Town Council - Regular Meeting

Nosmfail Town Council meeting May 18th, 2026. Madame Clerk, can you sad us with a prayer and pledge, please? Thank you for bringing us together today in a spirit of generosity. May we honor one another by keeping an open mind. May we voice our truth and listen with an open heart. May we discern your will to unite in a fruitful outcome. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Roll call, please. Mr. Berun, here. Mr. Christopharo, here. Mrs. O'Hara, here. Mr. Punchack, here.

Miss Alves, here. Anybody like to sign up for open forum before we start? Anyone else? All right. Open forum pursuant to 42-46-6D. Maximum three minutes per person. Christopher Zen Zangarini.

Good evening, Madam President, members of the town council. My name is Christopher Zangari. Uh I'm here I represent HT Auto LLC. The reason I'm here tonight is there was an executive session item that I noticed uh on the website. I noticed how it was listed. It was listed as pending litigation and then it said in closed parentheses junkyard license. Um so I just I just wanted to clarify it would be my position in my opinion that any discussion of the license or the compliance with zoning in executive session would be improper. In other words, that should be something that should be in in the open so that my client and I could hear it, provide rebuttal if we had any or choose not to. Uh if it's about future litigation against my client, certainly that's proper, but compliance with zoning, fencing, and all the other issues we've talked about for months, uh those things, those are not appropriate for executive sessions. I just want to remind the council, I don't know if it was listed that way specifically to talk about the license or not, but if there is discussion about license and compliance, uh, and Mr. Cody were to provide testimony about whether or not there was compliance, I would submit to you that that is improper discussion for executive session. So, I just wanted to put that on the record, draw that to your attention. Uh, that's all I have.

Thank you. Thank you for your time. Hi, good evening. Um, Kevin Carrier, 118 Elizabeth Avenue. Um, I actually just have some questions for our town solicitor. Um, I just wanted to understand what incentives do we have as a town to incentivize business incentivize and encourage businesses to follow our ordinances and act ethically? Um, as in like if if I run a business, what incentive do I have to follow the ordinances of North Smithfield? Are there penalties if I do not follow the ordinances of North Smithfield?

Mr. My advice is to the council, but as a general rule, just to be courteous, everybody has to follow the law. If they don't follow the law, the administrative body will take action.

Okay, great. Um, and so say I'm running like a a painting company. I I don't run a painting company. It's not in my jurisdiction, but uh say I I'm I'm a painter. Uh and someone comes to me and says, "Hey, I live near this beautiful building and I wake up and I don't like how it looks. It really messes with my mornings. I would like to hire you, me, the painter, to paint the color of this town, of this building bright red." Um if I'm an ethical, right, I'd probably say like, "No, thank you. I don't want your business. Right? And if I'm maybe unethical, I might say yes. Right. And I imagine there might be consequences to me as a business for painting this building that is public property. Would that be a generally fair assessment?

I wouldn't comment on that, Mr. Solicer. Mr. Carrier. So, if you would like to ask us the questions and then we can have the solicitor get back to us and we can send it to you because normally we don't have the public. I'm sorry. I didn't realize that. Thank you. Okay. So I I guess I would be, you know, trying to think through how do we kind of ensure that um that would be enforced that, you know, someone couldn't come and just paint this building uh and public property overall. Um and so I would, you know, especially as we're worried about budget issues. I imagine there would be fines associated with companies that are behaving unethically and that could get us some money. That might be I'm having a hard time following you, Kevin.

How is this going? I'm just my my my last question would be to uh councelor O'Hara. What company do you use to uh cut down the tree in front of your property? Mr. Carrier, is that something that she has to answer? She doesn't. Okay. The open form you you mentioned a few council meetings ago that you hired a company.

