[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6562230,"mediaKeyId","3277945-0f3de5d709c04f209d0b2b0a8d55e8c8","parentId",3277945,"title","Council moves $600,000 to pension fund, debates holding $300,000 of school appropriation","audioSeconds",3080,"startMs",780000,"endMs",3860000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3277945-0f3de5d709c04f209d0b2b0a8d55e8c8&start=780&end=3860","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3277945-0f3de5d709c04f209d0b2b0a8d55e8c8/thumbnail_780000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6562230/Rhode-Island/Council-moves-600000-to-pension-fund-debates-holding-300000-of-school-appropriation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6562230-ce7f5103976e3f8951c64c636ec902a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136943&Signature=SQR-xCEj~nCoztNePbV6xZUvZ1YoZhW2QRu0X6GkSpiH8jBE3hubs9Q8Xq85PvI-A4~d~q5LqUGewI5~2-pRNIEXtaJfJjipZzdcpPVEN10k6PleMbfa91h~O4HnfqZaxgd2NEDC9ohb89P5A~4maGCH2~FCV0Dup7NK3FWz3kXzc0TqH5hX~92nACyEbf2Ng7KTaCdJYFPqtCVVWri7UDfVF3gqI5fyj3UEspmaPYKxErWrkwydexkC17d6k8lxxsCIxzv4pb8I307UT0rhKvAYAvsW1-uG8UmNia7uysQzY9h6u2kyTeVf8-ZbAUpF8PO5SAwGlgP1x2jEm1uFAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Portsmouth","date","2025-05-12T23:02:51Z","article","The Portsmouth Town Council voted 4 to 3 on May 12 to transfer $600,000 from the town's unrestricted general fund balance into the municipal pension fund.

The transfer was on the agenda after the town's rainy-day/fund-balance policy was advertised as required. Councilors approved the transfer with no further debate after a motion and second; the motion passed 4–3. Later in the meeting the council voted 5–2 to advertise a public hearing on proposed changes to Chapter 65, the town ordinance governing the unrestricted general fund balance, to raise the target range cited in the ordinance from the current 8'to'16 percent to 13'to'17 percent.

Why it matters: The moves affect the town's reserves and the rules that govern them. Town leaders said the transfers and the proposed ordinance change respond to long-term fiscal policy guidance that recommends holding roughly two months'worth of operating expenses in reserve (about 16.7 percent). Council members and members of the public said they were concerned about consistency, transparency and the timing of transfers during the budget cycle.

Key budget numbers and context
- The council and town staff described the current provisional FY26 general-fund budget total as $76,940,969 with property-tax revenue and other adjustments already built into that figure.
- The school department's previously provisionally approved local appropriation was cited by town and school officials as $39,407,902.
- Council discussion referenced recent, high-priority capital requests including a school roof and an earlier motion to remove $890,000 for a roof project from the fund balance.

School-appropriation proposal and debate
Council Vice President Gleason proposed asking the school department to find up to $300,000 of savings in its operating budget and to place that amount into a town-controlled contingency account to be available to the schools if needed. Gleason described the measure as an incentive for the school department to seek savings rather than an immediate cut to the town's bottom-line budget.

School officials said any change to the school appropriation now would force the superintendent and the elected school committee to reduce expenditures or identify other revenue because the school budget is already provisionally set and balanced around the $39,407,902 figure. Superintendent Kenworthy and School Committee Chair Emily Copeland described the school budgeting process as the result of multiple public hearings and said cuts now could lead to reduced services or personnel changes.

Council discussion focused on several recurring points:
- Legal and process limits. The town solicitor and the town administrator reported that once an appropriation is approved, the town cannot simply hold back money; if the council wants to change the legal appropriation it must amend the appropriation. Staff compared the proposal to existing town-held impact-fee arrangements, which are town-managed accounts earmarked for school uses and only released when the school requests them.
- Operational impacts. School leaders said a reduction to the local appropriation would require the district to rework its expenditures, which could include layoffs or program cuts, depending on the scale and timing of any reduction.
- Incentive vs. cut. Several councilors and community speakers urged caution and suggested the council and school committee coordinate earlier in the budget process in future years rather than imposing changes after the school budget has been deliberated and publicly reviewed.

Outcome and next steps
- Transfer to pension fund: approved 4'to'2 (motion moved and seconded; roll-call not recorded in transcript). The council said the transfer followed prior discussion and a required advertisement.
- Public hearing on Chapter 65 (fund-balance ordinance): the council voted 5'to' to advertise a public hearing (date to be set; vice president asked for August first-meeting slot) to consider changing the ordinance's target range to 13'to'17 percent.
- School-appropriation challenge: Vice President Gleason ultimately withdrew the immediate motion to change the appropriation and said he would pursue additional collaboration with the school committee and advisory groups going forward.

