Town Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening everyone. Welcome to the February 26 council meeting. And could I ask Adriana Leah to please come forward? She's going to lead us in the pledge of allegiance. And then when you're up here, stay here. How's that? 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. Stay right there.

How are you? I'm going to re rearrange this for you. Good evening everyone. Tonight we have a very special night because we are honoring an Eagle Scout

and to the best of my ability it's the first female Eagle Scout that I know of u achieving this um very illustrious position in the town of Wararm. And let me read off this citation for you as we publicly recognize your efforts. You're in a group of about 3% of scouts and you'll always be judged as an eagle. So, keep your uh chin up. All right. Town of Warren recognizes Adriana B. Leah, Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America, Troop 5. 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. And whereas to fulfill the Eagle Scout requirement, Warren resident Adriana B. Leah Hane embarked on and completed a unique project, namely constructing turtle enclosures for the Autobon Nature Center and Aquarium in Bristol. And whereas having completed the requirements for and having been examined by an Eagle Court Board of Review, Adriana Lean Lan has been found an exceptional individual and worthy of the rank of Eagle Scout. She's the first scout of Scout Troop 5 of Bristol Warren to have achieved the Eagle Scout honor since the troop was founded in November 2019. And therefore, let it be known that the Warren Town Council and the citizens of the town of Warren recognize Adriana Laine's hard work, dedication, and commitment to and hereby commemorate her

outstanding achievement. Approved by the town council on February 10th, 2026. Carrie Cronin, Vice President John Hanley, Derek Tromley, and Lewis Rego, and myself, Joseph D. Basali. And we congratulate you. If the scout master would like to come up, um, say a few words. Parents, if you'd like to stay for a photograph, feel free. Um, it's your minute. Have it.

Hi. Thank you. Um, we're very proud of Adriana. She's, like you said, with the first girl Eagle Scout in the town of Bristol, Warren. Um, we're very proud of her and I don't know. I wasn't prepared to say anything. So, we're very proud of her. Thank you for inviting us. Thank you. Want to take a picture? I got this once. You want to get in there? I'll get out of it. Thank you. Okay, now we'll be going back.

There you have it. No, we'll do it now. Yeah. Okay, now we have a public comment period. It's an opportunity for anyone of the public to come forward, speak on an issue that isn't on the agenda, and no action can be taken, but we do have a Dennis Taylor signed up. Is Dennis, can you open that for me, please? Hi, Dennis. Good evening. Good evening.

Good evening. Uh, first of all, I'd like to thank uh the town councils for your service and thank you for uh letting me have my say mine.

The microphone is on. I'm just too far away. Uh 147 Vernon. So, uh the topic that I I wrote down was uh ordinance completion. And um there's some ordinances. Well, if you have an ordinance, then you certainly there's a reason to have an ordinance. Um whether it's public safety or or whatever it is. And so if the ordinance isn't followed through all the way through, uh citation enforcement and completion, then uh it's you're pretty much wasting your time. One example I was going to give is uh the speed limit on 114 downtown in Warren. You don't want people going 80 miles an hour. Why? Public safety. You don't want people crossing the street getting hit. So, you have to have it enforced. So, you have to have a person to enforce it. That's the warrant police department. If they're going 80 miles an hour coming by tourister, you don't want to enforce it when they hit the Ottabon. They've already killed three people. So, you have to have it enforced at the right appropriate time. Um, and there are a lot of ways to do that, whether it's cameras or patrol officers or whatever. So, the ordinance that recently came to mind and got me thinking about this is snow removal. So, uh, there's an ordinance and, um, I wasn't sure what it was and my neighbor asked me, "Well, we were both out shoveling our sidewalks. Why do we do it? Um because our mailboxes are on the other side of the street. And I said, 'Well, I do it for my neighbors because there's a guy walking his dog every day. I think he lives on Beach Street. He walks all the way to Metaccom and back.

There's two ladies at 4:00 that go for their afternoon walk. Um there's uh regular I I can name a dozen people that regularly go up and down Vernon Street every day. Um, there's a bus stop at 114 and I've watched kids with Burger King uniforms walk by my house going to work. Um, so that's why I told him that's why we shoveled the sidewalk. Uh, so I was curious like who's supposed to be doing the citations? who's supposed to be walking around to every place in warrant and saying, "Well, they're shoveled and that's not so clearly that address needs to be shoveled. So, we need to do something about it." There's a mechanism. There's a citation. It's within six hours of the end of the event um that it needs to be addressed. If it's not, I think it's a up to a $500 fine, which is great, but that doesn't solve the issue because the Why is it that you want the sidewalks to be shoveled so you can raise money? I don't think that's the issue. I think you want it for public safety, right?

So, do you wait until March? Is that the appropriate amount of time? I don't think it is. I think that it should be addressed within a shorter amount of time. Three days, a week. The building official sends out letters of violation and then if there is no response, we can pay to have it cleaned and then put a lean on the property. What's the amount of time? Um, Mr. Cabraw, roughly speaking, within a week. No, I think I think he means in responding to the No.

So, for example, if I'm if I have a sidewalk in front of my house and I decide I don't want to get it shoveled, I won't do it. You cite me. I pay $100. I won't do it. You site me again. I pay $100. We play this game all day long. It doesn't get shoveled. the intent of the ordinance is never fulfilled. So at what point in time, whether I don't want to or I can't or whatever the reason, does that piece of sidewalk get shoveled? Like I said, we we could shovel it and then put a lean on your property. Joe, can I I please

we deal I'm the building official in the city of Pucket and we deal with this all the time. we have tons and tons of violations and the inspectors that go out actually work for me. What I and it's a man and my answer to you is it's a manpower issue to be able to do all of that. So in the city of Pucket, I tell all my inspectors to concentrate on a the main roads and the paths to schools first. we would not be physically be able to go out and site every single property that wasn't shoveled and that would not be able to do the same thing because there's just not enough manpower for that. So in Pucket we concentrate our greatest effort to the areas where are the most critical. In other words, you would saying speeding around the corner at American Tourista. Okay, still bad on Metacom Avenue, but it's not as bad as speeding around that bend at American Tourista. So that's where we would f you would think the chief would focus his effort where the most damage could be done. Not saying what's right or wrong. I'm just explaining to you that it's a manpower issue to be able to site and enforce all of these every single property. So I don't know how Matt handles it here, but in Pucket we handle it on the main roads and the paths to schools because that's the most critical. So that's where we put our manpower. Even in Pucket, we don't have the manpower to go out and just blow through neighborhoods and do it. So, we have to focus where we're going to get the most bang for our buck, for lack of a better term.

I understand that. Is there anything written in the ordinance or is there some kind of informal understanding or formal understanding on the time frame that that gets addressed? Well, we don't have this in front of us. We can get this information back to you. That's what I'm bringing up is as part of the ordinance. Um, it seems to me like there should be more followth through on when, how, if there's a intent behind whatever the ordinance is, whether it's speed or snow or mooring balls or whatever whatever the ordinance is. It seems like there should be a more complete uh uh plan of action. And

like I said, I haven't looked at it. It may very well be. I unless you've looked at it and you don't feel there is a uh follow through. I haven't got I've I've asked a few people um and I've heard maybe it's this or it should be this or but I haven't heard a definitive anything. I believe it's spelled out in the ordinance and we can get that to you and we can uh I mean it's a it's a hot topic right now,

right? I understand. Um but mainly the ordinance is there to keep uh honest people doing their part and when it does come down to a violation uh Mr. Cabral did we how many 50 violation letters went out. So we we we're not trying to in any way penalize people. We're trying to actually have a reminder aspect of it takes everybody to get this job done. Um, and uh, that's how we do it.

I don't want to see the gentleman that walks his dog, the two ladies that go for their walk, the employees at Burger King, uh, my neighbors who go running. I don't want to see them get hit and um, that's why I'm here. Appreciate it, Mr. President. I may trolley,

I just wanted to add um, we're going to look into this. Thank you for bringing it to our attention. And um I also wanted to thank you for doing your part and then extra to help uh the community. I saw a lot of people in the community after the snowstorm helping shovel out neighbors, friends, family, um you know, every uh it really um is is great that we have so many people willing to help each other to to do that, especially when with a heavy storm like that. So, thank you very much for your efforts. Is your question when is the snow weird.

No. In this for snow removal specifically, my question is at what point is does plan B kick in to have somebody get the snow removed on the sidewalk by the fourth day or by because there's eventually the snow will disappear.

So that property of After the snow falls, the removal should take place in the next 6 hours daily after the expiration of 6 hours daily. That's section 18- citation happen. And then uh the uh ordinance goes on to state that uh the uh monetary penalty approves for each day after the expiration of the six hours for as long as the snow remains on the sidewalk. That's what the ordinance says. My question is if I want to be obstinate and say I won't shovel mine, but I just won the lottery, so I'll pay town of Warren until March. When does the snow get removed and how

Okay, because that's that's the intent of the ordinance, I believe. But I can tell you that if it remains to prove the next step is to have the matter referred to the municipal court and have it adjudicated on that basis. But if there's a uh this isn't a situation uh in this ordinance where uh uh you know the person can be arrested or anything like that at some point somebody's going to have to do it for nature with snow melt in March would be March would be April. So I can't answer that right

but I can tell you what the ordinance says. So if it remains and the snow remains on that sidewalk and it's not cleaned up, uh the penalties are on a daily basis. That's all I can and we care we can clean it and put a lean on the property owner owner. So I hope that helps you.

It's uh my intent was to um just request that when ordinances are written and thought out, the why should be in there. and a plan B. How do we get this resolved? And if that's me calling you up and having you go shovel, then that's a plan B. That's something.

Not and for me, it's better than saying, "Well, we can find people. We can put a lean on after we do it." But it doesn't say it's it could be three weeks of not being able to use a sidewalk and somebody will get hurt. Thank you for bringing this to our attention.

Can I We're not supposed to go back and forth, but everyone spoke. So I just I think it's a horrible audience. I really do. Uh first of all, people say, "Well, hire someone. Try to find someone to to hire." And the condition is no. Sometimes very difficult. So you don't want somebody to have a heart attack. So I I think that the town should look into ways how we can better serve the community by possibly plowing what needs to be plowed only on the main roads. So, I will look into it and I'd be happy to have that conversation. Absolutely. Thank you.

You're welcome. Uh, is there any agenda item that anyone on the council would like to move uh out of order and move ahead? Okay. Next, we'll have appointments. This is the board of canvases. It's a six-year term. There's one full-time member and two alternates available. And the Democratic Party has put forward Nancy Fritz from Five Sunset Court. We make a motion to uh reappoint Nancy Fritz to her position as alternate representing the Democratic Party. Is there a second? I'll second that.

All in favor? I. The Republican party has put forward Byron Key, Nancy Martell, Mary Ellen Key, Ed Martell, and Corey Mattton. Make a motion to appoint Byron Key. Reappoint. Well, we can do all of them at at once. And Nancy Martell. I'll second that. Um, so your motion is to approve everyone. Yeah. To re Yeah, basically reappoint correct the two candidates. And there's a second. All in favor? I.

