[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,75,87,98],{"_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",6485848,"mediaKeyId","5550748-11699cd633545eb3040928ca11e6c83c","parentId",5550748,"title","Votes at a glance: Glocester Town Council actions on Aug. 7, 2025","audioSeconds",348,"startMs",42000,"endMs",390000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5550748-11699cd633545eb3040928ca11e6c83c&start=42&end=390","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5550748-11699cd633545eb3040928ca11e6c83c/thumbnail_42000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6485848/Glocester/Providence-County/Rhode-Island/Votes-at-a-glance-Glocester-Town-Council-actions-on-Aug-7-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485848-03bc8027f3041c21211781936929dd72/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148778&Signature=OqRFogastW3TfuUmHZnzXPfs8xi-XwnguspIQHk7fpiBxGYGQnfTyQZoidTUTDOPHIx10r9h9DTb-LhbigqcJgZMjgspdSnqVwXHgwrqZFTyKtPXfvAQruxt4pSkAyTo7TsgDY8ek0AXaDLh65YsYH9yEZnHwl7H1j7EZmzKnarFh1QbSoaDwzug84argQGIOPl2BPlgE-oat9zJZYZhM98z~YZEG27qiWAsDJ9T5ZCwSDRKVU-GcBOppmn837r8WId1-MtxUmFBrcM5OyVIvOJcfHC5ER-xZedL1mZQuEf5LHqozdrYWE-5vcdjhgwre9MYQ0Nl0CQTz6QvTwOP2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Glocester RI Meetings","date","2025-08-07T23:51:26Z","article","The Glocester Town Council took a series of administrative and policy actions on Aug. 7. Key outcomes below are drawn from the meeting record.

- Liquor license transfer hearing continued: The council continued the public hearing on the transfer of a liquor license (Kitson Liquors Inc. d/b/a Kitson Liquors, 677 Putnam Pike to Gloucester Liquor Inc., Sono Ben Patel d/b/a Kiss and Liquor, 677 Putnam Pike) to the Aug. 21, 2025 meeting.

- Minutes: The council approved the minutes of the regular meeting of July 17, 2025 (voice vote).

- Appointments: Whitney Biafoe (listed in packet as Whitney Viafoe/33 Howard Lane) was appointed to the Glocester 250th Commission, position 5, with term to expire 12/31/2026. Appointments to positions 6 and 7 on that commission were tabled to Aug. 21, 2025. Several other board and ad hoc appointments were tabled to the Aug. 21 meeting.

- Community Septic Loan Program exception: The council approved an exception to the program's debt-to-income requirement for a $30,500 loan at 1% for 10 years for the property at 835 Turtle Hot Hill Road; the borrowers' DTI was reported at roughly 50% versus the 45% program cap; the finance director recommended approval.

- Special-event exemption: The Glocester Heritage Society yard sale at 1043 Putnam Pike on Sept. 20, 2025 was determined exempt from a public hearing and approved subject to conditions listed on the application (no alcohol, no food, no on-street parking, vendor limits, tents approved by police and fire).

- ARPA documents and MOA: The council authorized the town council president to sign the ARPA Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund attestation and a revised memorandum of agreement related to the Glocester Manton Free Public Library and Harmony Library (total ARPA funds noted as $1,031,247); the MOA reflects a 10-year commitment in section 2.5.

- Personnel: Oliver Perry of Lincoln, R.I., was appointed to the Department of Public Works driver/laborer 1 position effective Aug. 12, 2025, at $29.40 per hour, subject to union contract conditions.

- Other: The council received an invoice for membership dues to the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns ($4,826 for FY2026) and debated the value of renewal; no final vote on dues renewal was recorded in the meeting discussion.