Discussion vs. decision
Council actions on May 12 included a firm transfer (legal action) and an authorization to advertise a public hearing (procedural direction). The more contested idea'to lower the school appropriation by a specific amount and hold it in a town account was debated at length and was not adopted as an immediate change to the legal appropriation.

Clarifying details
- Pension transfer amount: $600,000 (approved).
- School local appropriation cited during debate: $39,407,902 (provisionally approved amount cited by town staff and school officials).
- FY26 general fund total discussed by staff: $76,940,969 (provisionally approved as revenue and expenditures later in the meeting).
- Proposed fund-balance ordinance target: change from 8'to'16% to 13'to'17% (advertised for public hearing).

Speakers included in this report: Vice President Gleason (Town Council), Town Administrator Rainer, Superintendent Kenworthy (Portsmouth School Department), Emily Copeland (Chair, School Committee), the Town Solicitor and multiple councilors and residents who spoke during public comment and the budget item. No direct quotations are used in this article; all facts are drawn from the council's recorded proceedings on May 12.

What's next
The council will hold the advertised public hearing on the fund-balance ordinance amendment as part of its schedule; staff said the next budget-related public hearing is scheduled for June 11 and final budget adoption for late June.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","05/12/2025 Town Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Portsmouth Town Council voted 4'to'2 on May 12 to move $600,000 from the town's unrestricted fund balance into the municipal pension fund and later voted to advertise a public hearing to amend the fund-balance ordinance to higher target levels.","taxTitle","Portsmouth, Newport County, Rhode Island","taxId",79583,"location","Rhode Island","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6562215,"Votes at a glance: Portsmouth council approves licenses, noise variances and building-permit fee changes",7840,740000,8580000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3277945-0f3de5d709c04f209d0b2b0a8d55e8c8&start=740&end=8580","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3277945-0f3de5d709c04f209d0b2b0a8d55e8c8/thumbnail_740000.jpg","/articles/6562215/Rhode-Island/Votes-at-a-glance-Portsmouth-council-approves-licenses-noise-variances-and-building-permit-fee-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6562215-02489bbbf02315f82338d9e8090412ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136943&Signature=XujhZJVmuVRYEOwTpjC~ev9zfo2G1hgWWu7sbSc-XXdd7LJb46XMjhRYGUzRpCTH0Ik9Uv~rfGB2Ieu47JD8k50xze55yBCpvkvkwFrb5q~Y4zLj-xqrCcvjHV~kqWftB1iTeI8078N1OKqHQvtdRSb4iL9rqtVovVeoe1KXjqYumAU0~tWA1m~843aV82BAmvr6z2PkK5Id293R7ZKW1PUtqlN5Rop3HBNu7rW8loznzRwjH8-duJAR2NBalJdHTgfAkKHkxUId7J4SoMgWrdjp2rBfojS2CJZL6AWp14ElDd~0eeaL4PVjQlVzULDc6gMAMUga6JjUZtzGdat-Eg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Portsmouth Town Council voted on several routine and regulatory items on May 12. Highlights and formal outcomes follow.

Licenses and consent items
- Entertainment license for SHMNEB LLC at Safe Harbor New England Boat Works for Safe Harbor Race Week (Aug. 8, 2025): approved (motion passed 7'to').
- Multiple mobile food and pedal-license items and a daily liquor Class F for Newport Sings fundraiser at Common Fence Point Arts, Wellness & Community Center: approved as presented (7'to').
- Two licenses for the Portuguese American Citizens Club Saint Anthony's Feast (entertainment and rituals, July 17): fee-waiver requests approved; both licenses granted with fee waiver (7'to').

Noise variances (amplified sound)
Council reviewed and granted three separate variances to the town's noise ordinance (Chapter 2-57) to allow amplified music for specific events, and in each case the council set a decibel limit at or near 75 dB measured at the property line. Outcomes were:
- Ian Hutton, 48 Aquinnick Avenue (wedding/party): variance approved with a 75 dB limit at the property line; motion passed 6'to'.
- SHMNEB LLC / Safe Harbor Race Week, Safe Harbor Boat Works, 1 Magoon Road (waterfront event): variance approved with a 75 dB limit at the property line; motion passed 6'to'.
- Andrea Shane fundraiser to prevent relationship violence, 30 North Harbor Drive (July 18): council approved a 75 dB limit and allowed amplified music until 10:30 p.m. for the event (motion passed 6'to'). Police presence and event logistics were discussed during the application review.

Budget and procedural votes
- FY26 provisional budget: Town staff presented a revised FY26 general-fund total of $76,940,969. The council provisionally approved the revenue and expenditure bottom-line numbers (revenues $76,940,969; expenditures $76,940,969) and set the required public hearing for June 11; votes to provisionally approve revenue and expenditures passed 7'to'.

