[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6115624,"mediaKeyId","2737905-908db4ebd16939659002488cf4d3a8cd","parentId",2737905,"title","Votes at a glance: Narragansett council approves equipment purchases, hires and routine items (March 17)","audioSeconds",1650,"startMs",2290000,"endMs",3940000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2737905-908db4ebd16939659002488cf4d3a8cd&start=2290&end=3940","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2737905-908db4ebd16939659002488cf4d3a8cd/thumbnail_2290000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6115624/Narragansett/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Votes-at-a-glance-Narragansett-council-approves-equipment-purchases-hires-and-routine-items-March-17","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6115624-2fde500cd95f55e7d01f9f5f5f2415c1/orig.mp4?Expires=1773079068&Signature=duF77xxZ3eHbSKLSAvIYJ3E~~xIb7T9YTPWc1Z2odQWoK4M4IVNwFbp~n7yVwStn99J8quLBi9b940BMYNukA6IgTuWTnC1sO3qy93NRAuq9kvbOs-PqT~B2lub7d697bcRTtva~bfxyRWAuPt2qvM05TOXTs0ekJAr-WiDHbs7I1oz1YZXXGsFByJCJwfhtdxTNMEJKr81vqv1pQG62VnUBCCR5N1tSC04xZke~G27~XuwORRvwO1fE~mLr8mrqXCT0O8POvesesj2Rp5DiuBcQaczUtQo0lh2MjH3MnJEFmEZSJZrKva4z~5Op-LEXws4rD0ds35hzLbYFWhX3-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Narragansett Town Council","date","2025-03-17T00:00:00Z","article","The Town Council on March 17 approved a series of motions recorded in the meeting minutes. The actions below are a concise roundup of items voted on during the meeting; text is drawn from motions read into the record and vote tallies recorded during the session.

1) Approve purchase of 10 sets of firefighter turnout gear from MES Shipman's Fire Equipment Co. via Sourcewell contract for $45,418.90. Vote: 5-0. Note: Council discussion emphasized using still-serviceable gear for training and replacing older gear due to PFAS and protective standard updates.

2) Approve purchase and installation of a 12.5-ton rooftop HVAC Carrier unit for the Police Safety Building from JMB Mechanical Inc. in the amount of $36,135.75 using the general HVAC services contract. Vote: 5-0. Discussion noted the replacement was effectively urgent to ensure building habitability and continuous operations.

3) Approve the police department's request to hire two probationary patrol officers to fill vacancies from retiring officers. Vote: 5-0. The police department said candidates include lateral applicants and academy recruits.

4) Approve filling the position of municipal court administrator and any vacancies created by internal promotions; Acting municipal court administrator Eileen Kysain was promoted into the acting role effective the day of the meeting. Vote: 5-0.

5) Approve minutes for meetings listed on the agenda (B1'B4). Vote: 5-0.

6) Approve consent agenda item C1. Vote: 5-0.

7) Schedule a budget work session for FY2026 with staff on April 7, 2025 at 6:15 p.m. Vote: 5-0.

8) Approve tentative agreements with the Narragansett Firefighters Local 1589 (see separate article). Vote: 5-0.

9) Adopt a resolution supporting restoration of general revenue sharing to cities and towns in Rhode Island; motion read and passed with a 5-0 vote. The resolution requests the General Assembly and governor reinstate general revenue sharing for all 39 cities and towns in the upcoming FY2026 budget.

10) Reschedule the short-term rental work session: council set a special meeting for April 28, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. to follow up on the short-term rental ordinance workshop. Vote: 5-0.

11) Appoint two council members to the police collective bargaining negotiation team (motion identified the councilors by first names \"Donna and Ryan\"). Vote: 5-0.