Point of order. Open form is for you to make any comment you want, sir. And council has a right to respond, but it's not a it's not a question answer period. I mean, so my my my final question comment would be thinking about the uh concerns around companies doing things that maybe are not in the best interest of the town. Uh and Councilwoman O'Hara mentioned that a company uh came and chopped down public property. I was just wondering as a council woman would be able to assist the uh local government in trying to understand which company uh cut down public property without a permit. That that's just my last comment. I don't Okay,

don't. He's just trying to score points. He's trying to He plans on running for town council and he wants to get his name out there and this is how he's going about doing it. He's really nothing but a big baby. All right. You really are just a big baby. Yeah. See, you walk away every time. You're a baby. John, your whole group is too, by the way. Baby. John.

Okay, we all set. Discussion by council vote or other action on consent agenda. All items listed in this section are considered in one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a council request in which event the item will be removed from the consent agenda. A. Town council minutes of April 20th, 27th, and May 4th, 2026. Communications animal control monthly report. Nosmfield Fire and Rescue monthly report. Nosmfield Municipal Court monthly report. And Northfield Police Department monthly report for April 2026. Does anyone want to remove anything? Uh, just the minutes of April 20th for a very minor uh comment. Anyone else?

Okay. Did you want to um Yeah. So, I just don't um I think we should probably reconsider how old business North Smithfield Police Station renovation update um let's see one, two, third paragraph where it says review regarding elevator in disability concerns. I would prefer that says accessibility concerns and I think that's probably what the town administrator said. Anyone like to take anything else out? Anyone want to make a motion to approve as amended? I will make a motion to approve the consent agenda as amended.

That's a motion. Is there a second? Second. Any further discussion? Roll call, please. Mr. Bear, yes. Mr. Christopharo, yes. Mrs. O'Hara, yes. Mr. Punchek, yes. Miss Alves, yes. Nusfield Town Council sitting as a board of licensing. Discussion by council vote other action on boards cats and dogs license DBA Phoenix Rising Equestrian Center 260 Poundill Road. And this is uh the one from Mr. Gasparrow, right? So he's No, no, this is um Jason.

Jason Rutollo. Okay. All right. He was supposed to be here this evening. He's not here. Okay. Is everything in order? Yes. Clarifying question. Um so they're currently an equestrian center. Currently an equestrian center. Are they pursuing a new license for cat and dog boarding? Yeah, I was confused. I can't open anything on my laptop. Confused by that, too, because on this it says renewal, but some for some reason I thought it was

a new license or expansion of services. I did speak with the animal control officer and she she did say that everything um was was was in order with him. But um just give me a moment. But it also says it's a special event. So yeah, I don't know what I I was hoping someone would be here to answer questions. Can we hold off on approving until we have the applicant here to answer our questions? Definitely. Yes. Okay. Okay. All right. So, do you want to um table this to the next meeting? Yes. Someone like to make a motion

table to the next meeting just in case the person's going to come and Yeah. speak openly. So, I make a motion to continue. I will make a motion to continue the um licensing application for Phoenix Rising Equestrian. Is this them maybe walking in? Let's give him I will hold my thought. Maybe could be. Hi. Are you by chance? Um, Phoenix. Okay. Could you go up? We just have some questions, please. Just in time. 30. I Googled it. I'm like, "Oh, no."

So, we didn't finish the motion, right? There was no second. No, there was no time. Never finished. Yeah. No. And sir, what's your what's your first name? What's your full name? Jason Ratulos, 260 Pound Hill Road, North Midfield, Rhode Island, here for Phoenix Rising Equestrian Center LLC. And do you currently board dogs and cats or is this a new license? No, we bought horses now. And our plan was always to expand to dogs. Okay. So, this is a this is a new license. This isn't a renewal. It was more of it was under Phoenix Rising Horse Farm. And when we purchased it, it kind of got overlooked in the transition. Okay.

And then going into this, I realized it needs to be on the Phoenix Rising LLC because that's the actual owner of the property. So, why does why is it checked off special event? What is on the uh license? It says um board dogs and cats and special event. Is that No, don't know. Okay. So, it's really not a renewal. No, it sounds like it's a license. I applied for the new license to because Phoenix Rising Horse Farm was the old ownersh

and the tangible tax bill is still comes through through Phoenix Rising Horse Farm, but going for the licensing for the kennel license with the state, I realize that we need to up make it correct for the LLC. Okay. So then currently there's no dog boarding, cat boarding at Phoenix Rising on Poundill. You're looking to to essentially start boarding dogs and cats under the Equestrian Center LLC. Correct. Okay. Is that something that's allowable in town? Like I don't Yeah, I already I got the zoning letter for that. I already met with Leo on it. It is permitted under our uh REA zoning. Okay.

