Town Council - Regular Meeting

And if we could all stand the pledge of allegiance. Pledge to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation for all.

Thank you. So, welcome to the regularly scheduled April meeting. We open with a public comment period. This is an opportunity for any member of the public to come forward with an issue, an idea uh that can't be voted on this evening because it's not on the agenda, but uh the issue can be brought to the council's attention. and Miss K. Jenny Flanigan is coming on up to enlighten us. Jenny Flanigan,

you just shut it off, I think. Hey, it's a face up here. Uh Jenny Flanigan, uh 46 Washington Street. I saw four items in the correspondence. Yes. Having to do with affordable housing. Yes. Um, they all sound fabulous and I encourage the board that the council to look specifically at those. Thank you. We have uh anyone else? I'd like to say something. It's spring and I bet you there's some trash to talk about.

So, this will be the last time I will say this because in a few short months I will no longer be sitting up here. But it is no better now than it has been the last time I said it. In fact, it's probably worse. This town is not an ashtray. If you smoke cigarettes, that's your choice. Do not throw your lit or smoked cigarette onto the street, into the onto the sidewalk, into our gutters. It is disgusting. It is toxic. It is dangerous. I was standing outside of Navigant Credit Union yesterday and a man walked by and threw his lit cigarette onto the grass, which thankfully it was pretty green, but if it had been dry, it would have sparked up and created a fire. If you smoke, dispose of your cigarettes responsibly and not on our streets. The streets are not also a toilet for your dogs. If you have a dog, as I do, pick up after them. pick up the poop. We provide many receptacles around town, often bags, although I think some people use them as their personal supply. They're not. But there are plenty of opportunities to pick up after your dog. Just know that if I catch you walking away from it, it will not be pretty. You won't forget it, and you won't do it again. So, pick up after your dog. The streets right now look like a toilet. It is disgusting. And finally, if you choose to take a nip and swig it as you're walking along and you are of age, that is your choice. Dispose of it responsibly. Do not throw it to this on the sidewalk in the street into my yard. That goes for Dunkin' Donuts refu as well. There

are so many nips around this town. Earth Day is coming up. There is an opportunity for people to volunteer and help clean up. And it's a wonderful community building event that happens every year, but I really wish we could cancel it because we didn't have to do it because people would be more responsible, but they're not. So, we will do it one last I will say this one last time and maybe I'll come up next year as just a private citizen and say it again, but I hope I don't have to. So, happy spring and just do a little better. Thank you. I'm blushing and I haven't done any infraction.

I feel bad not even on a dog. Right. Okay. So, she's correct. Um, next we have Mr. Jacob France. And I see Jacob's here and his family. And Jacob has attained the rank of Eagle Scout. We're going to call him on up to the podium. Come on up, Jacob. on this side. Great. So going to read this for you for everyone to know because this is not an easy path and your parents here this weekend. All right. because I have an evil doubt and they receive pins because of the hard work that they put in as well. Because as you know, you don't do this alone. You're the person who received the rank, but it's that first day when you were a Cub Scout and all of those meetings you were driven to and hopefully the ambition your parents uh pushed you with and helped you to understand. And then now we give you the gratitude because you stuck with it. This is something that uh will stay with you for life. And it's probably the one or two things when you're 65 years old you'll admit to doing when you're 17. Everything else you probably don't quite remember.

But uh it's a big deal. I think the scouts are less than what three three to 5% or 3% of all scouts become Eagle Scouts. Only Eagle Scouts have walked on the moon and you are entering into a brother ancestor of uh a fraternity that is yours. You earned it. And always remember you'll be judged differently in life. you do something dumb, you'll be looked at as gee, you know, you're an eagle. You should know better. And if the people around you are doing something dumb, you should be you will be looked at as gee, you're an eagle. You should have known better. So, this will open doors for you. And it is something that we the town of Warren are very proud of you for doing. And now I'll go into the written word. Crown of War in Rhode Island in recognition of Jacob Deont Eagle Scout Boy Scouts of America Troop 6. And whereas since it was founded in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America has encouraged its members to develop citizenship through community involvement and to strive to attain personal goals as set forth by scouting's numerous programs. Whereas to fulfill the Eagle Scout requirement, Warren resident Jacob Fox embarked on and completed a communityoriented project, namely installing a flag pole at Jill's Park in Warren. And whereas having completed the requirements for and having having been examined by an Eagle Scout board of review, Jacob Fox has been found an exceptional individual and worthy of attaining the rank of Eagle Scout. Therefore, let it be known that the Warren Town Council and the citizens of the town of Dan recognize Jacob Fox's hard work, dedication, and commitment and hereby commemorate his outstanding

achievement. Approved by the town council on April 14th, 26 by Joseph D. Pasual, President Carrie Corin, vice President John Hanley, Derek Tromley, and Lewis Rego. Congratulations Blue is you know this is yours your sacred piece of But to say a few words, you can.

Okay. Well, get ready for your evil court because I I believe you have the public speak at that one that's coming up in May. So, prepare yourself. Everyone, thank you for uh your applause and thank you for the hard work. Okay, you want to fix that for me? We have another proclamation.

And you don't have to stay for the home meeting. You already did that with your civic uh badge. So now we have numerous proclamations and I checked with the uh solicitor and I don't have to read them all but I do have to recognize them. So we have the 57th annual municipal clerk's week and that's May 3rd through the 9th. We also have Arbor Day which is April 24th 26. We have Earth Day which is April 22nd. And we have National Small Business Week and that's May 3rd through the 9th and uh Blount Shipyard received an individual award uh in that regard. So there they are. And next we have a presentation and a presentation by I believe the town manager. And that's going to be uh for for the police or for the whole town.

Yes. Safe streets for all for the the the community. Okay. Mr. President, go right ahead.

Thanks. Um so this safe streets for all is a national program. It was a grant that uh Rhode Island uh RIT obtained, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority obtained and worked with 31 communities throughout the state. Um they uh hired a consultant. It was Nelson and Nagrid and uh they worked with the town of Warren to develop this safety action plan uh safe streets for all action plan. Um they put together um they did research on the accidents that had occurred in here in town. Uh they reached out to uh community members. If you recall last summer, they had a couple of booths set up. One was at Hope in Maine and there was one at the bike path where they interacted with u uh bicyclists and pedestrians and and got their feedback as to the um projects that should be um developed here in town for safe streets for all. Um the last part of this program or this plan is that um the town of Warren acknowledges that we want to try to achieve zero fatalities or serious accidents in our on our streets uh by 2035 and then on uh state roads by 2040. So the federal government is going to offer uh grant programs to go along with this. Uh the first step in obtaining these grants was to have this safety action plan uh developed and in place. Uh the last part of the safety action plan is for uh the municipal body um to recognize the plan and come up with a resolution or adopt a resolution that we will try to obtain those goals of zero fatalities uh by 2035

here on local roads and 2040 on state roads. um that the pro the uh plan that was put together by this consultant is 254 pages. I did not print that out. I gave you a a copy of the executive sum summary uh that that uh but we will put that entire plan on our website so that uh the citizens of Warren can take a look at that. Brian, I'm on page five just so you know. But I think this is good because fality is very important, but it's also has a direct effect on our insurance rates. So if we can address some of these issues that we there may be some savings for for all of us.

All right. So I'd like a motion to approve all of our um resolutions today. Is there a second? Second. All in favor? Second. Thank you, Mr. Sullivan. Next, we have uh interviews.

We have uh Arts and Culture Commission and Arian Adel Rios. Is she here? Come forward, please. I was wondering why my packet was so heavy this evening. and it's your resume and your accomplishments. So, you're definitely qualified uh for this position. Uh are there any questions of the applicant? No, I just explain what your main interest is in the in the position, please.

As you know, I'm a graphic designer. I've had over 15 years of experience working in within marketing and corporate and agencies. And I'm also a local artist and I'm interested in just getting involved within the town of Warren and trying to help out with the arts and culture commission. I am curious though like what is involved and how often um like what is it the roles that I would be doing? I think Miss Cronin probably knows most intimately. What else?

Um I I am not sure when the uh commission is meeting uh at this time. I've been to a number of the meetings in the past, but nothing recently, but they generally meet once a month.

Um they develop a list of sort of goals and and ideas and figure out a way to implement them to bring art and culture into the community. Right now, um the walls are somewhat bare, but we've had various uh um installations and exhibits here in town hall, um as well projects around town. There's some sculpture exhibits over on the bike path and whatnot, but the sky's is kind of the limit. Um and it's it's a really great working group of people. um it's sort of evolved over the years uh as far as the leadership goes and the the real goals and priorities, but I'm I'm sure your uh your talents and your experience will be a huge asset and um you can really uh step in and uh you know bring some new ideas

Yeah. up. That'd be great. I'm definitely looking interested into like seeing what's involved. I was briefly spoke with Elizabeth Okonnell who recently had been doing the position as well and some of the other local members of the team. Um I wasn't sure if they would be able to like attend a meeting or two prior to committing because I know that it's a a full three years. Is that correct? Yeah, but you could you can resign. If you go and and it doesn't really meet your expectations or your schedule, you can send us a letter of resignation. We basically don't let you leave here tonight without appointing you. So

I I just want to say I was really impressed and I used to work at Bakos Bank and have these things at Bakos Bank. So I was really impressed. So thank you. If you can make Louis look good, you're really good at your job. I make a motion we we appoint uh I mean Miss Del Rios to the arts and coaches. Let me of course admit to my joking. Uh but honestly, if you do feel that it's not the right fit, all you have to do is submit a letter to the clerk's office. I definitely am interested in trying it and seeing what's involved and just having a whole new perspective on it and also working with current members and seeing how things worked and what we can improve on.

