don't care where the affordable lot goes. But if somebody owns 10 acres, they're going to split it up You afforded that kid, one's going to be affordable, that's fine. But like in my example, I think one of the kids should be on the ocean, or the children should have the best lots, and then the affordable one, because this guy's given this lot up. That should be the lot of his choice.

People selling property should make the decision where the lots go, where the affordable housing goes.

Well, I mean, if somebody owns some lots, what I'm thinking about is residents in town that own these lots. but I think they should have the choice of which one's gonna be affordable. And if you keep in with the approval, just leave out with the approval of the planning board as to location. The cost can be the same. That way the lot is gonna be at the same cost as all the other lots. So that should be equal, but the planning board's not going to be the one that decides which lot is going to be the affordable one.

Any other thoughts on the conflict?

So I think, Gary, on alternative one, when they're saying the cost, that's the alternative where they actually build the unit. And so am I right, Tony, in reading that, that when they're talking about the cost, they're not talking about the cost of the lot, they're talking about the cost of the house that's built on the lot. Is that correct in alternative one?

Yeah, because it says cost of the affordable housing unit.

Of the unit. Okay. So it's not about the cost of the lot. It's the cost of the unit in alternative one. And that's why there's no language about cost in alternative two, because that's the one we're just talking about the land itself. Correct?

Yes.

Okay. And do you know, I know you weren't here when this was drafted in 06, or whenever it was amended, but do you know, was there what the intent was behind the language to say that the planning board could select it? Because I think Councillor Matarones makes a really good point about family land and that sort of thing. And, you know, why would we have that language in there? What are we trying to avoid by giving the planning board that discretion?

I'm guessing, but I wasn't there. But there's language in the Low to Moderate Income Housing Act that requires that the affordable units in a development are evenly distributed through the development. So you don't get a situation where there's a, you know, a 30 unit development going in and all the affordables are over on one little corner. They're supposed to be sprinkled in throughout. And that's one of the criteria that a planning board has to take a look at. My guess is that this language is a kind of a little bit of a takeoff on that so that there'd be an even distribution. But if you're looking at a five lot subdivision matter, Now, how big of subdivisions are you going to get down here?

So why don't we put in the cost of the land and the affordable housing units are comparable to the other four units. That way the land and the housing is... Sorry, say that again, please, Gary. That the cost... and of the land and the affordable housing units are the same as the other four on the lots. Something like that. I mean, you'd have to bring the legalese up to that unit.

Or we could divide it into two different two different categories where if someone's only dividing into four or to five separate properties, they can choose which one would be the affordable unit. If it's more than five lots, then there has to be some coordination with the planning board on selecting which lots become affordable.

Well, still until you get to 10 lots, there's only going to be one affordable unit. Yeah.

So it'd be from one to nine, one to nine to be the developer. If you're splitting up to nine.

So you don't want two affordable units together? Is that what you're getting to?

I think that's probably, that's appropriate.

Okay.

I don't see a situation on the horizon where someone's putting money.

No, I don't either. But like I said, I'm just trying to protect the residents because there are a lot of residents that on quite a bit of property. You know, and we're all having children. The only way our children are going to stay in this town is if we give the land that we own to them to stay here. So that's who I'm worried about. I'm not worried about a big developer coming in and saying, oh, well, this is what I'm going to do and run roughshod over the town.

I see three changes have started here between the affordable house locations. So the application is filed after the ordinance is enacted and it does not apply to a moving log line or an ordinance creation of a new law. Is that something we want to do now real time here or do we want to add anything more? We want to give the solicitor to come back.

What do we want to do? I think he's writing something down right now. Are you working on this, Tony? So we can put this to bed.

So in the first line of point 2.4, it is the intent of this subsection that for all subdivisions that create, so you get rid of delete of and replace it with that create five or more lots. That's the first issue. Now in alternative one, put after the approval of the planning board as to delete location and, and replace that with the, so it would read with the approval of the planning board as to the cost of the affordable units, comma, and the location of the affordable housing units for subdivisions of 10 or more lots.

Write that down.

Well, I'm waiting till you vote on it.

Heather, did you get it?

No. No, but I mean, you have the language.

Oh. I have it right here.

Okay. He just read you what he just said.

Oh, I'm waiting to.

Okay. And then three, you would put at the bottom. This ordinance shall take effect upon passage and shall apply to all subdivision applications filed after the enactment of this ordinance.

So on alternative to what's the language going to be there, Tony, because that has the same thing. The planning board has the choice location.

Do a copy and paste of that.

Yeah, yeah.

Okay.

Hey, I'm doing it now. What do you want to bring it back?

No, it would be as to the choice in the location of such lots where the period is an alternative to for all add for subdivisions of 10 or more lots. Or 10 lots or more, I'm sorry. You finished? Stick a fork in me.

Do you have that written down so we can go over and vote on.

I don't we have the solicitor bring us a clean copy of the next meeting so we can see what we're going to vote on I'll make that motion. Thank you. You can have a little bit of time to thank you know what my intent was yes I could hurt the residents of this town by having my board say they want that's a lot of the residents.

Can I ask one other question about this ordinance? Is there anything to stop someone from, say they have 10 acres of land that they can subdivide, is there anything from stopping them from dividing it into three in a four acre parcel and then later on dividing that four acre parcel?

You know, the planning board spent a lot of time on that very issue. And if you look down one, two, three, four, five in the first paragraph where it says the planning board shall deem successive applications that result in five or more lots 20 years from the recording of the most recent subdivision to be subject to this session.

