[{"_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",6088308,"mediaKeyId","2884648-474c0c82c32eea9631d1b48ae2b1eeef","parentId",2884648,"title","Sunrise Wind mitigation could fund North Light work, coastal‑resilience planning and visitor materials","audioSeconds",582,"startMs",7067000,"endMs",7649000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2884648-474c0c82c32eea9631d1b48ae2b1eeef&start=7067&end=7649","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2884648-474c0c82c32eea9631d1b48ae2b1eeef/thumbnail_7067000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6088308/New-Shoreham/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Sunrise-Wind-mitigation-could-fund-North-Light-work-coastalresilience-planning-and-visitor-materials","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088308-ba94cb5ee5eb46366ede0f6bd770ea7c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170078&Signature=mvf4l0KMR3JDQ0kU6IDMRVdy1~1ZGxLQfsq7tg4gksGcVzBkGxexIx3LIj5p3irvrJFhL1TUNlwgyLG2qg~u6c2i6FQPWVGACBFcpXAqHH7AYEoN~wxTsq9z6oy4YFeA6gL7SW7bJPN8YnWZ~PDut6DqtRmUGMe6uL64jiit4BdL~tyE8dV2BkG8ct4-NSY-0i6fea5TxF~W6sRDMF9c3C97mS4QbDBePeszy1iOikQ-bh~DqsSHBk8T~Iw4mPv08vzeBsav0rV3FY2y50L53mDIvnC3NAYv7rzXJOXCoEXI04AQbI6XKXRKICuStR~0avmJ~RVmN4CV59f4raOtCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of New Shoreham","date","2025-04-02T00:00:00Z","article","Town staff updated the council on mitigation commitments associated with the Sunrise Wind permitting process and what the town may expect if the developer’s funding agreement is finalized.

Under the memorandum of agreement between Sunrise Wind and the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), Sunrise has agreed to mitigation measures that include: up to $500,000 to plan and rehabilitate the Block Island North Light (roughly $50,000 for planning and about $450,000 for brick‑and‑mortar rehabilitation); $200,000 aimed at coastal resiliency planning and technical assistance (up to $50,000 per year for five years) to help the town evaluate climate impacts to historic properties; and $50,000 for “past and future adaptations/visitor experience” work, which staff said will focus on digital storytelling and presentation of historic and climate‑adaptation narratives (for example, QR codes or an online trail) rather than prescriptive signage.

Staff said the town is waiting for a draft funding agreement that will specify milestones, payment timing, whether the town or the developer will manage procurement and the form of deliverables. In past wind‑farm mitigation programs in the region (South Fork and others), developers managed contractor selection and payments; staff said Sunrise representatives have signaled some openness to town‑managed processes for items specific to New Shoreham, which would give the town more direct control over scope and procurement. No funding has been disbursed to date and staff emphasized the town will need to review the draft funding agreement and proposed RFP language when it arrives.

Councilors asked whether resiliency planning funds could be targeted to the Coast Guard station and other island historic assets; staff said the MOA language must be followed but that targeting within the program may be possible if the town controls the RFP or scope. Staff promised to circulate the MOA, the related permit language and any draft funding agreement when available and to return with a recommended process for managing the funds.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","New Shoreham Town Council 4/2/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Town staff briefed the council on mitigation commitments from the Sunrise Wind project: up to $500,000 for Block Island North Light (planning and rehabilitation), $200,000 for coastal resiliency planning (up to $50,000 per year for five years) and $50,000 for visitor experience materials; the town is awaiting a draft funding agreement.","taxTitle","New Shoreham, Washington County, Rhode Island","taxId",79696,"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},6088314,"New Shoreham council holds public budget hearing; staff outline public works priorities and one‑time projects",4680,4776000,9456000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2884648-474c0c82c32eea9631d1b48ae2b1eeef&start=4776&end=9456","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2884648-474c0c82c32eea9631d1b48ae2b1eeef/thumbnail_4776000.jpg","/articles/6088314/New-Shoreham/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/New-Shoreham-council-holds-public-budget-hearing-staff-outline-public-works-priorities-and-onetime-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088314-48e2c6b6a5054f8b19ffe5b4a8fb3aa8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170078&Signature=JwsjvYf7zRM7~UWq2MfTrnnVgCBOi236rRffkmHQFfNQ74nBHt4yRCo-QKYYYRvNvW-WB~zmsQd4q2OEN1xObbvPwgFBFhmleV7DoxYjSqQ2~-VsN0-o0M0~FM55fv8kMrn2JQRr~8YCaSDeB4tQw3huhZPygz9rredIQgSCBb7YFXkdjlYU~C5LYpn2371c64j4owoRy--D8OJPx8YchLAaizBi0i~kc48DXQSZYKPz7i4~HPJ8q6WIglyhrIcHalDnMMxAUXRJArWGCWQtN3vVvWIeINJxU9y9z8073~9mQTXhDeZiryZ9Cb376yLPFmHV2yzTLMiPxBUnGQuDjQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town of New Shoreham council opened a public hearing on the proposed FY26 budget and reviewed a number of public works and capital‑maintenance items during its April 2 work session.