It went through the process. Okay. Zoning. And then another clarifying question, maybe this is more of a zoning question. Um, is is dog boarding is it it's a residential area, right? REA, that's REA. We're under the kennel. It's kennel and horse boarding. So this license is technically to okay correct both of them. Okay. One existing and

and we allow for dog boarding in residential areas in Northfield in REA. You do. Okay. All right. You just have to have more than five acres which we do. Okay. Anyone have any other questions? Anyone like to make a motion? Just looking at I didn't know where it was. That's right. It's I didn't know where it was. I was thinking wide roll this board. So then you Palm Hill, right? Follow all the way. Palm Hill. Yeah. I I kept thinking the one at the end. Yeah. Yeah. Nice place. Thank you.

You're welcome. It shows. I don't have it. I'll make the motion. Do you want I just don't have You don't have it? Madam President, just just um since you're before you pass on it, just maybe just for the record, just identify u the breath a number of animals that'll be there. And just so we we have an idea of what that's going to be. Certainly, it's allowed. I'm not saying it's not allowed, sir.

In the DEM application for the kennel license to be able to do the dogs legally, they ask a number. So, I put the number at 30 dogs, but we only plan on doing 20 max, but we're going to be doing 75% boarding for income. 25% we're going to try to find a rescue because we've rescued dogs our whole life for if they have overflow. So, on average, it'll be 15 to 20, but I'd like to apply for up to 30. We have 57 stalls. So, so now you're looking to also operate as a rescue. No,

not operate as a rescue. If a rescue has like overflow, like say a situation where somebody has 20 dogs and Leanne has the the town animal control needs a place, we can work with towns or rescues situation, okay, to bring them in for like foster, but kind of to help with rescues that don't have a place to keep horses. And we want to rescue dogs, but we're not the rescue. We're going to work with rescues where if they need a place to keep dogs if they have a emergency situation.

Madam President, I again I'm sorry to interrupt. I just sir um the council can't grant you more dogs than you're allowed. That would be you'd have to go to the zoning board. But the town doesn't regulate the number of dogs. Oh, I thought you said they did. No, DEM regulates it. That's why I have to go for the kennel permit. Okay. Through DEM. So the license is through DEM. This is just for the business license with the town. And you have the license situated with DEM. No, I need this to get that. But the application's in. Yes. You're ready to go? We're ready to go. As long as DEM goes a little faster.

So you just need this in order to go to DE, right? In other words, I had to get them the zoning application which I did with Leo to show that zoning and it's permitted. Then it goes to them. Then it comes back to you guys to come back to here to go back to them. Okay. And then we have our final inspection would be with the animal control and the uh state vet who comes out to inspect and approve that license. Then we're good to go. Okay. Good. I'll make a motion to approve the dog uh boarding license for Phoenix Rising located at 280 Pound Hill Road in North Smithfield. Second. 260. Sorry. Oh jeez. 260. I'm sorry.

We have a motion in a second. Any further discussion? Roll call, please. Mr. Berg, yes. Mr. Christopher, yes. Mrs. O'Hara, yes. Mr. Punchek, yes. Miss Alves, yes. Thank you. Thank you. And I'd like to introduce Aaron Peebo, who is Hi. my wife's partner in life and she's the one that keeps the place going. I'm the one that keeps the grass molded. Thank you. Everything working. And if you guys ever want to come by and check it out, feel free. Absolutely. Thank you. Anytime after 4. I go by there all the time. I might take you want to stop in. We're there. Just it's hectic till about 4 in the afternoon. Okay. It's nice to meet you guys. Thanks. Good luck. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

All right. Discussion by council vote to other action on payment of bills. Anyone have any questions? Surprisingly, no. That's a big one. Everyone all set? Council president?