I just want to put that out there for people so they know.

Oh, they really talk.

And Andrew, I think that was the point of the clarifying sentence at the end, Tony, correct? That talks about it as prospective.

Yes.

That 20-year clock starting prospectively from the adoption of the ordinance.

Well, it's not the 20 years. It's the 20. If somebody has like a 30-acre lot.

Yeah. Yeah.

And they have a subdivision that'll count for the next subdivision for 20 years. It starts from the first.

Right. But just to be clear that it's not looking, there's no look back period.

No look back from the first. And it can't be.

Right.

So if I go to subdivide my farm, which ironically has 30 acres, and I give it out to more than five kids, I've got to give up a lot. for affordable housing. What if I gift the lots to the kids?

It's still a subdivision. One of them have to be affordable. I'll see you in court, I guess.

Well, you're not giving up the lot. You could still retain ownership of that lot. It would just have to be an affordable house. Yeah. No one's taking the property.

Mm-hmm.

They are in practice. Yes.

Do I have an all in favor? Aye. All in favor? Aye.

Any opposed? We're going to have the solicitor bring a clean copy. Thank you.

to request to apply for state funding for an EV charter discussion and action. I have Anya for that one.

You do. And this will be real quick because I'm actually not asking for action tonight. Jonathan, Gabriel, and I have been both engaged in this issue and we met today. So there are... state credits available and some of them are reserved for municipalities to put in chargers and I participated in a webinar to learn about this and then Jonathan and I had a conference call today with the state's consultant and we're going to do a site visit next week, look over potential places to put chargers The, the charger and get a proposal from their chosen vendor for. The cost will be, which will be either minimal or nothing, depending on what we decide to do in terms of the charger and the location, mostly having to. kind of power feed it has. So I will, hopefully by your next meeting, I'll be able to bring you a specific proposal that says this is where we recommend putting it. And this is what it will cost. And hopefully that cost will be nothing.

I make a comment. I just want to thank you, Anya and Jonathan, for getting on it so quickly. I know, as I understand, it's a first come, first serve grant opportunity. And so time is important. You guys have been right on it ever since it came up or ever since I learned about it. So thank you. You're welcome.

So about six years ago, we had ladies from the state come down and they were going to install these units for nothing from the state because that's when the electric cars were coming into fruition and whatnot. We were talking about putting them down by the basketball court right over here, but then we didn't know whether we were going to put a parking there or not. So this has been looked at before. So I think just really look closely where you're going to put it. Maybe over at the ball field.

That's what we've asked for on the site visit is to look at the public safety complex, the ball field out front here.

And there was another location, which now I'm...

I didn't put that on the list, but I'll put that on the list. Thank you, Sal. Yeah. Anyway, so we're going to have them look around. And it also depends on where those, Paul will know what they're called. The darkness station. No, what's the kind of power that we have to face? Thank you. Face, yeah.

Hurry, I got it for her.

She's not an electrician.

Hey, thank you for that. We're going to go to new business. Just a notification. New business 3 on extension with beta. Program. All right.

Yeah, this one's a little more complicated. So you've heard me talk in the past. Road repair program, which was called something else in the past, but it's the state's program to provide basically 33% funding for anything we decide to do in terms of road repair, which in our case is mostly focused on paving and to some extent repair of underlying substructures. We've been around and around about what to do with the money that we have to spend. We have money that was allocated to Little Compton in state fiscal year 25 that we have to spend by October 26th of this year. It's not a lot. It's 40, sorry, I should have that.

470. Yeah. 61,470. Yeah.

Thank you. 61,000, almost $62,000. That doesn't even times three when we put our match up, that doesn't buy you a lot of paving. So the first round of work that I did on this was what could we get for that in terms of actual paving? And then I sort of stepped back to, does it really make sense to... just do little pieces of roads this year or should we actually kind of refresh our knowledge Given what's happened with roads in town over the last couple of years, should we just refresh our knowledge on what's the state of them all, including the substructures? And therefore, what are the highest priorities? Because the assessments we've had done in the past are kind of out of date. So you'll see like Long Highway a couple of years ago was not a huge priority, but it now is in pretty bad shape. And so what I am proposing to you is that we actually step back and refresh our plan, which had been done by Beta Engineering in the past. We've had a contract with Beta in 2020, 2023, and 2024. We had extensions. They've done great work for us. They did a full assessment of all the roads in town. They did not do what they call core samples of all of the roads. So part of this would be for them to do core samples on every road that is town owned or town responsibility. And the only exception to my proposal to spend the money on that is to do the section of Swamp Road that is right there at the intersection with West Main, which is in really, really bad shape. So it's approximately 150 linear feet that is totally pockmarked and presenting some... challenges. And so I would propose that we amend both the contract with beta to refresh our town line plan so that next year we can go into the paving season with a fresh idea of what needs to be done next and most immediately and that we also extend our contract with Pawtucket Hot Mix, which has done a bunch of the work in town on actual paving so that we can get that little section of Swamp Road done. Pawtucket Hot Mix is actually coming to town to do a little bit of repair work on John Sisson Road, which they did last year. They repaved the whole, resurfaced the whole road and they need side of the road is kind of eroding now. So I'm hoping that we can get them to do this section of Swamp Road at the same time. We'll see. They have not yet committed to that. And just so you know, the money that we, there is money committed for two additional years so far under the road repair program for FY26. It was 91 and a half thousand for FY 27. It was almost 141,000. So that's what we'll be looking at as a state match. Again, it's a 33% match for the coming two years. And we'll be on the same kind of deadline. We'll have to spend those funds by October of whichever year we're spending them in.