And we could use your advice on our website as well. Take a look at that. Yes. Yes. Um, see what your opinions are. So, we have a motion. And is there a second? Second. All in favor? Congratulations. If you speak to the clerk during the day time, she can set you up with the chairman of the committee. Email. Yeah. Email and you'll get all the meeting times and stuff that way. Great. Okay, there you go. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Thank you. Uh, so next we have the Bristol Warren School District budget and declining enrollment group. Uh, we'll put that off until uh next month. Mr. Trombble is not here. Is there a motion to do that? So moved.

So what should why can't we? I'm ready to appoint him right now. Yeah, I'd make a motion to appoint him now. We have to interview him. There's no one else has applied. Well, then we should advertise it also. Correct. Yeah. So I I would make a motion to appoint Derek Tromley. Discussion. Okay. Here. Go right ahead. Do we know that both the uh Bristol Town Council and school committee have It's confirmed. You Okay. Yes. Oh, I I saw the first one. Thank you. Uh so fine. We'll appoint Derek. I second Mr. Councilman Rego's motion. Um okay. Uh why don't we appoint Mr. Rego to this committee?

Mr. Rego has asked Mr. Mr. Rego already belongs to the budget committee, the flood and drainage committee. Mr. Rego is retired and uh and you know, Mr. Rego will be willing to help out in any way, but I think that uh um maybe Mr. D is swell. I'm not staying here as long as you. So that's Oh, you kind of council. Good point. Good point. Um

so, uh Mr. Tromley, all in favor. and uh we'll advertise and hopefully have someone uh else interested in applying for that position. Next we have conservation commission and uh one position and Miss Madison, is it Petri? Come on down. Tell us a little bit about yourself and why you want to join and uh make sure my pronunciation was correct. Correct. Yeah. Petri like petri dish. Okay. Yeah. Uh so right ahead.

Hello everyone. My name is Madison Petri. Um I moved to Warren two and a half years ago. Um I want to join the conservation commission um because I'm deeply passionate about conservation and I've also done various projects already and one having to do with conservation. Okay. Don't say anything else. Okay. I have a little question. Just everything's great right up until around. You know, it's amazing how many great people we have in town coming forward. And I'll make a motion to appoint Madison Petri. I will second. All in favor? Congratulations. Welcome aboard. Thank you, Madison. Yeah.

So now the vacancies, economic development board, one position available. Uh the juvenile hearing board, one alternate position. And now we have planning board. And this is an alternate position. And Mr. Bento is here. Uh, come on down. Familiar face to uh people who attend our civics. Good evening. Hi, council.

Um, yeah, John Bento. I've done a lot uh with the town. Interested in uh doing a little bit more. Um, sorry I didn't have a bio. could have brought one but real quick uh school committee 12 years about a third of that as chair served in the military over 24 been on the chart commission honor role and I work with the veterans day and the memorial day ceremony so just interested in in um learning more about this side of uh what you all do and if uh if the vacancies there I appreciate it my understanding is I can only pick one My question to you, yeah, you can only, especially on the planning board, you can always sit on one board.

My question was going to be to you is which one would you prefer because it looks like you can have pretty much either one. Yeah. Because you're the only applicant for both SP. That's not a nice way to put it. He was Well, he is. You're you're the only applicant for both positions. And what I as I'm concerned, you're definitely qualified. I'm asking you which one would you prefer to be on? My question to you is, do you have a preference? Is there one that you think uh could benefit that committee more? If not, I'll I'll just pick one. Uh I would Miss Cronin has some questions.

Do you have um what is your uh is historic preservation and the integrity of our historic structures downtown in the the historic district. Is that a passion of yours? Is that something that is is is It is. My uh my house is is within that zone and I I own three other buildings in Warren. So that's why I was interested in planning our historic. I'd be happy with either. I mean, they're both important. They both uh work hand in hand sometimes. Sure. Uh they're the same but different.

I think I think the workload would be heavier on the planning board. Yes. Planning board impacts the entire town. Right. Right. and uh we can't make this decision for you. You are qualified for both. Okay, fair enough. At least at least I don't feel like I want if you were really going to listen to me and I put you on I would put you on the planning board. You know what you said when you came you want to learn people don't realize you you get such an education being on any board being involved in the community. So

Right. Right. And we do have a uh a planner in our uh employee now, a new department head. And um Miss Pola Castro is going to be working directly with the um planning board, the and the uh the voluntary historic district commission to just bring them up to uh speed on policy and ordinance and procedure and whatnot. So, it's a good time to step on to either one of those boards. there. There's a an excellent education opportunity there for you,

Mr. Beth. As long as there's an opening, you always have the opportunity to resign and go on another board if you if you learn more about it and feel like you'd rather be on a different board without saying goodbye to, you know, public service. Okay. Planning it is. Oh, is there a motion? I'll make a motion that we appoint John Bento to the planning board. All in favor? Hi. Congratulations. Thank you. Thanks. Next is uh the 250th commission and you skipped over to resignations, Joe. That's next. Yeah, I'm not there yet. Oh,

250th commission and then uh voluntary uh historic district committee. Do we readvertise those again? I would like a a motion to readvertise everything. That's open. I'll make that motion. Second. All in favor? I. And that would be including our new budget uh committee. Next, we have resignations. And we have Mr. Richard Mattton. I'll make a motion we accept Mr. Mattton's uh letter of resignation and send a letter of uh appreciation. Second. All in favor?

And now we have Miss Janine Casseline. I'll make a motion we accept Miss Castleman's letter of resignation and send a letter of appreciation. And that's from the um affordable housing advisory committee. Correct. And also part of that motion is that we advertise those two positions that just became vacant tonight. I'll second the motion. All in favor? Okay. Now we have acceptance of minutes from the March 10th regularly scheduled uh meeting minutes. I didn't see any corrections. No, I didn't see anything. Make a motion to accept the March 10, 2026 regularly scheduled meeting minutes.

Second. Bless you. Next, we have uh all in favor. Next, we have acceptance of the March 18th first budget meeting minutes. Motion to approve. Motion. Second. All in favor? I. And next we have the acceptance of the March 25th second budget meeting minutes. Motion to accept. Is there a second? Second. All in favor? I. Next we have the consent agenda. That's uh P1 and P2. Is there a motion to accept? Make a motion we accept the consent agenda. Is there a second? Second. All in favor? I

I And next we come down to ordinance one. And interestingly tonight, this is an ordinance to change the order of items. And I was going to move the petitioners that are here tonight for licenses ahead. But that's what this motion does. And considering there isn't a whole night's worth of uh business for you to sit through. Here we go. So you get to see a little bit of our business. Uh so is there a motion to accept the second reading of our new uh order the agenda?

I will make that motion and note to uh the rest of the council that there were some uh amendments made to section C. So I make the motion to accept it as amended and it was language. Language is important. Language. Yes. But that's the only changes. Nothing nothing uh in content changed. Uh, so is there a motion? There's a motion. Is there a second? Second. All in favor? I.

Thank you. Now we have public hearing. And uh no, O2, excuse me. Building and building regulations, automatic license plate reader. Mr. Trombley isn't here tonight, so I'd like a motion to continue this. So moved. I'll second it.

All in favor? I. Thank you. Next public reading request for a transfer of class BV beverage license. And this is from Spin Drift Hospitality uh LLC doing business as Chomp and uh Ch SWM Hospitality WRN LLC going to also do business as Chomp Kitchen and Drinks. Is Nicole and Tanner here? Hello. come on down. So, before we get going, I'll just uh bring to your attention, which you probably already know, there is about a $4,000 uh balance that is a bar. So, the transfer of the license, and you probably are going to do this at closing.

Yes. Yes. Yep. It's actually been cleared as of Friday, but um that at any until we get it, the approval tonight will be contingent on that going through. Uh so when that comes to the clerk's office, it'll be all set. Understood. And ready to go. Uh is there anything you want to let us know about what you're trying to do, what you want to do? Yeah. So, I mean, we're we're excited for you.

Yeah. So, so are we. Thank you very much. So, you know, Nikki and I have both worked for Chomp now for I think Nikki's going on seven years. I've been there for a decade almost. Um it's uh it's one of those things that I've I've you know I was a part of the original Warren building um down on Child Street and then uh previously before that in Bristol when Statesman Tavern opened on State Street for a while I entered as a part of opening that restaurant. Um so it's been it's been a journey for sure. Um and it's uh you know we're excited to kind of take over the rest of the reigns that we aren't already running. So we've both been part owners for a while too. So just taking over as being a 50/50 partnership for this is really exciting. So nice. Uh Mr. Reagan.

