[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6078163,"mediaKeyId","2961576-48862a69ef1488a963c40e287ac75a84","parentId",2961576,"title","East Greenwich residents press council to boost school funding; state representative outlines bill to soften funding cut","audioSeconds",1553,"startMs",91000,"endMs",1644000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2961576-48862a69ef1488a963c40e287ac75a84&start=91&end=1644","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2961576-48862a69ef1488a963c40e287ac75a84/thumbnail_91000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6078163/East-Greenwich/Kent-County/Rhode-Island/East-Greenwich-residents-press-council-to-boost-school-funding-state-representative-outlines-bill-to-soften-funding-cut","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078163-4d7d33315f986ee594804c5a6bb6a0e5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199310&Signature=PbFP3Ks5mJsvGicCFhHitPXRkC0Fb9M8eyyhxLln-daHTc28nASxKfE2mhnTKRhZQHn1KwaxSfC6~yKROHVX0Q3E~84a6A~M9Jt4sv9VpGfFSuHAkn-wnNpVYXyHJEt387hIvcylJi6dr07dTrlSTkmb4Zc-Ih0M5y8kYc0KYvufUsBw9mzXyDOlXg-aD3WPKerVFFbfTbRo8C9cLqK~3iuISWQSgBIyp8es1iEftViOcsONgBeuOVFhr7DiraoAg2w2VLiPPgTrlYfK4bc2AeSo5mEckzkyfnkbsdGhiTC9b3fUvtnq1~8U-gMuPVHuMP93FGNv~B41-gOYV8PkQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","East Greenwich, RI","date","2025-03-24T00:00:00Z","article","Dozens of residents, many of them teachers and parents, urged the East Greenwich Town Council on March 24 to increase local school funding and stop what they described as a multi-year pattern of underfunding.

\"East Greenwich must do better. Starting now,\" said Michael Simonetti, listing historical budget-transfer figures and saying the town's yearly transfers to schools have not kept pace with costs. Multiple speakers — Erin Logue, Joanne Leach, Renee Haskins and Kate McDevitt — repeated similar concerns about overcrowded classrooms, aging facilities and low teacher pay. McDevitt identified herself as a fourth-grade teacher and a parent of three East Greenwich students.

The strong public turnout came ahead of a council discussion and a legislative briefing by State Representative Justine Caldwell, who described a bill she introduced, House Bill H5749, intended to limit the immediate drop in state categorical aid when towns' formula-based aid falls.

Caldwell described how the state funding formula and a smoothing mechanism operate: under current law a district that would lose 2% in formula aid receives 50% of that loss in a stabilizing payment; her bill would increase that smoothing percentage to 75% for affected districts. Caldwell said that change would translate to about $535,000 more for East Greenwich this year, and that the categorical aid would come from outside the funding \"pie,\" so districts would not be reallocating money from other towns.

Caldwell urged coordinated local advocacy — coordinated testimony at the Finance Committee hearing, working with nearby towns such as Barrington and Warren, and making a clear case about what lost aid would mean for students. She warned that the state budget process runs late into the spring and that uncertainty at the federal level (including potential cuts to federal reimbursements such as Medicaid) could reduce the state’s ability to add funds.

Council Vice President Michael Donegan acknowledged the public concerns and summarized the council’s current approach: he said the council intends to \"max fund\" the schools again this year under the 4% property-tax levy cap and is working with state representatives and the League of Cities and Towns to pursue options above statutory caps and to secure state assistance for school infrastructure projects. Donegan noted that shifting reimbursement timing and the disappearance of previously available \"pay-go\" funds mean the town may need to seek relief from the General Assembly to front soft costs for school construction.

Council members and town staff said they will continue budget coordination with the school committee as the town finalizes its budget; the council reminded the public that the town budget adoption is scheduled for June 10 and that further discussion will take place at joint meetings.

Votes at a glance from the meeting also included several council procedural actions and an executive-session appointment (see separate roundup). The council encouraged residents to attend upcoming Finance Committee hearings and to coordinate testimony when the General Assembly posts the bill for hearing.

The council and town staff said they will continue to update residents during the budget process and invited commenters to bring specific, concrete examples of how funding losses translate into classroom impacts when they testify at the State House.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","East Greenwich Town Council - March 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Dozens of residents, many of them teachers and parents, urged the East Greenwich Town Council on March 24 to increase school funding, and State Representative Justine Caldwell described a bill that would restore a larger share of lost state aid for affected districts.","taxTitle","East Greenwich, Kent County, Rhode Island","taxId",79579,"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},6078153,"East Greenwich council approves consent calendar and council rules; executive session names DPW director and approves easement",46,4720000,4766000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2961576-48862a69ef1488a963c40e287ac75a84&start=4720&end=4766","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2961576-48862a69ef1488a963c40e287ac75a84/thumbnail_4720000.jpg","/articles/6078153/East-Greenwich/Kent-County/Rhode-Island/East-Greenwich-council-approves-consent-calendar-and-council-rules-executive-session-names-DPW-director-and-approves-easement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078153-fac25a82b0b3c48c01a50febcaf5342b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199310&Signature=QWi7O45K5GgBULiqbnLcqigcN25syN33VP2ImALK9u2n5-pVfnQNYE~jkKd0qbBaq3s9CjUvyUUG62idGGlfWF--BrPEwH8~crim3Yjf5YRLGoGVsId2~gC3DbbWYvHqy-yDn0cIc-ys9ITororIOM8otKoDrz7HhjhZcT0c7AAL1FMthev4iNupsqbOGhCejxZVul9Yr14jfSfrSH0leG7k~33Sd9y2gkdLwIBDnV8zqrIGawUy9oTFg4hDuANuoI-iByMGtbElcDII0M3BX9eYBqO3naYeNsV~ox0zQCWeKSgGj56y614m9iVfF0dM1mes5jWKCB6T14iUQ5llVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The East Greenwich Town Council took several formal actions during its March 24 meeting.

