[{"_1":2,"_132":-5,"_133":-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",[32,74,86,98,108,120],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_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":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6088282,"mediaKeyId","2884720-cea9abbba83c3be62f428b2aa9b2b601","parentId",2884720,"title","New Shoreham council meeting closes after legislative briefing","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",4087390,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2884720-cea9abbba83c3be62f428b2aa9b2b601&start=4087&end=4087","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2884720-cea9abbba83c3be62f428b2aa9b2b601/thumbnail_4087390.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6088282/New-Shoreham/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/New-Shoreham-council-meeting-closes-after-legislative-briefing","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088282-6bc8ec47db9eb6ce9924a94fa0004f3e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191476&Signature=JLGKIW4Vk7jWDUyWlnMci5S50oWL9gqlhbCpNEj7zH9t8xulg2Y8liA-XeK1dNBw5MrjdZGZuqgGEtIEyLFrLEK5rA0u0uR5EnmDODgIuUobtgPtpAEKr72RPOKrwyZAwLdSloFt0CyTeKdZZ203L~-mNxyqJXeJX-uE0Hn64SQphg2PBZrlzVI2n4qVRhqlcHZOoZYpLEUM40NeT6m9XjOO9OrXLAzl9fsSQ5De2VZRU4AKr5RAPZb-DXeViduCBVZWSysHEgW4fcd76UHM646d--d7WteYhh-1IH5EMmm6x8Ef8zRdv06fYcGDtgrpfNbsdhF4CXJBNtYmT-ZREg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of New Shoreham","date","2025-03-12T00:00:00Z","article","Lede: The New Shoreham Town Council concluded its March 12, 2025 meeting with a motion to adjourn after a legislative briefing and a series of town reports.

Nut graf: The meeting included a legislative overview, discussions on landing fees, housing proposals, school aid and DOT infrastructure; after those agenda items the council chair moved to adjourn and the motion passed by voice vote.

Body: At 4:07 p.m. (meeting time recorded in transcripts), a council member said, “I have a motion to adjourn.” The chair called for vocal assent and announced, “the ayes have it.” No roll‑call or numerical tally was recorded in the transcript.

Ending: The meeting ended after the vote to adjourn; no additional formal actions or recorded votes were noted in the transcript.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town Council w/Legislators 3/12/2025","oneSentenceSummary","After a March 12 briefing with state legislators and staff, the New Shoreham Town Council called for adjournment by voice vote.","taxTitle","New Shoreham, Washington County, Rhode Island","taxId",79696,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6088286,"Council presses for state help on failing DOT garage and salt shed; lawmakers say funding uncertainty tied to larger projects",319,3314140,3633460,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2884720-cea9abbba83c3be62f428b2aa9b2b601&start=3314&end=3633","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2884720-cea9abbba83c3be62f428b2aa9b2b601/thumbnail_3314140.jpg","/articles/6088286/New-Shoreham/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Council-presses-for-state-help-on-failing-DOT-garage-and-salt-shed-lawmakers-say-funding-uncertainty-tied-to-larger-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088286-2c4d96f1660bb3af69f636f0a7cf9c07/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191476&Signature=j7rprtH5KFgdr30s4FWuX7V4KcK7xgaZgZi7C9uQAWmRa4RAGAdCHvF-syGnVNGtC39FemDR3ff56aa2TA1xn0O7y4eWa~dv4CCJ~AbECXRPOtfIppHPB04vsAeBkT2tGviAft83LMQGUZ2iyVFKdmWQmYW~9onM38nv49CJao49QK8XkeSV9ZNlCXdp4q3mJtIKg6yBySH0on57eMfwvN~O~B66U0hRQq6cHQvCvzSJH2AAJrSaIY66J2uXbZoqxINzjBtqor3cAwdvYDSduq-v43fHcWGzxIoSUQlEQmGQx1PpHXzlzTQqfvriXUTDjqKxYuvM16WMRZ043QeqUA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lede: New Shoreham officials told state lawmakers on March 12, 2025, that a Department of Transportation garage used for island maintenance is in deteriorating condition and that replacement funding has been delayed repeatedly; council members characterized the structure as a safety concern.