Um you're not going to change the menu, are you? No. Good. I've been the one making the menu. So nothing is nothing is changing. Mr. Desisto, do you have uh anything you'd like to add? No. Uh it's a order for you to vote on the transfer as long as it's subject to uh compliance state and other local regulations as well as satisfaction of the objection intercosed by the uh wholesale distributor. Anthony, would that be the typical uh l motion to approve but not issue until That's correct. Yes. Okay. I'll make a motion that we approve the transfer of the license

but have the clerk not issue until all state and local requirements have been met public as well. Yeah, I'll make a motion we close the public hearing. Well, anybody excuse me. So, since this is a public hearing, we allow the public the opportunity to address any comments or concerns about this transfer. And uh now is the time for that. if anybody has any anything they'd like to get off their chest. Okay. So, is there a motion to close the public hearing? Motion we close the public hearing. Second. All in favor?

Now, I'll make a motion a motion we approve the transfer of the license but have the clerk not issue until all local and state regulations have been met as well as the outstanding uh satisfaction of the outstanding debt to liquor satisfaction of the outstanding debt to the liquor supplier. Second. All in favor? I. And next we have P3, which is a request for the uh victory license. And is the same language appropriate? Same language for the victory license. Mr. Hanley,

I'll make a motion we approve the transfer of the vigiling license, but have the clerk not issue until all state and local uh regulations are met and the amount due to the liquor distributor has been satisfied. Is there a second? Second. All in favor? I. And last but not least, the entertainment. So, you guys have been there. you know that there have been uh some highs and lows

and I am appreciative of how you uh showed us how willing you were to work with the neighbors and uh it's it's really just about you know not doing something because you can but doing something that enhances your business and and the neighborhood because everybody loves you. Uh so that being said is the entertainment license subject to that lean as well? My advice has always been just batch them all together because it's all contingent on the ticket licensing.

I'll make a motion we transfer the yearly entertainment license to SWM Hospitality. Uh but have the clerk not issue until all local and state requirements have been met and the lean for the from the liquor distributor has been satisfied. And John, let's uh just go for outdoor and indoor entertainment various days between 12:00 p.m. and 900 p.m. as it's currently being done. Yep. That's that's the existing license. And is there a second? Second. All in favor? Thank you so much. Thank you very much. Open us stay on the food scene and uh see you down there.

Thank you. Now we have request for a holiday license from the Warren Fund Center. Al Monte is Al here. Hey Al, come on down. So what is it uh you're you're doing and what is it you want to do? Well, we're pretty much running the same business. The uh we gave up the common Vic license for the ice cream place. I rented that out. Okay. And now it's just the uh holidays is all you're looking for. The holiday to do business on a holiday. I clerk tells me what to do when I Okay. Uh

we all do. Is there a motion to approve? So move second. Mr. Monty. All in favor? Thank you. Thank you. Okay. Next we have a request for holiday license from Sky Nail Spa. Is Miss Lee here? Hi. Come on down.

Hello. Hello. Hi. And uh you also want to do business on Sunday and holidays? Yes. Okay. U make a motion to approve. Second. FA. I. Good luck. Thank you. You're all set. Thank you. That's it. Thank you. Next we have request for a mobile food establishment. It's an MF permit. Chubby chickpea mobile is uh the chickpea here. Hello. How are you? Good. Good evening. My name is Michael Rogers with PBD food truck events. I'm representing the chubby chickpea and four other of the food trucks that are on the agenda tonight.

Okay. Uh I like funny names and that makes me, you know, food is fun. Chubby. Uh so any questions of the applicant? Nope. I see the state license number here. Yeah. Which you are which seven, eight, nine, and 10. Uh representing the chubby chickpea, antihitosied, delicious, uh berry sweets, uh championship melt, and incredible. So 12, uh 10. Which was the other ones? Uh it was Antihitos eiss. 11

berry sweets. So 10 11 12 and seven championship melts and incredible. So was I correct? So that's five. Five. Correct. Okay. Five total. Okay. Did this we could do such a thing? Yes. This uh uh organization they do this throughout the state. Okay. What they do is they organize these food truck events. Correct. Correct. And these people will be uh these MFDs will be part of that. 11 and 10. Thank you. Yes.

Yeah. We um are doing an event with Blanch Clamshack um the Bl family day on June 20th. So we're organizing all the food trucks for that event. And these trucks have not been previously licensed in Warren. Uh so we're getting their um licensed today and then others are getting renewed as well. So, council members, it's seven, 10, 11, and 12. That's four. Yeah, that's what he said. There was five and number eight. There's five. Correct. Incredible. Incredible. Correct. Okay. Yes. Okay. I'll make a motion. I screwed up by not saying no worries. I'll make a motion when we Can I just call them by the P7 number or I got to read the whole name out?

No, you can do the numbers. Although I think that chubby chickpe I'll make a motion we approve P7, P8, P10, P11, and P12. Second. All in favor? Thank you so much for coming in tonight. Thank you. Just on a personal note, I would love to say what you did for the young gentleman with as the Eagle Scout. I'm an Eagle Scout myself. It just really um touched me that you were able to do that. Should have told us at first we would have moved you right through.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Next we have P9 request for a mobile food establishment permit from Bev Voyage. Hello. And you're Miss Torell Torreselli. Yes. Hi. Tell us uh quickly a little bit about what you're doing. Um we started off as a mobile bartending service uh doing weddings and such. Um and it's kind of transformed into a mobile coffee company. So we have a coffee cart. No liquor. What was that? No liquor right there. No liquor on the cart. Nope. All right. Uh, make a motion to approve uh P9 for Bev Voyage Coffee. Second. All in favor? I luck.

Thank you. Next, we're moving right along. B13. Uh, Miss McMillan is Hi, front row. request for an MF sugar rush. Sugar. Yeah. All right. Sugar. Sugar. There you go. Yeah. Ice cream truck. Um we're going to buy wholesale uh lemonade from Warwick and uh do novelties just for events. Okay. Uh we do have a M. Thibido just arrived at the right time. Do we go out to bid for uh So, we do go out to bid for a lemonade service around town. That's just for the beach.

For the summer? Yeah. Palagis already has the beach, I was told. Well, I we're going to go out to bid. I That's why I'm I'm just bringing it up to you. Yeah. How much is the Well, look at the look at the paper or talk to Miss Thibido. Okay. And uh that's the thing. It's uh it's up to you how much you want to Oh, it's a blind bid. Yeah. Same thing like Cold State. Okay. It's uh sealed. And does that include the kids camp, the beach? Okay. Yes. Talk to Miss Divido. I'll make a motion we approve P13 for Sugar Rush. Second. All in favor? Next to her. I will. My son's next.

Oh, here we go. Family affair request for an MF from Tanks Hot Dogs. All right. Tank Jameson McMillan. So, same thing. You want to sell hot dogs? Yes. Okay. Hot dogs and chips. Cool. Any questions of the applicant? I'll make a motion we approve P14 uh for Tanks hot dog. Second. All in favor? You do have I don't see your Yep. I see your state license. You're good. Perfect. All right. Thank you. Thank you. All in favor? I.

Okay. So, correspondence and uh Miss Flanigan brought up uh some that do have to do with uh affordable housing in town. Well, not in town, but affordable housing. And if anybody wants to pull them, uh, we've already acted on these issues in one way or another. And we uh also have looked at the portion issue and I think that is u litigation. uh it's going to be good for the lawyers involved and uh I think this is going to be dealt with best by legislation and not litigation. Uh we've already had that discussion. Um but if anyone else wants to pull it and have a more discussion on that issue, feel free. If not, is there a motion to approve correspondence?

Motion to file. Accept and approve. Accept and file. Yeah. All in f is there. All in favor? I you. All 42 of them.

All 42. My fingers are real slow. Page what? 14 or 13 for new business. 13. New business. Discussion and action regarding a letter from Pamela Dunn regarding approval for a public parking signage. Is Miss Dunn here? Hi. Can you tell us a little more public and please come to the microphone and uh let us all know about what your situation is down there and uh we'll give you our opinion.

Thank you. Yeah, I just love some help and support and maybe opinions or guidance. So, I've owned my hair salon down on Water Street for 13 and a half years. And down at the bottom of Bowen Street, um, where Davis comes out, it's like that deadend corner area. All along the fence parking that ab butts the tourist building is all public parking. I've called the police station many times confirming. I've called the um town assessor confirming and the department of public works has confirmed that they could put up public parking signs. The reason being is in the course of these 13 years my clients, myself, my employees, I have six of us who work there. So, at any given time, there could be 12 clients trying to find parking and we're continuously harassed by the residents over there claiming it's their public private parking and they've threatened to have us towed. Um, they've left notes on our windows. Most recently, I did have to have someone get dispatched because someone just came. She had parked down Bowen and was tooting and swearing from the car, swung the door open with a salon full of people and just swearing, yelling, saying, "We're going to get it. This is, you know, I've had enough of you people." So, it's just a lot of confusion. I think they're just obviously led.

Were the police dispatched to this? Yeah. And and she was lovely. The police officer was lovely. And you know, as we said, there's Were those people spoken to though? I don't know. So, I actually never got any feedback. She said I knew what the woman's car like. I looked I went outside. I followed I just walked over and I said, "This is inappropriate. You need to leave immediately. I am calling the cops." I followed her out so I could see the car she got into and her car is always parked next to mine. So, I knew exactly. Um, unfortunately, some people in town uh mistake public parking for personal parking.

Yeah. And then my my so one of my other co-workers the next day got her window knocked on and the guy said just so you know anybody who's a non-resident parking here is going to be towed by the police department. Um and she said well I actually heard the exact opposite. My owner just called and confirmed and he said well I don't know what to tell you but the police are going to start telling you people. And I called again just to double check and that's when I called the assessor and the town clerk.