Okay, I'm going to make a motion that we have a little discussion. make a motion to authorize a town administrator to extend the contract with beta engineering to effectuate and update the town's capital improvement improvement and behaving plan and to authorize the town administrator to extend the contract to talk about mix for paving up to 150 linear feet of swamp road and the intersection with West Main Road for a total amount of both contract extensions not to exceed $185,000 to seek reimbursement from the Rhode Island Department of Transportation for $61,470. Second. We are in discussion. I see a hand. Get up there. Get right on up there, sir.

Yeah. Well, I think most of you know that was my background, construction. And I, for one, am not happy with Bader at all. Okay? I think they totally botched the bottom of Town Way. They didn't do the swales correctly. We still have water problems there. We'll be chasing them for a while. And... Our highway department is trying to do the best they can with it. I tried during the operation when they were doing it. They didn't pay attention. They wouldn't listen. They had somebody on the job that was as schooled as a... a school boy delivering papers. And so the asphalt contractor did what he wanted. And so I vehemently disagree with giving Bader another contract, carte blanche. I think you should go out to another contractor, another engineering firm. and get additional information. You can even deal with someone like Lynch or Tuckett Asphalt or one of the contractors to let them go over what your needs are and their engineering department will do it for you. And I really feel I mean, I can't say enough about the problems we had down there through the whole winter, and we still have, and they just didn't pay attention. Thank you. Thank you so much.

I have a motion and a second. All in favor? Still in discussion, go ahead, sir.

So that might be a money-saving situation. Maybe before we vote on this, if Ana can talk to Pawtucket Asphalt and tell them the road we want to do and have them come down and take a look at it. How much is the beta contract?

The total for the refresh of our townwide plan would be not to exceed, I forget what the number is there, but whatever you have there, Patrick Connery. $185,000.

But that was for the paving too, wasn't it? The engineering.

The engineering plus the paving just of that section of Swamp Road.

185. So how much is the beta contract?

120. Not to exceed 120.

Would you be willing to talk to Pawtucket Hut next and ask them to come down and look at it and see, or you want to just look at all the roads?

So what I'm proposing is that we look at all the roads and do a refresh of the town-wide plan. Pawtucket Hot Mix is a different kind of contractor. They do the actual work. Right, right. So I could look for other contractors who could do that kind of work, but we'll be running up against the deadline to spend the funds for sure if we have to.

Put an RFP out to see what's out there, Patrick? I think it would be time-constrained.

Anya, do you have any issues with beta engineering or analysis work to date?

I haven't had any issues with them. I've found them good to work with. I know there have been issues on Town Way. And Town Way is a very particular circumstance where the water runs down and does bad things. But Beta has actually been really good at going back there and helping us with how to fix the problems that there have been. But I know that not everybody has been satisfied with the fixes. I personally, I don't have a ton of experience since I've only been in the job since November, but I personally have found them to be really to deal with. Thank you.

For the discussion. I have a motion. I have a second. All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed? I'm out of state. I have an abstention here. Thank you. Okay, new business form. I can't talk tonight, I'm sorry. Request from the Commons Foundation to be exempt from property taxes on all their properties, just for the development of a tangible housing. It's come to us before, the last one I think was the Game Club, but I think this might be apples and oranges here. So I will start with Solicitor, if your opinion on this one.

So, you know, in order to get an exemption to certain nonprofit corporation, you amend the state statute, which you've done for a couple of entities down here, at least since I've been solicitor. This would be the same thing here. We require a resolution to the General Assembly. On the other times that you've done this, we've also drafted the A change to 44-5-1311. I'll double check that site just quickly. But you'll see in that statute that there's categories from around the state of certain nonprofit corporations where there would be tax exempt on that. it seems to me from the proposal, just what I've seen from the email, that that means that this property would be totally tax exempt. Now, by way of comparison, for affordable, the low to moderate income housing that you have here, they are taxed. They have a special taxation scheme where they get charged 8% of the gross rental if it's a rental property. So there is some taxation, not as much as it would be. So I think the policy consideration is if you want to consider this, do you want to make it a total exemption? Or do you want to make an exemption that's key to the reduction in the value of the property based upon the fact that it is attainable housing? That's the policy question.

So my thought on this, people are getting this attainable housing and Some of them own the property, don't they? The unattainable housing? They haven't been created yet. I understand that, but what I'm saying is I don't think it's fair for the rest of the residents of the town when somebody's going to get an attainable housing unit and then they're not going to pay taxes on it. I mean, that's a win-win-win-win for that person, and it's a lose for the rest of the people in town that have to pick up their share of taxes that they're not paying. And when they say, yeah, okay, well, you've done it for the game club. The game club is a nonprofit that any money they take in, they give back to the town in way of donations of food or whatever. Same thing with the wellness center. The wellness center does a lot for the people of the town for no cost. And both of them benefit a huge amount of residents in town. where this one for the attainable housing is going to do one person. So I think like Tony said, an affordable house isn't taxed the same way at the same value as my house or somebody else's house. So I think they get the reduction in how much tax they're going to be paying because the house that they're living in is an attainable house. So it's not valued as much money. Is that correct, Tony? Correct. Yes. That would be my thought on this.

Anyone else on the council?

I'll second Gary's sentiment too.

Before I go to the audience. Anyone else? I think before I have someone else, I think the young lady had her hand up first. I mean, I take what you say, Gary, and I don't know if we want to do a, you know, fiscal impact, the finance and director and task assessor on what it means for the town. I mean, I don't know. You could always do that. But if someone wants to speak from the audience, go right up to the young lady in front.

