Monthly Meeting

May 17, 2006

Meeting Minutes

I.       The meeting was Called to Order at 7:37 p.m. by Chairperson Joe Thomas.  Those in attendance included Joe Bleczinski, Bruce Fournier, Pat Mannix, Carmine Moretti and Bob Stebenne.   District Manager Frank Murray, Treasurer Natalie McDonald, Tax Collector Helen Patience and Harbormaster Mike Tortolani were also present.  Attorney Kerry Rafanelli arrived at 8:30 p.m.   Pat Zito and Clerk Catherine Kelleher were absent.

NOTE:  These minutes were transcribed only from a tape recording.  The clerk was not in attendance.  

II.    Pledge of Allegiance

The Assembly recited the Pledge of Allegiance.  The Council and Assembly also observed a prayerful moment of silence for the men and women in uniform who are serving in the Armed Forces, in harm’s way, in Afghanistan and Iraq and, in particular, for those serving from our own state and community.  

III. Urgent Business

A.     Bruce Fournier motioned to approve a Blood Drive which is to be held at the Community Center on August 14, 2006 from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.   The motion was seconded by Carmine Moretti and approved by all Council members in attendance. 

B.     The Council and Dr. H. Underhill discussed issues concerning the beach and swimming area at Kelly Beach. 

C.     Doris Baris requested to have copies of the meeting minutes available at the Community Center by the Tuesday preceding the monthly meeting for the public to read.  Pat Mannix referenced 42-46, 4-B of the open meeting law which states that minutes are to be available within 2 weeks if a vote has been taken.

IV.  Period of Public Comment

None.

V.      Ratification of Minutes

A.     Joe Bleczinski motioned to accept the minutes of the March 2006 meeting.  The motion was seconded by Bruce Fournier and approved by all Council members in attendance. 

B.     Bruce Fournier motioned to accept the minutes of the April 2006 meeting.  The motion was seconded by Joe Bleczinski and approved by all Council members in attendance. 

VI.  Committee Reports

A.     Harbormaster

1.      Mike Tortolani reported that, to date, 15 out of 30 responses by residents were positive for having a storage area for boats during the winter at the Community Center.

2.      Mr. Tortolani and Carmine Moretti will organize a Storage Committee meeting. 

3.      A discussion ensued regarding insurance coverage for the salaried employees who are elected versus appointed.  Natalie McDonald will request a letter from the Trust stating that the insurance coverage is extended to the harbormaster, tax collector, treasurer, and clerk. 

B.     Harbor

Joe Bleczinski reported that the dock should be delivered either the last week in June or the first week in July.

C.     Trash

3.      Bruce Fournier reported that a meeting was held on April 29, 2006 at the Community Center to discuss roadside litter in Bonnet Shores .  Those in attendance included himself, Helen Patience and Howie Logee.  (A hard copy of the report from that meeting is attached to these meeting minutes at the Community Center.)  Topics discussed included:

a.      Road side litter, especially on the outer Bonnet loop (Bonnet Point Road, Col. John Gardner and Bonnet Shores Road )

b.      Eliminating the unsightly curbside garbage that is a result of the individual residences that fail to pick up scattered litter or have placed inappropriate items at the curbside which have not been collected by Waste Management.

c.       Cleaning Kelly Beach and Little Beach of litter which has washed ashore.

4.      Action items were presented in writing to the Council by Bruce Fournier.  Further discussion regarding this concern continued between the Council and the District Manager. 

5.      Frank Murray will survey the entire Fire District every Tuesday to check for excess trash and inappropriate items at the curbside.  

6.      Pat Mannix sent a note to Marge Manning, on behalf of the Council, to thank her for organizing Earth Day and assisting with the memorial walk for the three missing U.R.I. students.

7.      The dumpster schedule for 2006 was reviewed by the Council.  The tentative schedule for Saturday mornings from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. is as follows:  May 20; June 3,10,17,24; July 1,8 and 29; August 12 and 26; September 16 and 30; October 14; and November 4.

8.      Bulky pick-up is on July 26^th.

9.      The yard sale is on July 22^nd. 

10.  Carmine Moretti motioned to accept the dumpster schedule as indicated above.  The motion was seconded by Bruce Fournier and approved by all Council members in attendance. 

D.    Beaches

1.      Bob Stebenne reported that the Bonnet Shores Beach Club has ordered the walkie-talkies for the Fire District lifeguards and the trash barrels for Kelly Beach. 

2.      The revised SOPs for the lifeguards were presented to the Council.  The procedures will include, in part, having the lifeguards clean their beach 15 minutes prior to the start of their shift and 15 minutes at the end of their shift. 

3.      Mr. Stebenne will speak with the Bonnet Shores Beach Club and request that they assist the Fire District with cleaning of the area on Bonnet Point Road at the entrance to the Beach Club on both sides of the road.