Okay. Thank you. Next we have a opening on the Arts and Culture Commission. Uh, no one has applied. And next we have the Bristol County Water Authority. And this is the board of directors, one position. And Mr. Alano has applied. You've been interviewed in the past. If you would like to come down, you can. And if not, I'll make a motion to appoint you to the water authority. And I'll second it.

All in favor? All right. Thank you, Mr. Alfano. I guess it's in your blood. Next, we have the Conservation Commission. Uh, no one applied. Economic Development Board, no one has applied. Juvenile curing board, no one has applied. And next, we have the planning board. There are three positions available. And we have received uh that uh information tonight that Caitlyn uh is uh Miss Ganguza is sick. So she'll be here uh next month, but we will interview the applicants who are here this evening. And first we have Mr. Mattton.

Do we have to interview him? I mean, they're on the board. They're already on the board. Well, they're currently on the board. I guess we don't have to interview him. So, I'll make a motion to move Tim White to full pay. I'll second that. All in favor? I I. And I'll make a motion we readvertise for the open position to give Caitlyn Gang Gaza an opportunity to appear in front of us for next month. For next month. I'll second that. All in favor? I. Mr. Mattton. Hello. Whoa. We had since we've already interviewed you and you're already on the board where we appointed Mr. White this evening and we're moving the next appointments to next month. I've been on the board longer than Mr. White has.

Correct. But the council made their decision to appoint Mr. White as the full-time member. This is nothing to do with my being head of Republican party into town. No, I don't think so. Absolutely not. I do. I didn't know you were the I I didn't even know you were. So, Mr. Trump did. That's that is a a grown and I got it. Uh Mr. Matt and that's um not the logic that we've applied here.

You're welcome. Next we have the recreation board. Uh no, no one has a uh no one's come forward. And the 250th commission, no one's come forward. And Mr. Lyall has uh let us know that he couldn't make it this evening. But since Mr. Lyall is already an alternate and has been ad um already interviewed, what would the pleasure of the council be? To appoint Scott L fulltime position. Second. All in favor? I I'd like to make a motion to well to readvertise any of the uh I think we have one more. We do. Any of the appointments that haven't been done. Oh, yes. Okay. Y I'll second that motion.

All in favor? I. And next we have the zoning board of review Joe. So we'll have to readverize volunteer because he was an alternate stop, right? So now we have to put in an alternate fill that. So we have to have it. Um is Mr. Kevin Method here? Come on down and let us know a little bit about yourself.

Sure. Hi, I'm Kevin Method. I just a little bit of my background. Before moving to Rhode Island, I was in California working for a county. So, I worked as a permit technician for three years and then I was a a building inspector for four years. So, processing permits, land use applications, being out in the field as an inspector, enforcing the building code. Uh 2022, moved to Rhode Island, live here in Warren, 14 Barker. Uh I now switched to the private side. I work for Govve. So I implement software for municipalities around North America for permitting, planning, code enforcement, licensing. So I'm fully immersed in code and different get to spend time with municipalities all the time learning their ordinances.

So you're very familiar with the zoning board. Yeah. Uh any questions for the I had one. I'm just curious and I think you answered the question. You were in the department and you moved up into building inspector. Is that how you became a building? Correct. Yeah. Any other questions? No question. Given your statement and your CV here, you see qualified. Is there a motion? I would make that motion. Second. Point method to the zone board of review. I'll second that. All in favor? I. Thank you. Welcome. Mr. I have a question in regards to the law.

I did not get a um position advertised. Is it possible for me to add uh something to the agenda this evening in regards to the joint finance committee or would we have to call a special meeting? Well, it's that for the council of course, but 4246 you can add a an item to the agenda uh by a jar of council. So, the motion would be for us to add an item to the agenda. State what it is and then if it's add then

I Yes, please. I make a motion that we add to the agenda the item to appoint a member of the joint finance committee from the council. from the council. I'll second that. All in favor? Mr. Tromley has brought it to my attention uh last year that he would like to serve and now that we're coming up on the uh budget process with the school um we're looking for a motion to put Mr. Trombly on the joint finance committee and he would be taking Mr. Sullivan's place. That motion to appoint Eric Tromley to the joint finance committee.

Is there a second? I'll second her. Discussion. Isn't it something you guys should have passed by me also? I mean, you make that decision without even asking me. I go ahead. take the vote. Well, do you want to be on the joint finance committee? Seems like that's all I do here is talk about numbers and then when it's time for the joint finance committee, give it to Derek. I have no I have no problem with Derek and I'll help him along, but I think out of respect I should have been asked. So, go ahead, make the the vote. He brought the request to me. I didn't look at it as we were soliciting. So, go ahead, make the vote.

Okay. If I may, it is uh an open meeting and I've gone every year even when I'm not on the the committee and there's opportunity for for questions and contributions from from the Again, no disrespect out of Derek, but I go to the budget committee meetings. I served on the joint uh uh finance for 12 years. It just seems like it's a slap in the face to me, but hey, let's vote. You have a fertility and a second. We'll vote. Who was the president's up automatically, correct? Who is the second member? We have a member of our uh finance committee. Shouldn't don't we have to reappoint every year? No, it's a two-year term. It's a two-year term. And that term is not up.

No. Okay. Brian stepped down, correct? Sheila Reposa. It's Sheila Reposa, Miss Reposa. And when I brought the uh I asked Mr. Sullivan if he had a vested interest in being on the board. He said uh it's up to us. Mr. Trombley again I say brought this to my attention last year and u I didn't realize there would be such uh amount of interest. Last year's meeting lasted 13 million I mean 13 minutes and we spent $90 million. I also did not realize that it would cause for what it's worth. I I did not intend for this to appear to be certain.

And again, even if you put Derek on it, I'm gonna give it 110%. But I just think that out of respect, you know, I should have been asked. That's all. And let's take a vote. Okay. All in favor? I. There we have it. Next, we have the acceptance of minutes. And this is the January 13th regular schedule meeting minutes. There any corrections? I did not see any. I will make a motion to accept the January 13th regularly scheduled meeting minutes. Second. All in favor? I.

Next we have an ordinance chapter 10 harbors and vessels article five town docks section 10-70 use of the town codes. This is the first reading. Um Mr. Disto. Well, uh this is from uh this comes from your harbor master and uh he's better able to explain uh the particulars of this uh ordinance. However, I can tell you that uh this is an attempt to make sure that the commercial dock is used by commercial fishermen that are fishing. And the language that he has proposed uh he ran by me and uh it meets ordinance standards. And in fact, I do think it's better language uh than the uh uh current language that you can see on your agenda that has been crossed out and in red.

I have a question for them. Please, Barbara Master, Mr. Silva, please come to the mic. Joe, have we had an Have we had issues with people abusing it? Is that what we're looking to close up or in a sense? Yeah. Okay. We had six or seven slips that were not used the last few years. Okay. People are just paying for the dock. There were two boats that haven't been used, haven't left the dock in over a year and both of them are sunk right now at the dock because they're not checking the and with those slips being occupied, somebody that's actually working the water can't use that slip.

Can't use the slip. And I can't sell the slip to someone that might use it. We may not fill it up, but I'd like to avoid what we have right now. We have one underwater completely and one is laying on its side. And um the new pools, you would have to show landings, meaning that you've actually been out fishing. Out fishing. I'll make a motion we approve the uh changes to the uh town docks ordinance. Second. And may I say well done. First the first reading. First reading. So we have it next month. Right. All in favor? I I I.

All right. Next we have chapter 32 zoning article 8 zoning district use regulations section 32-45 interpretation of zoning use table. This is the fitness sport recreation education. First reading. This is a request for a public hearing to amend the zoning ordinance. This matter needs to be referred to the planning board uh because it's a change to your zoning ordinance and it also needs to be advertised by the clerk's office. Uh so this functions as a first reading although by statute those are the two things that need need to be done. This will change your use tables uh in chapter 32 uh specifically section 32-45 which would allow for um the fitness sports uh sports uh recreationucation Matt what uh zone commercial in the commercial industrial zone it will um address a specific instance of a business currently operating to make that business uh conform to the zoning ordinance.

So, Mr. Desisto, ordinarily when we're looking at a zone change, the applicant would be responsible for the advertising. Is that correct? That's correct. Yes. Well, in this case, it seems that there was a um for lack of better terms, a non-conforming use. There was a business in this location that uh was a baseball fitness business and it would not be currently allowed to be there. That's correct. So the applicant is looking for relief in regards to the cost of the advertising. Is that u totally out of line? Yes.

How did how did the other place exist? Was it legal non-conforming or did it exist? I have absolutely no idea until this matter came to my attention. I didn't even know you had such a business in this town.

There's there was formerly a fitness business. There is additionally a business that does baseball education or something like that. Neither of those businesses were conforming. The former fitness place is no longer in business there. and we have a an applicant that or a a business that exists on water street on Main Street now who wants to move to that space and are now being faced with the problems that were uh that occurred when other businesses were allowed to go in there. Um so the question is is it appropriate that this new uh business be uh saddled with the fees that a former business should have absorbed when a zoning had it been done properly. So, so you

Yeah. I don't know who's going to pay, but somebody's got a This is similar to the the dog business that you had. Um, you know, she was already in in paying her rent and she had to go through this process, too, and paid the fees. Now, I don't know who should be paying for this zone change, but somebody has to. The reason I bring it up is the applicant wrote um I don't know if everyone received the email, but I received an email. Uh, is the applicant here? If you would like to come down and I have still have another question. Oh, please. We have several other fitness facilities in the town of War. Did they all get variances?

Well, I think it's because of the industrial park, the location, but I'm looking at the use tables and it's not permitted anywhere else. How the hell did they get there? That as well. If we may speak up, we will happily pay it to to clear that up to move in. Yeah. And operate. At this point, we would like to just make our plea. We'll pay to change the ordinance if need be, and we would greatly appreciate to move on with everything. Sounds good. Um, this is a good question. Uh, if you want, you can sit in the front seat for now, and if we need you again, you'll be right here. Okay. And let's uh I'm still waiting for my answer. Why the hell did the other places get there if it's not permitted in any other zone?

I mean, basically, Matt, the question I'm making, is there another use that's very similar they were placed into to be allowed to go there?

Um, my staff and I worked very diligently to try to make an interpretation for this applicant in that field in that zone. Um, I I tried everything I could and it just does not permitted in that zone. Um there is other uses in other zones that allow for physical fitness uh facilities such as the ones we have on Medic Avenue um in two different locations. So my recommendation on this and when it goes to the planning board it we may need to look at adding this to make it more definitive and clear. Um but right now in our commercial industrial zone this is not a permitted use.

So even the other places that are there would not be allowed in the commercial industrial. No. Basically, what I'm thinking is maybe instead of adding a new line in the use tables, just change it to a permitted use in the CI. If we already have a category that this could possibly fit into, which the other ones fit in, I think it would be much cleaner if we could just put this use into our use tables and then incorporate that into other uh districts.

Okay. So, in other words, across the use table, maybe put a P where it's where it's allow where the other use is allowed as well. Correct. Because when I see just a one line and I see only one place that's permitted, that actually confuses me and make your job more difficult because now if one of these places wants to go next door to one of them, you're going to have to say no because this is much more specific than the use that they're allowed to go in there under. You follow what I'm saying, Andre? Yeah, it is. And and it's something that I think is it this goes through the process. Yeah. It can be added uh into other zones other than just the CI.