Why it matters: The meeting combined routine administrative business (minutes, appointments, personnel) with program-level decisions (septic loan exception, ARPA closeout) and community concerns (quarry blasting to be added to a future agenda). The septic loan decision and the ARPA authorizations carry immediate operational implications.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town of Glocester RI Meetings Live Stream","oneSentenceSummary","At its Aug. 7 meeting the Glocester Town Council continued a liquor license hearing, approved minutes and several appointments, authorized ARPA grant closeout documents, approved a septic loan DTI exception and granted a special-event exemption.","taxTitle","Glocester, Providence County, Rhode Island","taxId",79682,"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},6485852,"Council authorizes ARPA closeout documents and memorandum of agreement for library project",200,559000,759000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5550748-11699cd633545eb3040928ca11e6c83c&start=559&end=759","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5550748-11699cd633545eb3040928ca11e6c83c/thumbnail_559000.jpg","/articles/6485852/Glocester/Providence-County/Rhode-Island/Council-authorizes-ARPA-closeout-documents-and-memorandum-of-agreement-for-library-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485852-460d17bd3e58ea30c608a70f00f1f19e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148778&Signature=dmUUxXFYd9s5wRjIKKxBASqY3ZO3lGGniYcXKigFgL5DmfJEJUTdXmvUGb76~tXL8-eVE04wb5YEg3RSdI3vSyjb4X3v7oLpCk7SuE1wZ5dJipZfaOJlOaAYeihWqY-KP6H10-qEi2jhnfB5sI4qhG7TwqxTGJZEKOB~oAudL1dRanDYLfVVCbeM0pRaVlHN9FPnaQstWtS3YtT2bIUOb3YQzf8MFmev62i3xUMDJB6wOvEKAS8vuaFMe-R~MhU2Whz9dm4bAmPL7gudZm1kcROjfqabbnH4m5gcjj5huQNTsaqjsR-6Uv~5Mh1kzxuHRnRXYyG2VRuUFuIvmqU-rA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Glocester Town Council on Aug. 7 authorized the council president to sign documentation related to the town's American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund grant for library improvements.

Town planner Karen Scott told the council the town received $1,031,247 to invest in the Glocester Manton Free Public Library and that project improvements are nearing completion. As part of the grant closeout the town must certify continued compliance with grant requirements and update the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Town of Glocester, the Glocester Manton Free Public Library Board of Trustees and the Harmony Library Board of Trustees.

Scott said a revised MOA dated Aug. 7, 2025 includes a modification in section 2.6 and that section 2.5 reflects a 10-year commitment to continue program services. \"I just wanted to say to you, there was 1 other correction in the memorandum of understanding section 2.5. It's a 10 year commitment to run the program, so that's not a 5,\" Scott told the council.

A motion to authorize the town council president to sign the ARPA attestation and the revised MOA passed by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded. Councilors also voted separately to authorize signing the MOA dated Aug. 7, 2025.

Why it matters: The action completes administrative steps required to close an ARPA-funded capital project worth just over $1 million and binds the participating libraries and the town to the stated period of program commitments.

What the record shows: The town planner requested authorization to sign both the grant closeout attestation and the revised MOA. Councilors clarified the length of the commitment during discussion before approving the motions.","The Glocester Town Council authorized the town council president to sign American Rescue Plan Act capital project closeout documents and a revised memorandum of agreement covering the Glocester Manton Free Public Library and Harmony Library for a $1,031,247 grant.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":46,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6485858,"Town council waives debt-to-income limit for community septic loan for Martinez family",186,204000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5550748-11699cd633545eb3040928ca11e6c83c&start=204&end=390","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5550748-11699cd633545eb3040928ca11e6c83c/thumbnail_204000.jpg","/articles/6485858/Glocester/Providence-County/Rhode-Island/Town-council-waives-debt-to-income-limit-for-community-septic-loan-for-Martinez-family","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485858-782cd81129f80aeb464faac6a9dcefaf/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148778&Signature=YfbR7q-rMlpQBWK7WW2I2m9fJad6gk~2Y1sjT2U9IWKqwsXwC1YLSOHSXnMXXjPH4D9cW4nzXaWIjyUntXASZOLyGv47t6e~50M-gvG5BxdOxzsKuM-PnUmhwy3vv9d3n~cndsKYV0cb0yF3aLJrp41eoLuZnnFGWDQQwCZ1XbmFlo2Vl1eV8y1KJRI4In7H6uAdiDDiEjZRBeaU2y6KzXJDd7~9x8S3opWuS6A98CnMBCSF-sqp3Kf~t7vCVEAmxIU~fbxCZi6Xj3eAPvViNm65jYss4VqVcvvwBLUcRH4JDIHf-Gre-AFKjrBetCOQy5SvrYjJlxL-Db6iwsLjVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Glocester Town Council voted Aug. 7 to grant a borrower an exception to the town's Community Septic Loan Program debt-to-income (DTI) requirement so Rhode Island Housing may proceed with a $30,500 loan.

Elizabeth A. Beltram, the town's finance director, had recommended granting the exception after Rhode Island Housing reported the borrowers' DTI at about 50%, exceeding the program cap of 45%. A finance department memo noted the borrowers, Sarah and George Martinez of 835 Turtle Hot Hill Road, have owned the property since 2021 and are employed full time.