I have a question for the solicitor. Mr. This is though, do we have the um ability to do a door-to-d dooror canvasing in that area in regards to letting people know that this uh all the threats and all the accusations are not founded in truth, that it's public parking, and that they don't have the right to um you know, sorry, do this, harass people. Thank you. Yeah. Delegate that to the police administrative.

But I'm saying like do we because I know it's a small neighborhood. We know the house. We know the where the cars are and I think this is a very good opportunity for a public outreach. I just want to know if we legally can do that. You can. Yeah. I have a Castro and Mr. H. Mr. Hanley. Go right ahead. I have a question for is to and this would be to all the department heads involved. Have we confirmed that the area she's talking about is public parking? Yes, I have. We have confirmed that. Yes, we do have a brand new sign machine at the DPW. I mean, I Why don't we just have a couple of signs being say made up saying this is public parking? Reserved parking not allowed or this is just public,

not reserved parking. Public parking. I want to put the not reserved in there so these people can't say, "Well, it's public, but it's ours." Well, my next question is uh to the solicitor again in regards to uh the violation. When we have no parking areas, we have a violation. People gets ticketed and we have to ordain that area. Is there a process that we go through uh in regards to it being public where if people believe it's theirs uh there's a legal uh component to that? Or could we create an ordinance? I'm not even

That's considered to be trespassing. If it's public property and it's for the use of the public and somebody is preventing members of the public from using that, that's considered to be trespassing. Do we want to put a two-hour limit on it? Well, well, that's stuff for us cuz we work these guys working. I try to get me and my employees to park in the back. clients can get a little longer. No, no overnight parking. Well, we don't want to necessarily penalize the the the the neighborhood. We just need them to understand that they may have to walk uh you know 100 ft. So, one of the issues we've had because I'm your neighbor. I just realized that owns property on the street

and um what's happened over the years is they never got ticketed a towed when they parked there. So, what would happen is they cleaned the snow and all of a sudden they thought they owned the road. Now, this is a common sense issue that it's sad that we have to put up signs for I think the signs would be the easiest and for the public as well. I'll speak to the public. Uh Mr. Rego and I both uh and Mr. Hanley remember when that was uh the driveway that was that was a driveway to the American tourist.

And the second driveway was put in when the uh warehouse was built. So that was always open. Then uh when the company changed and tractor trailers uh changed, they started using the water street and the 91 Main Street and that gate never opened.

And people again weren't ticketed because we were nice, but they've confused our our hospitality with weakness in regards to now taking advantage of it. If I could make a suggestion, if we're going to do something with the parking, uh, that there gets to a certain point with a they almost blocked AA Street if Trucker want someone wanted to go by that maybe we have angle parking there or a signage saying no parking in a certain area. It's we really shouldn't have to do any of this, but uh it's not a lot. What's what's happened is now now that the street is uh Davis and Bowen is is one uh that entrance area is now a a solid fence.

Okay. And what I usually when we say we want to send something to the traffic commission, it's because it has nothing to do with the traffic commission. But in this case, I do think we should send this to the police chief and fire chief, building official and DPW and have them take a look as well as our planner. uh to take a look at what's their best recommendation so we just don't come out for you know from from the hip over here. Well, I think I I would make I would make a motion to that, but I would say let's put up the signs and refer the parking arrangements to the traffic commission.

Yeah. Yeah. Mary, how hard would it to to make a public parking sign and just put it up and then and then have the traffic commission come back with a recommendation? And but I I do think we should have a police component because I don't want this business to be um victimized by that neighborhood. And it sounds like there's already been verbal harassment. Yes. And God knows what else. Miss Polar Castro, whatever you can add to this, please. So I think you know for a sense of tmininess and taking action on this that it would make sense for us to do what we would do if there was a something before the planning commission or the zoning board of appeals and pull the abutters list and have an official letter from the police department and with DPW potentially and send written correspondence as well as posting it.

The only issue with that is that the butter's list will be the property owners and I'm assuming that they are not owner occupied there. Most of the people are not who are right. But then we could also send it out to the paper and have them run it in the paper and also signage. I don't know. Yeah, I think we should just do a doortodoor canvasing. Yeah, of that shape. And I will just add I don't think there's anything wrong with the parking. It's not blocking anything. There's no disruption to it. It is even one time someone had put a cone there and you know the police had to come out for something else and they're like this is town property. They can't even have this cone and they took it. So, it's

Yeah, we're dealing with cones on Water Street as well. I think a sign you can put a sign quickly and you know Yeah. And then it's clear. And we'll also have the patrol come down and and well, we're going to leave how they want to deal with their end of this up to them. But if the patrol comes down and uh the warmer weather, a lot of people are outdoors over there and we'll probably be able to get our point across. So, there's a motion for the public parking signs, a motion to install the public parking signs and to refer to the traffic commission for maybe striping or a layout to get more use of the parking space. Yeah, that makes sense. Lines. Is the there a second? Second. All in favor? I thank you for bringing this forward. Thank you.

Uh and again, I want to make sure you realize please call the police if there are issues. Don't get into arguments. Turn around, walk away. Uh we know where these people are so uh and you know we don't want something dumb happening. Okay. You're welcome. Uh so we all voted. Yeah we do. Thank you. Discussion next we have new business too discussion and action regarding all town fees and fines. Uh Mr. Rego and this uh has been Yeah. So conjunction with the budget committee.

Yeah. So, working with the budget committee, um, we're going to need to table this because we're still working on this. One of the suggestions is to create one ordinance with all the fees and fines and u, so again, we're working on that. You think if we go to next month, you'd be all set. I'm hoping that by next month there isn't a lot of changes to to be made, but uh, I'll make a motion we continue uh, new business to Yes. to the May meeting, town council meeting. All in favor? I Oh, wait. Is there a second? Oh, second. All in favor? I You go. Uh, next we have a discussion in action regarding special revenue accounts also, Mr.

Reg. Right. So, this is just FYI, we are still working on it. Uh, Mike Labuzzi actually is working on these special revenue funds. Um, one of the things he's waiting for is the auditors to finish the audit. Uh and uh that is something that once everything's all said, I'm hoping that we'll have a reform on a monthly basis so we know where it stands on a monthly basis. So again, there's no action to be taken on this. Do you want to uh slide it off till next month? No, there's really no action to be taken now. Okay. Are we going to discuss it next month? I mean, we can't do nothing and have it an agenda item, I guess. So in other words, if

this was more of an FYI because one of the things uh on the ordinance with the budget is so that we're informed about all these different items. So that's what all and then once we know what we have, then we can have discussion discussion. We're probably going to go forward. Uh and and before discussion and action regarding our five-year capital plan and again this is something that that was in front of us and part of my ordinance. It was something that we reviewed but I think we reviewed it during the budget process. So, I just wanted to uh uh put on the agenda, but I don't think there's any action to be taken. And I think the five-year plan, and Bianca, you can correct me on this. Is this something if something else comes up, we could add to uh down the road, or is this something that we have to do only at budget time?

When it has to be done, it can be done at the ordinances. It can be done at any time. Um your ordinance is kind of vague. It's under duties of the town manager and various directors. and it required a five-year capital improvement plan with an annual review. And part of that capital improvement plan goes into the state tip transportation improvement plan as well as the um comprehensive plan and you can update those by annually. Okay. Okay. So, no action needed. No action needed.

We're working on it. Next, we have a discussion and action authorization for the town council president to sign a recreator licensing and permitting agreement with Lion Slog. Uh, is there anybody here that has anything to say about this? Links log. Links log. NB5 picture of a little dog. Is this for the keeping track of the moorings and the Oh, this is the moing one. Yeah. So, we put a dog on the mooring. All right. You see this? All right. So, Mr. Silva, you have anything you want to tell us about this? Uh, yeah, we this program this

we spent some time and interviewed two companies that have similar businesses. We found that links log is a much better fit for Warren. Um, I had members of the Harbor Commission involved in all the meetings and I've kept manager Sullivan involved the whole way through. What they do is they not only just process all the payments that we take, they also manage the weight lists. And these are you're talking about the moorings. Well, moorings, docs. I'm trying to get it out. Let us let us all know what it is. You're okay. I didn't know how much you paid everything. the public doesn't know anything about it and

they also manage the all the weight lists for again docks, kayak and dingy racks which are extensive and they're going to update the lists annually with a fee that you guys are going to have to set whether it be $10, $25 which has never been done. So now the lists are long but they're not real. I had to go through 25 people to get one person to take a town dock slip last year. And because I sold my boat, I moved out of town. I, you know, um, this will keep the list active and updated. There's a lot of public safety stuff that's very helpful. Um, they their program will have all of the moorings on a Noah chart that I can take and put on a tablet and bring it out on the boat. My one scenario is a boat's taking on water. In the past, I would have to come to the office to get the boat owner's phone number and then go get a pump and try to help the boat out. Now, I can just click on the tablet and it'll have the phone number, the owner, their address

and the location of the morning. And the location of the moing. Um, and there's a fee that'll be passed on to the user. Yeah. Well, we have a fee, $450 onetime fee. That's just to build the system. No, I meant I'm sorry, I got ahead of you. Maybe when the person who goes onto the site, yeah, is uh putting their information in, correct? There's a charge that they pay, not the town, right? They pay It's in the $5 and change range.