Mona (Finance/Public Works staff) summarized changes to benefit and operating lines: final health‑insurance rates came in below an initial placeholder estimate (5.72% increase for health, 5.19% for dental versus earlier conservative placeholders), producing a projected net savings to the budget of about $7,516. Staff said travel and training lines were combined into a single line and that utility, gas and oil estimates were adjusted to reflect historical usage.

Staff flagged several project‑level items. For the new town rental units at the Thomas property, staff included a conservative $30,000 estimate for maintenance and utility costs in FY26; occupancy is not expected before June, and any tenant payments would offset some costs. Public works requested a small tractor with a V‑plow and sidewalk attachments (presented as approximately $25,000) so crews can clear sidewalks during heavy snow and use the machine for summer infield work at Heinz Field; staff said the town has improvised in prior winters and the older equipment is no longer usable.

Officials discussed the landfill slope and a condition from the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) permitting process that will require ongoing funding toward eventual slope repairs. Staff said the town holds roughly $66,000 of prior‑year funding for the landfill slope and recommended treating future contributions like a sinking fund until a repair scope is finalized; they noted annual contributions could be on the order of tens of thousands depending on final design.

Public‑works staff also described operational lessons from last year’s new mansion beach restroom unit: frequent pumpouts and an added battery/solar panel solved early reliability issues; weekly pumpouts became routine. Cemetery maintenance was moved into a new budget line to separate those costs from general grounds maintenance. Staff reported recurring problems with abandoned cars and boats on town and state property and said the town and harbor department coordinate removals; the state’s abandoned boat program may be used for uninsured sunken vessels.

Budget schedule notes: the council held the public hearing, and staff reminded the board that town‑council adoption is scheduled for Wednesday, April 9. The council opened and closed the hearing by voice vote and subsequently adjourned the meeting.","During an April 2 work session the council opened a public hearing on the FY26 budget, heard staff briefings on public‑works lines including Thomas property maintenance, a proposed sidewalk snow‑clearing machine, landfill slope funding, mansion beach bathrooms and abandoned vessel issues, then adjourned the hearing.",{"_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},6088319,"New Shoreham council weighs deer counts, bounty funding and limited weekend hunting pilots",911,2343000,3254000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2884648-474c0c82c32eea9631d1b48ae2b1eeef&start=2343&end=3254","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2884648-474c0c82c32eea9631d1b48ae2b1eeef/thumbnail_2343000.jpg","/articles/6088319/New-Shoreham/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/New-Shoreham-council-weighs-deer-counts-bounty-funding-and-limited-weekend-hunting-pilots","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088319-f7ecf364a27f4c682ac45dae67611bc2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170078&Signature=PUCksNnhLcf1jXi8~~n~766JWTKtwRwBbvNQUZwFo9yb5dq-6OrjDY8-WUqipXJTvbUVCHv3JBEdiPVNFhX90fiKYK20KBBbyq7g8X7MNZ6TlmkpDCfhpLSePLncSE~PIb6hT3shJ~9q2EX7O-uawBsoETNcp2i0djEGaIaWtj~ncb54ffuwyOOn0PNYLc-NrZ1t~R7zNfvVEeU6iW90V5T~tgJN0rGG3G19-UirXByBrAbRBb-18jkjgAja1p3S8z-30D4xKguTTMs7VKgGFP9e7z4NgAnNFpW88gt49lh97WnAGKA5vaPmvOszbHnWBc-BKFKFkOEulZrAShSJ-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Councilors and residents devoted much of the April 2 work session to Block Island deer management, reviewing recent counts, bounty payments and possible changes to hunting rules.

Dylan Ferrera, who reported speaking with the contracted biologist, said a contractor conducted an infrared flyover March 4 and that the town has not yet received the full results; he told the council the contractor had described the exercise as “a deer count” and indicated the team might not deliver final tabulations for months. That uncertainty prompted council members to discuss whether to run a local drone count with the town fire department and its equipment so the town has a near‑term baseline before leaves fill in the trees.

Police Chief Paul Dean described the town’s established check‑in process for hunters: a landowner permission slip, a copy of a driver’s license, the hunter’s state deer license, the tag number and, where relevant, an archery proficiency card must be presented to the island police once per season so officers know who is hunting where. Dean said that process helps the police investigate complaints and argued the check‑in requirement should be retained.

The council heard data on recent harvests: a town figure shared at the meeting put the season’s harvest at roughly 294 deer, of which about 225 were taken by local hunters; officials said they would provide a detailed breakdown later. Councilors discussed the existing bounty and reimbursement program: the per‑tail payment is $1.50 and the agenda included a staff proposal to increase the deer bounty funding line to $35,000 in the coming budget. Staff said private donations historically supplemented that pot and last year contributed “a few thousand dollars,” with other donations over prior years totaling higher amounts; the town proposed fully funding the $35,000 line and relying on donations only as a contingency if the payout runs higher than expected.