The loan was described in council documents as $30,500 at 1% interest for 10 years, with a monthly payment of $280.56. Ruth Anglom, listed in correspondence from Rhode Island Housing as a community lending processor, asked the town to advise whether it would waive the credit criteria so the lender could proceed.

A motion to grant the DTI exception passed by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the meeting minutes. Councilors moved to \"waive the credit criteria relating to debt to income ratio\" for this application and instructed staff to notify Rhode Island Housing.

Why it matters: The Community Septic Loan Program's DTI limit is intended to limit lending risk; the council's exception permits this household to obtain a loan needed for septic work. The decision affects one named property and may set a precedent for future exceptions.

What the record shows: The finance director recommended the exception after the borrowers provided additional written income information; the memo said the additional information was reasonable and recommended approval. The council's motion authorizes staff to notify Rhode Island Housing to proceed.","The Glocester Town Council approved a one-time exception to the community septic loan program's debt-to-income limit for borrowers Sarah and George Martinez, allowing a $30,500 loan at 1% for 10 years.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6485863,"Residents say quarry blasting damaged homes; council adds issue to next agenda",834,1481000,2315000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5550748-11699cd633545eb3040928ca11e6c83c&start=1481&end=2315","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5550748-11699cd633545eb3040928ca11e6c83c/thumbnail_1481000.jpg","/articles/6485863/Glocester/Providence-County/Rhode-Island/Residents-say-quarry-blasting-damaged-homes-council-adds-issue-to-next-agenda","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485863-3ae3fd78e35d0f341743704fcb15bd50/orig.mp4?Expires=1771148778&Signature=jW9-ainjWkLHAjydGQEfNQufEruex-RCIRa-8mMS~M5PVoqxbb12noDupqaLv~3Y0uxfVd~Ab2pv-XR9SzY0BCPEpbgU-Jsmm~gbhyJcbk3vTWLW3TYV7vUnoSAld5PxaTGuMTvj7~iYovehcWoV247kBhafHPechSeUvwTpVq01lvmQA5YgsYeUbSKbPD9oVUNp0SalDm5ZW~au6iD0~UTgzctZ-3hvr90V3eNIQZNi08ode0Mpy47tBhw3grx60t22OgsU~O92rJtzfdL55bjGTY7SOfY5qsvNCsJj2mUWZ8TsulilISKkHRF1FIBdGfTndoFy3Q3q67L4iPpPuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several Glocester residents told the Town Council on Aug. 7 that blasting at a nearby quarry has caused property damage, ongoing noise and anxiety and that state permitting authorities have not responded to their complaints.

Gary King, a Glocester resident, told the council he filed a complaint with the State Fire Marshal's office on Jan. 30, 2024 after blasting reportedly cracked window panes and later damaged his chimney. \"I sent pictures. It took a week. They showed up. That was more than 2 weeks ago,\" King said, and later added, \"This thing isn't no little chimney. It's, like, 5 feet wide, 5 feet deep, and 6 foot tall.\" He said the claim has been \"in process\" and that he has not received a clear schedule or adequate follow-up from state authorities.

Other speakers at open forum described similar effects on homes and children and asked the council to press the operator for better notification and limits on blasting intensity. One resident said that trucks associated with the operation appear to use varied routes to avoid concentrated visibility, and another urged the council to require advance notice so residents can secure pets and vulnerable household members.

Council members acknowledged the testimony and said they would place the quarry and blasting complaints on the council's next meeting agenda for further discussion. The council did not take any immediate enforcement action during the meeting.

Why it matters: Residents described both property damage they say is tied to blasting and a lack of clear responses from the state permitting authority. Council consideration could lead to requests for information, notification protocols, or further coordination with state regulators.

What the record shows: King described multiple interactions with the blasting company's risk manager and said he was directed to file a claim; he estimated the chimney repair could be substantial and said monitoring equipment was placed at a nearby house but that his property sits on ledge and experiences stronger effects. Speakers asked the council to require advance notice of blasts on the police department notification channel.

Next steps: The council agreed to add the issue to the next agenda for follow-up. No formal direction to staff or vote to change permits was recorded at the Aug. 7 meeting.","Multiple residents told the Glocester Town Council that quarry blasting has rattled houses, cracked chimneys and broken glass; the council agreed to put the matter on the next meeting agenda for further discussion.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Glocester Town Council actions on Aug. 7, 2025

Council authorizes ARPA closeout documents and memorandum of agreement for library project

Town council waives debt-to-income limit for community septic loan for Martinez family

Residents say quarry blasting damaged homes; council adds issue to next agenda