The other company we interviewed was in the seven and 7.45 price range. Um, Newport and Block Island both use a system that I like. um that I'm hope links vlog and I spoke to the block island harbor master at length and she just had just great things to say about it. All right, Mr. Rego. So, a couple of months ago, I went to a hover commission meeting and Joe had I don't know a stack of applications for uh uh for moorings and stuff and a lot of them weren't full. So, he had to go back and forth. So, this is going to eliminate a lot of paperwork. It makes a lot of sense that everything's automated.

Yeah. Right now with the new system, they won't be able to pay for their MAR until they've uploaded their certificate of insurance, their uh current registration. It won't accept the payment until that has been satisfied. And how soon? Now I'm getting applications back with just a check. Then I have to mail the check. Chase them down. Going back and forth. And if they miss your office hours. So this is available online 247. Tomorrow's the fi final deadline and we have somewhere around 85 unpaid boring still and all right we're going to be granting an extension and trying to chase the money. I mean again

can't take the revenue hit. So we got to find the people and get the money. This system will make it a lot quicker and easier. Miss Cronin, you have a question? Yeah. H how soon will this be implemented up and running? everything. He said four to six weeks. Okay. So, this won't make payments this year. It'll be for the next cycle. Okay. But it'll allow me to operate the system um and learn the system before we start getting into payments and and whatnot. Um I pretty good confidence in this company. They they came across well. So, you'll be um inputting all of the uh all of the data. All of the data

that I have would go into their system. Okay. They they do they build they the $450 that we're being charged Mhm. is the fee for them to build the software. So the total cost is what? 30 No, 450. The 30 paid by the Right. Yep. I look down. I see it. Yeah. I'll make a motion we approve uh the contract for with the links log. Second signing just I want to check some the um contract pending solicitor approval. Yeah, there's something that check I'm sure it's fine but I just pending solicitor approval. Is there a second motion? Second. All in favor?

I won't. There you go. Thank you for bringing this forward. Thanks for your time. Next we have uh is there an NB6? as I turn the page. NB6, Miss Weed, discussion and action and permission regarding the usage of the town hall steps for two 250th committee events. One on Sunday, May 3rd and one on Saturday, July 4th in the early uh what? 9 o'clock. Yes. 8 nine o'clock. Okay. Tell us a little bit about what you're doing.

Sure. My name is Sarah Sarah Weed. I live at 23 Bridge Street. I'm here on behalf of the 4th of July 250 committee and we plan to read the act of renunciation at um noon on um May 3rd. Uh the act of renunciation is Rhode Island's declaration of independence and we um see ourselves as the first state to declare or first colony to declare uh independence from the king. So it talks about we no longer um give him allegiance. Um, so it'll do you have a reader for that? Yes, we do. Uh, Mr. Pascal has agreed to do that reading that day. That's me,

Mr. For those of you who can't quite for what, 25 years. I'm sorry. That's okay. I love it. It only happens when you publicly say my name. So, the guy's name's Joe, right? Uh so uh that so it'll be a very short ceremony. We would like to have a booth in order to um give out more information about other events and also sale sell a couple of items. Great. And then on um Saturday the 4th of July, we'll read the Declaration of Independence. We don't know yet exactly who's going to do that reading. Um

it won't be Mr. Pascal. All right. Um so, um but in that case, we probably would not have a booth. We don't need to get into the building. We just need the use of the steps and maybe a little bit of the sidewalk. Um two, one reason that we chose May 3rd as the date is because it's close to May 4th, which was the initial date of the um declaration, but also because of the spring stroll that day. And it's a Sunday. Yes. The fourth is a Monday. Yes. If I remember, July 4th is a Saturday, actually. Well, July 4th. July 4th is a Saturday. No, no. May May 4th, excuse me. So, we're doing it on May 3rd, which is a Sunday because Monday is uh

I got you. And there is a townwide event called the Spring Stroll on May the 3. There will be a lot of I may have a huge crowd in front of us as we separate ourselves from England. I will make a motion to allow the 250th committee to use the steps on town hall on Sunday, May 3rd and on July 4th of this year. Is there a second? Second. All in favor? I. Thank you. But thank you, Miss Weed. Just thought I would mention a couple of events that are coming up. Go right ahead.

One is on April 25th at 10:00 a.m. we'll be dedicating a liberty tree at um Pers Burr Hill Park. Um the state will be here because they are the ones who donated a tree to every um town in the state and they're giving us a red maple. And on May 2nd we're having a Johnny cake breakfast and I'm kind of pleased that we we're we are reviving the May breakfast concept. Yeah. I haven't been to a May con May breakfast and I don't know when. Um and that's from 9:30 to 11:30 at the Methodist church. All right. Great. And that's the big white church. Yes. For those of you who need to know, other than the Methodist church, the big white church, the big white steeple.

Thanks. All right. Great. Thank you very much. Thank you. Next, we have NB7 discussion and action regarding a resolution. This is an opposition to House Bill 7369, which would be mandatory. We already didn't we continue this already. This one this one we can do without him because even though he's not here uh the issues in front of us and and they may vote on this before next month. Correct.

Yeah. I I I would be in favor of voting on this. We are going to a u is it a seminar myself, Ryan, and some people on the budget committee. So if there was anything that was out of the ordinary or make us want to change our mind on this, we'd let you know. But I don't think it's

Well, yeah. Let me so thank you gentlemen. Let me finish reading that this is um what this house bill if passed would make it mandatory that what we call opbs in the budget which stand for other postemployment benefits. Uh we fill those levels voluntarily the town with the advice of our financial adviserss. This bill, if passed, would uh make um it a very big burden and I believe it would u cost the town about $500,000 if this bill would be mandatory. So, if you'd like, I'll just quickly read this. Uh whereas House Bill 7369 was introduced into the general assembly on January 28th by Representative Felix and others. And whereas this act would amend the audit compliance requirements for municipalities contributions to pension funds under the audit of accounts and installation of systems. And whereas specifically this act requires municipalities that contribute materially less than 100% of the actuarily determined contribution for other postemployment benefits. And whereas this act also requires municipalities to submit to the auditor general within three months of completion of the annual audit a plan with recommendations for future contributions to achieve 100% actuarial funding. Whereas this act will cost each and every municipality hundreds of thousands of dollars in order to achieve the strict compliance standards set forth therein. And whereas the requirements set forth in the current statute RIGL45-10-15 are more than adequate for municipal OPED compliance. Now therefore, be it resolved by the town council of the town of Warren that uh the town council

section one that the town council of the town of Warren officially expresses its opposition to H7369 and respectfully requests that the honorable general assembly not enact House Bill 7369. Make a motion on that resolution. There you go. Can I speak on it before we vote?

Yes. So there's a second discussion. This is I obviously this it's financially a burden the cities in town but this is the same stuff that got the whole state into trouble with the pension systems. Let's not pay it all now. Let's pay it later. Let's pay it later. Let's pay it later. Eventually later shows up. Uh so I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to vote on this, but I don't think it's a bad idea. pay for what you're supposed to pay for. Don't pay for things that you don't supposed to pay for. Right. But the real essence of OPEDs is if you look at when you're retirees,

I know exactly what we look at the amount we have and it's pretty healthy for those that are about to retire to carry that that load. Correct. I'm not saying that uh that is, you know, irresponsible. But to the flip side is to fund it 100% which if this were to pass I've been told would be $500,000. But then we wouldn't have to refund it every year. Oh yeah. If you're funding 100% of what your expected OPED is, you're funding it for the the way I see this is you're funding it for what your you have the opeds for every employee is already a dollar amount right now. Correct. Whatever it is,

I think it's something that changes every year. So, so depending on how long somebody's been, if somebody's close to retirement, correct, they're going to get more. That's what we do. I think our position, our town position, the prudent thing to do is to have a plan in place. But what the state wants to do is shove something down our throat that maybe Providence or Pucket may plan may be totally different than than than Warren. They may be in the hole. We're not in the hole. No, I'm just saying that's what got the whole pension system in trouble because everybody kept kicking the can down the road. I understand. You kick the can too far down the road, it falls in the gutter. But I don't think they're the same the the same. You don't want to force things. Uh if if I may,

you may for discussion

law about funding OPED and what this does is uh this proposal would accelerate uh the funding of OPED. So the question becomes, does the current law adequately address OPED reserves to protect the towns? U Representative Felix says no. And she's uh put this bill in which basically says you've got to do the 100% funding right now as opposed to as council have a plan which get so you can't just tax people for something that's going to happen down the road. It's a debt that the town has already acrewed.

Yeah. But we are in a healthy position and right now 500 but suppose I don't know suppose everybody were to retire. Go unexpectedly. We'll have to come up with a plan. We'd have to go into the general fund. All right. I just wanted to It's a valid discussion. Yeah. Yeah. And again, the state is forcing so much stuff down our throats that I think the state should do it with their budget. Yeah. Uh so we had a healthy discussion. I think so. And uh there's a motion and a second. All in favor? I. Thank you. I I'll vote in favor.

