[{"_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",6461914,"mediaKeyId","5813299-3663e07a79c574324fcad767f06fd08d","parentId",5813299,"title","Town Council continues rental-dwelling registration hearing to Oct. 14 to refine fee structure and short-term/long-term rules","audioSeconds",1363,"startMs",3719000,"endMs",5082000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5813299-3663e07a79c574324fcad767f06fd08d&start=3719&end=5082","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5813299-3663e07a79c574324fcad767f06fd08d/thumbnail_3719000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6461914/Rhode-Island/Town-Council-continues-rental-dwelling-registration-hearing-to-Oct-14-to-refine-fee-structure-and-short-termlong-term-rules","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461914-8b5f0fedb553bbdfd8b70b7a48546523/orig.mp4?Expires=1773079171&Signature=nnUrtmc8K1ZOCeqyqTCsxHodWd--nQb4laMk6GqQmnsGnzMVTFj1BHxyu-rpqYdIAc~Xi8mNb3DFhuOVJrRp4s7d6F1aRmwNuqFy6ehk81XfVUqaG~xF40OkHGJKsXpiiGCMH3cqYshr62GMJCXbmMn89L6DWvp5TDwrxhhsyJ5ot1rRC8H2x7UJ0SW9SyyE~yPsr82frVIhlEg0Wkvlpty6POOMTrlKirLVaCqkMOKzyNq9~QWa-w9fySZdF3EE3AIUnX3sSMcXOF9yBO0GpxCQUm0xuwDR4Jpo9i6W~FPPlJeBfldp-GnmMb2BeTxs09Y-oXUI6SFj1SWKa5au3Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","South Kingstown","date","2025-09-23T03:09:39.83Z","article","The Town Council continued a public hearing on proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance related to rental dwellings on Sept. 22, directing staff and the solicitor's office to provide more detailed fee options and legal advice on treatment of short-term rentals.

The draft ordinance presented to the council proposed a $100 registration fee per rental unit. Council members and members of the public raised concerns about equity for owners of multi-unit properties, the administrative burden on staff, and how the town should treat short-term rental operators versus long-term annual landlords.

Options discussed by council and staff included:

- A flat per-unit fee (draft proposal: $100 per unit) ;
- A property-level fee with a cap for multi-unit owners; or
- A tiered scale (example offered in discussion: 1'4 units = $100; 5'9 units = $200; 10+ units = $300).

Council members suggested alternative tiers, including a lower baseline (for example, $50) for 1'4-unit landlords so year-round owners are not unduly burdened, and higher charges for larger portfolios. Several councilors also said the town should incentivize year-long rentals rather than short-term vacation rentals.

Legal and administrative guidance requested

Solicitor Amy Goins told the council that she would provide formal advice on whether the town may differentiate fees for short-term and long-term rentals, and cautioned that some of her analysis had been provided to the council in attorney-client memoranda. She recommended that the council consider whether to request a confidential legal memo on fee differentiation and enforcement.

Separately, the council noted that the state maintains a short-term-rental registration and that existing state registration may provide some information the town could use; however, the state registration pertains to short-term rentals specifically, not long-term units.

Public comment and next steps

The council heard public comments during the hearing and agreed to continue the matter to its Oct. 14 meeting to allow staff and the solicitor's office to prepare detailed fee options, draft definitions (short-term vs. long-term), and an enforcement framework that the council can act on.

Speakers (selected)

- Amy Goins, Town Solicitor
- Council Member Bergner
- Council Member (others participated in discussion)

Ending

The public hearing was continued to Oct. 14; staff will present fee options and solicitor guidance in time for that meeting so the council can decide whether to adopt a registration ordinance and the fee structure.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","September 22, 2025 Town Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Council held a public hearing on proposed rental-dwelling registration and fee provisions but continued the hearing to Oct. 14 after discussion about tiered fees, short-term vs. long-term rentals and the need for solicitor guidance.","taxTitle","South Kingstown, Washington County, Rhode Island","taxId",79771,"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},6461918,"Council reviews restricted town funds as possible sources for housing, discusses Wakefield Elementary and South Road School options",130,2398000,2528000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5813299-3663e07a79c574324fcad767f06fd08d&start=2398&end=2528","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5813299-3663e07a79c574324fcad767f06fd08d/thumbnail_2398000.jpg","/articles/6461918/Rhode-Island/Council-reviews-restricted-town-funds-as-possible-sources-for-housing-discusses-Wakefield-Elementary-and-South-Road-School-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461918-94131a3743d443f1778c1e608ef8d93a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773079171&Signature=neDOZqFug1WP6MMZXGQ451gzNtNEdvVrOadF4z0HiIzly1jzBziZ4LTVACoM7iOZkwAjp3BzXf0lIGDaQ5XYZmRmNE6ebuwOkf4IQK1iarJNt9gjx2PHyOTYiBZo3pvZJRojSerSnhfeOattzlaSSnwjGjQXot-1CcgfPkacp0hi8ir-PXuF5Dj~XgOG44t26mqpfZLDhspPzdL3CgJw0zNqEEEawuS-otkdPHjq0k-8lDLM3F5SHZlSftECu1AD-LqyiMxyGK1XByemb-wsTMqbcjlDyHkmripPXfrLqqa09ug3iG9ir06lPOup2ekM-KBCHBZUuWnC2BzP3xTByg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Town Council on Sept. 22 received an inventory from the finance director of town-held funds that could potentially be used to support affordable housing or other municipal priorities, and discussed whether to accelerate work on several municipally owned parcels including Wakefield Elementary and South Road School.