Nut graf: Legislators said the garage and a separate salt‑shed project have been acknowledged by DOT but remain unfunded in the current cycle because larger, federally connected projects have absorbed prioritized funding. Town officials asked for help getting DOT and the congressional delegation to place the garage and salt shed back into funded status.

Body: Council members said the garage has been patched repeatedly and is now supported by temporary measures; one councillor told legislators that the building is “to the point it's not a want. It's a need... I think it's gonna collapse,” but that assertion was expressed in the meeting as a local judgment about safety and condition rather than as a formal engineering report.

Senators and representatives said DOT has acknowledged the need but that resource allocation was affected by the response to the 195 bridge collapse and federal funding timing. Senator DiMariu and Representative Spears said they would seek a direct meeting with DOT leadership and recommended the council assemble documentation of immediate safety risks and deferred maintenance to support a formal request. Several participants recommended involving the town solicitor and DEM where appropriate to highlight life‑and‑safety liability concerns if the structure fails.

Ending: Lawmakers agreed to help schedule a conversation with the DOT director and to raise the issue with the congressional delegation during a planned summer visit; the council vowed to prepare legal and technical documentation to support urgent funding requests.","Council members warned that a Rhode Island Department of Transportation garage on Block Island is deteriorating and poses safety concerns; state lawmakers said the project is stalled by overall DOT budget uncertainty and federal project prioritization but encouraged continued advocacy and a meeting with DOT leadership.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6088291,"New Shoreham officials press for fairer school‑aid floor as state funding covers about 2% of school budget",151,3071870,3223275,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2884720-cea9abbba83c3be62f428b2aa9b2b601&start=3071&end=3223","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2884720-cea9abbba83c3be62f428b2aa9b2b601/thumbnail_3071870.jpg","/articles/6088291/New-Shoreham/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/New-Shoreham-officials-press-for-fairer-schoolaid-floor-as-state-funding-covers-about-2-of-school-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088291-264740deed0c1f9fc3dba29841a69ef4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191476&Signature=RxNzNLzgpz9LeTl8ChNE279WGMuu1LO6Z~TCglf2y0FhESsbZYUFiExvK8nU8In8HiTvgPepgpT06S8ROP8HS0yZ7UGIFw1dCTzFSdUFn4CtmMsku5jqhinjnSv-04AS73Dtb3~0WkAUJr6JhOid~fyuA-wm-B-2lcIbv9NdtnM6UP6txgpT7CMKaq1~rqbvO2fjQ~BWBgzFV1XdVNdkfp~Kf4L2tU-ihKdj863C4iD-IuK8Dt4p2gcERvgaUIrcKZQnexOMQKnJtCO4KzUUDHY1HTbNBYjD9bA4ChyUXoJlqgBe~WFBOK3XGCx3Ofp9tyjaueZxyqBZV1v9J-Z0ww__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lede: New Shoreham officials told visiting state legislators on March 12, 2025, that the town’s proposed school aid for fiscal year 2026 is $99,000 on a roughly $6,000,000 school budget and asked that the General Assembly consider a base‑level or floor to ensure small districts are not disproportionately affected by formula changes.

Nut graf: Council members and legislators agreed the state formula can produce sharp disparities for very small or unique districts. Legislators suggested exploring a floor or base amount that would recognize fixed building and compliance costs in small communities.

Body: A town speaker described the FY26 preliminary state school aid number as, “$99,000 for the entire year, for the entire school, on a $6,000,000 budget.” Councilors asked whether the state could provide a base amount or floor to stabilize aid for municipalities with only one school or very few students.