Next we have the town managers discussion and action authorization for the town manager sign an agreement with Rubis to participate in the new national opioid 6 remnant defendant settlement. Thank you Mr. President and members of the council. This is a continuation of the um the large um lawsuit that took place on the opioid crisis. Um these are six smaller um agent um

remnants or groups that were involved in this. Um we received the information electronically to sign this. Um again it would be uh the process would be for payment would go through the attorney general's office which is the the the the formula has been set up already. Uh so whatever the the value is it would come through the the state attorney general's office. So we don't know I have no idea yeah what the but it'll be minuscule and towns that don't have as much need will get more than we do because that's the way this formula always works.

That's exactly correct. And basically what you're going to do, I what I like to do is uh equate what the town gets to how many um hot dogs all the way you can get at Rod's grill. With these remnant defendants, you're looking at about 24 all the way at Rod. French fries plug for rods, but it's really it's offensive how how the money is distributed. the calculation not good for um several uh cities in town se I'm sorry several towns including Warren you just didn't get a lot oddly uh communities like Barington and Bristol get a lot more than you guys do although the need is greater here that's not how it was calculated

so we must hold the new attorney general uh whoever that person may be responsible to make it a more equitable distribution of the funds I'll make a motion although This settlement is not a real wiener for us. I will I will make a motion that we authorize the town manager to uh enter in the agreement into into the settlement. Is there a second? Second. All in favor? I thank you. Next, we have discussion and action regarding the unexpended obligated ARPA money. Thank you, Mr. President. Um I've been working with the Wait, let me just let them know. So, in front of you

there. Okay. Everybody has the Thank you. for sure. Um I've been working with the finance uh director to determine uh how much money um is unexpended that we had obligated but as you know there some of the uh the the contracts or the prices came in uh less than what we had obligated. For example uh the we had obligated 220,000 for uh software for finance and it came in at uh just over $88,000. Let me give a little quick round up here. So for the public uh the ARPA funds came uh years ago. We were allowed uh by process to submit projects that they approved. those projects uh had a cost associated if the cost was uh not in full that uh we got a reimbursement in that balance

and we were allowed by the rules to redistribute those funds only to projects that were on the original list projects that were obligated right by October I I'm sorry December of 2024 of the original OPA list correct that's correct so now we have a second bite at the apple and the manager has worked with department heads to come up with a list. So the total amount we have to reallocate is 288,000. Yes. And your advice would be road paving and infrastructure improvements put 100,000 there. Correct.

And uh revenue replacement for the government services in the current fiscal year and that would be $158,000. And uh the third would be wastewater treatment plant dewatering valve line repair or replacement and that's $30,000. So are there any discussion? The revenue replacement is that just going to go directly into the general fund. Uh that will go into our Yes. Yeah. So in a way we're going to have an opportunity to um reimburse ourselves and then whatever down the road. So, is there a motion to approve the uh request? So, move. I'll second. All in favor? I. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. President. Next, we have request for the authorization for the town manager and solicitor to enter into contract negotiations with the police chief. Um, there it is. So, any questions of the manager at this time? I think we should enter into a uh contract agreement because I like our police chief. I'll make a motion that we authorize them to enter into discussions with the police chief for a contract. Second. All in favor? I.

There you go. Next, we have discussion and action regarding a recommendation from the town manager. This is one of the few jobs that the uh town council appoints. And if you remember, this was uh previously held by Miss Roy and Marie Roy. and she did an outstanding job and she was reluctant to leave until we had uh a replacement. And the uh heavens opened up and we have someone uh here that's being recommended, someone that we all know with a lifetime of dedicated service to the town already and uh Miss Susan Anarumo uh is here and we would like to uh the council to approve that appointment as our social service director. Son second.

All in favor? I. Senator Rumo, would you like to come on down and get comfortable in front of the mic? And for those who don't know you, let the public uh and the council uh know your vast background and what you've done for the town and probably I hope we'll keep doing.

Um started many years ago uh as a young teenager. I volunteered at Campstone Tower for summers and winters. Loved the children and adults there helping them. Uh which brought me to my nursing career. I became a registered nurse that I've been for over 40 years, almost 43 years. Uh my last at Rhode Island Hospital, working in the ICU, the trauma ICU. Um and then uh moving on to becoming an EMT for the town of Warren, working for chief. Uh become moving up to becoming par a paramedic, which I am now. Still doing calls, not as many as I used to, but still doing calls. Um I just recently retired from Rhode Island Hospital, uh after almost 35 years there. Um, my last position was working in a um office. You had to be ICU trained. I had to take calls from outlying hospitals, uh, hospitals in other countries if people from Rhode Island were vacationing and got critically ill. And I would take the calls and talk to the doctors there. I would have to find a doctor in Rhode Island Hospital, Miriam, tell them what's happening to the patient and that we have to get them to Rhode Island because they don't have the services. Get people from other countries, our citizens back to Rhode Island to get the care they needed. Um, since I retired, I miss helping people. I really, that was just everything to me. So I started not too long ago uh with uh the food pantry at St. Mary the Bay helping there assisting um and uh when I heard this position was

available and the thought of helping the people in my town where I've grown up um and you know what I've done in the past that maybe I could make a difference in people's lives. I think you'll be great too. I think you're the perfect person. Great. I hope so. I hope so. I hope they're So, we can take that as a motion, a second. We already voted. We already voted. I don't know where I was. Good luck and thank you. Thank you very much.

And we look forward to your monthly appearance and reports. Thank you. Okay. Now we have discussion and action and authorization for the town manager to sign the memorandum of understanding between the town of Warren and the Warren health equity zone concerning tree watering in the town during the 2026 summer months. Uh Mr. Sullivan, should we ask Miss Reed to come down or are could she add anything to this or are you

No, I think I think it's I I think it's pretty straightforward. It's um you know that that the is going to have uh volunteers and also they are also going to pay one individual to go around water the trees uh that we just planted that you know need to be watered during the summertime. Um so part of the the agreement is that uh you know the town will uh supply certain things and one of the things is the which Mr. Rigo brought to my attention was uh insurance coverage. Um but it's liability insurance not any health or any type of other insurance like that. So you were able to plug that in.

So yeah, I've talked to Miss Reed about that already. They're going to amend the uhou and they also I believe it has to be signed by the council president so they're going to amend it too. No problem. It falls under our umbrella. Excuse me. Mr. Sisto Ryan had a trust signed off on that. We did talk to the trust on that but I they're okay with but I will send a copy of the theou to them as well to make sure that but we did talk to them. Yeah.

Yeah. just um just a correction. So this will be for sort of the three seasons of spring, summer, and fall. Um so not just the summer months, but we are recruiting five groups of five. So we're looking for 25 volunteers um and some team captains. And so um you know, this is a a town lift that we uh take care of these trees that we have planted, 18 street trees and then the trees the trees that are at the park as well. So um thank you for this opportunity. Well, thank you. Can we put a notice for uh volunteers on the town's website? Absolutely. Wow. Okay. So, is there a motion to approve? So, move. Is there a second?

I will second that. All in favor? I. Thank you, Mr. Disto. We have a discussion and action regarding the presentation of claim from Atkin Law. And uh this matter is already with the trust. I'm going to ask you to deny the claim formally and formally refer it to the trust, although they already have it and they're already working on it. Make a motion to deny and forward it to the trust. Second. All in favor? I. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Marshall. We have the revenues and expenditures here and uh we have the cash balance report. Are there any questions of our finance director who's doing a a great job?

Thank you. I I you know what? I agree. He's doing a great job. And so, um, you're our cornerstone, just so you know. Really, we're we're only able to do what we do knowing finally again that our uh cash general fund abilities are there. and uh we're lucky to have Mr. Rego and Mr. Abusi, all of our volunteers uh on the U budget committee and you. So really, we're not just uh you know saying it, we mean it. We've been through the ring of Thank you. Thank you. Any questions? His reports right here, Dgo. No, I'm good.

Okay. Okay. Motion to accept. We don't need a motion to accept, but there's one. All in favor? Thank you. Nextt. Now remember, your contract was under review. So I'll be a good boy. Discussion in action regarding bids for drone EVO Max 4 TX bundle from Autel Robotics. You're going to the sky.

Yes, we got two. We did go out to bid. Uh we do we got two bids and uh one for uh 10,600 and one for 6200 and the 6200 is actually a better model. So we asking permission to uh use that one. We have the funds all comes through the forfeure money account. So okay special revenue. Is this the one we plug $16,000 for in capital? No. What was the 16,000? Okay. Yeah. I'll make a motion. We uh approved the bid for the drone from Ortel Robotics. Is there a second? Where do you see Autoic Robotics? B&H photo says it in the Orel Robotics. It's right on the line. The agenda

because I in the bids I'm seeing uh Lewis Cutman. Is that the person? I guessel Robotics is the maker of the drone. Yes. Okay. All right. And I'll clarify my motion. B&H from B&H Photo and Video in the amount of $6,24.93. Second, Mr. Gutman. All right. Motion in a second. All in favor? Hopefully, we'll find somebody if they're lost. No, I you know the drone.

Uh request permission to overspend in police overtime account. Uh this is 01540 uh1030 for $20,000 to be offset by the police training account. 01540000002295. Pretty straightforward. Great. I'll make a motion and then I want I want to So we have a motion. Is there a second? And now Mr. Rego has discussion. Yeah. So Roy, uh, 20 years ago, we used to have a big issue with overtime, and I remember the 280,000 back then, which was a lot more back. But anyways, my question is, and we added police officers, did that make a difference on the over time?

