Monthly Meeting

February 22, 2006

Meeting Minutes

I.       The meeting was Called to Order at 7:30 p.m. by Joe Thomas.  Council members in attendance included Joe Bleczinski, Bob Stebenne and Pat Zito.  District Manager Frank Murray, Tax Collector Helen Patience, Harbormaster Mike Tortolani, Attorney Kerry Rafanelli and Clerk Catherine Kelleher were also present.  Bruce Fournier, Pat Mannix and Carmine Moretti were absent.

II.    Pledge of Allegiance was recited by the Assembly. 

III. Ratification of Minutes

A.     Motion to accept the December 2005 meeting minutes with one correction was made by Bob Stebenne, seconded by Pat Zito and approved by all Council members in attendance.

B.     Motion to accept the January 2006 meeting minutes was made by Bob Stebenne, seconded by Joe Bleczinski and approved by all Council members in attendance. 

IV.   Period of Public Comment

A.     Miki Dickinson requested that the Council consider replacing the seating (bench) area and umbrellas at the end of the walkway at Kelly Beach which have been removed. 

B.     Bob Stebenne asked about the use of the notices sign at the entrance to Bonnet Shores .  He said that he was informed that subcommittees are able to use the sign for posting meetings.  It was noted that the individual committee chairpersons should request signage from the District Manager.

V.     Committee Reports

A.     Harbor

1.      Joe Bleczinski motioned to renew the Harbormaster’s membership application to the Harbormaster Association.  The cost of the renewal is $25 per year.  The motion was seconded by Bob Stebenne and approved by all Council members in attendance. 

2.      Pat Zito motioned to pay $100 for Mike Tortolani to attend the Harbormaster Association Academy held at Roger Williams University on March 23^rd and 24^th.  The motion was seconded by Joe Bleczinski and approved by all Council members in attendance. 

3.      Mr. Tortolani reported that he spoke with Ken Anderson, an engineer with Coastal Resource Management.  Mr. Anderson informed him that dredging is cheaper now than in years past and that is easier to get permits.  A lengthy discussion ensued regarding dredging the sandbar at Little Beach. 

4.      Mike Tortolani reported that Professor Boudreau from U.R.I. did a study approximately 10-15 years ago.  The Council requested Mike to contact Dr. Boudreau to inquire if he would do another free study of the sandbar and evaluate the jetty, as well as give his opinion on dredging the ocean at Little Beach

5.      A discussion regarding mooring regulations, and ordinances versus the by-laws took place among the Council members and Assembly

6.      Mr. Tortolani spoke with Kevin Cute regarding the Harbormaster Plan.  Mike and Kevin will meet with Joe Bleczinski to review the Plan. 

B.     Social

1.      Pat Zito reported that Game Night on January 28, 2006 was very well received by approximately 50 people at the Community Center.

2.      An outing to the Newport Playhouse is planned for Saturday, April 29^th.  Cost per person is $42.00.

3.      A clambake is tentatively scheduled for June 24, 2006 at the Community Center. 

4.      Earth Day is April 22^nd from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm . 

5.      Pat reported that she has been involved with the U.R.I. Neighborhood Coalition for the past several years, but can no longer make the necessary commitment, for personal reasons, and is therefore resigning.  She expressed hope that someone else from the Fire District would volunteer to attend the monthly meetings.  She reported that committee meetings are held from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm , followed by the main meeting from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm on the third Tuesday of every month.  Pat said that she would continue to be involved with the Coalition, but not as a committee member. 

6.      Paul Haas stated that he attended the meeting on February 21, 2006 at which the guest speaker was a man leading a national effort regarding the National Neighborhood Day on September 16, 2006 .  Mr. Haas said the meeting was very effective with approximately 100 people in attendance, including 20 non-students.  Paul said that he would represent Bonnet Shores in place of Pat Zito.

7.      The Council members reviewed the generic open letter which is to be sent to 3-5 landscapers for bids for landscaping the public areas.  (See the attached hard copy of the letter.)  A lengthy discussion ensued regarding the letter, the request for bids, the by-laws and the previous person who cut the grass.

8.      Pat Zito requested that Kerry Rafanelli check with the Town of Narragansett regarding the requirement of public notes when a request for bid goes out.  Mr. Rafanelli stated that the Blue Book offered no provision. 

9.      Pat Zito motioned to authorize Frank Murray to advertise and to seek bids for landscaping.  The motion was seconded by Bob Stebenne and recorded since this motion was made earlier.  It was decided that advertisement was not necessary. 

C.     Beaches

See attached hard copy report at the Community Center which addresses:

1.      Riparian Rights at Kelly Beach.

2.      Bonnet Shores Beach Club informal meeting with Joe Mignano (BSBC president) and Jerry Zitto (Board member) regarding trash barrels and trash collection at Kelly Beach by the Beach Club, as well as the use of walkie-talkie radios by the lifeguards. 

3.      Rough draft of the Community Center SOPs.  Those standards have been emailed to Dick Agnitsch.  Mr. Stebenne asked Council members to review the procedures and welcomed discussion.  He said that he would seek approval of the SOPs at the March meeting and, if approved, he would ask Mr. Agnitsch to amend the current procedures. 