Okay. And you know, for the record, I have made a recommendation to the building official that would allow this business to relocate uh in the um in the uh uh place that they want to go to uh with some uh uh regulatory advice on this which is in connection with this ordinance. So, we need to refer this to the planning board for the next step. Correct. Authorize the advertising, refer to the planning board, set it down for a public hearing at your March meeting. Okay. difficult motion. I I just want to ensure and assure the uh business that they can open when they in the time frame that they were planning that this is not going to hold them up.

I've communicated in writing in Matt as to uh the procedure that should be used to allow these this group to start their business uh as planned. Okay. and I've been in direct contact with the applicant um to make sure that the plan can go into effect and that they can open um they they're in a time constraint um with with moving from the facility to the new facility. So I believe that the plan in place will allow them without any hang up to to move open and be uh back up in business in the new location um pending that we get the ordinance passed. That's correct. We spent a lot of time make sure that happens.

Okay. I would like to make a motion that we refer this to the planning board and advertise it for a public hearing at the March town council meeting. I'll second that. And I have discussion discussion. Um I just wanted to ask if um I I think I share the concerns that Councilman Hanley has. That's only a permitted use in in the CI in in this draft. if if the uh building official can maybe look at some other areas of town where other zoning districts where it might be appropriate to have that as a permitted use as well. I I for the next meeting I think that would be welcome. Um I agree with you and and uh this was drafted by the applicant. Okay.

So now that you have it in our hands, we can hopefully expand so that way it allows it into um all the other districts that would be amenable to this. I'll just add then that the applicant did a great job because it looks professional. Mr. Dgo, yeah, I just want to thank the applicants because I think the the council had some good intentions as far as waving fees, but you opened that can of worms. It it just will never end. So, thank you for that. Thank you. Thank you. So, there's a motion, a second. All in favor? I we'll see. We'll see you next month. Thank you.

Next, we have a public hearing. This a request for a class BV beverage license from Spaghetti Lane uh via Pora LLC. The applicant here. It's okay. Come on down. Mr. St. Angelo had told me that u he may not be able to be here this evening. So um and who are you again? I'm his mother, Mary Beth Ryder. Oh, hello. So uh this is for across the street. And are there any questions of the applicant? I have one question. My wife and I are very confused. The other restaurant your husband's opening up the other restaurant.

I did. Oh, you're opening it up. And that is that Spaghetti Lane over there also? No, it's Celli off the lane. Oh, so confusing. Okay. Okay. But it's okay. I'm good. Spaghetti Lane's still in Bington at time. This is Celli. This is going to be pizza and sandwiches and your son's going to be running it. Yes, he is. And he has a six-hour drive in order to be here this evening. So, your uh here in hisstead? Yep. Are there any other questions? My question. He also Hanley, do we have a BB available or do we need to create one? Yes, we have one available. Okay. Clerk clerk's office assured us that there is is one available.

Make a motion to approve. Oh, I just wanted to say in addition that the applicant has come before the council before, so we have had the chance to interview them and and ask questions. I'll scar first. Oh, he's a good boy. Promise. Are there any questions from the public? Is there a motion to close the public hearing? Make a motion to close the public hearing. Second. All in favor? I make a motion to approve. Second. All in favor? I. Okay. Stay right there. request for a yearly entertainment license, Spaghetti Lane, and you will be having live music, two or three uh person band, DJ Karoki, and uh any questions of the applicant? P2, this is P1.

P1. So, what is he thinking some uh you know, couple nights on the weekend? And probably the weekend, maybe trivia nights. um one or two musicians ampl amplified that I don't know I mean I think he'd be fine if it was just acoustic but I don't know not a big space this is for in interior only interior only correct any other questions I'll make a motion to approve P1 I'll second all in favor I congratulations thank you I'll let them know thank you very much

take Next we have P2 request for a class F beverage license. Michaela Hutchinson. This is 530 M by Chris Matoss. I have to recuse from this uh consideration. Yes. Mr. Tromley is on the board of directors. That is Hi. And your event is a celebration of film? Yes. Um so my name is Chris Moss. I'm the director of the George Hill Free Library and we're having a fundraiser on March 7th um regarding the Academy Awards and you have to wear a ball gown. Oh, is that So, you're doing an Oscar night party?

Don't say Oscar or we'll be in trouble, but yes. Okay. Of course not. Um it happens to be falling on the same night, right? Uh I make a motion to approve. Second. Okay. Fire chief says fine. There's a motion and second. All in favor? I I. Congratulations. You have your ball gown ready. Next we have uh correspondence. Is there any items in correspondence that the council wishes to pull? Is there a motion to approve correspondence? So move. There a second. Second. All in favor?

I. Next we have old business. This is discussion and action on proposed easement agreement for the foot of Washington Street Wesley from Water Street to the shore of the Warren River. The applicant was here and don't know where he went off to. He's in the hall. That's okay. May I start?

Yes. Uh this uh issue um involves uh a paved uh parcel of land that extends from Water Street on an an extension of Washington Street to the shore of the Warren River. Uh this issue has um occupied my time as solicitor for many years. There's a question as to ownership of it and the question of whether or not it's an accepted street, Washington Street, going that far, or whether it's private property uh that is owned by the um uh the Mr. Qurochi in his uh trust. Uh that issue is not resolved. It has been to court, but it isn't resolved. uh in the uh intervening time uh the uh DEM has uh issued a u violation notice because there's environmental contamination on this site as well as other portions of property that are owned by the uh property owner and the question of course is whoever the owner is is responsible for the cleanup. uh DEM has said that they want the property cleaned up and after that they will place what's known as an ELUR on the site, an environmental land use restriction. Uh there are some infrastructure issues uh that are unresolved uh relating to um uh storm water drainage uh that go from uh um Main Street down Washington Street through this uh property. It has led to a failure uh at the shoreline of the um drain pipe that goes into the Warren River needs to be fixed. So uh based on all that, there's other maintenance issues uh which has been a dispute uh between uh the property owner and the town for many years now. Uh the um uh there was an offer from Mr. Qurochi

uh that he would undertake uh the cleanup. he would take care of the infrastructure improvements on this site in exchange for the town waving uh any interest it may have in the land. Uh and in exchange for all of that uh him doing the um cleanup and the infrastructure improvements, the uh town uh would get a uh walking easement uh over the property and uh that is the agreement that I sent out to you. uh and uh that is what is uh on um on your topic for tonight. Uh I have always taken the position as solicitor uh that the town owns this so-called foot of Water Street from um Washington Street from Water Street down to the shore. That's been the official position of the town from a legal standpoint based on these new issues. However, based upon this offer, uh my recommendation as the solicitor is to go ahead and do this. It's a big cost savings for the town and uh also in the future because you're you're not going to have um the maintenance issues that have occurred here uh while retaining um a walking easement uh to the shoreline. I have uh be happy to answer any questions you may have on this. I'm sure uh Mr. Crochi is going to uh want to say something uh when he gets up here, but uh uh I'll answer any question you may have at this time. Uh, as you all know, we already dealt with this issue few months ago. Are there any additional questions that the council may have solicit?

Um, the first one is uh the the three foot easement and again I don't know anybody's going to go out there with a tape. Is that enough or should it be 4 feet or how do you figure out my recommendation on that as I as I've uh communicated is it's got to be wider than that. uh in particular, it has to be ADA compliant. Defer to Matt on that, but at least has to be 4 feet. Essentially, what I think what you have to visualize here, Lou, is that somebody um uh wheelchair bound has to be able to get down there. And I don't think three feet is enough. How do you how do you even police that?

Well, here's the thing. Uh the suggestion uh by Mr. for Trochi has been to demarcate it with some type of a structure that would show where the walking easement is. And I think that's what you need to do. That's unresolved by the way. Uh the question is should it be more nautical perhaps roping or whatever? That's I'll leave that to um people better versed. But to answer your question, you're correct. It has to be demarcated somehow. And in fact, uh the property owner wants to do the same thing. He's concerned about liability issues. if somebody strays off the walking east.

I don't have a problem with this. I think it's a good uh good solution to something that's been going on for a long time. My only issue is uh we have a com a hoba commission that deals with these rightaways. I would like to refer it to them out of respect to them to review and then come back to us. Again, I'm okay with it, Mr. Guushi, but again, out of respect to them, I think that's the proper way to go about it. Well, we have a member of the Hava Commission here. I see no reason why Mr. Hunt can't come down or Mr. Singwall and give us their uh opinion. I don't see anything coming out of the Harvard Commission that would change or alter this uh plan.

Hi everybody. Uh William Hunt. I live at 7 Beachwood Court and I'm the vice chairman of the Harbor Management Commission. Um basically as you know I've been on the commission for a long time. Uh to the solicitor's point, we had a uh member of the Harbor Commission back in 2013 2014 who was a real estate lawyer who helped us with a law fellow from the Roger Williams University uh who came and did a comprehensive review of all the potential identified right of ways in town. Uh they did a full title search of the property and it is our contention that that is true in fact that this is a property of the town. Um you know that putting aside because we won't argue a point that's already been conceded. Uh there's a procedural issue uh that is going on with this. Uh the commission is an advisory commission to the council. Uh but we are also the designated advisory body for shoreline access and rightaway matters uh based upon the town's harbor management plan and CRMC guidelines. Uh so the fact that this specific issue uh was introduced to the council without notice to the commission and brought forward while the commission initiated CRMC review remains unresolved. Uh makes it a little bit concerning and undermines our ability to effectively manage the right of ways here in town. And proceeding with a vote before receiving an advisory input defeats the purpose of having the harbor commission. And like I said, we had a very uh hard time getting the recent harbor management plan passed and we put a lot of work into that. Uh so uh again this is something that just is in the sense of procedural should be uh taken into account. Uh the specific application is one of I believe five applications that are standing in front of the CRMC uh that have been for the past 10 years uh asking to get this issue resolved. Uh we've had numerous follow-ups to the town council uh asking for these particular right of ways to uh be made a priority and to have the CRMC

do a formal review. And uh quite frankly, the uh the no trespassing signs and the discouragement of public use of this right ofway uh since the last 10 years and since it has been uh being used has been uh not a good faith effort uh something that should be rewarded by the council. Uh approving this transfer risk establishing a precedent that private obstruction leads to public surrender. As you know, there's a number of rightways in town uh that are being encroached upon by the abuters. Uh and again allowing this to proceed without a full CRMC review uh would go ahead and give precedence for those people to actually do the same thing. Um realistically uh you know there's a lot of DEM issues in town. Our town Wararf specifically is a super fund site and the north part of the bulkheads are deteriorating and is in need of a capital improvement. I believe that was introduced as part of the budget process as a request from the harbor master and the harbor management commission in general. Um I may sound like a broken uh record because I brought this up the last harbor uh the last budget input meeting. Uh but a dedicated harbor management fund uh could be used to fund repairs for not only the bulkheads at Town Warf but any DM projects or capital improvements needed to address any of these issues on a going forth basis. uh and so I believe that there's other avenues available to us uh to address this issue and I believe that uh before any decision is made to by the council uh the CRMC process should be resolved because once a public shoreline right is given up it cannot be reclaimed and taking time to complete the review protects um the town the council and the public interest

Mr. They hand me the So the CRMC thing is still undecided. We may lose, we may win. This agreement guarantees us a right of way through an easement over there. We we currently have the right of way. It's there. There's no there's no dispute whether or not that's town property. And you can't adverse possess town property. I understand that. But what I'm saying is so so it's so it's still up in the air. CRMC is still has to decide. What is CRMC deciding if he's saying it is our right away? So uh the interns they were like two 2013 2014. Yep.