Representative Tina Spears and Senator DiMariu said they would pursue comparisons and seek data to support an argument: lawmakers requested the council provide information on the town’s costs and the share of its operating budget that state aid covers. Speakers noted that while short‑term relief is unlikely in a constrained fiscal year, establishing a floor could be pursued in longer range budget work.

Ending: Legislators invited the town to draft proposals showing an equitable floor or base amount for state school aid so representatives can press the case in committee and budget negotiations.","Council members told state legislators that New Shoreham receives only about $99,000 in proposed state school aid for FY26—roughly 2% of the local school budget—and asked lawmakers to consider a funding floor or base amount to avoid disproportionate funding swings for very small districts.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":42,"_43":101,"_45":101,"_46":102,"_48":103,"_50":104,"_52":105,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":106,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":107,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6088295,"Lawmakers say dorm‑style and workforce housing bills could help Block Island; concerns about scoring and infrastructure noted",1780800,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2884720-cea9abbba83c3be62f428b2aa9b2b601&start=1780&end=1780","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2884720-cea9abbba83c3be62f428b2aa9b2b601/thumbnail_1780800.jpg","/articles/6088295/New-Shoreham/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Lawmakers-say-dormstyle-and-workforce-housing-bills-could-help-Block-Island-concerns-about-scoring-and-infrastructure-noted","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088295-1c3d750f779b61124770239e2a41eef4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191476&Signature=NKDY-kh-npL3VB0FOEQVl4Cp1Fp8WwAPs9MwBYoHqlgzFVTQAFxDBhXlfeAQ8IFKjbBdkTXC04PrBmyXJMccGueQpaqmn0ICAS0xxYOBl8Isohf0kuvf0mYdP1drMZflOdQKqq-L0H6Sh0e~82e-1VjBvAGE~b-C0mw-Hc81~ew1MCOmZxy2WbsrO9JcAVnlJtd~rksD0hOwbG-LOFl368ZOKdg29lTGdBOSMdAukv3JX6VRBAVRMncirqM9K~FUEVWpud-uc4ETW3qhvVIRrwBEn2JgqObDCwLWy~HCxztKl0gg~UmvYoam2DoMFyMex5RuMwgi~ZgbN3cGNZBWFA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lede: State legislators and town officials told the New Shoreham Town Council on March 12, 2025, that several bills aimed at expanding workforce and dorm‑style housing options are moving through the General Assembly and could benefit Block Island if enacted, but local officials cautioned that planning and infrastructure constraints remain substantial.

Nut graf: Representatives described a pair of bills—one to permit dorm‑style housing zoning and another to create a classification useful for seasonal workforce housing—and said state technical assistance and municipal planning grants could help island communities. Lawmakers also said they are pushing Rhode Island Housing to change scoring that currently favors denser urban projects and penalizes smaller, rural towns.

Body: Representative Tina Spears told the council she sits on the House committees handling housing and municipal governance and described two related proposals: one bill would allow towns to zone for dorm‑style housing; another, sponsored by Representative Carol McAtee, would create a classification to facilitate workforce housing for seasonal workers. Spears said those changes could be codified in state law and noted that Block Island already uses similar local approaches.

Senator DiMariu said the state recently confirmed a new housing secretary, Deb Goddard, and that the Department of Housing is preparing implementation changes that the Senate Committee on Housing and Municipal Governance will review. She said she is urging the new secretary to consider geographic equity when reallocating funds for homelessness and housing resources.

Local officials and legislators also raised concerns about how Rhode Island Housing’s scoring of applications disadvantages smaller communities. Representative Spears said South County representatives met with leadership and the housing secretary to press for changes so that towns like New Shoreham are not penalized in funding competitions.