Yep. I have one thing that's not on that list I'd like to have considered. We are planning on submitting a grant application to state of Rhode Island next week under the Rhode Island ready project. Um the problem is that we already have a Rhode Island ready and it's for the 146 project design. Um, that project is effectively completed. I just got to send me an invoice for the balance. It's like $700. Um once I give them cut them a check, we can copy the check and we can send this to Rhode Island Commerce to confirm the project is complete and therefore we are still eligible to apply for grant money.

Again, this is for that for the 146

770 So, I just like to get the authorization to pay this invoice. I can't wait till the next meeting of the deadline. So, now what is this coming? What come out of the grant account? Okay. And what we paid for this out of the grant account and then we submit a reimbursement request on Congress. That's how that program works. So it's okay. So we'll just add 770 to whatever the payment of bills is. Is that what we're saying?

Okay. Um question regarding actually if you was it par corporation line items development of asset management. We have a $1,300 payment $1,300 and change. And then we have another line item for PAR corporation development of asset management 1326. What is that? What is that in the asset management commission working on that asset management program? Okay. A separate project, same invoice, two separate items. Okay.

Thank you. Does anyone have any other questions? Anyone like to make a motion? I will make a motion to approve the payment of bills for May 18th, 2026 in the amount of 3,159,55110 plus the uh addition of the par corporation invoice 13 in the amount of $770.

That's a motion. Is there a second? Second. Any further discussion? Roll call, please. Mr. Berod, yes. Mr. Christopharo, yes. Mrs. O'Hara, yes. Mr. Punchek, yes. Miss Alves, yes. Old business discussion may council go to other action on status/progress report items. One, no police station renovation update.

In your package is a memorandum of mine along with documentation. Um, in the memo these minerals on basis on project. Um I'm I apologize. Um in April on April 22nd I submitted a um this memo which showed uh total project cost of 10,791 35634 that included the 9,39,52681 GMP. Um, as I noted on that the um that excluded two pending change orders, one with the OPM and the architect. Um, also if you go down to the table below that, you'll see under April 22nd the soft cost of $79953 which plugs into the top table. The May 18th table um effectively is the same with the exception of the two change orders from the OPM and the architect. The OPM's change order, again this was present or discussed at the last council meeting. The OPM change order is for 197,82175 and the uh architects is 56,170. Uh in your package are the exact change orders as well as a um an explanation from the OPM on the calculations of the change order. Um question was asked at the last council meeting. The basis for the change orders

as it relates to the architect. The basis was project size scope has changed since when they originally engaged. It was effectively a $6 million project. Now it's as we know more because we added included all the adults on this thing. So that's their increase in fee which is very customary. Um, as relates to the OPM services, this project was supposed to be completed by October of um, this year. We know that's not going to happen. Um, so the additional fees are to pay for the completion of construction, which includes both ongoing OPM services, including an additional clerk of the works. So with those in uh in addition the uh total uh soft costs have been increased 1,ion53,87628 and the total construction costs have increased to 11,46,73. And if you go further down, as I've done in the past, um I also outlined what are the available funds on April 22nd as well as the available funds on May 18th. Those numbers have not changed. Um as I also explained, we have a federal earmark uh that is pending. Um we will not know about that earmark until probably November of this year. Um if we get the earmark then the um then we will have $9,512,887 which is net of what's available. So it's $512,000 over the $9 million bond. If we get the earmark, then it goes down to $8,838,66,

which is fairly consistent what I said in the last, um, presentation. The other thing I wanted to point out too, um, and if you go back up to the top, I have a adult add on that top um, table of a backup generator for $150,000. Um, if we get the federal appropriation, then that federal appropriation will pay for um the costs associated with the inst the construction of a storage facility in the back of the police station as well as the security cameras and other equipment, not the wiring. the $150,000 that's left over from that federal grant will be going to the back backup generator. So, we'd have to add that cost into the project, but it's being paid for out of the grant. So, that's where we are on the project right now. No changes with the exception of the change orders from the OPM as well as the um the architect. We have executed a amended um guaranteed maximum price. It had no price impact. The only reason why we did that is because at the last council meeting uh Councilman Punchac had raised the question about snow removal in the layown yard in the back and they amended it to include that as a service they're offering. They're going to maintain that uh but it it's at no cost. So the GMP has not changed. So what I have before you today is a request for approval of both the OPM and