I'm not sure it's going to make a big difference in the tax of what I'm saying. Got to be fair to the rest of the residents in the town. I'm for certain not going to want to, if somebody's getting an attainable housing, they're getting the deal already. Just tax it to what that attainable housing is. Because it's probably going to be half the value of a regular house of the same house. Go ahead.

Thank you. Lindsay Pineo, Long Highway. My dog is cute. I got this. I personally I am not in favor of this proposal that the Commons Foundation be exempt from property taxes on all of their properties purchase because I think that this is an opening of the door of socialism where things are free. And they are free now, or they would be free if this were considered appropriate. And then it cascades. And I personally think that little Comptonites have lived for a long time. didn't come here looking for things to be handed to them. I think most of us have toiled extremely hard to arrive here if we were not born here. And it's with great pride that we pay our taxes so that the community will remain the way it is. And it troubles me that this would be, as I said in the beginning, opening the door to a socialistic perspective, which I am adamantly opposed to. Thank you.

Thank you.

Larry's going to contribute.

Not necessarily. Larry Anderson, I really just have a question because as Tony suggests, this is sort of a policy question. What does the town want to do to support housing alternatives. This applies to obtainable housing. My question is, what is our current policy with regard to affordable housing? I mean, we have some affordable properties in town, some rentals and some community church housing lease and housing and house things. Are we taxing those properties now?

So may I answer the question?

The affordable housing has its own taxing statute. In fact, taxation is something that really is derived from the state anyway, but they are taxed under 44-5-13.11. Attainable housing is not subject to that law. They are actually asking that section 44-3-3 be amended so that the tax exemption comes. That would be where it's appropriate there. So when you say how does the town tax, it's governed by state law.

But I guess my question is a practical matter. There are some affordable housing properties in town. Are they paying taxes now of anything?

Yes.

So that's a fairness question in both directions that's raised. And the other question is, you know, The Commons Foundation is going forward with projects. They're making progress, but there are other questions about the model they're going to be using in terms of... That I'm concerned about. It came up with regard to their ability to monitor these properties for the long term. We haven't seen the means by which they're going to ensure that these things... actually stay in attainable housing. That still has to be worked out in Cubans.

Thank you, Sam.

I think Larry touched on a little bit of what my concern is. Another thing is, are they gonna sell the land with the house? Are they gonna lease these properties? We don't know. And if they lease the properties, they maintain ownership, that's another situation. So I think this is premature. I don't say I'm against everything about it. I would be for some kind of a different schedule, if you will, depending on what they do. And I think we have to look at that. And so I think, as I said, it's premature. Thank you.

Anyone else? Brendan?

Mr. Anderson, Mr. Marinosi have touched on something that has bothered me about this when I read this in the agenda. And that has to do with the fact that the model and the fairness may in fact change depending on whether or not this is granted. And I wasn't sure if this was going to switch towards a lease situation or if the homes were going to be sold outright or what the further model would be down the road in terms of subsequent sales and whatnot of this. But I'm going to go back to my initial thoughts. When I first read this, there were several things that coursed through my mind and I Some of those were some sayings that are common in the English language, and I'm just going to repeat those quick this evening. One is on a level playing field. We hear it all the time. On an even keel. on the straight and level. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. All of those sayings that are common in the English language all have to do with one thing, and that one thing is fairness for everyone. Now, I'm not saying that all will necessarily have to carry the burden equally, but I do think that there should be some structure in which a tax or taxation is applied to all individuals or all homes in the town. To just carte blanche, let that wash and make someone or an organization tax exempt in its entirety. I think deserves very close scrutiny. Quite honestly, if their plan requires exemptions at that level on lots and tax-free status, respectfully, I feel that it can't stand on its own merit, whatever that plan is, and that plan may need to be reevaluated. And I'll go as far as to say this, I was gonna question whether or not I'd say this tonight, but I see this request almost as arrogant Why on earth would a group come forth and feel that they should be carte blanche, excused from taxation at every level? And who retains ownership of the home? And what level are they seeking? Is this just going to be an exemption from, say, the transfer tax to the ag trust? Or is this carte blanche across the board? There's so many questions that arose from this. I'm in a fortunate position in this town where I have... access to some property. And if I were to use their model, basically the way it was written up so far is I could put 28 homes on 14 acres. And my question is if I generate a foundation and put a quippy name with it and come before the council, can I be tax exempt? You know, would I be able to do that as an independent individual? What about a builder from, say, Providence comes in and buys a large tract of land and sets up a foundation? Will this be extended to them if it carries? And the question at hand is if this is extended to the Commons Foundation, if it's not extended to other individuals who meet the same criteria or have set up the same format or structure, then I think it opens the town up to significant litigation and also abuse of the situation. And again, you know, if I, I'll just put it forth as this, I'll close with, if this is granted, I think it really brings the integrity of their mission statement into question. Why would this benefit the individuals who are investing in this group? Why would these individuals be approaching the council and asking for this status carte blanche? That's very worrisome to me as a citizen. Thank you.

And then Pat, after the young lady. The young lady, Pat.