Okay. In 2009 my position was the whole thing is the towns. Okay. Mr. Qurochi disputes that we went to court on this. So it's separate and apart from what CRMC does. One of the reasons why uh the C by the way uh the we did get the CRMC did do four here from Warren. They've got others pending reason Washington Street wasn't included is because of this litigation. So to your point could win could lose. All right. Now, uh there's a guarantee that you're going to have a shoreline access here. That's the first thing. The second thing is is uh you know would the town be successful? Maybe. You never know what's going to happen in court. Assuming that the town is successful now, you're going to have to start working with DEM on the ELUR.

That was going to be my second to

That's the first thing. The second thing is is the uh DEM is ahead on this uh property than it is on the town morph. And in fact, the town morph is considered a capped uh site. So, it's not as pressing as this one. This is where DEM is is saying you got to do something here. That's why this came to a head because stuff has to happen here soon. So, whatever you want to do, that's fine. Uh, you know, my this has been my long-standing position. I'm changing the position just based on what you have for the environmental. Ultimately, you have to make a decision here. Uh, but um I have to say that, you know, there has been litigation as to the ownership of this and and it it is not a settled issue.

Mr. to the sister. I have a question for you. When you're discussing the ownership question, you're talking about the paved driveway, the paved, call it whatever you want. We're not talking about the end of the access. In other words, Mr. Cuadrochi owns the property to the north, the property to the south, and the property to the west. So the contention of the harbor commission is my my my what is what is different?

My my previous position was that Washington Street extends from this is this is what what I pled in court. Washington Street uh originally was King Street. It starts from Main Street. It travels west through Water Street to the shore of the Warren River. Mr. Crochi's uh point uh with his attorneys uh at the time, he's an attorney himself, was that uh Washington Street ends on the eastern side of Water Street. And in fact, the town's right of way never did go past that. And uh you know, he has his own uh things that he's relied on. I've had my things that we've relied on. Uh this matter uh was in court and the case uh uh involved other issues and it was decided on other issues. The ownership of this uh portion from Water Street to the shore hasn't been decided yet in court.

And I actually had another question which would been pretty much for anybody that's here and listening. If we don't do this, if we don't go along with this agreement, where are we going to get the money to make the required improvements that have to be done to keep us in compliance with DEM? Where are we going to get the money to make the infrastructure improvements for the drainage? Where are we going to get this? We don't have any extra money and the school bonds are coming due. So, we're going to have we're not going to, you know, have a plethora of money as it goes. How are we going to pay for these improvements which the solicitor said DEM is kind of breathing down our throat on at this point in time?

Well, actually there's two things. The first thing is is there's a there's some contamination here. Correct. It was an industrial site. The second thing is is there have been deferred infrastructure improvements. The reason they've been deferred in part is because this issue of ownership hasn't been resolved. Right. And so either way, if we don't make this deal, then we're going to have to pay for these improvements, the cleanup. We're going to have to pay for the infrastructure improvement. Where are we going to get the funds to do that? Okay. If if if I may.

I'm sorry. Uh Mr. Cordrochi is going to say to the DEM, "Well, I don't own it. Town owns it. Go after them." Then he's going to turn around and say, uh, you know, your your drainage structures are failing. It's affecting my property. You got to pay. So, uh, there will be litigation on that. Okay. So, the question is is uh, from the property owner side, is he going to say, "Yeah, go ahead. It's yours. You do fix everything." All right. Or do we say it's you, it's your contamination. So, you're looking, I think, at litigation either way to resolve the issue. Un unless we make this arrangement. If we make this agreement, that makes the litigation go away. Correct. That's correct. Yes.

Yeah. And it makes any costs to the town for the cleanup or the improvements on the infrastructure go away. Well, not go away, but go over to Mr. Quattrochi instead of being the burden of the town to finance this. Town will be relieved the responsibility to pay.

All right. Because that's my questions kind of follow what Mr. Hanley is saying. Will there be if in fact we do decide to enter into this agreement um and we're satisfied with the depth of the walkway and the safety issues and everything? Um, is there anything in this agreement that get puts a timeline on when this work has to be done so that we're not so that that there's no uh potential environmental disaster that's going to happen by accident down there? Like does he have to do it by a certain time?

It's not it's not contained in the agreement. That would be governed by dem. What dem will do is is uh to say it has to be cleaned up by this this amount of time. If they come to the town, we get to say we're not involved in this saying that to us for a long time. So does it is it different if it's a private entity rather than a a municipality? We we've held them off as long as we can. Okay. But will the will the clock start again? Then it'll start ticking. No. And we're at we're we're at the end here. That's why it's coming to a head.

And Mr. Quattrochi wants to go out to bid. He wants to put this to rest. I don't see how we can argue in any way that his access to his marina is the towns. His marina is at the bottom of the street. I beg to differ with everybody's uh other opinion on the fact that the marina is right there. there's exhibit A's on all of the uh adjoining properties that clearly describe in the property location that it uh terminates at the Warren River. So uh again, this this is something that again, even if improvements were made on by his expense or the previous owner's expense over town property, it does not allow for them to adverse possess town property. That's something that again there's uh the cost issue is certainly an issue, but part of the reason why this hasn't been able to be addressed is because of the pending litigation and because of the time it's taken to get this resolved by the CRMC. Uh and this is something that the Harvard Commission uh there's several right of ways that we've been working on improvements for to increase access and to increase water quality. there's grants available out there to uh do these types of improvements if we have matching funds which is again why the harbor management fund is a large issue on our agenda this year and uh the fact that we are doing and subverting the CRMC process and our own harbor management plan guidelines uh could potentially hurt our chances at getting grants in the future if we uh don't follow the procedures as described. So that that's our position on the commission.

Understand? And I also understand that we're getting a walk-in easement. It's going to be demarcated. It's going to be accessible sunrise to sunset. And I don't see any reason why we should go against what we voted on previously. I I staff I have a question.

Thank you. Um, so my question is for the either either representative, I know there's two from the Harbor Commission. Um, are you guys um looking to have the council hold this over to the next meeting in March and then have you as a board present to the council uh anformational sort of uh presentation about the this easement and and the land use sort of contention that's been is that is that your intention? Is that your request? the the particular uh folder and binder with all of the supporting information has been submitted to the council and resubmitted to the council numerous times. Um there's specific and again I don't think that the issue that the position of the uh right of way is the possession of the town is in dispute by the town solicitor or anyone here. Uh but again there's a overall CRMC process uh that governs the the right of way and the designation and the disposition of those right of ways that I I feel needs to be followed and uh seen through and trying to do this before that uh process is completed uh does not provide the town with all the information and uh you know everything that's involved with it basically. Mr. Stanley has a question.

This is going to be a quick one for the solicitor and then I have a question for Mr. Anthony, are we required by law or ordinance to refer this to the harbor commission before we take action? The previous previous litigation wasn't u submitted to the Harbor Commission. No. And I'm talking take action on this this easement this deal that we have in front of us. Are we required by law to submit this to the com to the Harvard Commission for a recommendation before we can take action? That's my question.

Okay. So, I I just want to make it make make things clear and I know Mr. Hunt is also the CRMC. you're still the CRMC designate uh for the town of Warman, but uh what happens uh uh by statute uh the CRMC designates rights of way and that usually comes from municipalities that are shoreline communities. They say these are the um these are the uh um rights of way that we think should be designated as CRMC rights away. The CRMC doesn't own them. they designate them and then it's supposed to be demarcated uh for that. Okay.

So, in this instance, Washington Street has not been designated as a CMC right of way. There's been litigation. So, now the question becomes, you know, you're going to you're going to get a guaranteed right of way here. Uh could that be designated as a CRMC right of way? The answer is yes. you I don't know if you didn't understand my question but it's not you say we have when we and the the last thing we did with the ordinance change we had to refer it to the planning board by ordinance by law you don't have it you don't have you don't have to do that to the har not not for a matter of that was my question and the other question I have would be for Mr. Quattrochi, please come to the microphone.

If we if the council did decide to refer this to the hob commission for our recommendation, uh it would probably be another month before it could get back on the docket. Would that would that cancel the the agreement that we have? In other words, is that time frame that critical where we can't do that out of an abundance of caution?

Um, let me speak to that. I have been I have remediated the area behind the brick building. So, the area south of this disputed rightway, Washington Street, whatever it is, has been taken care of. I can't do the north end of it, which is the other part of the problem, until I have somebody agree to do section A. So, I'm trying to figure out can I re is it in my interest to remediate the north area and this disputed area all in one package and tie it into my existing area because right now I am completely stymied. I'm being taxed at full value on on all of this property, but it is not usable as waterfront property because of this glitch. For the past 20 or more years that I've been working on this, the Harbor Commission has never spoken to me, never, to my knowledge, sent me any communication, never done anything to attempt to have a dialogue about this. I'm here because I think that the storm drain, the collection of water by the town all the way from the library from Main Street down and all of the storm drains that come come into that intersection and there are only three undersized catch basins. So, a lot of the water doesn't get collected in the catch basins. It hits the surface and comes down the road. All of that water comes onto my property. It's being collected and directed by the town of Warren. So, that's a damage to me. In addition, the seaw wall at the end of this area has collapsed. I'm 83 years old. We've owned this

property since uh the 50s, the early 50s. I am now, that would be the fourth time that I have to repair this seaw wall. The other seaw walls don't have the same problem because they don't have the charge of water coming at them from the town of Warren. So, I tried to put something together that solves all of these problems and allows me to proceed and have a working waterfront, which supposedly is what is a big buzzword in town. There only four working boatyards on the waterfront. There's Janowskis, there's um Dyer, and there's Blanc Marine Blanc Boats, and then mine. So this is the only one that will have a right ofway through its commercial property. This is the only one where to my knowledge where town water is being charged and sent right at it. So I just came along with this thing and spoke to I think everybody has been at the site. I said let's just solve this thing. Uh let's just get this thing over with. The first litigation with the town occurred in 1950s. It was a bill in equity. Unfortunately, that petition in equity before the the um two causes of action were merged. That record has been pilered or something. There's there's no there's no papers in the file in Pucket. So, I just, you know, I just want this to to to be solved. I'll I'll do it in a in a in a good way. I'll undertake what I've agreed to undertake. I will create a demarked uh area, but right now it's a free-for-all down there, and I'm being

punished for all of these different sins that have been going on for years. If you look out in the hallway at the aerial photograph of the waterfront, you'll see that that whole area that we're talking about was used as a boatyard there. It was used commercially by people all the way back to the cars in the 1700s when they ran it as a boatyard. So, I just I'm 83 years old. I want I want to solve the problem. Mr. But my my you didn't answer my question. If the council did continue this for a month, would that void

would you would you would you withdraw from the the possible deal that we have?