the um architects change orders. Uh once that's completed, uh all other aspects of the project are in place, including the asbesus remediation plan has been approved. We have a 10-day waiting period for that. Um, so we should be on schedule to start construction in uh first week of June. In fact, they're talking about June 8th, which is my birthday. Not that you guys care. We're going to have a cake cutting ceremony. Um, usually on my birthday, I disappear. I'm not to be found.

Smart man. And my wife yells that at me for every year. Not again. This is all editorial stuff. Just throw threw it in for color.

So is this all to the update or is this is all the I only asked Enga to be here in the event that anybody has a question for him. Okay. But she she has no presentation. Okay.

I just had two questions on the ECC change order. The first one is so the original request dated April 22nd is pretty specific about um substantial completion services up to substantial completion of June 4th 2027 based on Parasalt's construction schedule. in the April 24th letter um it indicates that services for the extended period from November 2026 through June 2027. So did you get them to agree to work through June 27 20 all of June 2027 or because it would al also talked about TNM services after June 4th 2027

yeah please we can we can work through June the end of June. Okay. And then one other question. Um, in the original April 22nd uh letter, the last table or the table indicates third party consultants not included. I asked I know when you were originally interviewed there was a third party for clerk of the work services. I just want to make sure that we're not going to get hit with a you know clerk of the work third party um

um clerk of the works is included in this proposal. Okay. What's not included is third party uh testing. So uh inspection services. So there was another piece to it when in our regional interview proposal there was the clerk which I believe if I'm not mistaken was actually part uh the clerk was part of our original price but now everything shifted but and that but that was per was to be performed by a third party now we're doing it in house.

Okay. And then um there was another piece of it that was inspection services like a third party inspection or commissioning and that is not included. That's always was outlined as a separate service if needed. Please note in your soft cost outline in your package.

We have money budgeted for third party testing, third party license inspector commissioning. That's all included in our soft cost. So should we be getting some sort of amendment that it's going to go through June 30th of 27 or

so the proposal we provided I can revise instead that it says through June 30th so that it doesn't say June 4th and we can resend that for signatures but the actual document is the amendment so we can just revise that as

do we anticipate any future change orders or increases So if so the way we're explaining it is that of course if the change there is a change in schedule that's not driven by us or by um like a delay that's caused with an issue the future like anything over June 30th will be on TNM. However, at this point in the project because we know that when we're starting we know when the construction is ongoing. We have the team, the funding is available. Um I don't anticipate unless there is something drastic that completely makes the construction to stop some unforeseen condition. Um we anticipate the completion as scheduled or at least thereabout. I can't I can't predict what will happen but our staffing and our schedule is basically and the the reason for this change is because of the schedule shift that happened due to need to appropriate funds and decide on those alternative items.

Okay. As I understand it, and correct me if I'm wrong, primarily if it's a ownerdriven change that requires prolonging the project, then we would have to pay for that. Um, if there was a catastrophic issue all of a sudden, a fire

or something, we do have insurance, you know, we'd have to pay for that. But this is a pretty discreet project in terms of start to finish. Okay, so we went from 10 10,791 in change with these two change orders. We'll now be at 11,46,000. And so essentially uh we would subtract the total capital sources with airmark. So roughly 2.3. So that still puts us around 9 something. I did the calculation for you in the memorandum. Oh, some when you don't want to include it in the table sometimes. I I I don't pay attention.

I'll try to pay attention to that. Thank you. Okay. So, we're now at Depends if you get the federal grant or not. Right. Right. One's at 9.5. If we don't get it, what the other one's around 9 uh 8.8 8.9 if we do get the grant. Okay. So would this have changed the a couple last week couple weeks ago the GMP would that have changed? The GMP did not change. Okay. GMP is construction cost hard cost. This is the softers. So the GMP has been amended to allow for the plowing, but the cost of the GMP has not changed. Okay. Okay. Well, I mean it is what it is.