Ending: Lawmakers and town staff urged municipal leaders to prepare application materials and technical questions so that when state programs and bond funding become available, Block Island can seek the smaller‑scale, infrastructure‑appropriate projects it needs.","State lawmakers and local officials discussed several housing proposals at the March 12 meeting, including bills to allow dorm‑style housing and to provide technical assistance and municipal planning grants; legislators also raised concerns about Rhode Island Housing scoring that disfavors smaller/rural communities.",{"_33":109,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":110,"_41":111,"_43":112,"_45":113,"_46":114,"_48":115,"_50":116,"_52":117,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":118,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":119,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6088300,"Town discusses raising ferry landing fee; marinas currently account for under $5,000 in collections",160,2702190,2862710,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2884720-cea9abbba83c3be62f428b2aa9b2b601&start=2702&end=2862","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2884720-cea9abbba83c3be62f428b2aa9b2b601/thumbnail_2702190.jpg","/articles/6088300/New-Shoreham/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Town-discusses-raising-ferry-landing-fee-marinas-currently-account-for-under-5000-in-collections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088300-ae2b2166d558b3d918113c633c39773b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191476&Signature=IYs4vdj-MduyctPGshTbYir9o3aTqgzVnKY4y7zufBZdpYwPllVQUu0jnhln-PWNumk56-JuooiG~4QgBeJDecULod2DMY1j9BGlFZpkGUENOrrg08HouQ2~1fyBZUYr0M6j8XfDvuR8LDOWRHDvoEyjg8z~9VlhOh6nCg4wydqPh5DTbjEkU9LiggRrc0whuSllUfNNSLl-KKmmQ~SmNoFjrnm-r4ULaNjlzdfXI4zXinjaHuyRM97oBVG4gCg0PZR0uM5BaOy-HvD7h0R-uYoWOzOp9c0FhQly4OrkCVPQguh8S3aBbtsGpFJzVhZs0mvLKC5fYQhv18TTwsw-2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lede: New Shoreham town officials told the council on March 12, 2025, that they are considering a modest adjustment to the per‑passenger landing fee charged to ferry passengers to cover inflationary costs for police details, garbage collection and other visitor‑driven services.

Nut graf: Councilors and legislative guests discussed past increases in nearby communities, collection methods for private vessels and marinas, and the need to document town costs to justify any change. Town staff said only one marina currently collects the fee under contract and that collection from that marina produced less than $5,000 in a season.

Body: Amy (town staff) summarized the town’s plans to update collection and enforcement: “It’s a per head collected... it is a very small amount. I don't have the number off the top of my head. It's less than $5,000, from the one that we do collect from.” She said the town will ask two other marinas this season to contract for collection and will tighten enforcement for rental moorings and town docks.

A councilor asked whether private vessel passengers are subject to the fee and how much of total passenger traffic the marinas represent; town staff said the Anchorage and private vessel arrivals are more self‑reported and present the largest compliance gap. Legislators suggested the council prepare a written justification of impacts and expected revenue to support the request in Providence.

Speakers compared local practice with a recent state law used in Newport that imposes a per‑passenger fee on cruise vessel disembarkations. A town official noted that Newport’s statutory fee is $10 per cruise passenger; council members said the landing fee for ferry passengers must be defensible as a cost‑recovery measure tied to tourism impacts.