Yes, it did. Okay. Times are different. 280,000 is different than years ago. Yeah, definitely make a difference when you Again, when I saw that, that was a question. That was all We're having we we're having some trainings. We already have some um you did the AR-15 training with the officers. We're doing uh taser training May in May 2nd. We got the uh qualif annual qualifications in u May 18th and 19th and 21. So we're just moving some uh probably move some more before the end of the year, but right now we're moving that 20,000 from the training account to the over. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. And thank you, Mr. Ago. All in favor? I I

All right. Next we have Rec Director discussion and action regarding Warren's 26 con summer concert series. We have Back in the Day, Steve Anthony and Persuasion, East Bay Wind Ensemble, Pison Trio, Heart and Soul, Broken Roses, Rude Boy, Stepping Out, Crush Velvet, Down City Band. John and one can't we just cross it off and put my name? I can or redo it. We have the stamp and we sign it, too. Yeah, that's what I said earlier. You didn't realize what I was talking about. No, I didn't. So, uh, there it is. Um, and is this being funded by donations?

Yeah. Oh, you're like, I don't know how to shake my head. Yes or no? Yes. Rest of the question. Donations. Yeah. Great. So, is there a motion? So, move and a second. I'll second. Congratulations. You have all in favor? I. Next, we have discussion in action regarding learn to row small boat day at the Warrentown beach and that's on June 6. This has become an annual event and a successful event. And I've had people say that they learned how to row. So, you want council permission. Is there a motion? I'll make a motion. We ready to go? We June 6th. June 6th. Uh, small row small boat day at Warrentown Beach. Second. All in favor? I.

Thank you. Town Planner discussion and action regarding Birds Hill Park. Come on down. May, what's the easiest way for me to do this? Just like is there a clicker or do I have to point at you? Okay. So, whenever we're ready. So, um I have a brief presentation and I'm hoping I know this is a very sensitive issue. You guys have been talking about this as before I started. I'd like to get through the presentation first. It'll be quick and then go back for discussion and questions if that's okay. Yes. All right. I'm gonna ask Director Hunt and Director Tibido to join me. Um,

and you guys can correct me if I misspe.

So, Birds Hill Park offers many advantages to the town of Morren. It provides creative placemaking. For those of you who have never heard that term before, it's a way to integrate arts and culture and design into community development as a way to revitalize public spaces as well as boost community efficacy and economic development. It provides year-round recreation. In addition to the summer youth activities, there are walking paths, bike path, sledding, and it but the bike path and is across from the town beach. Open space provides a significant amount of open space that is undeveloped um green space that allows youth and families and individuals to spend time outdoors in a clean, safe environment. It's also an economic development catalyst for the town. You have your summer concert series there which brings in not just locals but visitors from around the East Bay. They don't just come to go to the concert and leave. My guess is most of them will stop and shop and eat and drink here.

I don't know how you roll up. Oh. Oh. Oh. Okay. There we go. All right. So, these are just some photos as it exists today. The primary feature being Can we retaining wall slating area for whatever John wants to label it? Okay. Landscape. Landscape feature. It's a landscape. You know you guys. So this is some of where the tears are crumbling. Um these tears are probably well over a hundred years old. Original 101 original poor 2020.

So for those of you who are not familiar with this type of construction, this was most likely what we call um Portland concrete and it could be reinforced concrete. I'm not quite sure. So, what's the difference is they take the concrete um or cement, they mix it with sand and gravel, which is why there's lots of little pea stones in there, and without doing any type of core sampling, we don't know if they used any type of reinforced metal structure internally. My guess is they probably did, especially for the higher tiers, um based on that time. So, picture it like a waffle iron. You have your waffle machine and you pour the batter in and then you make your waffle. So what that means is this material is very dense. It's very heavy and it is difficult to remove and you have to grind it. So it's not just as simple as breaking up what you think of now when you think of your sidewalks or your driveways based on the age of construction of materials used. Same thing just for another angle. Go ahead.

You're bringing back junior high school days. Remember John? Well, before that, I don't know either one of you did. I'm just

in the last um eight years uh director Tibido has managed to raise um through grant funding primarily from Commerce Corps and from Ryan Department of Environmental Management over $560,000 for park improvements. These are your most recent ones. These will be your tents. They provide additional shading. So, park improvements. What's next? And I know there's a spelling error. I caught it after the fact. Um, so I'm going to show you some concepts of in a minute of updated tiered lawns or tiered seating that I think will give you some options to consider, but also incorporate the nostalgia or the existing design of what's there, but making it something that brings it up to a modern age as it relates to um bringing in creative placem uh stormwater management, green infrastruure, structure, increased shade. Yes, I know we just planted some trees. However, in the next couple weeks, um the director is going to be putting up some sales. You know, the big canopies, kind of testing them out, see what we think going forward. That could be a really good alternative um for the park, especially in the summer months in addition to the plantings. I don't know if you've ever seen some of the trees, I mean other sales in other cities. They have them in different shapes. They make artwork out of them. They can have different colors and they tend to be kind of a low impact um low cost advantageous. We know that we need improved lighting around the basketball courts. Not I always want to say pickle ball, but I know it's not.

Tennis courts. Tennis courts. Sorry. And tennis and pickle. Oh, tennis and pickle ball. And there is the chance that we could relocate some of the existing lighting structures from Jal

J's park. Anyway, they're helping me to this park. We also need some new bike racks and the previous facilities that used to host your bathrooms are vacant right now and could be upgraded for additional beach facilities, i.e. changing rooms. And then obviously storm water management. Um, stormwater management is not necessarily what people think of it when you think of your gutters and your sewers. It's really kind of incorporated everything we design now, including rain gardens, different types of plantings. Um, so if you want to go and that would work towards eradicating erosion.

Correct. So these are some of the options that I came up with conceptually just to get a sense of what do you currently have what would be bringing it into the 21st century and what would make it fundable and long-term lasting. So this is don't ruin it. I don't know if you can see so this uses a significant amount of concrete although includes green infrastructure as well. I don't know if you can see, it's kind of dark, but the holes at the bottom that allows water to run through and run out. Right now, the um runoff from the hill is causing the trail to be wiped out and freezing

like so it becomes a slip and fall hazard as well. So, this is one option. This is something a little bit more artsy, a little bit more green. Um it terraces out the hill a little bit more. Obviously, it wouldn't be exactly like this. This is just to give you some thoughts. Potential. Yes. This one's kind of between the first one, the second one. I actually kind of think this one kind of looks like, you know, um an amphitheater in ancient Rome just with lots more grass. Yeah.

And if you wanted to go really green infrastructure, low impact design, you could do a complete green um trist terrace lawn. I know that you have some money put aside for this 28,000 most of it towards Patrick 28. I lost you. No, I didn't get Did I get you all the way up to 28? Yeah, I did. I'm paying attention. 28.

I would say unless you know the directors or the building official disagree with me. This is maybe $28,000. That would be a patch job. Um it might get you through a year or two years. However, as we know, like with potholes, once a hole exists and water and ice can seep in, it's going to expand. It's going to crumble. The other option you have is, I believe it was what, $275,000 to demo and clear and replace. No, 40,000. 40 to clear. Oh, 40 to clear. I still think that number is too low. It's a bid from a company. Yeah, but I think without knowing

Bianca, my experience on this council goes back 20 years. If you put a million dollars, it cost you $999,000. Okay. So, that high low. Okay. I just think that without us knowing what the materials are internally, if there is rebar, if there is metal framing, if Yeah. Well, that won't you get one of those great big machines. Just so you know, it was included in the bid. We separated demolition of the concrete, removal of the rebar, and taking it out. It is on the lower side, but it's a company that bid on it, and that was

okay. It was additional for the um landscaping afterwards. We broke it all down so that we could see what options we had because I feel DPW could do the landscaping and if the removal of the structure were done, it would absolutely be able to be uh put in a position where you could then apply for grants, we wouldn't have to worry about the liability with the trust and we could uh get grants based on the water remediation aspect. I I and I could be wrong, but I still think 40,000 based on the scope of work on the bid

is gonna be on the it's going to be hard to make that doable. Well, the others were 55,000. I mean, it wasn't it wasn't so low that it was unrealistic. I've just I've done a lot of demo and clearances of structures like this and I've very rarely been able to come like I've had ones where they're like, "Oh, it's $120,000 and then it's half a million dollars once they figure it out." But that's just I'm playing devil's advocate there. I'm hoping these gentlemen will uh increase by 12,000 and let us Why don't we go to the last second? We could get some grants with the water runoff. One of the designs she showed clearly took care of the water problem. She could get grants for rebuilding it rather than just ripping it down. And

we have to we have to take care of the liability. Guys, hold on. Gentlemen, ladies, let me finish this for one second. So yes, we can get grants. However, it is very hard to get grants when we don't have any engineering and design work. A better use of the funds would be to let us go out for bid for engineering design for a feature to replace what you existing currently have. That makes it fundable potentially under Commerce Rhode Island and site readiness. Beyond Bianca, one of the issues we have people that have lived in the town for a long long time, we like that there.

Yes. and and I've talked to a lot of people in town. They like it there. Tony, quick question. Uh that that was a that was a donation by Mr. Martins. Was there any restrictions on that? No. Here's the thing. I've been doing research on this. I can't find anything. And because I can't find it, I can't say that there's I can't. Unless somebody can produce those records,

I have no idea. Now, I have another question for you, and it would be the exact wording of our demolition ordinance. Does it say building or structure? Because if it says structure, that's over a hundred years old. That's going to need approval by the historic committee. That to me and to a lot of people in this town, that has more historical value than some of these dumps they're trying to save on Water Street that should be torn down. Oh my god, John. That is just I I will just say this and if you want to replace like with like that makes it very difficult to make it fundable in today's grant world.