It is what it is. You know what? I I I've just got to say one thing though. It the bottom line is still the bottom line. Like you can say it's it's it's hard cost, it's soft cost, it's just that. No, but bottom it still comes out of the same pocket, right? You know what I mean? So the price technically still is creeping up.

It is, but this was this was previously presented to the council. We just hadn't had the chance to review it yet. So that's why we didn't present at that point for approval. And that's when Eningga prepared the explanation memorandum with this which I had requested that she do just so that you had more context on it. But the overall project cost with the exception of those you know soft costs regarding architect and OPM right now is where we said we were going to be. However, we haven't started construction yet. Right. So now this adult, this backup gener generator,

do we have any quotes on this or is this just a number we pulled out? It's experience rated. We we've contacted several people who've um got generators. The biggest problem generators right now is even getting them. The delay on them is huge. But, uh, I talked with several sources and, uh, they basically said for the size of this building, for a full building, uh, generator, the $150,000 would be an appropriate number. Again, we have a backup generator now. It's just getting long in the tooth.

So, but this is something that we could obviously put on the mind of the um, grant writer, too, right? Because the fire station got a grant for theirs. So, yeah. It's it's on the grant application before Congress right now. Okay. Um but if we didn't get that, clearly we can pivot. We don't have to build that generator, put that generator in now. Yeah. We're doing all the infrastructure to support it, but we could wait and do it later. I mean, it's not in our it's not in our budget right now for for installation. Okay. Okay. So, you need a vote on this? I need a vote on the two change orders.

Okay. Anyone like to make a motion regarding um the project uh change orders on the police station? So, it's just a matter of approving both the both change OPM and ECC. Well, Signal works and ECC change orders. Okay. I will make a motion to approve the change orders. Um, one change order for Signal Works in the amount of 56,170,000 and ECC Corporation in the amount of $197,821.75.

Second. That's a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Roll call, please. Mr. Bergon, yes. Mr. Christopharo, yes. Mrs. O'Hara, yes. Mr. Punchek, yes. Miss Alves,

yes. Now, I have one other request. Um, the part of the source of funding for this project is a a grant from the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources. It's for $129,000. That money source is from the federal government. I believe that was um APA money and the state has to pay that APA money out this year. So, the state has come back to us and said, "You need to to basically invoice us for the $129,000 of eligible costs that we are funding you." So, in working through this, there's been a lot of conversations between us and the Office of Energy Resources. Um, I need authorization to one approve a requisition in the amount of $129,000, which is part of the project cost. Now, it's already there. We're frontloading it and then we can cut a check and give that to the state and therefore prove that. And they they've agreed they would accept this. Then they would be eligible for receiving our grant for $129,000. That has to be completed by May 30th of this month or obviously this month May 30th or else we lose the money. So all they're doing is they're taking a cost. I believe this is mechanical systems cost that they're going to incur not first in the project but later on in the project. They've worked with their supplier. We've got an invoice. They're going to give us a requisition like they're going to give us all the time to approve before $129,000 at which time then once we have that in hand and then cut the check then we meet the requirements of our uh funding source. That is if you want the $129,000.

So, is it the $128,980? Is that the price? Yes, that's what it says for OEER grant. It's 129. I don't know. I haven't seen it in the Is that on my uh then I probably made a mistake. So, it's 129 even. 129. Yeah.

Okay. So, it's part of the GMP and it's basically basically it's the first invoice from uh from the GMP from the contractor for pre- purchasing equipment that complies with that grant. So, it is for material purchase only and it's for a long lead item anyways. So, it's not so we would need it soon regardless we would have to order it. It's just that for us to meet the deadline on the 31st,

we need to I'm waiting for them. So, we just signed the GMP. Now, they're put Parasol is putting it in their system. They should give us an invoice with all the backup we need within a few days. And I was hoping if uh there is an authorization to just do the check like do the payment right away because we need proof of payment. Um and that's part of their requirements and they're literally giving us every day they're asking are you going to submit? Are you going to submit? So, we're really hoping to do that. Um, if we don't if we don't submit on time, the state has to take that money and turn it back to the feds. Okay. So, you just need us to approve $129,000 upfront and then we would theoretically be reimbursed through the grant. Yes.