I don't I don't know. I'm very frustrated to be blindsided by the Harbor Commission tonight. I really am. And and so maybe that's not politic, but I'm I'm saying that. Um, and um, it's there's a probably a six-month lead time, maybe more, on engineering and permits for coastal resources. I get a letter every interval, month, two months, from DEM saying, "What are you doing? When are you going to fix this problem?" And I can't fix two sides of it without fixing the middle of it. Um, so I'm just asking the council to direct the solicitor to put whatever language he wants to put in there as far as four feet as far as u acknowledging the permanent easement. But you know, let's get going.

Mr. strongly. Uh, no, that was my my question was going to be um once once this is finalized, you intend to begin remediation work immediately basically as soon as I can get permit. As soon as you can get permit,

I assume DEM DM has been on my back. So, uh, you know, they've been civil about it, but they've been impatient about it. So, uh, that is probably going to have to happen this summer. Coastal, as the solicitor will tell you from his other hat, is a little bit more involved and a little bit more lengthy to to repair the head wall to create a head wall for the pipe that's there to do the separation of sand and non-point surface oil uh non-point source oil that I want to also construct in this area which would improve the quality of the Warren River and to rebuild the seaw wall. That's going to be a lot of engineering and a lot of permits.

I see. Thank you very much, Mr. Rego. Mr. Carter, I I like your plan. Okay. Quick question. If you could just say that, Tony. Right now, the position of the town is we owned what 12 feet across that roadway all the way down as far as the town when you went to court. Was it your argument that you that we own Washington Street right down to the I'm not sure of the width, right? But whatever the paved area is over there. Yes. Was that So basically we're giving that up for four feet.

All right. We're guaranteed four feet is basically the right away. So So the difference is you're going to be able to walk down there or you could drive down there where nobody drives down there anyways. I like the plan, Mr. Kuchi. Uh and the reason why I mentioned to to refer it to the uh uh to the um Harbor Commission Harbor Commission is out of respect to them. You got six members that they meet on a monthly basis. They don't get paid. That's the only reason. But I like your plan.

I I understand that. But I'll tell you one thing to answer the solicitor's remark. And that is if it if the Washington Street is as wide as it is between Maine and Water, it takes a bite out of the 1770 house. It takes a significant bite out of a house. So, I think I'm going to win this argument as far as the the the street because we can't take I mean, I don't think we're debating the argument. I think what we're just trying to weigh,

you know, I think Mr. Rego was saying, you know, in other words, we have a contested right of way. We're going to be guaranteed a full foot. I don't think he's trying to say we own this much or that much. He's just just asking a question. I don't think we're we're not giving up that much is my point. Well, basically what he's saying, I think, and what I'm saying is we really do appre like this plan. Uh there's that little tweak with the the right of way how it's going to be delineated. And I didn't know till Joe just told me that there's a six-foot drop off at the end. So, nobody's going to be walking down onto the beach anyway.

No. And I look at this out of nothing but respect to the harbor commission. I've been hearing this issue for 22 years. Uh we actually were able to come to an agreement with a rightaway, a viewing easement, which is no different than the bottom of Company Street. Uh which is no different than the bottom of Church Street. Uh it's exactly what we want without any of the liability or responsibility. I don't understand what could come back from the Hoba Commission different than this that we're not contesting the ownership. You guys like to contest the ownership. If it's the town of Warren, well then it's ours to give away or pay to pay to repair

or pay to repair. Pay the responsibility. I also question I've walked the property with Mr. Disto. I am very familiar with the property. I've walked it with Mr. Rego. Uh Miss Cronin. I don't think Mr. Hanley or Mr. Trley could come the day I was available. How you argue that the bottom isn't his property is beyond me. Free street terminates in the water. Okay. And his marina begins there. When you drive a car down it, you take a right, you're trespassing. You take a left, you're trespassing.

Please come to the microphone as a member of the harbor commission or a citizen. Yeah. Hi, I'm Rock Singwald. I'm on the Harbor Commission along with Bill. And um the the right the town's rightway, it's the it's Washington Street, goes down to the end, goes to the water. That rightway continues into the water and uh Mr. Crochi's marina is is in is is encroaching on the town's rightway to the water to the river and uh that's that's our contention and that um and as far as you know you know the commission blindsigning Mr. Katrochi. I mean, this is our our our legal u uh package that was sent to CRMC. This was done. We submitted that I think in 2016 hearing it. So, please stand over here.

And uh uh yeah, we had um we submitted that with council's approval to CRMC in 2016. And we've been waiting all that time for the CRMC to have a public hearing and to to uh to see whether they're going to designate this as an official state, you know, CRMC approved right away to the water. But the fact is, you as Mr. Dysto said, you know, he he agrees that Water Street, I mean, Washington Street goes all the way to the water. And the way those rights away work is the rightway continues on that same on those same barriers or the same perimeters right into the water into the into the uh the um channel and that you you no one's allowed to have docks or anything else that's infringes on that right away. So whenever the marina was built and whatever, you know, then either the town gave away some of its uh right to to its waway in the water and of course the water is state property. it's state jurisdiction um not the towns and uh that um you know that I think that you know the the the marina property is actually an encroachment on a town rightaway.

Can you how would you if you wanted to go down there and go put your feet in the water? How would you get there? Well, without bringing a ladder with you. Yeah. Yeah, you could have a ladder or you could walk down the boat ramp. I didn't mean to create more controversy.

No. Um, but I just want to also, if I could point out historically Kenyon Lane, which everyone argued was an extension of Campbell Street, which went right down to Blount Marine, which had no problem being uh, asseted over to Luther Blanc, which is right where the cruise ships came in and out of. So the whole aspect of using other examples, this is a right of way that this gentleman is allowing us to have without a continued legal fight that Mr. Guatrochi will gladly continue because it the con the the the contested position is exactly that contested. Mr. Desisto takes the rule from the town. I mean the the the the to go to to court from the town's position, not based on fact. He's putting a position forward that he could argue if the town wanted to argue. Mr. Quattrochi is going to argue that he doesn't agree. This is going to be a continued fight. If you want to speak about the boat ramp, go right ahead. The boat ramp is within the deed description of flat five, lot one. So, one of the things that has been a bone of contention with the harbor commission is they told everybody that they can go down the the parcel a um and they can use the ramp. No, they can't because I put the ramp in. That was a marine railway. And if you look at the picture on the wall out in the hall, it's pretty obvious that you can't walk down to the water. And that picture was probably in the 1930s or 40s, that picture out there. So, it's always been part of the working

boatyard. So, I'm trying to offer a solution. What I would respectfully suggest is vote it up or down tonight and then I'll decide whether I'm going to withdraw the offer or not. Thank you. Okay. Is there a motion to uh approve what we've already voted on and allow this transaction to continue?

I'll make a motion. I I uh made a commitment. I was told that this was not pressing that decision was not needed tonight when I researched this and I made a commitment to the chair of the harbor commission to uh hold over a final decision until the March meeting. So I have to stick to my word on that. So I will make a motion to postpone consideration until the next uh council meeting even though I 100% support this initiative. All right. Um

yeah. Yeah. I find myself in the same vine and I I support him as quite honored all this time. So and and I think that one of the things that the ABA commission has to uh understand is the liability for the town. So when you're looking this over I think that's very important and the difference between what they giving us is probably another eight feet and nobody's going to be driving down there anyway. So, I think those are all things you have to consider, but out of respect for you, um, I'm going to second that motion, but Mr. Quadrto, I do favor the the plan. So, all right, we have a motion and a, uh, second. All in favor? Nay. Nay. Nay. I.

All right. Is there a I'm going to I'm going to make a motion that we approve the agreement. This is not a condition of my motion, but I would ask Mr. quadrochi to possibly work with the hoba commission at least on the delineation where it's you know the rope a water theme you know the width and the delineation possibly the design if it's a fence or it's a rope fence that's not part of my motion just asking you possibly to do that out of good faith but I'll make a motion to approve the agreement as presented to the war council could you make it approval but there are uh two items that I brought to your attention pending the solic It is uh the two items you brought together the delineation delineation

width and the delineation. Okay. And the sunrise to sunset sunrise. Mr. Guoi's already agreed uh sunrise to sunset access 4foot delineation and and the right away at the end uh being a bench and if you purchase a bench uh the town uh supply the bench that we use at the parks. Uh okay. Yeah. I will incorporate that into my motion.

I will second that. But I I just want to say I I I hear and I don't disagree with the the um position of the of the Harbor Commission. Um it pains me to sort of to make this decision, but I feel like there is an obligation to a greater obligation to the uh fiscal uh solveny of this town. We cannot possibly absorb the cost of doing the remediation and the necessary work down there. If in fact Mr. Quattrochi uh says if we were to vote to continue this to next month, Mr. Quattrochi says, "No, you know what? Here's the the the change and the agreement. I'm not going to do the work. It's on you. It's just not worth the risk." And we will have some we will have access to the water through or we will have access to the waterfront through this walking path. We have is it perfect? No. But I think it's the right thing to do at this point.

Yeah. The fiscal responsibility is my biggest is my biggest reason for supporting this. Yeah. All in favor. Well, if I may just it's I just wanted to add that because it is the will of the council to not continue this. I believe this is a good deal. So, I am going to vote in favor of it. Excellent. All in favor? I opposed. There you go. Thank you. Next, we have new business discussion in action on the limitation of automatic license plate reader camera installations in Warren without approval from the Warren Town Council. Mr. Tromley, please.

Thank you, Mr. President. So, as many of us are, as many of the people in the room and also all of us on the council are familiar with, at uh previous meeting, I believe in November, we had discussed potentially allowing the state police to install a automatic license plate reader in town and the council rejected that. Uh it was brought to my attention that it is possible that a any any private business or doicile could install an automatic license plate reader camera without needing the approval of the council. because of how much attention it's gotten, because of how controversial it has been, I think it is appropriate to have an ordinance that states very simply that an automatic license plate reader, if you want to install that on private property, you have to get approval from the council before you do so. Now, this would not apply to things like Ring camera doorbells, which some many people have in the community, but it's a way to sort of safeguard the town based on uh some of the concerns that we have about how these cameras might be misused and the data, you know, breached or things of that nature. um the technology has just advanced so fast and so hard uh quickly that it's difficult for us to legislate around it and make sure that there's sufficient safeguards uh especially with AI and how that is impacting sort of the advancement of this technology based on that I would like to in have uh the solicitor draft uh an ordinance for our review that would simply say as I've said define what an automatic license plate reader camera is and state that if anyone would like to put it on private property that they have to come before the town council for our approval.

I have I have a question for the solicitor. Anthony, can we regulate what people do on their private property? If if they have a camera outside, can we tell them they can't post it on Facebook? Can we tell them, oh, you can you can put a camera on your property and post it on Facebook, but you can't give the state police access to it? Can we legally even do something like that?