Well, I like the one with the little green grass on top still look the same. Yes. And that's what I try to do is incorporate different aspects of what could be funded. So I agree with you John and Louie. I was against taking them down. I feel the same way that you feel. I feel that they are a institution. When you think of the park, you think of those that area. No, me. Wait a minute. What's that? No. No. Think of the stairs and the

Listen. All right. I think of it all. I think of it all. But what I'm saying is I understand where they're coming from, but I also changed my perspective when I saw the plans that she was putting forward with it with it being more realistic and um better maintained. Welcoming and well welcoming whatever, but it still has the same shape and it still has the same design. Um but it fixes our problem. Yes. Yeah. Thank you. So I but and I was on I was in the same boat as you guys. But I do feel that we should give this a opportunity to see where it can take us. Thank you.

No, no, no. This isn't I'm not saying I'm just saying you are doing she's talking about what SHE PRESENTED UP THERE. You're not just making a grass hill out of it. What you wanted to do, right? Oh, she's talking about the the the the cement ring the face. I agree. This would be a marathon, not a sprint. The grant world is takes time. I I I'm open. I'm open. Yeah. But I think the first thing we need to do is go for engineering and design. Um that'd be like an RFP. Yeah. Or an RF. We could even probably do it a piggyback on the state master planning list because we don't really know what the actual costs of anything is or how to apply for it until we do that.

So should we remove them to satisfy the liability from the insurance company? No. No, once they're out, they're never going to go back. That's not true. Yeah, it is true, Joe. It isn't. We have a great plan. I would actually plan together. I'm concerned about the structural integrity. Putting $28,000 on that is going to be like not even frost in a cake. I think the I would recommend the money be maybe increased a little bit and then reallocate for engineering design. Why don't we increase? You have a starting point. If you come up with some numbers and it needs to be increased, then you come to us and then we increase it. Most just you know 30,000.

I I like I like some of the things you did, but I'm not I feel like Tara does and I think maybe John does. So I mean do what you can and then just let us know. And just so you know, I've heard from many people who think that it's an absolute travesty that those are saved because they are crumbling in disrepair. They're a a safety hazard. And I I've heard just as much from those people. I know you're from here. I know you grew up here. I know you have fond memories of it. But you do not actually speak for everybody. I speak for the people that call me and email me and talk to me. I speak to the people who email and call me to. Well, here's the thing. Here's the thing, Carrie. You Carrie, here's the thing.

Wait, wait. We're not going to go in a back and forth. We are. Mr. President, you just brought something up. And here's the thing. We took a vote. It was 32. And this is where we're at now. Right. Good. And that's the way it works. Good. So, we're trying to make some sense of it and try to do something that's in the best interest of the taxpayers. And I think we agree on that. We just said, didn't we sound like I'm openminded, didn't you?

We've sparked an interest from two people who were opposed. They're looking at a new and creative way of using it. I am simply speaking for the fact that the trust has deemed it a liability and Mr. Dysto is now coming up. I'm going to get candy here. You see a We all know, don't he? I am a consultant. So, we do have we do have an obligation to satisfy the safety aspect. And I

and I and I believe that that motion to put that $28,000 in there was to make safe or make repairs, whatever was spent. It's not even close to enough. You can't put a fence around it for 28 grand. But why would we do that when we can remove it? Because it'll never come back. Uh that's not true. You can put in your you can put in your motion. Joe, do you remember the discussion you and Steve had when we first talked about the park? No. And you were all excited about keeping those things there for people to sit on. I want to keep half if anything. Yeah. The whole left side facing it is a disaster.

You could put in your ordinance, I mean in your motion that they're mandated replacement. Yeah. You know, at the end of the day, those design features are great. You can do this. At the end of the day, we took a vote and there are a lot of times there are votes that we take, yeah, I'm not happy with, but you have to accept it. Lewis, it doesn't have to be like that. This is an opportunity for you to see a presentation that shows you. I like some of the things in your presentation. Okay. So, put in your motion. We we

if we want to have you forward with something like that, but I'm not going to I'm not going to redo what we did at the budget time for the 28 to make safe or repair. John, you could make a motion. I'm still good with the 28. Oh, I can't believe that you guys, you know, you know the cost of everything and the value of nothing. For God's sakes, you're making like a mockery out of this. You saw potential in those plans and you and I may make a motion to move forward with one of those plans. I'm not changing that task motion for the 28 to make safe while repairs. Why? I'm You won't even entertain it. No. Can I make a suggestion? Thank you.

Um the one thing that I haven't been able to find is anything on those trust. However, we have some leads. I'd like the opportunity to take a look and see if there's any restrictions because that keeps coming up. That's the first thing. The second thing is we're going to need a more definitive u a more definitive uh uh statement from the trust as to this structure. Okay. Because I understand that uh you know would be historic and that's what the ordinance says but you know as you've said to me Josh if it creates a hazard for the public

then all bets are off. So, I do think we need something more definitive from the trust than we already have. Those two things I'd like to take a look at. Uh, and I also recommend that you have Beyond proceed with some alternatives for whatever it is. Yeah. But I think that's the way you have to go forward tonight. I don't think anybody here is against that. What what you're No, I'd like the first one with the the We're not against that. The cement and then the grass. So, why don't I go out for RFP for engineering design? Get a sense of what that would cost us. Yes, that's the first step.

Then, you know, we'll coordinate timeline and in the meantime, I'll start looking at funding since we know that the structure has to stay in place until the fall is my understanding regardless of what we decide tonight. Who said that? Because you have summer camp coming up. You can't can't have big heavy machinery stuff. We have in writing from the trust a liability issue that's stated it needs to be either as John mentioned put a a fence around it or made safe removed repaired or in John's wisdom and he's correct putting a fence around it.

Can I ask a question about what he just said about the trust? How was the trust notified about that issue there? Was did somebody put in a complaint? Was there a formal complaint put in? We always do this. I, you know, I got to tell you, um, you know, one of the things that you have to do under the trust policy is to let the trust know what they're insuring and what the condition is. So, that was in the ordinary court. Okay. I'd like to have a more definitive uh um statement from them so that there's no question about this because that may um that may be dispositive on what you do here. So, we'll do that.

I'd like a motion on those three things so we can go forward on it. I can answer Lewis's uh Mr. Rego's question. It was brought to our attention in writing and in this chamber by Miss Corey uh what's callfeld when calls when we were having a discussion of a different matter she brought this specifically she's a neighbor and she's an architect that's the original onwriting com in in writing complaint uh Miss Weed has her hand up I want I want to follow up from what the solicitor just said, please. And in your correspondence with the trust, could you also find out what they would consider adequate safety measures,

correct? If we don't rip it apart, we'll get the we'll get the full analysis, but it's, you know, that's the liability, as I said, that that is going to be dispositive on on demolition anyway. Now, that's risky, but I think that's something that we need to do. And we'll check on the Martin Trust, too, Miss U had her hand up. Yes. Um I just thought it would be helpful for uh Mr. Disto to know that the um Martin Trust owns the Women's Resource Center. So you might be able to find documentation through them or you know they'd know when the trust was set up or whatever.

Thank you very much. I appreciate that. there's a board of directors for the Joseph Martin trust because in his decree his uh trusts there were several were to help and secure the poor and to what my knowledge there's been nothing ever stated about that donation of the bleachers. Uh so there's uh how many motions do we said three I know two of them. One of them is to direct the to to go out to for RFPs for the reconstruction. The second one was to have Let's do the first one. I make a motion that we instruct the planner

engineering divine go out for RFPs for Well, that would be an RFP. Well, do the RFP first. Let's find out. An RFP for the engineering design of I'm hoping for the landscape. The the one I liked was the first one. Yeah. With the Yeah. space for the grass. Fine. And drainage included. Yeah, it's got the drainage. Looks great. That's what they would have. Okay. So, that would be my first motion. Uh, okay. Is there a second? Second. All in favor? I I.

Second motion would be that the solicitor be in contact with the trust uh to find out what was that legal term? The liability. What I'd like to do in conjunction with town manager because we're dealing with towns insurers. Okay. So that would be to the both of us to get an analysis on not only liability but also uh the hazard hazards of the structure. Correct. So that would be my second motion that the town manager and the solicitor reach out to the trust to get the hazard liability information back to the council. Is there a second? Second. All in favor?

I. Anthony, you said three motions. What was the third one you were looking for research on the Joseph WR? We have the trustee and we've got some good leads here that should be delegated to the town manager and his assistant and town clerk follow. I'll make my third motion to uh delegate the town manager, the town clerk and their assistants to investigate the Martin Trust regarding the uh landscape feature down at Parisel Park. Second. All in favor? All right. Okay. Good work, everybody. Thank you, Bianca.

So, now we have the harbor master and he's requesting permission to overspend in dock maintenance account 01560420 for $4,500 to be offset by the assistant wages account. 01560 041030. This is right there. Is there a motion? I'll make a motion to uh transfer the fund. Is there $4,500? Is there? All in favor? Mike nice.