Okay. Yes. Well, it the OER grant is shown already as a source of funds. The cost are in the GMP, right? So yes, we're basically asking approval for us to execute a requisition so that we can then cut a check. Okay. And meet that requirement from our funding source. And then you get the grant and technically just Okay. Sometimes we just have to say it plainly. So it's just like in out transition transition. Are we having a communication problem?

My brain I have an infant at home. Um, I talked to a toddler all day, so we have to say things very slowly and plainly. Um, okay. So, I'll make a motion to approve payment for $129,000. Um, which would in turn be reimbursed through the OEER grant. Second. So, we have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Roll call. Mr. Beerod. Yes. Mr. Christopharo? Yes. Mrs. O'Hara? Yes. Mr. Punchek? Yes. Miss Als? Yes.

The only thing and we don't I'm not asking for a decision. I I think there needs to be a conversation with council going forward as to how we process a lot of this stuff. Um there may be emergency things in the field for you know a th00and two $3,000. You know, there should be some ability to um approve those kinds of requests through the four people who are currently overseeing the project, which the council president, David Bunjac, myself, and the chief as opposed to coming back to the council each time because there's a long lead time delay. We're still coming back once a month for the full package of approvals of payments. But there may be things that have to be done that are smaller, but emergency that can't wait 30 days. But we we don't need to do that right now. I'm saying we'll come back with a more formal approach for you to consider.

Yeah. And let's put that on the agenda. Yeah. Okay. That's it. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, thank you, All right. New business discussion by council vote to other action on appointments to town boards commissions. One appointment to historic district commission for a three-year term from 1212023 to 11206. Anyone have any nominations?

No. I'll uh I'll nom nominate I who Mr. David Lar Roach um submitted a application in the packet and I went through it. It looks pretty squared away. So I'll nominate David Lar Roach to the U historic district commission. Second. That's a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Roll call, please. Mr. Beerod? Yes. Mr. Christopher? Yes. Mr. O'Hara? Yes. Mr. Punchek? Yes. Miss Alves? Yes. Appointment to the planning board for a 5-year term from 121 2023 to 11:30 2028.

Yeah, he's just not here tonight, but in case Anyone like to make a motion? I'll make a motion to nominate Philip Gasparo to the planning board for the term of December 1st, 2023 through November 30th, 2028. Second. That's a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Is this an alternate? I think it's it's probably alternate. Yeah. Okay. It is not two. It's what? It's Oh, is it Dr. Robert's position. It's a full position. It's not the alternate. Wait, is no alternates currently that are waiting to get kicked up? There's one alternate.

So, don't we usually offer the alternate the position? Yeah, we do. Yeah, that's usually that's usually it's not rule, but it's seems to be what the council does is normally move the alternate up. So, can we continue this one and and consult with this person see if they or next the ask the alternate if they want to be the Okay, sure. Send my second. Okay. You want to resend? I'll resend my motion. So, anyone want to make a motion to continue this to the next meeting? I'll make a motion to continue the appointment to the planning board for five-year term to the next meeting of June 1st, 2026. Second.

We have a motion to second. Any further discussion? Roll call, please. Mr. Burg, yes. Mr. Christopharo, yes. Mrs. O'Hara, yes. Mr. Punchek, yes. Miss House, yes. Resignation from the personnel board. So, we we have a resignation. Um, can we just do like we normally do and send a thank you? All right. Thank you. Discussion by council voter. Other action on Rhode Island new energy new poll. Mr. Pentagast.