Well, uh, the answer is is maybe. I've got to tell you this is a a new technology. We're talking about things that I actually did research on this. Couldn't find any precedents. So, uh, while I don't mind drafting an ordinance, uh, if there's a challenge, I I don't know what's going to happen. Maybe yes, maybe no. because the difference is with private property uh my understanding is is this would be directed towards a governmental purpose. So in other words uh even though the property is private the question is is whether or not that private property can be used for a governmental purpose because it's going to be pointing out from the house instead of increasion of privacy in a public way. There's no assumption of privacy in a public way. The question is is how how is the data collected? And I can't answer that, John. I can't say yes. I can't say no.

So, Miss Cronin had a question. Uh what does this how how would this impact um the cannabis uh potential cannabis sales? Uh do they are they not obligated to have um plate readers. Matt uh uh is the expert on cannabis and he tells me that it's not a requirement because he's ve very well verssed in cannabis, but it's not a requirement, but uh the um I guess that's something that uh uh businesses of that nature like to have. So at least they have a record of who's coming in. Okay. So

but it's not a requirement. So if in fact we were to develop a policy or an ordinance that would require council approval that would include a retailer of cannabis. That's correct. Yes. Okay. Mr. Rego. So, um, if you were to pass an ordinance not allowing the government to utilize a camera on private property and a crime, a a the a crime was committed in front of your house and you had a Ring camera, wouldn't that say to the to the police, hey, you can't use that,

right? Derek just said he wanted to exempt uh ring cameras. This would only go to block cameras. Not specifically that corporation, but just that advancement in the technology type of technology because a Ring camera is a little bit simpler than the technology that would be an automatic license plate reader would be. So, we're not singling out a specific corporation or anything of that nature. I I used the term. Sorry about that. Why can't the state put this camera on state property they own and warrant? Because we just told them they couldn't last month. No, they were asking our permission. Yeah, that's

I'm like the the camera that's across from Sip and Dip. It's not a flock camera, but they didn't ask us permission to put it there. It's a state highway. Well, you had Captain Albomb here and he asked for permission. And I'm assuming that it's necessary if they're here. All right. I just technically I think you're right, Mr. President. They could put it anywhere they they so pleased on state property, but for some reason they sought our opinion and we provided it. Correct. Any other questions? Uh for Mr. Tromley's proposal, please.

So my feeling is and and that's why I didn't have a problem with a block camera. If I go to other communities, they have it. They're going to nail me. So my fear is they'll have it, but yeah, if we have a crime in town, we won't be able to solve it because we didn't have the block camera. I mean, everywhere you go, people have information. I mean, sometimes I use my phone. I'm going somewhere. It's telling me where I'm going even before I'm going there. So, this information is out there. I think the only people it might hurt is us. That's my opinion. I respect where he wants to go with this. But again, I don't have problems with

Yeah. I mean, the biggest biggest concern that I hear from people about these I'm just not going to say anymore. I'm gonna stop talking at this moment. Okay. Does that make sense? Um, yeah.

I mean, the argument that I've heard all along is uh due process number one. Number two, uh they didn't in regards to the last uh specific uh solicitation by the state police, they didn't have theirou in front of us, which I thought was rather an interesting approach coming in front of us without a uh list or a contract or anything for us to uh be able to actually look at. So uh Mr. Tromley's brought this proposal forward. Mr. Tromley, you want to make a motion? So, the motion would be to direct the solicitor to draft an ordinance along the lines of what I've suggested with the caveat that it would not apply to Ring doorbell cameras and other such techn technology.

So, it would be like professional technology, the advanced stuff. Yeah. Uh, and I'll seek a second. All right. Is there a second? Second. Uh, discussion. Further discussion. Uh, all in favor? I I sure. I'm opposed. No oppos. Okay. So, there you have it. We don't even know if this is legal. So, whatever you draft up, Mr. Disto, it'll be coming back to us, I'm sure. Nothing that Mr. Dysto has ever done has ever been touched with legality. I assure you. Oh, no. Right here, you know.

Okay. Next, we have new business, too. discussion and action directing the town manager to obtain quotes from reputable insurers for catastrophic insurance coverage for the town of Warren. Mr. Dramley, once again,

yes, thank you, Mr. President, and I was graciously informed by members of the council that this has been considered in previous councils as well. I brought it forward because it's about to be budget time. We did have uh obviously the great incident many many years ago that left us in a financial position that is difficult and um it's worth exploring potentially whether or not we can afford this within our budget priorities. Um so I this would simply direct the town manager to obtain some quotes on this would be in excess of the current policy limits that we have with the Rhode Island uh interlocal trust. I have also spoken with uh Councilman Rigo who would like to see if we can get the Rhode Island Interlocal Trust to come and present on their sort of policy limits and what else we might be able to do. And I'm more than willing to amend uh this uh item to incorporate that.

I think that the trust maxes out at 5 million. Correct, Anthony? And I and this is and I'm totally in favor of obtaining quotes. I believe in the past when we've gotten them the numbers so astronomical uh for that cate to cover something bigger but I mean it never hurts to get quotes and to see where we're at to uh

to go from there. So, it's funny because I was going to put this uh not specifically the catastrophic, but I was going to put it on the agenda this month, but because of budget and everyone's overwhelmed, I didn't, but was my intention that we should be and it should have been in that audience we put that I put together for the budget. That probably should have been something that's reviewed on an annual basis. Uh shopping is one thing, but even knowing what you have, I think, is very important on an annual basis. So, I'm going to make a motion and the motion is to have the town manager direct the department heads to inventory all town owned vehicles equipment forward it to the budget committee to review all town insurance policies and advice the town council a recommendation that way covers pretty much everything.

Yeah, but I'm wait a five $5 million per incident. Yeah, but I put I'm looking for everything. Looking for it's a different agenda item that that's a predicate to what Mr. Trombl is asking for it's insurance. That's okay. Basically uh in order to determine what the excess insurance uh policy what the cost of the excess insurance would be this is the predicate to that to find out what coverage you have now review is basically reviewing all the insuranceances. Okay. So that's second that motion from Mr. All in favor? I.

Next we have discussion and action regarding ordinance chapter 2 administration article 2 town council section 2-33 order of business. Vice President Cronin put this on. Feel free to explain it. Well, I think we've all um up here anyways looked out at the uh audience of uh council meeting attendants and uh seen people just falling over asleep who are waiting to have a simple uh permit or petition or public hearing heard. Um that is just quick business. And so I am suggesting that in the spirit of streamlining and making the council meetings a little more um uh doable for the general public that we switch the order of um business and put uh public hearings and petitions if any on either of them after the consent agenda and put the introduction of ordinances after those two and then go in order after that to old business, new business, etc. It would just be basically moving introduction of ordinances to after petitions and it would probably alleviate a lot of um unnecessary uh you know hours of of of sitting by a lot of people who have simple business.

Is that in the charter the this ordinance? I mean this uh did I looked this up myself because I I agree with Carrie that it should be changed but you need a charter change for this or No, it's just legislation. May May I just add something? Um some years ago the council did adopt um rules of procedure and um rule two subsection C's agenda items taken out of order. the town council president may without the necessity of any vote call for the agenda items uh call for the agenda items out of out of the prescribed uh order of business.

So that's another thing that you have there. You might want to change that to a vote if it's a majority vote, but there's a there's a process for that. Okay. I mean that can be done that if you know if there is somebody here who needs to be heard early for whatever reason but just as an order a general order of operation to to flip those. I think it'll just streamline. I don't we're not going to do it every single thing like let's let's put these three up. Let's just set it that way. And that way the general public when uh deciding what time they're going to arrive here um is going to have a little better uh it's going to be more predictable for them. So what are you looking at? Eight and nine or just nine?

No. Move move move introduction of ordinances if any to the um to after public hearings and petitions. I would switch the order. I would put petitions first because those are usually without much discussion. Okay. Okay. So, so you would but so put petitions before public hearing. Yeah. Move them all up, but put petitions before that before the public hearing because sometimes those public hearings take a while and somebody's here for a quick petition. So, actually public hearings wouldn't change at all. It would just be petitions would go where? Yeah. Swap seven and nine. Yeah. Swap seven and nine. Yeah. Uh

right. But if you look at this evening for in instance uh we had the PH1 public hearing that took a moment and then you know P1 the petition took another moment it's generally like that. So if we made number nine petitions, we put that in the seventh pos position and took number eight public hearings uh left that in the eighth position but put number seven ordinances in the ninth position. Yeah. So we just swap in seven and nine. Okay.

Yes. Yes. Yes. I just want to ask the solicitor a quick question on I think the reason we might have had public hearings ahead of petitions is that sometimes when a new business is coming in we have to have a public hearing and then they'll come for like the BV license and and such. So would it make from a legal perspective sense to have petitions before public hearings or is it more legally correct to have the public hearings before the petitions? 601 half dozen the other. All right. Councilman, I think if we have one of those cases where we need to have we can just move that petition down to the to the bottom so the other petitions can still get out of here and then we can council. You have a sharp motion.

The president can move it without a vote. And the president can move it without a vote. We always vote on it. Always kills me. I'll make a motion to uh swap seven and nine in the order of business for the town council. I will second that. All in favor? I All right. Hopefully we move things. Uh, but we couldn't put one in there that anybody that's charging the town by the hour must go way way way up on the agenda. Well, we can. Is there anyone here tonight? Next, we have He's not smiling. Manager discussion and action regarding a new 905galon sodium hypocchlorite bulk storage tank bid for the wastewater treatment facility.

Good evening. Mr. President, members of the council, um if you recall last month, we talked about uh we had an issue at the wastewater treatment tank uh facility where we had a tank that was uh leaking and we couldn't repair it and had to be replaced. So, we did go out to bid. Uh we received one bid. Um that bid was from Heart Engineering Corporation who has done quite a bit of work uh at the facility already. Our our um operator is very familiar with Heart Engineering. Um, so I recommend that we uh make a motion to approve the $37,000 bid to I'll second that motion. I would just like to know where where are we getting the funds from.

Um, we should we'll have money in the uh operating of the facility. Also uh since we switched uh to our new um sludge disposal company um the cost of that has drastically been reduced. So, we should have some uh excess money in there as well. So, all right. There's a motion to second. All in favor? I. Next, we have discussion and action regarding a safety grant from the town for the town of Warren. The Department of Public Works received with the purchase of a portable lighting equipment and scholarship received for the bucket truck training.

Yes, Mr. President. I just wanted to bring to the council's attention that the the town was awarded these two grants. Uh one is for the first one is for lighting uh portable lighting. Um I had actually noticed in in the July when we had the uh the severe thunderstorm brought down quite a few trees. We lost the power in sections of the town. Uh some of our workers were out there using chainsaws and uh the only light they had was the light from the the light bar on the some of the vehicles. So it was quite dangerous. So this will give them some uh safety when they they have to go to scenes where there is no electricity and they they need to be able to see at night. Well, that's good.