Residents and councilors debated the merits and political sensitivity of weekend hunting. Some residents said weekend hunting on private property could place neighbors and weekend visitors at risk or raise public opposition; others, including hunting participants, argued the experiment should be limited to bow‑only hunting on private land and run as a pilot to assess results. Several speakers urged the council to focus first on getting a reliable deer count and on ensuring hunters are reimbursed promptly for tags and tails so incentives encourage continued participation.

The council directed staff to follow up with the DEM contractor for the flyover data, to coordinate a possible training flight with the fire department drone and to return with a budget recommendation on the proposed $35,000 bounty line. No formal policy change was adopted at the meeting.","Councilors reviewed recent infrared counts, discussed expanding hunter incentives and debated limited weekend or holiday hunting trials on private land as deer remain abundant; staff and police described procedures for hunter registration and carcass disposal.",{"_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},6088324,"Interstate Navigation seeks $1 landing fee and asks New Shoreham to renew opposition to Rhode Island Fast Ferry",2015,240000,2255000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2884648-474c0c82c32eea9631d1b48ae2b1eeef&start=240&end=2255","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2884648-474c0c82c32eea9631d1b48ae2b1eeef/thumbnail_240000.jpg","/articles/6088324/New-Shoreham/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Interstate-Navigation-seeks-1-landing-fee-and-asks-New-Shoreham-to-renew-opposition-to-Rhode-Island-Fast-Ferry","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6088324-6d2a830a4041c1b7d1752cb0c0eb7557/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170078&Signature=nlOHg2A9SDWSLFEmfn~061zFQD702ldGpNIsDZUQpS8Es7j3o8kYoqLQhcDTdnxDd~J2rv5oszCeHMAhzW3XUwq4xCPuxwcpsgBYLz40zn4jsY4Oq89dtl6PdURTR900HFZWkt~bzrAOiEuZ92sDvcRihUmUniyKTnOJXNA8~f2UsVzA8cuFJJ~4p8sA~zKmXpBiSflIwCFHEoZF1D9gc6H46xYnWhI1qJPM3xNw0~0EO3a1LGzPawBXaApCPxh7Td9jya1cs4d~uqfigkdNaG6O9PIZJi-CQQbCsSxB7bzoelP0uW0n01z9UYPXszkwE9Hlf6Njr7QzTEoYY7mtjA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a Town of New Shoreham council meeting on Wednesday, April 2, Interstate Navigation representatives described a proposal to raise the town landing fee to $1 and urged the council to reassert formal opposition to a proposed Rhode Island Fast Ferry route they say would threaten the year‑round lifeline ferry service.

Mike McElroy, attorney for Interstate Navigation, told the council the ferry company would support a landing‑fee increase to $1 “if we can work out standing shoulder to shoulder again with the town on the Rhode Island Fast Ferry proposal.” He described how profits from Interstate’s high‑speed vessel Athena are currently transferred to support the company’s loss‑making traditional, year‑round ferry service and said a competing summer‑only fast ferry from Quonset Point would remove that cross‑subsidy.

The company and councilors discussed historical and regulatory background. McElroy said Interstate agreed to transfer “100% of the profits” from its high‑speed operation to the traditional division under an arrangement approved by the Division of Public Utilities and Carriers; that cross‑subsidy, he said, helped fund a recent $1 fare reduction. He warned that if the competing fast ferry draws summer riders away, the Athena’s profits could decline and the town’s lifeline rates could rise as a result.

McElroy described a recent regulatory proceeding in which the division revoked a fast‑ferry applicant’s certificate for failing to meet a condition (constructing a dock) within the one‑year period allowed by the division; the applicant asked the division to reconsider and Interstate filed an objection. McElroy said Interstate’s standing to litigate aspects of the matter may be limited by earlier intervention rulings and that the division has asked for briefs on whether Interstate may file a protest as a member of the public. He said briefs are due April 14 and asked the council to resume the “shoulder to shoulder” posture previous councils took during about a dozen years of similar proceedings.

Councilors and other attendees questioned the size and distribution of any landing‑fee increase. One councilor noted the town receives other visitor‑generated revenue (hotel and meals taxes) and urged care in setting a fee that could discourage visitors. Interstate representatives said their internal CPI trending put a fair increase near $1; McElroy said a $1 fee would be acceptable to Interstate provided the town again backs its opposition to the Quonset‑based fast ferry. He added that a $1 increase would likely trigger a matching increase at the Narragansett landing, so a full round trip could cost $2 in landing fees.

No formal council vote was taken during the discussion. Council members suggested scheduling Interstate’s annual meeting earlier in the planning cycle—October or November—so council input can influence next season’s schedule. Council staff said they would follow up on dates and on the regulatory filing schedule before the April 14 deadline.","Interstate Navigation told the New Shoreham Town Council it would support a $1 landing fee increase if the town stands with the company against a proposed Rhode Island Fast Ferry route that Interstate says would harm year‑round ferry service.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sunrise Wind mitigation could fund North Light work, coastal‑resilience planning and visitor materials

New Shoreham council holds public budget hearing; staff outline public works priorities and one‑time projects

New Shoreham council weighs deer counts, bounty funding and limited weekend hunting pilots

Interstate Navigation seeks $1 landing fee and asks New Shoreham to renew opposition to Rhode Island Fast Ferry