The Middletown Town Council held its regular meeting on Monday, addressing various municipal matters and committee appointments.
Council members discussed the continuation of an affordable housing update presentation by Penrose, originally scheduled for July 1. The presentation was postponed to allow the Affordable Housing Committee to review the information and provide an advisory opinion to the council.
The council approved several ordinance amendments, including changes to the town’s fee schedule for mobile food vendors, short-term rentals, and tobacco licenses. They also adopted amendments to the traffic code regarding bicycles and parking regulations.
A resolution to establish a Tax Exploration Committee sparked discussion about the committee’s purpose and composition. The council decided to re-advertise for more applicants to fill the seven-member committee.
The council received and accepted resignations from two committee members: Pamela McGamala McLaughlin from the Middletown Prevention Coalition and Caitlin Kerwin from the Affordable Housing Committee.
The council authorized the planning department to submit grant applications for culvert replacement projects on Green End Avenue and Berkeley Avenue, potentially securing up to $750,000 in funding.
Summary
The key discussion points, decisions, and action items were as follows:
- The council received an update on the school building project from Ed Brady. Design development will be finished by July 19th, allowing submission of the master plan to the planning department in August. The schematic design stage has been approved by RIDE with some minor additions requested for the elementary program. Cost estimates and budget reconciliation are underway to ensure the project remains on budget before proceeding to construction documents.
- The council continued the discussion on the affordable housing update presentation by Penrose to a future meeting to allow the Affordable Housing Committee to review and provide an advisory opinion first. The committee meeting is scheduled for July 25th at 6pm at the fire station.
- The council granted a special event permit and waived fees for the First Tee Rhode Island Chapter’s Summer Beginner Youth Development Golf Camp at Linden Park on Wednesdays from July 17th to August 14th, 2024.
- The council adopted ordinance amendments on second reading related to the town fee schedule for the clerk’s department, building official, police department, and concealed carry permits/security fingerprinting fees.
- The council adopted an ordinance amendment on second reading updating the town’s traffic code regarding definitions, penalties, bicycle rules of operation, and parking regulations.
- The council received a memorandum regarding no parking on Rosedale Terrace and introduced an ordinance amendment on first reading to add no parking on either side of Rosedale Avenue.
- The council introduced an ordinance amendment on first reading to update hunting restrictions, allowing hunting closer than 500ft from an occupied residence with owner permission and permitting Sunday hunting.
- The council authorized the town planner’s office to submit grant applications for the 2024 RIIB Resilient Rhody Municipal Resilience Program Action Grant and RIDEM Climate Resilience Fund for culvert replacement projects on Green End Avenue and Berkeley Avenue.
- The council appointed Kyle Carvalho and reappointed Manuel M. Marks to the Personnel Review Board.
- The council passed a resolution establishing the composition, charge, public engagement, and implementation guidelines for the Tax Exploration Committee.
- The council voted to re-advertise for additional applicants for the Tax Exploration Committee to ensure a robust pool of candidates representing various areas of the town.
- The council received resignations from Pamela McLaughlin (Middletown Prevention Coalition) and Caitlin Kerwin (Affordable Housing Committee) with regret.
Watch The Meeting
