The “Middletown Center” Planning Board Public Hearing at the Gaudet School cafeteria on April 3rd was packed! Middletown residents showed up with a lot of facts, evidences, and concerns – BRAVO.
It was unfortunate that the meeting itself presented additional concerns for Middletown residents. The following were reported to Middletown Town Council at their April 7th meeting:
1-The parking lot was full and people left because the signage was not clear there was parking available on the other side of the school. 2-People in the back of the room could not hear or understand the conversation. 3-The Public had more information for the Planning Board and were not allowed to speak a second time. 4- When the Public Hearing part of the meeting was closed, the Planning Board got up from their table without informing the Public they were coming back to vote; the Public thought that was the end of the meeting and many people left the building before the meeting was actually over. 5-Town Staff prevented and delayed an intercom announcement to correct the misunderstanding. 6-The Planning Board had a discussion amongst themselves, at the public meeting, that was not public. 7-The developer’s proposal for the Public to review and comment will change significantly for the Planning Board’s next review, yet the Public Hearing for public comment was closed by the Planning Board.
May the meetings improve and continue to be packed by Middletown residents. The louder the message is, the harder it is to ignore: Middletown wants development expectations delivered, and Pottsy Field honored and undisturbed right where it is!
Wendy Riel
Middletown, RI