Ordinance and fee changes
- Building-permit late-filing fee modification: the council voted 7'to' to adopt modified fee language that clarifies first-time homeowner exemptions and proposes a tiered penalty for repeat offenders. The adopted change permits first-time homeowner noncompliance to be remedied within one business day without the $500 penalty; repeat offenders face escalating fines under the modified policy. Council staff noted they already track repeat offenders and that enforcement tools include withholding permits and municipal-court actions.

Other formal actions
- Resignations and courtesy motions accepting resignations were approved 7'to'.
- The Board of License Commissioners convened and approved its agenda items, then adjourned (motions passed 7'to').

Notes on enforcement and follow-up
Councilors and staff emphasized that noise variances are time- and event-specific, that amplified sound limits were set at 75 dB at the property line for the three events, and that events without complaints are unlikely to draw enforcement action. For building-permit compliance, staff said repeat violators are already tracked and that municipal-court prosecution or permit withholding remain enforcement options.

Actions and tallies (selected)
- Consent agenda approvals (licenses and permit items): motions passed 7'to'.
- Noise variances (three event applications): approved with 75 dB limits; two waterfront/venue items and one private event approved (each vote recorded 6'to' in the transcript where noted). One variance included a later end time (10:30 p.m.) by council vote.
- Building-permit late-filing fee ordinance amendment: approved 7'to'.
- FY26 provisional budget revenues and expenditures: each provisionally approved 7'to'; public hearing set for June 11.

Speakers and staff involved in these items included the town clerk, members of the Board of License Commissioners, the town solicitor, town administrator and police department staff who provided logistics and enforcement guidance for event permitting.","At its May 12 meeting the Portsmouth Town Council approved a string of routine licenses, three sound-variance requests with decibel limits, provisional adoption of the FY26 budget, and an update to building-permit late-filing fees.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6562220,"Parks and Recreation committee highlights playground upgrades, pickleball expansion and beach accessibility",1180,6390000,7570000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3277945-0f3de5d709c04f209d0b2b0a8d55e8c8&start=6390&end=7570","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3277945-0f3de5d709c04f209d0b2b0a8d55e8c8/thumbnail_6390000.jpg","/articles/6562220/Rhode-Island/Parks-and-Recreation-committee-highlights-playground-upgrades-pickleball-expansion-and-beach-accessibility","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6562220-6bda45859305e24015ce24a53021c383/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136943&Signature=IZlPGeLQEU22TpaSJr9OZVJ437xqxIJQ1DXi9vpgQa36aDKN3x~AXdWbI5XkcTi9u6CuG1GrBkYwhdzhU8MWXl53wMseUakx-H8B1fCQdkND3d11gc5sD-XDbb0W54jCROUfdmjkULyC~D3zxy6hleeDiHRi060asRUar6x9ZZgEIEVBYQ77lmA9vMaJkhTTH-BpyLlyP8R7JQYXGbeg4ZKIW9McrHA-TY6EfOaqRNFR7RjGO53zFBxnEu4rC-TWljyiUQw1azBb5N9dALvj6bHouX-W4j2nMvYNtmCy3V9NdPt5LH-6uX~1Ye6b1jMyd6UVToTCcjba0NM9BC84YA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Portsmouth Town Council received and placed on file the Parks & Recreation Committee's annual report on May 12 after a presentation by committee member David Fiorello.

Key items in the report included:
- Glen Park playground: The committee said a phased installation is underway. Phase one (equipment and an ADA-access ramp) opened in December; phase two work is scheduled for this summer, and phase three is being requested in a future capital-improvement program (CIP) request.
- Turnpike and Frank Carson playgrounds: The committee reported neighborhoods'driven work at Turnpike and removal of aging equipment and brush clearing at Frank Carson playground, with additional equipment planned.
- Pickleball: With a grant and local match, the town striped two high-school tennis courts to yield four permanently striped outdoor pickleball courts; indoor and outdoor programs are in development and will be run by the Parks & Rec director as demand grows.
- Sandy Point and Macquarie beaches: Sandy Point received a widened walkway, a wheelchair deck on the sand and purchase of a beach-capable ADA chair; the committee suggested future concessions or rentals could be explored. Macquarie remains residents-only with signage and no lifeguards.
- Grants and revenue: The committee cited multiple small grants including a $5,000 award (\"powered by the Prince\" fitness grant), a Merit Neighborhood Fund award (~$1,250) for ADA picnic furnishings at Glen Park and a $2,389.79 Rhode Island Parks Association matching grant used for pickleball striping.

The committee noted that the Parks & Rec department operates with two full-time staff plus seasonal employees and contrasted Portsmouth's staffing and budget with neighboring Bristol, which operates a roughly $1.1 million budget and larger staff.