Bonnie Finney, Windmill Hill. First of all, just as a suggestion, and this is not, I adore you, okay, Lindsay. If you look up democratic socialism and you look at the happiest countries in the world, they are under democratic socialism. So socialism is not always a bad thing. I'm just suggesting, okay? This is something that's been going through my mind recently. from a lot of things that are going on in town. We're a community. And oftentimes, especially in these times, when everything seems to be so partisan, we in our little enclave of Little Compton, we're still a community. We want to help each other, or so I'd like to think. So attainable housing and affordable housing to nomenclatures that mean that people can't afford to do this unless they do it this way. I think the Commons Foundation is simply trying to found a route to help these people. These most likely, I assume, the people who are trying to buy these homes, could not otherwise afford a home in Little Compton. My guess is also, or my assumption perhaps, are kids that were born and raised here who cannot afford to live here. But through the Commons Foundation, just like in a perfect example that we do have a young man and his wife who were able to get a house through the Commons Foundation. But otherwise, they would not be able to live here. Now, perhaps on the other end of this, perhaps those, the brand new billionaires in town that apparently we have, perhaps they can contribute a little bit more and be off of, you know, we have a, I don't want to say a sliding scale because that's a stupid term, but you know what I'm trying to say, is that let's perhaps take a look and how can we help each other so that we can all be here, we can afford to live in the homes that we live in, And the tax situation is appropriate based on our situation. So that's my suggestion. Thank you. Thank you.

I got Pat Bowen in the back.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good evening, everyone. I can't speak for the Housing Trust. I am a member of the Housing Trust, and I can't speak to the Commons Foundation, but I do want to be clear that at present, there are affordable homes in this town that are owned by private individuals who pay taxes. The Housing Trust has two parcels of land which are working toward five single-family homes. Once those five single-family homes are occupied, by income qualifying individuals. It will count toward the state's mandated 10% and they will be paying taxes. Right now, those parcels of land which the housing trust holds and the housing trust as an entity of this town, both domestic and a 501c3, those parcels are not being taxed at present. Once developed and occupied, they will be paying taxes. Thank you. I don't know, is there any further question that? Good, Pat, thank you. Thank you.

Anyone else? I have something.

So I think it sounds, it seems clear to me that this needs more conversation, certainly, and more research and is not ready for prime time tonight. But I will say that I believe that the Commons Foundation is looking for creative ways to make the numbers work. And I think members of our housing trust, from what I heard from their meetings, are also looking for creative ways to make numbers work. And affordable housing or attainable housing is really difficult to make it happen. So I think everybody's intention is good. And I think we've talked on the council a lot about our, I think we're unified in the desire to try to help young people be able to afford to live here. And I think we are going to have to get creative. Now, it might not be this way, but I think we are all going to, I hope, be willing to open our minds and think about creative ways to do it because it's not easy, otherwise it would have happened by now. And then just briefly a note on the fairness thing. I take that point and I hear it a lot and I understand it. But I think for folks who bought a house here 50 years ago, at that time, the average home sale price was two times the average household income. Now in Little Compton, it's six times and up. So it is a different playing field now. And that's why I think we are going to have to get creative. Again, I'm not saying this is the solution. I think this needs more discussion and research, but I just wanted to put that out there.

Thank you. Well said. I have a request from the commons foundation to be taxed on property taxes, all their property purchase. Do I have a motion?

No, but I think we should ask for clarification of what they want. Because I think Patrick brings up a good good point. I think. The way I read this, they may, they may be asking for permission. To be exempt from paying property taxes while they own the property. in our developing housing. I don't know if that's- Do you like to make a motion?

I also think that you have to find out whether they're going to own it or whether people are going to own it. I think that makes a difference. I think if we go down along the lines of what the affordable housing statute says, I don't have a problem with that. Okay. Attainable and hoarding, they've always been hand in hand. So if there's a reduced tax that the affordable housing people pay, then I would say that it should be the same for the attainable housing, but I'm not on board with no tax at all. And I agree, are they asking for exempt from paying property tax? The first thing I thought, well, that's probably property tax, but what about the ag trust tax when they buy property? They want to be exempt from that. So I think it's more clarification, but I would be on board with, you know, saying that we will probably, or I would, be willing to give them the same exemption that the affordable housing people have, which is a lower tax than what the rest of us are going to pay.

May I make a further suggestion that you have your tax assessor take a look at this too, because ultimately, you know, this is going to fall into her area, and you might want to get some of her input into this from a taxation standpoint.

attainable affordable has to be valued at 100 then you deduct a percentage off of that to say this is what this is what the tax is based on i think if we're talking about the tax rate on what we're going to reduce the value from that 100 that's fair but if you're going to just say no tax i think that's not fair especially since the affordable people are paying it already

Your comments are more articulate than mine, but I think that's what she has to take a look at. I agree with you.

Do you want to prep the motion?

What was the motion?

We don't have a tax assessment. We'll take a look at this and come back with suggestions. And it's the thought of the council that it should be commensurate to what the affordable housing people pay.

Second.

Are you also going to ask the Commons Foundation for a fuller explanation as to exactly what the proposal is?

And ask the Commons Foundation for what exactly the proposal is looking for. Second.

I didn't get it all I was going to ask you, but then Andrew said something so tax assessor to take a review is where I got and then I got the end of it. So what was the middle?

So the middle was that I think this council would be willing to look at that they pay the same tax as affordable housing pays and to ask the Commons Foundation to come back with a little bit more clarification. Is that everybody's?

Read it, please.

Take the tax assessor to take a review and come up with an assessment for what others pay and request a fuller explanation from the Little Compton Commons Foundation.

Can you just add what the what the affordable housing assessment is?

Yes.

Or commensurate to what the affordable housing is for the attainable housing? Well they're looking for a terrible housing so would be commensurate to what the affordable housing people pay.

