Town Council - Regular Meeting
Monday, February 23, 2026
About this meeting
- Government Body
- Town Council
- Meeting Type
- Town Council
- Location
- Portsmouth, RI
- Meeting Date
- February 23, 2026
Video will appear here as soon as Portsmouth Town Council posts it — usually within a day of the meeting
Monday, February 23, 2026
33 items on the agenda.
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Start free trialEXECUTIVE SESSION•Item 1
RIGL §42-46-5(a)(2) Sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation, or work sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation – Arruda v. Town of Portsmouth, NC-2025-0542
EXECUTIVE SESSION•Item 2
RIGL §42-46-5(a)(2) Sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation, or work sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation – Clarke v. Town of Portsmouth, NC-2025-0538
SITTING AS THE PORTSMOUTH TOWN COUNCIL•Item 1
Roll Call
CONSENT AGENDA•Item 1
Bills
- Payment Voucher #1326 on 2/5/26 in the amount of $137,298.48 as approved by the Finance Director - Payment Voucher #1333 on 2/12/26 in the amount of $280,829.03 as approved by the Finance Director
CONSENT AGENDA•Item 2
Committee Minutes
- Prudence Island Planning Commission 1/15/26 - Portsmouth Conservation Commission 11/20/25 - Portsmouth Board of Canvassers 1/20/26 - Portsmouth Board of Canvassers 2/13/26
CONSENT AGENDA•Item 3
Notice – Rhode Island Dept. of Environmental Management
DEM Freshwater Wetlands Program has under consideration the application (No. 7115) of Aquidneck Country Club, Inc., of 125 Corys Lane, Portsmouth, RI requesting permission to alter freshwater wetlands in the Town of Portsmouth. Notice period ends March 23, 2026.
MINUTES
2/9/26 & Exec.
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT•Item 1
Budget update
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT•Item 2
Cities 4 Cities Initiative
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT•Item 3
March 6th Founders Day-Portsmouth Compact Ceremony
TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT•Item 4
Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns Annual Convention
RESIGNATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS•Item 1
Conservation Commission (Re-Appt.) – J. Reise
RESIGNATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS•Item 2
Planning Board (1 vacancy, 3 applicants – Maleck, Rego, Nott)
RESIGNATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS•Item 3
Solid Waste Recycling Committee (1 vacancy, 1 applicant)
OLD BUSINESS (Discussion/Action)•Item 1
Request approval of legislative priority resolutions. / D. Gleason (15)
a. Rhode Works Restore b. Public Boating Access Infrastructure
OLD BUSINESS (Discussion/Action)•Item 2
Discussion and adoption of the proposed policy establishing a consistent process for appointments and reappointments to decision-making boards: Planning Board, Zoning Board of Review, and Design Review Board. / L. Hitchen (10) (fr. 2/9/26)
OLD BUSINESS (Discussion/Action)•Item 3
Monthly Finance Report. / K. Marsden (5)
NEW BUSINESS (Discussion/Action)•Item 1
Request to renew Potter League Contract. / B. Peters (10)
NEW BUSINESS (Discussion/Action)•Item 2
Request approval of the Bike & Pedestrian Advisory Committee bylaws. / H. Turner, Chair
NEW BUSINESS (Discussion/Action)•Item 3
Request permission to sample stocked trout deployed in Upper Melville Pond over an 8 week period to quantify the rate of accumulation of PFAS. / Z. Shepard, Principal Environmental Health Risk Assessment Toxicologist, Rhode Island Department of Health
NEW BUSINESS (Discussion/Action)•Item 4
Request to advertise for a public hearing for a sound variance to allow for live amplified music at Ragged Island Brewing Co, 54 Bristol Ferry Rd, through the summer. (OpenGov #9357 & 9358). / M. Gray (5)
NEW BUSINESS (Discussion/Action)•Item 5
Request approval of a resolution in support of Rhode Island House Bill H7224 (2026 – An Act Relating to Towns and Cities – Award Of Municipal Contracts). / R. Rainer (10)
NEW BUSINESS (Discussion/Action)•Item 6
Request support to declare any written and/or declarations from the past regarding any type of exclusivity by any/all Sports Groups to be null and void. / D. Gleason (10)
CORRESPONDENCE•Item 1
Monthly RIRRC Report. / Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corp.
CORRESPONDENCE•Item 2
Resolution related to low and moderate income housing. / Tiverton Town Council
CORRESPONDENCE•Item 3
Resolution in support of Senate Bill S2275 & House Bill H7447 relating to low- and moderate-income housing – comprehensive permits. / West Greenwich Town Council
CORRESPONDENCE•Item 4
Resolution in support of House Bill 2026-H7127, section 6, enactment of R.I. General Laws 42-17.1-47 transfer of management of Big River Reservoir Lands to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management for use as open space. / West Greenwich Town Council
CORRESPONDENCE•Item 5
EFSB Docket No. SB-2021-04 Notice of LNG facility at Old Mill Lane provided additional natural gas supply to Aquidneck Island’s natural gas distribution system on Feb. 8 & 9, 2026. / The Narragansett Electric Company d/b/a Rhode Island Energy
CORRESPONDENCE•Item 6
Resolution in opposition to Senate Bill 2026 – S 2389 and House Bill 2026 – H 7305 Relating to the Access to Public Records Act. / Burrillville Town Council
CORRESPONDENCE•Item 7
Resolution in support of Rhode Island House Bill 7356 and Senate Bill 2216 “School Employee Background Checks.” / Foster Town Council
FUTURE MEETINGS
Mar 9 7:00 PM – Town Council Meeting
FUTURE MEETINGS
Mar 16 7:00 PM – Town Council Meeting – Public Hearing Sign Ordinance
FUTURE MEETINGS