Good evening. Ray Pentagast, director of public works. Uh the first one is um a request from Rhode Island Energy for a new pole on Old Great Road, which will be at the intersection with Connector. And with your approval, I can pass this along to the clerk. And this is just your standard request that you always have, right? Whenever Yes. Okay. Is it for a new house or don't know? Actually, there's there's a note that says uh it's going to be for uh a current service at 104 Great Road. So, I don't know if it's an upgrade or something.

Anyone have any other questions? I'll make a motion to approve Rhode Island Energy Verizon's request to install one pole and conductor on Old Great Road for the customer at 104 Great Road. Second. We have a motion to second. Any further discussion? Roll call, please. Mr. Beer gun? Yes. Mr. Christopharo? Yes. Mrs. O'Hara? Yes. Mr. Punchek? Yes. Miss Al? Yes. Discussion by council vote other action on upgrading underground utility work. Mr. Mr. Pendigos,

same type of uh situation, but this uh request came from Denella line services working for Verizon and they will be upgrading the Verizon fiber upgrades underground uh utilities on Jennifer Lane, Chelsea Drive, Tony Circle, and Tom Lee Tomley Drive. Um, the way this was double-sided was very confusing for me. But one thing I was curious about is do you make them It looked like they're going to be crossing that those roads. Um, and obviously they have to patch the road. Do you make them take a bond? You make them post a bond? No, but we've never had a problem with they they they have to go curb to curve at state.

We've never had a problem until you have a problem. Yep. I don't foresee that being a problem right now. I'm actually getting about five or six roads paved very shortly where they've done gas work.

Do they pay for a detail? Like if if they're going to be working in the road, does would Verizon or whatever company this is pay for the detail? Yeah, they pay for it. Okay. Okay.

Do you have any other questions? Uh, no. Anyone else have any other questions? No. Anyone like to make a motion? I'll make a motion to approve the request by Danella to uh install Verizon fiber upgrades on is it Tony Circle? Jennifer Jennifer Lane and Tom Chelsea Drive. Tom Link. Yes. Four Street Drive. Four Street. Second. We have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? Roll call, please. Mr. Barry. Yes, Mr. Christopharo. Yes, Mrs. O'Hara. Yes, Mr. Punch. Yes, Miss House.

Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Executive session close session discussion may council vote. Other action pursuant to Rhode Island general Laws 42-46-5A2 sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation or work sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation or potential litigation. One DV vers DV LLC Lowe's versus Jennifer St. George in her capacity as tax assessor town of Osma. Case PC206-02379 and two HT Auto LLC doing business as Leo's auto part junkyard license.

Anyone want to make a motion to go into executive session? I'll make a motion to go into executive session. Second. And we have a second. We have a motion to second. Any further discussion? Roll call, please. Mr. Beerod, yes. Mr. Christopharo, yes. Mrs. O'Hara, Mr. Punch, yes. Miss Al, yes.

Can I see your Okay. I will make a motion to exit executive session and note that one vote was taken in regards to HT Auto LLC. No. Yes. HT Auto LLC DBA Leo's Auto Parts Junkyard License. Um, and then we'll make a motion. Seal the minutes. And seal the minutes. Second that. Okay, we have we have a motion, a second. Any further discussion? Roll call, please. Mr. Burggon. Yes. Mr. Christopharo? Yes. Mrs. O'Hara? Yes. Mr. Punch? Yes. Miss?

Yes. I can do the next one. Um, I will make a motion to authorize our I think I would just say what it is. Oh, the open session. Yeah. Oh, sorry. Open session discussion by council vote. Other action 1 DV LLC Lowe's versus Jennifer St. George in her capacity as tax assessor town of Nerfield, Rhode Island, case number PC 2026-02379. Authorize and assign council to represent and defend the town in this matter. And then I will make a motion to authorize our town solicitor to hire legal counsel at the municipal rate of $150. That's a motion. Second. And a second. Any further discussion? Roll call, please.

Mr. Berg, yes. Mr. Christopharo, yes. Mrs. O'Hara, yes. Mr. Punchek, yes. Miss, yes. And just to put on the record that there is no one present for open forum. So the next one will be a motion to adjourn. So move. All in favor say I. I. I. Meeting adjourned.