Ending: The council plans to finalize a proposal on a modest landing‑fee increase and supporting cost documentation before submitting enabling legislation to state lawmakers.","New Shoreham officials discussed increasing the per‑passenger landing fee charged to ferry riders and steps to improve collection from marinas and private boats; town staff said one marina collection yielded under $5,000 and the town is seeking agreements with other marinas.",{"_33":121,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":122,"_41":123,"_43":124,"_45":125,"_46":126,"_48":127,"_50":128,"_52":129,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":130,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":131,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6088305,"Lawmakers, town officials weigh three 5% short‑term rental proposals and local share",233,1022975,1256490,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2884720-cea9abbba83c3be62f428b2aa9b2b601&start=1022&end=1256","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2884720-cea9abbba83c3be62f428b2aa9b2b601/thumbnail_1022975.jpg","/articles/6088305/New-Shoreham/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Lawmakers-town-officials-weigh-three-5-shortterm-rental-proposals-and-local-share","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088305-eb4c27ade01d5f72b77a409940638b44/orig.mp4?Expires=1771191476&Signature=HXBd6nkiZQsefagyR-lOMD9n7LLegs8Ez9nVQDO9Ph38CAf6BKJHlHLi~gOiyF2zHZ5zKQsoaJHIs6n4HP3PP3mtRR1RyYWb6qxR2Sr76oQxyXTHGYtalXcKMEJj3KzNLiVIYjfyp6Q1UapXgviXUF4DDD4ptpVxwQWM~8NC~XL0A1~tUQSEJlHGOExb02wpNniXS7T-IH8SoMBRRfHe6rQFeZzwdTUYFuVaNI8Buq-wG0vWnceLe09z9PBrQfmAyeuFCW68wCSGC~kOntkR2xiAdP8Xb7QfJeE2FfQLuViOTmIkGnrND~v8h2ED71K~bZYckovqSCTD3ntEpVJtGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lede: State and local officials told the New Shoreham Town Council on March 12, 2025, that a 5% tax on whole‑house short‑term rentals is likely to pass this year but that competing bills differ on whether the money would flow to the state for homelessness programs or be returned to the localities where the rentals occur.

Nut graf: The council heard three main versions of the proposal: the governor’s plan would tax whole‑house rentals at 5% with revenue directed to statewide homelessness programs; a bill from Representative Carson and Senator Goo would keep the 5% but route all proceeds to the local community; and a separate measure from Senator LaMountain and Representative Slater would expand the tax base to whole houses while preserving the current percentage split among tourism councils and other recipients. Council members said they will ask the legislature to return short‑term rental revenues to the originating towns.

Body: Rick McCullough, representing a local interest group, briefed the council on the bills being discussed in Providence and said the primary change this year is expanding the taxable base from individual hotel rooms to whole‑house rentals that are commonly listed on platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo. McCullough said, “I think you're going to see a 5% tax on whole houses this year.”

Senator DiMariu (State Senator) described the three competing allocations under consideration and said the choice before lawmakers is how revenue from whole‑house taxation will be distributed if the tax is enacted. Representative Tina Spears (State Representative) told the council that south‑county legislators are pushing for local retention of the proceeds: “We want it to go to the towns that it's generated in, and we are working at the South County level to push that hard.”

Council members said they have prepared a town resolution expressing preference that revenues generated in New Shoreham return to the community to offset costs such as public safety, water and wastewater, and infrastructure stress during the summer season. Town staff said they expect to forward a council resolution to their representatives in the coming week.

Officials discussed technical questions that would follow any change in tax classification: whether the tax would apply only to platform‑listed rentals or to all whole‑house short‑term leases, and how the change would interact with local tax classification and homestead exemptions. McCullough and town staff noted existing work on local tax classification that would differentiate long‑term leases from short‑term tourist rentals and could change property tax treatment for owners who lease year‑round to residents.

Ending: The council expects to adopt a formal resolution of position before the legislature’s committee deadlines and to provide its legislators with supporting materials showing how retained short‑term rental revenue would be used locally.","State lawmakers, local officials and Block Island representatives told the New Shoreham Town Council that legislation to expand a 5% short‑term lodging tax to whole‑house rentals is likely this year, but proposals differ on whether the revenue would go to the state, to local towns, or be split under the current formula.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

New Shoreham council meeting closes after legislative briefing

Council presses for state help on failing DOT garage and salt shed; lawmakers say funding uncertainty tied to larger projects

New Shoreham officials press for fairer school‑aid floor as state funding covers about 2% of school budget

Lawmakers say dorm‑style and workforce housing bills could help Block Island; concerns about scoring and infrastructure noted

Town discusses raising ferry landing fee; marinas currently account for under $5,000 in collections

Lawmakers, town officials weigh three 5% short‑term rental proposals and local share