The council voted 7 to 0 to receive the report and place it on file. Committee members and staff told the council they will continue to seek grant funding and community partnerships to expand programming and maintenance without substantially increasing the town operating budget.

Speakers and presenters included David Fiorello (Parks & Rec Committee), Wendy (Parks and Recreation Director) and April (assistant), and the report was received by a unanimous council vote.","The council received the Parks & Recreation committee's annual report on May 12, which summarized recent playground renovations, a permanent outdoor pickleball project, beach access improvements at Sandy Point and a package of community events and grants.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6562225,"Portsmouth adopts Vision Zero safety action plan, aims to apply for regional federal grant",765,4994000,5759000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3277945-0f3de5d709c04f209d0b2b0a8d55e8c8&start=4994&end=5759","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3277945-0f3de5d709c04f209d0b2b0a8d55e8c8/thumbnail_4994000.jpg","/articles/6562225/Rhode-Island/Portsmouth-adopts-Vision-Zero-safety-action-plan-aims-to-apply-for-regional-federal-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6562225-d16faa6cc502073af888c84720356d72/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136943&Signature=A6FgYsUeCD4pbOCQrdOE7Z3m~UyX0Fjt0LYvVQdUrD9jVlKLpJS8TnG63bVPwi3UiQhElq6MAHkN27YnbhWeC5BG3Td56MI0msHTqGGFpwhhD5yojaqzKK7-luo4daNCaeMGU2QRT1giNf09PVGal626wK4qZd2rmLB7Ywz0rJUH0FEh8GooOhjK0UiXEbM5UZqvXaFunGpvreVdogQZ7kcyupi-6UWWMMeOGBeT6uLwJksDIojWP3Ssr8JTJzPr7Ue4POk0S5YhzkEAh2001LWlimlf5ODLY0PM-yAWrGigR5aUCtV9edzsWPm2MdJPkm29Z8K7WdF-tCnJUljJGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Portsmouth Town Council voted 7 to 0 on May 12 to adopt a safety action plan developed with consultant Tool Design that implements the town's earlier Vision Zero resolution and lays out specific steps to reduce deaths and serious injuries on local roadways.

The plan, prepared over roughly 10 months with input from municipal staff, police, the planning department and local stakeholders, documents a high-injury network and recommends 43 actions across four strategic areas: policy and leadership, infrastructure to slow speeds and improve crossings, education and enforcement, and post-crash care and data transparency. The consultant reported that town crash data from 2019'to'23 showed more than 1,000 crashes overall, about 160 injuries and 29 incidents involving death or serious injury; pedestrians and bicyclists were over-represented among the most severe outcomes.

Why it matters: Formal plan adoption allows Portsmouth to submit stronger applications for federal discretionary funding under the Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program. The consultant and planning staff said the current federal funding window closes June 26 and that a regional application with neighboring Newport and Middletown could score higher points.

Technical findings and priorities
- Time frame and data: the consultant reviewed five years of crash reports (2019'to'23) supplied through the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and local police reports; the five-year window is a standard practice for safety planning.
- Hotspots: East Main Road and intersections along West Main Road (including where Corey's Lane and Headley Street meet West Main) appear as local hotspots in the plan's high-injury map.
- Actions: the plan lists near-term, medium- and longer-term steps and assigns responsible partners (municipal departments, police, schools, regional agencies and nonprofits).

Grant and regional strategy
Town staff said they are working with Middletown and Newport to prepare a multi-municipality SS4A grant proposal emphasizing sidewalks, pedestrian safety and school-area improvements. Tool Design presented outreach materials, short animations and one-page \"tip sheets\" intended to help elected officials, staff and the public understand the plan's goals.

Community input and review
The plan incorporates feedback gathered through a task force and several stakeholder meetings. Councilors asked for continued updates and for staff to bring details on implementation priorities, cost estimates and enforcement plans.

Outcome and next steps
- Council vote to adopt safety action plan: 7'to' (unanimous).
- Next steps: staff will finalize regional grant application materials, pursue the SS4A round (deadline June 26) and return to the council with implementation priorities and timing.

Speakers and participants named in the meeting included Planning staff Leah Hitchen (presenter), Shauna Kitsman of Tool Design (consultant presenter), Police Chief Peters (comment on enforcement) and local task-force members who helped develop the plan. No direct quotations are used in this report; all details derive from the May 12 presentation and council vote.","The council unanimously adopted a data-driven safety action plan tied to a Vision Zero pledge and authorized staff to pursue a regional Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) grant application with a June 26 deadline.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council moves $600,000 to pension fund, debates holding $300,000 of school appropriation

Votes at a glance: Portsmouth council approves licenses, noise variances and building-permit fee changes

Parks and Recreation committee highlights playground upgrades, pickleball expansion and beach accessibility

Portsmouth adopts Vision Zero safety action plan, aims to apply for regional federal grant