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MARCH 17, 2008 MIDDLETOWN TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

Vice Chairman Shirley Mello called the meeting to order at 6:59pm. President Paul Roderiques and Councilman Louis DiPalma were absent. Editor’s Note: Time is quoted from the wall clock. The wall clock is three minutes slow.

Liquor License Transfer Advertized

The meeting got off to a rocky start as Councilman Edward Silveira Jr. asked to speak on the routine and perfunctory matter of ordering the advertisement for a public hearing concerning the transfer of a liquor license. Councilwoman Mello and Councilman Silveira became a little testy regarding discussion at this time, rather than at the future public hearing; however, Councilman Silveira was allowed to speak. The Class A Alcoholic Beverage License currently held by Lazar’s Package Store, 554 West Main Road is asking to be transferred to a new owner, Gerald S. Kempen, and moved to the Stop & Shop Plaza, 1360 West Main Road. Gerald Kempen is the ex-Town Administrator whose contract was not renewed by the current Town Council. Councilman Silveira wanted to praise the work that Mr. Kempen did as Town Administrator and said that he “would have been remiss if he didn’t thank you (for that work.)”

Fourteen-item Consent Calendar

Three items on the consent calendar received additional comment:

An $11,708 contract for painting the Senior Center dining room was awarded to Dennis Moffitt Painting, LLC, Wakefield, RI (second low bidder) on a 5-1 vote with Councilman Silveira opposed. The low bidder, Seaside Painting LLC, Middletown, RI, was rejected because it had failed to submit a Bid Bond as required. Considerable discussion occurred as to a cheaper way of painting the facility using Town employees, teenage volunteers, or even the senior citizens themselves. All of these alternatives were dismissed. Senior Center Director Arlene Kaull explained that the building has not been painted in 18 years and said that “If you think 80 year old people can do painting ……..”
With Councilwoman Mello recusing for a personal conflict, the Council unanimously awarded a $30,530 contract for campground roadway & parking lot resurfacing to JAM Construction CO, Middletown, RI (low bidder.) Councilman Silveira asked if the repaving is a dire need and Interim Town Administrator Shawn Brown said that “It is dire.” Resident Art Benner argued that the improvements should be made since the campground is a money maker for the Town. The cost for this project will be paid out of the Beach operating budget.
The purchase of a new police cruiser to replace one destroyed by an interior fire was unanimously approved by the Council. The $33,187 contract was awarded to MHQ Municipal Vehicles and Municipal Graphics, Inc. and will be paid from the Rescue Wagon Special Revenue Fund.

Resident Antone Viveiros objected to each of these contract awards appearing on the Consent Calendar, rather than on the regular docket. Resident Ronald Santa made a similar objection at the end of the meeting in the Public Forum section of the docket.

Community Development Block Grant Application (CDBG) Approved

Town Planner Ron Wolanski explained the process of Middletown applying for the Small Cities Community Development Block Grants on behalf of various organizations. This year the total applications nearly reached the $250,000 limit and consequently Middletown could not apply for enough monies ($75,000) to complete the sidewalk restorations at Oxbow. The Public Hearing was opened, however, no resident chose to speak. The following is a list of the grants for which Middletown is applying:

$34,266 – Senior Center renovations (new roof and restroom exhaust fans)
$6,538 – Substance Abuse Task Force programs
$65,228 – Recreational facilities at Oxbow
$10,000 – Boys & Girls Club programs
$2,268 - Sidewalks at Oxbow
$15,000 – Lucy’s Hearth operating support
$16,700 – Parking lot drainage at Joel Peckham School (Project Head Start)
$10,000 – Dental program for East Bay Community Action Program
$5,000 – Women’s Resource Center services
$10,000 - Women’s Resource Center acquisition of property
$25,000 – Child & Family construction of new facility
$7,000 – Housing Hotline of Newport County operating support
$30,000 – Church Community Housing Corporation operating support
$3,000 – Community Housing Land Trust of RI operating support
$10,000 – Town administration

Clerk of the Works Contract Approved

The Council unanimously awarded a $99,400 contract to Ahlborg Building Management LLC, Cranston, RI to perform “Clerk of the Works and/or Owners Representative Services” related to the construction of the new Police Facility.

Reconstruction of Tennis and Basketball Courts Approved

With Councilwoman Mello recusing due to family ties, the Council unanimously approved the transfer of $256,875 to the School Department to fund a contract with Narragansett Improvement Company, Providence, RI to reconstruct the tennis and basketball courts at Gaudet School. Interim Administrator Brown explained that by having the School Department contract the work instead of the Town, the State will rebate 30% of the total cost to the Town. Resident Manny Mello questioned why the tennis courts at the West Main Recreation Complex have not been replaced after being ripped up two years ago.

Fire Alarm Ordinance Revision

The Council unanimously adopted, on its second reading, a revision of the fire alarm ordinance primarily addressing false alarms and penalties.

Appointment

The Council unanimously appointed Mary F. Hannon to the Board of Canvassers.

Added Agenda Item

As a last minute added agenda item, the Council unanimously approved utility pole relocation on Forest Avenue.

PUBLIC FORUM SESSION

Two residents requested to speak during the Public Forum Session:

1. Art Benner noted the recent death of 97-year-old Irene Merker and commended her for many years of volunteer effort in the beautification of the Town.

2. Ronald Santa objected to the inclusion of financial maters (contract awards) in the Consent Calendar rather than individually addressing each item in the regular docket as has been the Council custom. A single vote to adopt the Consent Calendar is NOT the appropriate way for the Council to approve the expenditure of thousands of taxpayer’s dollars. Each expenditure should receive the individual attention and vote of every Council member.

The Council recessed the regular meeting at 8:04pm in order to reconvene in Executive Session. As noted in the docket, the purpose of the Executive Session was “collective bargaining.”

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