And then second one is uh um from the public works director Brian Wheeler at the time uh he put in to get um a scholarship so that we can bring someone in to train our workers on on buckets of bucket safety. No actions needed. Uh, next we have a request from the town manager to be excused from the March 10th, 2026 town meeting. We don't need we don't need to make a motion on that. You're just telling us you're going, right? Yes. My wife has arranged for your wife asking permission. Well, she's she's arranged for her and I to go on spring break with my daughter. So, um,

we could deny it. What What was that? Yeah. Yeah. We never let Tony out of the house. Uh so do you want us to take a vote, Mr. Dysto? Is there a motion to uh I'll make a motion we the town manager be excused from the March 10th town council. Second. All in favor? Next. I don't know if that's legal. Discussion and action on the annual need for the use of the commercial town dock. Mr. Silva,

this is in conjunction with the the change we just made with the verbiage on the uh ordinance. I'd also like to propose that we increase the fee by $100. Again, in an effort to stop people from paying for slips that they're not going to use. And it hasn't we haven't had an increase. I I don't know when the last increase was. This is $8 a week for a town dock. Is that comparable to what Bristol gets for their docks? Bristol's a lot more. Yeah. Okay. It's our effort to keep it down, right? I mean, I I I wouldn't want to see a huge increase. I'm just trying to maybe

make it a little harder for somebody to say, "Yeah, I'll pay for the dock. I don't, you know, just in case." Oh, two guys that are painting houses and they have slips. They haven't put a boat in. Okay. So, I just go I don't have a problem approving this, but this is something that we're going to be looking at. All fees and fines at budget time. I can I'm trying to get it in prior to the letter going out. Right. There you go. Is there a motion? Uh, may I ask just one more question? Yes, you can. Um, it had I think it came up earlier when we having the discussion about creating a separate account that goes towards restoration of like the sort of the town dock and such. Is it your intention to have this additional increase go towards towards that in the future? It's entirely up to the council. Oh yeah, that's a different discussion.

A different discussion. The Hava Commission wants wants that. Yeah, budget time would be time for re budget time is the time for that. Understood. Just wanted to raise that question. Thank you very much. I'll make the motion to approve this if that helps. All in favor? I All right. So yours was the second, Mr. Bley. Not a problem. Next we have a request permission to overspend in police dispatch overtime. And this is account 01540-1030 for $10,000 to be offset by the animal control wages union account 0156020.

Yes, Mr. uh President. Self-explanatory. Yeah, that we're short in this area because we had to hire a new dispatcher and um uh train that person. So, it's it's going to affect the uh Is there a motion? I'll make a motion. Second. Second. All in favor? I discussion, please. So, uh yeah, we had this discussion already. Um when we taking out from one fund, then you're putting it into the other fund. Are you going to show the higher amount on this fund and then reduce the other one on the budget or are you going to have a different process for that? Yeah, we we would increase the budget line.

Oh, okay. And then you decrease them. Okay. But for budget purposes next year, we're going to see what we actually budgeted, right? And then what we actually used. You're not going to use what's on here. You're going to use what we actually budgeted. You would see you would see the change. Do you see the higher number or not the number? We could do it either way, I guess. Yeah. Okay. As long as we see what we actually did and then we get the actual the higher amount. You understand what I'm saying, right? Okay, that's fine. Next, we have request permission. Oh, yeah. Was there a vote? All in favor? I.

Okay. Next. request permission to overspend in the acco salary account 01560 061040 for $23,000 to be offset by the acco wages union account 015601020. I'll make a motion and a second. All in favor? I. All right. Next we have request permission to overspend in the harbor master the dark maintenance account 015400420 for $1,500 to be offset by assistant wages account 01560 041030.

Make a motion to approve. Second. All in favor? I. Next, we have discussion and action on agreement between the state of Rhode Island and the town of Warren regarding municipal road and bridge program funds.

Yes, Mr. President, the state of Rhode Island has set aside uh funds from the uh opera, their opera money. Um and uh they request that we enter into an agreement uh with them that if we have the ability to uh spend roadway or bridge repair funds that they would give us uh onethird match that with onethird of what we spend. So, if we spend $100,000, they'll match it with uh 30 or $33,000. We did do this last year. U if you recall with the pavement. Yes. Right. So, so let me just say before I forget, it's not really a third. They're going to give us a cap of $86,000. Correct.

I'm sorry. They'll give us up to $86,000, right? Or is it a third of whatever we spend? It's a third of of up to $86,000. Okay. Yes. And this So, we just need a motion to enter into the agreement. Correct. Yeah. I'll make a motion we enter the agreement. Second. All in favor? I.

Next, we have discussion on grants that the town of Warren has received the cost share match for those grants. So, I've asked for this and if we all take a look at it, please you'll see that we have the first one, the Economic Development Administration. The uh grant amount was 3,118,500. Local share was $250,000. And this is for the Daniels Park, correct?

No. No. Uh this is for the uh major major electrical upgrades at um Oh, that one is okay. At the uh wastewater treatment plant.

Okay. And when we're going into the budget uh cycle as we are, one of the things that I wanted to bring up to everyone is that last year, if you remember, we had the shortfall in the utilities account for the sewer treatment facility and we increased the sewer usage fund fee to cover that loss. Well, that covering of that loss would be about the 250,000. So, I think we're in good shape to this is covered by the by the um that 250 is covered by the Rhode Island grant. Correct. Yes.

So, we don't have to worry about that. That's correct. That's that's the if you recall before Mr. Dury left, he was able to work with DM. No, this is this is it says local share, but that's zeroed out because we got another grant from DDM to cover the local share. So, this is a wash the first. Where's the one that it's the next one, Joe? It's the next one. Okay. So, the next one. Thank you, Mr. Rego. So, with the EPA, the direct spending program for the primary sludge pump station upgrade that is 2,240,000. So then we have the local shares 560,000. Correct.

So for two years we if we kept the sewer usage fee where it's at or increased it if need be we would be able to uh generate that 560,000 just through the sewer usage fees. I'm not worried about that 560. Uh, I do know that the 180 that we lent the sewer department needs to come back, but that should still give us about $300 or $400,000. So, I think we can cover that. I think so.

Right. Well, what I'm doing is pointing out the fact that not only do I think we can, but we absolutely can because the sewer usage fees that we increased is bringing in additional revenue that we can directly spend on the sewer treatment facility because that's the whole idea of a suage fee. Just pointing that out to everyone.

Okay. Uh next we have the uh police station grant which we're not going anywhere with right now. Then there's the fire uh protection out at uh Twisted Point. And that didn't have a What's the match on that one? I'm so Which one, Mr. President? The twist. the the match the match on that is about 20 right now $26,000. Yes. 206. Um may I ask how is the progress of that going?

Uh we have had discussions, the fire chief and I have had discussions with USDA. Um the uh there is is some issues as far as location of where that uh those uh uh tanks tank the tanks yes are going to be stoed. The other the other is that we need to get uh some engineering and and uh money money to to uh to do that. Okay. So still in discussion phase basically. What is the match on that one? I don't think it's

so so currently the way the way the the way the the uh the grant was written the scope of that work was written uh it's $26,000 because it was written in a certain way. We've had discussion with USDA that if if we it it's rewritten the scope of the work is rewritten then it it there might not be any match at all or the match might be a lot less. Okay. Right underneath that in that same category it says Rhode Island commerce site readiness. Is that 155? Would that cover some of the 206 or is that a totally separate thing? I believe that's what it's indicating. Is that correct?

Uh no. So that's a separate grant. That's the Rhode Island um the commerce grant that we got that is in the process of being looking at the infrastructure up at um um Metaccom Avenue for the market to metaccom plan. Okay. So, okay. Different. So then you had quirk no match the housing transit no match the housing municipal technical assistant no match infrastructure bank uh no match. So this is a JL's park one, Mr. President. All right. But they So it should be 1%, right? Are they charging us 1% on the

No, no, no. This the the JS Park one is the um there is no uh match from the town. Uh the match that is required uh we're using one grant to offset the other grant. So the the one that uh you I believe you're speaking about was the we had to get an um the reimbursement grant that yes that we had to use um line of credit like a uh a fund that that the um infrastructure bank is going to give us because we can't uh cleared up. So we're moving forward on that. We we have been uh they've been sending uh information to myself and the solicitor. Uh their legal is still working on the the language

language. Correct. All right. So then you got the SNAP watershed implementation. The match is 1 million. It's covered by another grant. It's covered by grant. Those two grants are offsetting each other. All right. I just wanted to bring everybody that you know all of this to everybody's attention. We got a lot of grants and uh it's good news. When do you anticipate any of this work being done? Do you know uh J they're working on right now they're doing the uh spring um the site analysis getting permits of DEM CRMC permits. Um they are expecting to start work in the springtime. Uh actual work work.

All right. And what about the sewer plant? We still have to there's paperwork that we still have to file with EDA and EPA. I'm I'm sorry. I did have a question going back to this oneird that 86,000 that the u the state was putting out. Is this for state roads or is it for town roads? Town roads. We just have to show them the project and let them know what the project was. Um, if you recall, we did it last year when we um we did $100,000 for uh road repavement. Um, we were able to get was it 33,000 additional from the state?

Yeah, you can use up to that 86, but we have to find more. What was the road we did last year? I'm just curious. The dot. Yeah, now I remember. And you did some small repairs, right? All right. Good, Mr. Rego. Yeah, I'm good. Thank you. Next, finance director, revenues and expenditures. Thank you, Mr. Sullivan.

We're uh again in pretty good shape actually. We um our cap our working balance went up a little bit this month. Um, and the actually the first week of February is another million and a half. So, um, we're in real shape. So, any questions? One quick question. So, we got the revenue up till January. How much more did you receive in February? Do you know did the bulk come in January or did a lot more come in February? No, the bulk came in January, but there was about another million five. Good to know. Um, in February, first week of February. million five. Wrong. Mr. President, I just like to point out a couple things.

Um, we do anticipate that there'll be some overages um um mostly because of the snow and uh and the the cost of of removing snow uh both at BT uh DPW and uh I I understand that there may be some because we staff the fire departments as well uh during the storm. Uh so I just wanted to let you know that ahead of time. Um the other thing is I just want to give some kudos to the finance director. The finance director has been uh uh making sure that each month that the uh what are you calling your reconciliations are up to date and on time every month since he's been here. Um as you know that's been our Achilles heel for a year and a half. Um but uh the the finance director uh each month has got those done uh right at the end of the month and uh you know it it's certainly going to make it a lot easier next year when we we go into the auditing process. So I I just want to give

I look forward to doing the budget with you in the room. Yes. And let me just say this. I work you know I'm always there and I think Gary's amazing. I come up with an idea. he puts it on paper and and just it's the whole goal is to make life easier for everyone, you know. So, thank you, Gary. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Next, we have DPW. Did both of them come down or do we just have one? I'll do this one.

All right. All right. So, the first one here is a discussion action regarding updating of parking signs uh with the economic development board. Um Jesse and I have worked a lot in the last kind of uh year and a half talking about parking signs and coming up with ideas. We did give you in the packet a couple of ideas that we're looking at. Um we feel that the small circular maroon signs don't really help anyone identify where parking actually is in town. Um, we've kind of looked at other ways of doing it to brighten it up, to kind of put some color to it, um, vi and and actually direct to the right areas. Uh, so we did a tentative quote with, uh, the sign company because these would be some of these signs would be out of our capabilities. Um, and we're ranging between 95 and 250 bucks per sign. So, it's not crazy amount of money. um economic development board has come up with a kind of some ideas of where they would put them. And I think what we would like to do is get your approval to kind of go and narrow down this design and then they would present to you that this final design and you say yes or no and then they can go ahead and stop purchasing so we can hopefully for the summer season have some new parking signs and people would be able to actually find the parking spots that we have in town.