Do we have a motion on the second. And those seeing thank you. New business for the presentation from Steve Lueber let's say that. Stonewall stewards.

Hello.

My name is Donna Pilkington from Butts Rock Road. I'm chairperson of Stonewall Stewards. And I want to introduce Steve, our treasurer. A year ago, just about a year ago, exactly, Sekonic Garden Club invited Robert Thorson. He's a Ph.D. professor at University of Connecticut and author of the book Stoned by Stone. He has a reputation in New England as an expert. stone wall construction and history. When I called him to set up or inquire whether he would come to town, he said he already knew our walls. He had been here before. Quote, unquote, he said, our walls are worth preserving. So Thor came. He did a three-part program. He met with stakeholders, took them on a tour of a rode in town, he did a round table discussion. And then that evening, we filled the community sector upstairs and downstairs with people who came to hear him talk. Probably were close to 200 people at building listening to him. We knew that we'd have that crowd, and we had it recorded. And it's on YouTube, and it's got close to 600 hits on YouTube. So I want to say probably 800 people have heard or seen this talk by Thay. He sparked an interest in responsive horde in town. And actually, that was the genesis for Stonewall Stewards. Past year, we got a grant from the Sekonic Garden Club to think about different ways that we could promulgate the preservation of our stone walls. I'm going to give you some handouts about us and Steve Lubar is going to take the, I'll pass the torch to him and he will explain more.

Thank you, Donna.

All right, give me just a moment here. I can get the slides going. I will do them. If not, I'll talk without the sides. Thank you. Welcome.

Look along the screen.

Yeah, it should be but you need to do whatever.

We did this, but the Agfrost didn't have any problems.

Rather than hold you up, let me just tell you a little about the Stonewall Stewards, talk about what we've been doing and what we're hoping to do. It's a new organization, as Donna said. We started last year. There we go. I knew they'd show up. And

Our goal is simple.

We are interested in preserving, documenting, and celebrating the historic stone walls that define our town's unique rural character. Starting with is document. And of course, being a modern organization, we do have a phone app to do this. We've asked folks to sign up and to use the new app, to go around and take photographs of the walls, to describe them. We're using Professor Sorson's model for how to do this. So our data is usable compared to other places as well. We have about 600 images that we have so far that people have taken of the stone walls, all of which are geolocated, all of which are carefully described, and all of which are now available on a series of maps that are on our website. The website is part of the Sagonic Garden Club's website, and I urge you to take a look at it. We've got some... some really interesting pictures and some some good progress we've made on the map on what's been done. We've also got a system to encourage people to sign up. Some of what you see here in red are areas that have been photographed and have been signed for. It's hard to photograph the walls in the summer. So we will be starting up again in September, October when the vegetation is down a little bit. So documenting is first. Next, we're interested in understanding more about the stone walls. And here we're closely working with URI's Department of Natural Resources Science. They have an extensive program of New England stone wall research, and they're studying how the walls are used by birds, by animals, how they affect plant life. So they're interested in the ecology. They're doing a project of photographing the walls with trail cameras. And it turns out one of the things they learned is that our stone walls are highways for animals at night. They're very important for bird habitat as well. So we are working with them. They will be mounting about 15 cameras here in Little Compton in September as part of their research project. Preservation is another important part of what we're interested in. We want to encourage people to take good care of their stone walls. I think it's important to say that there are different points of view about what it means to take good care of a stone wall. It's a matter of balancing the ecological, historical, and visual values. And Stonewall Stewards is not taking a position on that. Different people will have different ideas about how they want to take care of their stone walls. We do refer people to best practices. One of the most interesting and useful ones is the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, which has put out good policy on how to deal with stone walls, how to take care of them. Next, we are celebrating the people who are taking care of the walls. You may have noticed these signs around town. I am a stone wall steward. If you've taken good care of your wall, we'll give you a sign for a little while to put up just to advertise it and to call attention to the walls. Finally, we're doing some programming. This fall, we'll be starting up again when it's time to start documenting walls again. And we will be doing a number of workshops, local wall builders for repair and removing invasives. We'll be talking about how to document them. And then the folks from URI will be coming out in November to talk about the ecology of stone walls. Last but not least, it wouldn't be a presentation to the town council if I did have something to ask of you. And that is three simple things. We're not asking for any money, but the comprehensive plan is under discussion, I know. We'd like to include stone wall preservation in the comprehensive plan. That's a straightforward project, exactly what we should say about it. We need to work out, but you need to think about that. We urge you to direct the Public Works Department to be careful around stone walls. The roads in our town can be very beautiful. And thinking about how to keep them beautiful is important. When they're working on the roads, not knocking over walls, not destroying areas around them. Again, thinking of them not only as practical things, but as statically important parts of what it means to be a little competent, historically important parts. And then with the State Highway Department.

Thank you.

care of some of the walls. But again, we urge you to put that on your list of with the Public Works Department that the department, the State Highway Department take care of the walls as well. That's our presentation. Happy to answer any questions back.

Thank you, Steve. Any questions for Steve?

I don't have a question but just to say thank you and on stonewall stewards and also I think Luke left, but thank you look at where I think we're fortunate community to have so many people who care about this and try to help us keep our town is as a beautiful and as it is so thank you guys.

Maybe the chairman of the comp. Plan can talk to her. Yeah, it buys that they have to put something in there about stonewall.

I may just, I was going to go to actually have some language on page 41 on stone walls, which tracks what you just heard. What needs to be done is additional language that would have action items, which are typical to comprehensive plan. So you've got to start in the comprehensive plan, but it needs to be completed.