On routine business the council approved the consent calendar, covering reappointments to advisory bodies, liquor- and holiday-sales license applications, awards for wastewater and related contracts, and tax-abatement recommendations. The motion to approve the consent calendar carried 4 to 0 (Council member Carinthal absent).

Later the council considered revised Council Rules and Guidelines drafted by the town solicitor to clarify meeting types, public-comment procedures, advisory-board authority and the continued practice around motions to receive and file. After brief discussion the council voted to adopt the updated rules; the motion carried 4 to 0 (councilor Carinthal absent).

The council then convened an executive session under Rhode Island law for personnel and real-estate matters. When the council reconvened in public session it reported these executive-session outcomes:
- Approval of the executive-session minutes from March 10 (vote recorded in open session).
- Appointment: the council voted to appoint interim Public Works Director Fernando (Fred) Gomes to the director position by a 3 to 0 vote. The transcript reports the appointment was approved 3 to 0.
- Real-property action: the council voted 3 to 0 to approve an ingress and egress agreement with the owner of 110 King Street.

The council also voted to seal the executive-session minutes; that motion carried 3 to 0. The meeting adjourned after the votes.

Several items approved on the consent calendar and the executive-session actions will require follow-up with the town manager's office and relevant departments for implementation and record-keeping.","At its March 24 meeting the Town Council approved the consent calendar and adopted updated council rules and guidelines. In executive session the council voted to appoint interim Public Works Director Fernando Gomes to the permanent position and approved an ingress/egress agreement for 110 King Street; minutes were sealed.",{"_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},6078159,"Town managers and council debate impact-assessment bill H5691; council considers resolution seeking stronger enforcement",494,3384000,3878000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2961576-48862a69ef1488a963c40e287ac75a84&start=3384&end=3878","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2961576-48862a69ef1488a963c40e287ac75a84/thumbnail_3384000.jpg","/articles/6078159/East-Greenwich/Kent-County/Rhode-Island/Town-managers-and-council-debate-impact-assessment-bill-H5691-council-considers-resolution-seeking-stronger-enforcement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6078159-09bdb8b880ab181d4222b3b58d32b726/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199310&Signature=N-P5D3FMIZpiaAdul2yIJ1AKgM0pSIdchKzVsZS3dNaApNKsie6sAeXIDn5Hnpq~Om-ZvOQAO5sCsVwUsj-RFhKmIeS8mouVMk7hQcUhfNfIeiD9QVSO8HQHXHmyYQWs0eT0etBhsd9aY9Et5SEgKzczhCrRsDSKxrwPNVqByVT3Q7cEG7k0ZFnk6OAQVrgZkJpBz7k1js6~AO6T-cgi1KaiLH2bJEftAHWXG-mA3E~i4oY0DduMjdRsT-8CYM7fPDW2WCQNKSd-n3R8QmGwfnI8lvSEIaXlKXfur-vzm665vjybWdAeOOuXuJeaj5OoJXdqJV1Pr~4hOncokB2REg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town officials discussed House Bill H5691 on March 24, a proposal to amend the Rhode Island Housing Resources Act of 1998 to require developers to submit a comprehensive assessment of project impacts on municipal services.

Town Manager Andrew Nada, speaking for the town staff, said the bill would formalize a process many municipalities already informally use and would require developers to identify impacts on utilities, transportation, schools and the environment; the cost of the assessment would be borne by the developer. Nada said the provision could be useful but predicted it would face resistance statewide because advocates for housing may view it as an additional hurdle to construction.

Council members and the town solicitor debated the value of an assessment that does not change the legal standard of review. Councilor Michael Zarrella said the town already hears testimony on traffic, historic resources and water supply at planning-board hearings but is limited by the state standard of review when applications are appealed to the Land Court.

Solicitor Peter Squires said the ordinance-based creation and officers of advisory boards should remain local decisions and suggested that any new impact-assessment requirement include a size threshold so only projects above a set scale would trigger the study. Several council members supported preparing a resolution to register the town's support for the bill's goals, while urging the General Assembly to add enforceable review standards or \"teeth.\" Town staff agreed to contact Representative Evan Shanley and then bring a draft resolution back to the council for consideration.

Manager Nada and the council also discussed local tools such as impact fees. The solicitor and councilors noted that implementing or changing impact fees requires town-commissioned studies; any developer-funded study would likely understate costs and not substitute for a municipal study. The town said it will resume an earlier impact-fee study paused during market volatility and expects to reengage the consultant within the next six months.

No formal council vote on H5691 occurred; the item was held for further study and the council asked staff to draft a resolution for a future meeting.","The council reviewed House Bill H5691, which would require developers to submit comprehensive municipal impact assessments for large projects. Town Manager Andrew Nada and councilors discussed merits and limits; several councilors supported a resolution asking for enforcement \"teeth\" or changes to review standards.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

East Greenwich residents press council to boost school funding; state representative outlines bill to soften funding cut

East Greenwich council approves consent calendar and council rules; executive session names DPW director and approves easement

Town managers and council debate impact-assessment bill H5691; council considers resolution seeking stronger enforcement