VII.            Treasurer’s Report

A.     See attached report on the website.

B.     Natalie McDonald reported that $87,865.44 is in the money market account and $5,214.82 is in the checking account.

C.     Robert Winward was paid $500 for plans.

D.    18 mooring fees have been collected.

E.     $2,250 was paid towards the total dock bill of $4,500.

VIII.          Tax Collector’s Report

A.     See attached report on the website.

B.     Helen Patience reported that 2005-06 tax information is as follows:

·        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 - $218,954.60

·        Interest collected - $227.08

·        Percentage collected – 98.34%

·        Returned check fees - $50.00

·        Total unpaid taxes - $3,661.96

IX.    Land Trust

None.

X.     District Manager’s Report

A.     Frank Murray reported that the summer rentals of the Community Center are going well and that most Saturdays are booked during the summer.

B.     Summer hiring is now taking place.   

XI.  Old Business

A.     Kerry Rafanelli provided an update on the 20-foot path.  A letter has been sent to Attorney Peg Lawrence each month for the past 3 months.  A lengthy discussion ensued among the Council members regarding: 

1.       Structures that have been erected on the paper road

2.      Pedestrians cannot walk safely on the side of the road because of stones, mulch, etc.

B.     Bruce Fournier will contact the Department of Public Works for the Town of Narragansett regarding the safety issues at the top of Bonnet Point Road . 

C.     Joe Bleczinski motioned that the Council advise Attorney Kerry Rafanelli to send a stern letter to Mrs. Johnson concerning the paper road and the possible encroachment of the arborvitaes on the main street.  The motion was seconded by Carmine Moretti and approved by all Council members in attendance. 

D.    Discussion occurred regarding parking at the Community Center.  Joe Bleczinski motioned to advise the District Manager to have 2 signs made for the Community Center parking lot to read, “No Parking from 1:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.   Cars will be towed at own expense”.  Mr. Bleczinski also requested that the towing company’s telephone number be placed on the sign.  The motion was seconded by Bob Stebenne and approved by Joe Thomas, Joe Bleczinski, Bruce Fournier, Pat Mannix and Bob Stebenne.  Carmine Moretti opposed the motion.  The motion carried 5 votes to 1. 

E.     Mr. Murray will check with the towing company regarding the time that cars were tagged for parking in the Community Center lot and provide those dates and times to the Council.

F.      Mr. Mr. Murray will also remove the old signs and have the new signs erected when they are available. 

XII.           New Business

A.     Budget hearings workshop meeting is scheduled for May 23^rd at 7:00 p.m.   Public discussion of the capital improvement list will occur, followed by the Council workshop. 

B.     Public hearings on the budget are scheduled for Saturday, May 27^th at 9:00 a.m. and on Thursday, June 1^st at 7:00 p.m.

C.     Frank Murray is pursuing prices to replace the stolen Fire District sign at the entrance to Bonnet Shores . 

D.    The Harbor Management Plan was discussed:

1.      Joe Bleczinski referred to the Blue Book page 11, section D.  He said there were no changes, but there are additions.  The additions were read and a brief explanation was made by Mr. Bleczinski.  The additions included the following topics:

a.      harbor waiting list

b.      mooring permit request form

c.       notification to the Council when a mooring site becomes available

d.      appropriate mooring fees

e.      mooring tackle placement

f.        forfeiture of mooring

g.      temporary use of moorings

h.      harbormaster authority

2.      Joe Bleczinski motioned that the Council adopt the changes to the mooring regulations as reviewed with one exception and that being that June 1^st will be replaced with June 30^th.  The motion was seconded and approved by all Council members in attendance. 

3.      Mr. Bleczinski briefed the Council and Assembly regarding the Harbor Plan. 

4.      Joe and Mike Tortolani met with Kevin Cute from Coastal Resource Management on April 18, 2006 regarding changes to the Harbor Plan.  Mr. Cute reviewed the changes and made recommendations.  Two new changes were inserted into the Plan:

a.      A fairway has been established at the far eastern end of Kelly Beach

b.      The swim area is designated by a line of orange floats.  No vessel may be in this area between the orange floats and the beach.

5.      Mr. Bleczinski read a letter received from Dr. Underhill, David Rice and George Taylor stating that they are voting “no” to the use of any of their private beach area for public use.  After reading the letter, the fairway section of the Harbor Place was withdrawn.

6.      A lengthy discussion ensued regarding the swim area and the fairway.

XIII.        Executive Sessions

Pat Mannix motioned to retire to Executive Session, according to the open meeting law of the State of Rhode Island , section 42-46-4 – closed meetings.  The motion was seconded by Bruce Fournier and approved by all Council members in attendance.  Executive Session commenced at 10:37 p.m.

XIV.        Return to Regular Session

Executive Session ended with a return to the Regular Session for adjournment.

XV.           Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 11:16 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Catherine M. Kelleher

Clerk