All right. Thank you.

New business six, request from Recreation Committee. A is, the Recreation Committee recommends that the Town Council approve the engagement of activitas to prepare a RFP, the cost of which should be paid for from the money of the citizens that raise for new tensions applicable for fiscal 2020. I'm going to make that motion. Do I have a second?

I second it.

Any further discussion?

All in favor? So does this mean we're putting the tennis courts in by 2027? Is this what?

They are going out for an RFP. Right. Do their engineering with the money that they've raised, not town money. Yep. And obviously that'll take a process to do. Probably looking at some time next year. Yeah. When it's not so wet out there.

Okay, I'm just wondering whether the schedule is a little aggressive, but I mean, you've been involved with this, so you know what's going on. Do you think this is a good schedule?

Yeah, I think we're okay. I have a motion. I have a second. All in favor? Aye. Any opposed?

Not seeing any.

B, the Recreation Committee recommends that the Town Council authorize the availability of the money budgeted for the tennis football courts for the construction of the tennis football courts to be completed in fiscal 26-27. So they're asking for the money that was voted at two town financial meetings. It's a little over $400,000 that we have been keeping because of our financial situation in the past 16 months. I've talked with our finance director ad nauseam for months, and he is comfortable releasing this money after December 15th of this year. where it was voted by the people of this town for this project.

Motion to approve after December 15th.

After December 15th. Any further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Thank you. Seven, briefing on Rural Health Transformation Program, Anya. Did you fall asleep over there, Anya?

Hi.

Wide awake. And this is fun. It's good news. So as part of HR1 that passed Congress a little over a year ago, they provided $50 billion over five years for something called the Rural Health Transformation Program. Every state is eligible in the first year to get funding under this program in the subsequent years. years there may be more competition for the funds um in year one um the uh The state of Rhode Island got $156 million, and this has to be dedicated to rural communities. So they defined rural communities as communities that had below a certain population threshold, can't remember what that was, and below a certain population density. And we qualify under both of those criteria. There are 18 communities in Rhode Island. And sorry, you have a sheet that explains what I'm talking about. And there's also copies in the back if folks in the audience want that. So there's 18 communities, including Little Compton, that are going to be eligible for funding through this program. They have... had a hard time telling us exactly what we can do with that funding because the federal government requires that they get approval for absolutely everything they do and everything they say. So even, for example, the slides that they've used with us in presentations, we're not allowed to attribute those to anybody. So I'm breaking federal rules by giving you this summary, but hopefully not. If I get arrested, you'll know why. Year one funds can be used, what we're expected to do in year one is really just plan for the future years. So the state of Rhode Island's approach to this is every community that qualifies for funds should convene a group of so-called stakeholders or a network as they call it to define what are the needs of the town, what are the unmet needs of the town and kind of what are your hopes and dreams for what you could do to improve the health of the population, improve the availability of services. And so we've talked with state some about what we assume are some of our needs, things like We don't have very many services here. Transportation is a huge issue. We don't have any primary care. We don't have a pharmacy. We don't have any mental health care. So some broad categories of stuff. But what they're funding us to do is to spend $125,000 over uh the next it's actually less than a year we have to spend it by july of next year um to facilitate a network conversation and we started this uh a week or so ago when we convened a meeting that all of you counselors were invited to um with a lot of the organizations in town who you're all familiar with you know the community center, the wellness center, the stay at home, the library, all sorts of people who provide health and human services support to folks who live in this town. And of course, Pam Cowart, who's really central to the town's efforts around this. So they're providing $125,000 per town to facilitate just a conversation among whoever we decide is the right array of people to talk about this and define our needs for the future. And then there's $30,000. Oh, and I should say police and fire came to that meeting and they're critical to this as well. And there's also $30,000 per town available for public health supplies, which is defined pretty broadly. So one of the things that this network will be doing is deciding what we should ask for funding for under that category. For year one, the deliverables are just that we have meetings of this group that we plan for the use of the public health supply funds and that we develop a budget for year two, but we also could develop plans and budgets for years two through five. In subsequent years, we proposed projects for the use of additional funds. And it's important to note, and I didn't realize this until Pam and I went to a presentation yesterday at the League of Cities and Towns that they've also, so this is being coordinated through the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services, but they've sort of sub-granted large chunks of funds to the Department of Education and the Department of and to emergency management. So there will be separate things that like the school can apply for or the fire department can apply for where there will be funding available. So far I've just been trying to keep on top of this. Probably have been driving people at the state crazy with my insistence that they tell me what we can do, but it turns out good news is it's really very flexible. All we need to do is submit an application by the end of August that says who is the lead organization for this effort in our town and who's the primary contact. We can change that at any point in time. What I'm going to propose is that the town be the applicant and that I be for the time being the primary contact. And I will bring you a more specific application, although it's, like I said, incredibly flexible. I'll bring you a more specific application at your meeting on August 20th.

Thank you, Anya. That's exciting news. I should approve Anya to... Well I want you to keep going forward with this France. The application back to us at the next week's second thank you second all there and I thank you but see and yes, I'm proud of it if I may I'll speak out for everybody.

I mean it's perfect for you and I don't have to be thinking of rural health information for that brought I noticed down on the 10 that. Would that $30,000 be able to defray Mr. Raine's request for the vehicle to serve the town?

I don't specifically know. I know that there are categories. Actually, let me look in this presentation. What is not allowed?

Okay.