The meeting recorded no failed motions on items listed above. Several agenda items were discussed but were informational (for example, the Narrow River dredging update) and therefore did not produce a vote at this session.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Narragansett Town Council - March 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its March 17 meeting the Town Council approved a set of procurement, staffing and administrative actions by unanimous vote. This roundup lists each recorded motion, the outcome and key details.","taxTitle","Narragansett, Washington County, Rhode Island","taxId",79580,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6115628,"Council approves tentative contract with firefighters union, keeping eight SAFER-funded positions",371,2666000,3037000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2737905-908db4ebd16939659002488cf4d3a8cd&start=2666&end=3037","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2737905-908db4ebd16939659002488cf4d3a8cd/thumbnail_2666000.jpg","/articles/6115628/Narragansett/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Council-approves-tentative-contract-with-firefighters-union-keeping-eight-SAFER-funded-positions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6115628-a022395132864d8d2c3ffda267498dcd/orig.mp4?Expires=1773079068&Signature=CHlqIra4dsZ25DBxG6eY8z6NNJXbsJYRrxPvkCY7CdHWgv9U1czNNEkjBxADOKwH6cUMG81L11C4B2n9WcZn5dqXomqwI-e4NIjteOi5clcKw035iLNVKbR1Zhn4s~TnDoxVnoBIvASkqndJo1jeUeXMtAly0xG0eM7FrDBqIleKsEYcLtmkBKxmHW5LL~hKlTvcpWu14kn34DmqTcK-kVmDRMW6y6CFiV8yu3B9-aBcGoc9kcmsysaO5kA-VUA6mzru3vzfXluYcvOVgXHA0UvE-tJ40Hb0M325UxDLios8MGR7a87UmY3DNXgPtEzkxjLq26Y16uDEZoMHU7ckiw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town Council on March 17 voted 5-0 to approve tentative agreements negotiated between the town and the Narragansett Firefighters Local 1589 of the International Association of Firefighters covering July 1, 2024'June 30, 2025 and July 1, 2025'June 30, 2028.

Councilors described the negotiations as difficult but collaborative. Councilor Donna Vignali, who served on the negotiating team, and others said a key outcome was retaining eight firefighters who had been added under a SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant. Councilors said the town faced the fiscal challenge of absorbing the salaries and pension costs for those positions but that both sides made concessions to reach an agreement.

Councilor Vignali said the agreement balanced resident and visitor safety with taxpayers' concerns and credited the union and town negotiators for compromise. Other councilors thanked the negotiating team and fire department leadership for their work.

A public commenter, Deb Kopeck, praised the negotiation process and the council's ability to reach an agreement acceptable to all parties.

The council did not read final contract text into the record during the meeting; the motion approved the tentative agreements and retained the staffing levels noted by council members. No additional financial details or wage schedule items were presented in the March 17 public discussion; formal ratification steps (if any) and administrative implementation were not described on the record beyond the council's approval of the tentative agreements.","The Town Council approved tentative collective-bargaining agreements with the Narragansett Firefighters Local 1589 that preserve eight positions added under a SAFER grant and cover the periods July 2024'June 2025 and July 2025'June 2028.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6115633,"Town manager details Narrow River dredging permit timeline; funding not secured",100,868000,968000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2737905-908db4ebd16939659002488cf4d3a8cd&start=868&end=968","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2737905-908db4ebd16939659002488cf4d3a8cd/thumbnail_868000.jpg","/articles/6115633/Narragansett/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Town-manager-details-Narrow-River-dredging-permit-timeline-funding-not-secured","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6115633-eb8520b7a2d6d24f9c3bfee9dfd1f042/orig.mp4?Expires=1773079068&Signature=n7F198Bx4tRpW6m8Tv6KtSPy6dZYXIY0C-y5dhybh4ai-xQ~etJPeba2UMpUFR4kTA0g38cjB97OVWo9wfJnSLOR2vKBnx~tMrrGfuA7opI~ZOOzC8dcHUctu0IyDS2ibsCBqHtRPtW2b4qJsTZKnXLjOoWUqm8-88spFtM-LbzAHuNuhWcUsUwZvsPT3PrRXijdLLRXzsRw~PbUFD5yIYnvhaC9OeqJhoABHTex8bhDchoQbbdKX49Pb6W0FhxR~c~1IDKlDBgAQm1Pkk0h3~7XzggsvFfJSdCXKKQy4rT4DUBoctPtzkNVu35z18hwnfYcCVEDytnYAaoRdlAYvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town Manager Jim reported on March 17 that the Narrow River dredging study is moving toward regulatory permitting but that the town currently lacks an identified funding source for dredging work.

Jim said the previous council selected the desired dredging option on Oct. 7, 2024; that selection was a prerequisite to preparing a permit application. Fourth Engineering has worked on the project since October and the firm plans to distribute the draft permit to abutters including the Dunes Club and the Audubon Society for comment before submitting the application to regulatory agencies by the end of March. Jim said the permit review could take up to six months and regulatory agencies might require modifications after approval.