Go ahead. Um, I see these quotes are all said one of each, correct? Just to get a price. What do you How many of each do you think we would actually mean to accomplish what we're trying to accomplish?

Uh, I think when we kind of first started looking at it, uh, we were probably in the ballpark of under five grand when it came to signage. uh with the mounts with everything we needed being that they're not super expensive and and you know just working with traffic signs safety obviously it'll be better when we buy in bulk when it would be just buying one or two signs. So these numbers would go down slightly there'd be a discount to it and then it's just like like I said finding the right location to put it. Um we don't want to we want to make sure people coming into town on all directions can stop you know see where the municipal lots are. Um, so we're open to like you the suggestions of what to have it. Um, but we kind of came up with something that would be slightly different than obviously what Bristol has and something that's bright and eye-catching.

We also do a sign diet. Yes. So that was the other side to what we're going to discuss and I know it's not necessarily listed, but we had talked we've already discussed about um just shrinking down signage and removing poles that don't need to be there. We have a lot of decorative lights that can host host a sign. And right now, currently, if you walk down Main Street, there is a sign that says, you know, park, no parking, hit a corner, and then directly behind it decorative light. Just take that, mount it to the decorative light post. So, it's not having dual signage. There's a lot of confusing signs and we have talked about that. So, that's a process that we can do internally with the basically just a notification to Ryot that we're going to um unclutter, declutter.

I'd like to see it attached to this. Yeah, it's part of the plan that we've been talking about from day one. We just wanted to make sure we got the the sign ideas out there for you guys. In order to make a complete presentation, we wanted to make sure that changing of the signs would allow. Uh part of the presentation does include the consolidation of signs to one type consolidation of uh our parking times to civic times and to like you as working. It's already it's already baked in. Yeah. So there'll be more steps to this process. It what he said if if we put up additional polls and signs and it's just like a slot.

We we've looked at these with attaching them to already existing signs and polls that we we don't want to add. That was a big thing we've talked about. We walked around uh probably a month and a half, two months ago and the first thing we talked about was not adding more polls is identifying where they can go on existing polls that are already there. So, we're not as long as they're not getting added to a poll that already has at least two signs on it already, which I pretty sure exists. Yeah, there's some pretty and maybe there's a grant out there for this kind of work, economic development possibly. I I haven't found one, but I am uh meeting with the board on Thursday and we'll we'll look into it.

Mr. Rego, two things. Uh speaking of grant, what's the storefront grant that we used to get every year? Um was 5 to10,000 CDBG. CDBG is would it be covered under this or it doesn't affect munities and it only affects that even exist? I don't think I don't think we have anything current, but we'd have to look you know we'll look into that.

My my only question is is this something that you consider also on the on the polls here the uh the banners? There is um the only thing with banners is you'll be replacing them fairly often with the weather we have, but they it's definitely a possibility. They're not super expensive. I think the whole setup was under 50 bucks for the parts and pieces and then you're probably between 100 150 for the banner depending on what you go with. So they're not super expensive to do that, right? And again, somehow if you can get businesses involved and and I think that's the way to go. Sponsored. Are you looking for an active from us tonight on I believe we're looking for you to say yes we can move forward with our plans so that we can finalize the design for you guys and come forward with it. Mr. President, yeah,

I just want to commend uh Jesse and the entire economic development board for uh carrying this forward. This is an initiative we started when I was still chair of the economic development board way back in the day and uh I'm very proud uh to see how much they have shined since I I was clearly holding them back. That's what I'm trying to say. But, uh, I'll make a motion to approve this, uh, these signs. I think they're an excellent addition to our community. Second. All in favor? Okay. Thank you. Thank you very much. Perfect. I'm just surprised that our solicitor didn't see the signs of that coming.

So, next we have discussion and action regarding the Berskill Park concrete bleaches and removal. So, we got the bids. Yes. Um, so there's obviously we have two different bids. Uh, they're more or less one's rebuilding and then some of the other ones. So, the problem I found on the rebuilding of it is, uh, most companies would like to see us, and I know that two different ones, but they're basically the same. So, most companies would like to see engineer drawings for the rebuilding, which is why we only received one bid, and I'm not positive it's a great way to move forward with it,

right? um on the removal and uh regrading. Um some of these bids were very high compared to what I thought they would come in at for some of them. And then there was some that were um lower. Uh I would also ask that we deny these bids at the moment and um push it down to DPW to rent pieces of equipment, but also set aside a two to three week time frame to do the work. I think it's something DPW can do. The problem I have with it is obviously everybody knows with the DPW we get called to a million different projects. So I think what we need to do is if we went that route where we're going to save some money because we're just renting equipment and disposal fees. Um we would need to like really hardress say we're not doing any other projects besides massive emergencies that pop up because we have to focus our effort on this. But I think we would save a lot of money. Um, I mean, the cheapest bid that came through as a total was 58,900. And

what what entertained me was the the WH Peeps there, PEPS, whatever. You know, if we did the removal at 41,000, I was hoping you could regrade and do the loan and the seating. Yeah. So, it would take a lot of I guess negotiating a lot of run into a lot of things where companies don't want to do they want to do it all or nothing. they don't want to share the wealth with us. So, they're looking for a lot of times they're looking for their whole the whole contract or nothing. So, it's possible to Yes. talk that through and say, "Hey, we just we only want to hire you for the removal part and then we can you know, but why did they give us all separate?"

So, it's listed in the packet as separate um steps in the process. They wouldn't know that going in that they're giving separate costs associated to the task. They do. No, they know that. Um it's just a conversation we had with a few companies that they they want the whole project or they're not really looking forward to doing they don't want to be working necessarily with That's interesting, Mr. So, um I want to ask questions about the business and I'm going to say something else. So the second on the second page, the Ziko construction was that to repair the uh Yeah. So repair replace it comes out to just about 100K.

So the finish the finishing isn't just to uh what do they call it? Uh coated stuckco it. It was more than that, right? Yeah. They got reinforcement in there and everything. Yes. So, in order for these, and uh our building official can attest to this, too, is anything we're going to go over the cost of the 50% cost of these stairs. So, we would have to bring it up to today's standards, which is going to require railings, uh fixing, grids, engineered drawing. Okay. So, it's it's a lot to bring these up to standard today. Let me say my feeling and and then Joe and I we talked about this a while back and then you talked about it. I was on vacation and um that that was donated to us by I think his name was you know who

Joseph Martin. Joseph Martin 100 years ago. One of the things I like and that trust is still around. One of the things I like to explore is possibly if there would be any funds in that trust to rebuild this. The second thing is was there anything tied I don't think there was 100 years ago but I think we should look into seeing there was any anything tied to that donation. Again, we don't really have the funds right now anyways, Joe. So, exploring and it doesn't cost us anything is something that I'd like to do. I just want to speak to something that Brian just said. If you call them bleachers, they fall under the building code. If you call it a landscape feature, which we don't have a field, so they are not bleachers anymore. They do not fall under the building code. Bingo. Believe we caught them.

They fall they are a landscape feature but are not which are not regulated by the building code. So we don't, you know, we would still want a design plan obviously if we're spending money, but it does not need to comply with the building code because it would be a landscape feature because to have a grandstand, you have to have a field to watch, but we got a bunch of trees in the middle of the field now. So unless we're watching birds, it's not really bleachers. So it would not require building code approval if you call it a landscape feature. So let's take that off the table because I really want to save these. It's an icon. It's a landmark thing. I I was talking to a lady yesterday uh and I says you

you know I would much rather save these than take them down and grade them or re I would much rather rebuild them or save them than than to eliminate them. That's part of Warren's history right there. How about get rid of half of them? I feel the same. If we can bring in the bite path to a better path, a better landing, if we could get rid of it's about 160 feet. If you cut it right in the middle, it would give us a much greater opportunity to enhance the bike path connection. So Joe, again, we don't have the funds right now. We don't have the thing. So let's just explore options as we go. Doesn't mean it's a dead issue, but no, but the insurance company is um still there and they're

Well, that $100,000 is a lot less than I was expecting. I know I know that's probably low, but even if it jumps up to 150. Yeah, I think it's not rocket science these days. Not rocket science. It's just a retaining wall with steps in it. That's all. Mhm. But it's actually a landscape feature. Remember that it's a they are not bleaches because there's both a landscape feature. Mr. Hanley at this point would be to reject. Motion to reject. The motion would be to reject the bids and have the DPW director and the town manager work on uh options. Options. I'll second that motion. Is that those options include researching the trust? Yes,

absolutely. Re the money. Oh, researching if it's restricted. Correct. Right. Yes. I thought you were talking about the local trust. So, yes. All in favor. There's a second. All in favor? I. Thank you. And I would just like to say one quick thing and it's just thank you guys for your support while I'm heading into this deployment. Um, this is my last council meeting until April of 2027. So, just want to thank you guys for your support, allowing me to take this opportunity to go serve our country. Um, so I want to thank you for your service. Thank you. A lot of fun. I'm going to miss you guys. I am still in contact with everybody here. So, stay safe. Can't wait to to get the warmer weather.

Djibouti in Africa. So, pictures. Thank you for all you've done. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Wheeler. Next, we have the fire chief discussion and action, an authorization for the town council president sign a formal agreement, a formal proposal, excuse me, with KS State Bank regarding the municipal lease purchase financing emergency medical services rescue ambulance vehicle.

Yeah, this is the uh the rescue you approved last budget season for the refurbish for the remount. It's due to be delivered hopefully this July. So, this is the leasing company went out to bid um to p make that purchase. Pass it over to So, it's a refurbished box new everything else. Correct. And it's a lease. It's a lease. No, it's a purchase. They call it a lease. It's a lease purchase. Lease purchase. No, it's not lease. It's just a purchase payment. They call it I don't know why they do that. I don't know. I was just because it's a purchase. Yeah. I'm repeating what I read. says lease and this is all within the numbers that we approved. Yes. Excuse me. This is within the numbers that we approved at the budget.

It is. Yes. And uh KS Bank uh state bank is uh actually we've done business before with them as a town town of Warren did and uh they had the lowest rate it would look and we did bring this before the budget committee and spoke to them about it and uh they recommended KS uh state bank as well. So, I'll make a motion to approve KS State Bank with option one at $78,369.58. I'll second that and thank the good state of Kansas. Okay. Uh, all in favor? I thank you. Next, we have age eight, police chief. Hi, Chief.

Good evening. in action regarding the allocation of funds for the police dispatch consoles. Did you get all dressed up for this desk? I did. Okay. What do you got? So, we were looking exploring the uh looking into getting new dispatch consoles um since we are going to enlarge and dispatch center and I did find some funds. So, I'm asking permission to allocate those funds for those uh those reasons. We got a $2,000 from the trust for that. Um, and we are using some of the opera money. Good. I'll make a motion we approve the uh

allocation of funds for the new police dispatch consoles. All right, Mr. Tromley second. All in favor? I did you say the amount? It's uh $26,730. So, but it's coming from different a bunch of different little little areas. You're all set. You got it. Thank you. Thank you very much. All right. Is there a motion to adjurnn? Motion to adjurnn. Second.