New construction, unfortunately. Independent research and development, duplicate billable services, currently funded stuff. Okay. So nothing that really applies other than we can't buy, we can't build a brand new building. They did say that even though we can't build, we can't do new construction, some retrofitting of existing facilities might be a lesson. And what's not clear is, for example, for the funds that are going to come through the Department of Health through emergency management, what are they going to about? So

Understood. It was just a thought. Here's the request and it's right there.

Yeah. And that's from the police chief. I think more likely the things that we would be able to fund would be related to the fire department and EMT services. So we'll be looking really closely at that. And Chief Petran is very much involved in this.

Okay. Just a quick question. It says, I noticed they expect this to go to this all in house or is this creating vision? We can decide. We can decide on that.

All we have to do by the end of August is produce an application that says, who's the lead organization? And who's the point of contact? literally all we have to do. There's also, we're supposed to define like three highest priorities of the town. And I intend to solicit input from all the folks who have been involved so far, but that's not binding. So really all we have to do is say, yep, we want your money and here's who you contact to send the check. Thank you. Yeah.

Already been voted and approved. Okay. Thank you.

We don't have an all in favor.

All in favor? Aye. Thank you. A three-year contract renewal in July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029 for building a specter and zoning official Dean Simmons. Motion to approve. Second. Further discussion? Not seeing any. All in favor? Aye. Thank you. Discussion and action regarding non-administrative communication, Little Compton Historical Preservation Advisory Committee regarding demolition permits related to their charge. I'd like to thank the Historical Preservation Advisory Committee for their hard volunteer work to bring this very important issue of demolition of residences and Little Compton to the council's attention. I'd like to make a motion. to charge the Historical Preservation Advisory Committee to appoint two of their members to a working group consisting of the solicitor, the building inspector, a counselor or counselors, we can decide that now, to bring a recommendation back to the council regarding demolition of residences in Little Compton. Do I have a second?

I'll second that.

Is there any concerts that would like to be with this working group to discuss. Demolition with some very smart people in the solicitor. Maybe Victoria tell it would want to do something like that. Everybody speaking, perhaps someone to my left. I tell you, it's very important, and it's only going to get more.

Yeah, I'm happy to serve.

Okay, so I will allow that. Victoria is the counselor. I have it written here. Do I have a motion and a second? Any further discussion?

This letter was requested to be read into the record.

Yeah, I'm going to just attach it. There's no need to read things. It's going to be attached to the minutes. All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed? I'm not seeing any. Thank you. Pass that down to our clerk. Thank you. And request from Police Chief Scott Raines to purchase a 2026 Ford police interceptor utility from Colonial Invisible Group. Any discussion on that?

Just would say this was budgeted and has been approved by the finance director.

All in favor? Aye. Thank you for the lightness is we said this commission's request for a little common fire by the association will be not 57. The National Association of by the end of the day over class F one of every choice of the second annual pickers fundraiser.

What's into approval all state and local ordinances it had to hear to again.

All in favor. Thank you communications. You know what was the inform seeking the whole weddings on their property.

I will move that this goes to the planning board's next meeting or to the planning board. I'll second that. Consideration. I'll second that motion. And that we also keep it for when this comes back for public hearing in front of the town council.

All in favor? All right.

All right.

Email from Elaine Storrs Salino and Robert M. Salino in opposition of zoning provisions for commercial park-based young farm petition. Same motion on this one. I'll second that motion. All in favor?

Aye.

Aye. Email from Patrick and Chris Donovan regarding young family farm request. Same motion. I'll second it. All in favor? Aye. Letter from Rhode Island D.E.M. Amanda Frazier, Mayor as Acting Chief in support of Young Farms request. Motion. Same motion. I'll second it. All in favor? Aye. And a very sad email on Communications 5. Mail from Amy Mooney, Executive Director of Little Township Community Center. It is resigning. That's what it is, right? So I regret having to read that. I think everyone here has probably met Amy and dealt with Amy with all her energy and all she brought over there. I think that's a big loss. So we're going to miss her for sure. Hopefully somebody will talk her into it, take her out of her haze that she's in and she needs to get back to work. So we'll see. I'm happy to write a letter if I'm charged with that. I have spoken with her on a couple of occasions and she's adamant that she wants to stay home with the kids for some reason. I don't know. I'll do it. Thank you. Since application from the tiger will talk about time removal would establish a license.

But might I ask what what kind of establishment this is just this is this is some of the.

This was the only time they don't really do it.

It was a request from. Something to do with the little Compton 250th, a vendor that they found. And this is a little card. It's actually not even a mobile truck, but they have to apply just like anybody else.

Motion to approve. All in favor?

Aye.

Thank you. President of Village Green, LLT, for use of the Adamsville ball field during the Little Compton Lobster Fest. Adamsville on August 7th and 8th. I have contacted the recreation community. I have contacted the Little League. I've talked with Chuck Kinane Jr. I'm going to be very careful on the field to make sure it's only in the outfield, not on the infield. They'll have someone there parking cars, and I will be making sure they don't mess up our field. So approved. Second. For the discussion. All in favor. Aye. Aye. None opposed. Thank you. A harbor commission response to communication received from Mimi Carlson, the kind of harbor people call monitoring 2019 is Mimi Carlson here. So they do. I don't know what she looks like. So something which is like, you want to put this on file, make a motion to put this on file, put a place on file. I'll get a second. A couple seconds. All in favor? Aye. Thank you. Consent? I don't see any. Payment of bills? Motion to pay the bills.

All in favor?

Aye.

Motion to adjourn? All in favor?

Aye. Thank you.