If the permit is approved, Jim said the town would publish an RFP and bring a qualified bidder before the council for approval, \"contingent upon funding.\" He said the town has submitted requests for congressional directed spending (congressional earmark) for the project but at present no municipal funding source is in place.

Councilors asked whether they would receive a copy of the draft; Jim answered they would. The manager cautioned that the option had to be on hand before the permit step could proceed and that engineering staff would expedite revisions based on abutter feedback.

No formal action or vote on dredging funding occurred during the March 17 meeting; the update outlined the permitting schedule and next administrative steps.","Town Manager Jim reported that the council's previously selected dredging option will move toward permit submission this month, abutter comments will be incorporated and the town has no current funding source for dredging.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6115638,"Narragansett council recognizes library as public institution after annual report showing heavy use and new services",1112,190000,1302000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2737905-908db4ebd16939659002488cf4d3a8cd&start=190&end=1302","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2737905-908db4ebd16939659002488cf4d3a8cd/thumbnail_190000.jpg","/articles/6115638/Narragansett/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Narragansett-council-recognizes-library-as-public-institution-after-annual-report-showing-heavy-use-and-new-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6115638-bc87dbba23c38a76b3b832961ebc2029/orig.mp4?Expires=1773079068&Signature=H7fu6vbFh0sYPCboz1O9oMwupF-bq6VluXlI7MfFeY2U-v12y4Efm0j2v3W-yuSZzCT9d8AgsCIMQ1k6jjsED3JMz7xIR6jrz7X5-OVZzbVRbQtpF19aqlMscuiKUS0DxmghiZssWWYD20yxExpmcPgFLj2E92txmdpnaHjWLMxjIUCK9zrZ9t72q65kplgcvY5jmOqzFOI2SJHslJgfqX1EfnD6Hlu~30i1VHbJfl5uMqSfm8oO0gyEzt8w1SkfwNujmY-SaMLXdxQnNM403tNCD4zi-9R2bepqgsTXsVLOrIM66-6NRchGZejE3aTL1~5WeuvjSjofSc41jSIJTg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town Council of Narragansett on March 17 adopted a resolution recognizing the Maury Luncheon's Memorial Library as a public institution and received the library board's annual report from board member Susan Amoruso.

The recognition resolution, read aloud during the meeting and approved by a 5-0 vote, declares the library governed by a seven-member board of trustees, funded by the town and the Rhode Island Office of Library and Information Services, and eligible to share town resources when feasible.

Susan Amoruso, representing the library board, summarized the library's first full year in its new location at 25 Pierre Marketplace and described expanded programs, a new makerspace and planned solar and electric-vehicle infrastructure. Amoruso said the January opening included a donor reception, a Friends of the Narragansett Library event and a community open house with a ribbon-cutting led by Library Director Patty Arkwright and attended by state officials and foundation representatives.

Amoruso provided usage figures for the prior year: 51,052 visits; 127,026 physical items checked out; 44,471 e-books; 16,847 Wi-Fi connections; 1,142 new library cards issued so far this year; 597 renewals; and 8,014 cardholders who are Narragansett residents. She said the building's new meeting space seats roughly 80 people and supports expanded adult, young-adult and children's programming. Amoruso also reported that the town and library have signed for a solar installation for the library roof, expected by summer, and that the project will include two EV chargers.

Council members and several public commenters praised library staff and volunteers and urged residents to visit the new facility. Speakers at the public comment period included Susan Cicilline Bonanno, Pat Cole and Deb Kopeck, who described the building as welcoming and emphasized the library's role as a community hub.

The resolution's text, read into the record, states the library will be recognized as a public institution and that the director will continue to be invited to senior management meetings. The council adopted the resolution to be effective March 2025.

The council's approval formalizes what the library board and town staff said is an existing working arrangement and sets an administrative expectation that the library be treated comparably with other town departments when sharing services.

Looking ahead, the report and subsequent council remarks focused on completing the solar installation and continuing to expand programs and services at the new building.

","The Town Council on March 17 adopted a resolution formally recognizing the Maury Luncheon's Memorial Library as a public institution and heard an annual report from the library board that highlighted a new building, expanded programs, a planned solar installation and usage metrics.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Narragansett council approves equipment purchases, hires and routine items (March 17)

Council approves tentative contract with firefighters union, keeping eight SAFER-funded positions

Town manager details Narrow River dredging permit timeline; funding not secured

Narragansett council recognizes library as public institution after annual report showing heavy use and new services