VI.  Urgent Business (deferred from earlier in the meeting)

A.     Regarding the Holton’s fence:

1.       A lengthy report regarding the Holton’s fence is on file at the Community Center.

2.      Mr. Winward stated that Elizabeth Reed Landscape Architect’s rendition of the fence is not exactly correct. 

3.      A lengthy discussion ensued regarding the fence between Mr.Winward, Council members and the Assembly. 

4.      The Council and Assembly also viewed Mr. Winward’s drawings.

5.      As a representative of the Land Trust, Doris Baris indicated that she could not find markers for 51A.  Mr. Winward stated that he did not put up markers. 

B.     At last month’s meeting, the Council requested that Attorney Kerry Rafanelli issue letters to the 4 owners of the properties that abut the 20 foot path at the top of Bonnet Point Road .  Mr. Rafanelli stated that letters were sent to Dr. and Mrs. Quirk (through their Attorney Jim Reilly), Faith LaSalle, Mr. And Mrs. MacIntee and to Mrs. Yvonne Johnson.  He related that he received replies from the MacIntees, from Attorney Jim Reilly representing the Quirks, and from Peg Lawrence, who represents Mrs. Johnson.  He had not heard back from Faith LaSalle. 

1.      Mr. Winward reported that the Johnson property is surrounded by roads.  He also said that, according to the deeds and recorded plat, the Bonnet Shores Fire District owns the paper roads. 

2.      A lengthy discussion regarding structures, vegetation, safety and open space ensued. 

3.      Joe Thomas requested that Kerry Rafanelli notify all 4 abutting property owners. 

4.      Joe Thomas will meet with available Council members to walk the 20-foot path in order to observe the structures, vegetation and safety issues discussed. 

VII.           Treasurer’s Report

See attached report on the website and hardcopy maintained at the Community Center. 

VIII.          Tax Collector’s Report

Helen Patience reported the following information:

·        Total assessed value - $347,130,300.00

·        Collectable taxes - $225, 638.50

·        Total abated taxes - $2,987.55

·        Total collectable taxes - $222,647.08

·        Taxes collected to date - $217,228.03

·        Interest collected -  $219.11

·        Percentage collected – 97.57%

IX.    Land Trust

A.     Doris Baris presented minutes prepared by Donna Gunning, Vice Chairperson of the Land Trust Committee, from the meeting held on February 13, 2006 .  A hard copy of the minutes is attached to these minutes and held at the Community Center

B.     In summary, Mrs. Baris reported that there are 2 requests for benches to be placed within the Fire District property.  The members of the Land Trust Committee feel that Fire District properties have been inundated with benches.  A motion was made at the Land Trust Committee meeting by Mr. Manning as follows: “We decline any further requests for placement of additional benches at any of the Fire District property locations.”  The motion was seconded and approved by all committee members in attendance 

C.     Frank Murray presented a copy of a bench survey to the Council. 

X.     District Manager’s Report

A.     Frank Murray reported that several additional summer rentals of the Community Center are being booked.

B.     Vandalism, including graffiti and a broken bench have been discovered.

C.     More details regarding the Land Trust bench survey will be provided next month. 

D.    Mr. Daly from 75 Bayberry Road sent a letter to the District Manager regarding the water drainage in front of this home.  Mr. Murray will follow up with a letter to the Town.

 E.     Garage door bids are as follows:

·        $604 – scratched and dent special 

·        $660 – lowest bid for an insulated door

·        $730 – mid priced insulated door 

·        $825 – top of the line 

·        $629 - uninsulated 

F.      Pat Zito motioned to spend $660 for a new, non-scratched or dented garage door.  The motion was seconded by Bob Stebenne and approved by all Council members in attendance. 

G.    Prices to replace the vandalized tree that had been planted at the Community Center in recognition of domestic violence range from $60 to $150.  Doris Baris stated that the tree belonged to the Land Trust and that it is not going to be replaced. 

H.    Joe Thomas asked the District Manager to obtain an agreement from the towing company regarding their procedures and expectations. 

I.       Frank Murray distributed an informational sheet regarding a presentation on “Shoreline Water Rights and the Public Trust Doctrine” which will be held on March 30, 2006 from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Rhode Island Law Center in Providence . 

J.      The District Manager is now set up for the Internet. 

K.    Mr. Murray still has not received bids for the new electric circuits for the Community Center.

XI.  Old Business

A.     Engineer plans have been drawn and stamped for the footbridge.  Betty Reid would like to make an application with the Town.  If approved, she will then go to the CRMC.  She has Mr. Manning’s signature. 

B.     The Coastal application cost is $150.  The Town application cost is 1% of the cost of the footbridge.

C.     It was suggested that Frank Murray speak with Neal Colman regarding the Bonnet Daze Road Race.  

XII.           New Business

Mike Tortolani will investigate the liability and feasibility of a secured, maintenance free storage area for boats at the Community Center. 

XIII.        Council Comment

None.

XIV.        Executive Sessions

            None.

 XV.           Adjournment

A.     Pat Zito motioned to adjourn the meeting.  The motion was seconded by Bob Stebenne and approved by the Council.

B.     The meeting was adjourned at 10:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

 Catherine M. Kelleher

Clerk