\"The number one item is the affordable housing fund, which ... had $490,000,\" finance director Brian told the council as he reviewed account balances and restrictions. He listed other accounts and balances as presented in the meeting: an open-space fund with about $1.4 million (and $2.3 million of authorized but unissued open-space bond authorization available if needed), a South Road School fund at roughly $302,000 (part of which staff has been using for utilities and maintenance), a school-improvement fund of about $170,000, the Alva Watson endowment with $145,000 of which $106,000 is available, and the Walter Watson trust with roughly $216,000 (about $175,000 available).

Brian said that, if all the identified balances were available for repurposing, the total would be about $2.6 million. He cautioned, however, that some funds are restricted by purpose and that legal review (bond counsel or endowment documents) may be required before using specific funds for other purposes.

Interest income and fund accounting

Council members asked how interest income on invested funds is handled. Brian said the two endowment-type funds (Alva Watson and Walter Watson) are invested with the town's PFM asset manager and earn investment income that helps support senior services and hardship assistance. He said those funds represent a small portion of the town's overall PFM portfolio (0.62% and 0.77%, respectively).

By contrast, other accounts (for example, some open-space balances) do not have their interest rolled back into the same restricted fund; rather, that investment income accrues to the town's general fund and is used as general revenue in the operating budget. Staff and councilors discussed whether more of these returns should be earmarked for programmatic uses such as animal-shelter operations or affordable-housing seed money.

Possible municipal-property housing proposals and RFP timing

On housing-specific sites, the manager and planners reported that an RFP circulated in July for municipal parcels was judged premature by a state reviewer; the state recommended the town first secure grant funds or technical work to refine infrastructure and utility cost estimates before seeking developers or issuing a final RFP.

Staff said the town applied for a $75,000 Municipal Technical Assistance grant to refine utility and infrastructure cost estimates for the Alva Watson parcel; the award announcement was expected by October. For South Road School, staff said rough estimates for infrastructure work could be on the order of $5 million to $6 million, but those numbers were not final.

Wakefield Elementary was discussed separately. Council members noted community interest and petition activity. Staff presented an April site layout from a consultant that showed two smaller building footprints on the former school site and an expanded public green and connector to the bike path. Staff also raised a policy question: whether the council wanted to accelerate demolition of the vacant Wakefield Elementary building and seed the parcel as lawn while long-term options are developed; staff said they would bring cost and funding options back to the council.

Public comment: pace and moratorium request

A Wakefield resident, Jim O'Neil, urged the council to slow approvals of new housing proposals pending a careful look at municipal capacity for services, schools and infrastructure and suggested considering a pause or moratorium on new planning approvals until the town evaluates a pipeline of proposals.

What happens next

Council members asked staff to continue legal checks on specific funds (bond counsel/endowment language) and to return with refined estimates for using municipal land for affordable housing. Staff said grant awards and technical assistance could inform an RFP process later this fall or winter. Council members emphasized the need for transparency with residents about funding options and any repurposing of restricted balances.

Speakers (selected)

- Brian (Finance Director)
- Town Manager Jim
- Council Vice President Marin
- Jim O'Neil (resident, Wakefield)

Ending

Staff will provide follow-up memos to the council clarifying restrictions on specific funds, the annual income those funds generate, and any legal requirements that govern their use; the council asked that that information be available during budget deliberations.","Finance staff inventoried several restricted and semi-restricted town funds that could support housing initiatives; council and staff discussed RFP timing for municipally owned sites and potential demolition/temporary use of Wakefield Elementary.",{"_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},6461923,"South Kingstown council meeting: votes at a glance — permits, zoning changes, appointments and contract approvals",2650,1068000,3718000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5813299-3663e07a79c574324fcad767f06fd08d&start=1068&end=3718","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5813299-3663e07a79c574324fcad767f06fd08d/thumbnail_1068000.jpg","/articles/6461923/Rhode-Island/South-Kingstown-council-meeting-votes-at-a-glance-permits-zoning-changes-appointments-and-contract-approvals","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461923-5a17563d84b95446faf54f05940fd348/orig.mp4?Expires=1773079171&Signature=YbJbBdFLvBIofVZ~JD52GjSP8ne3XD9zWHrAE62OSdEk0EaEhQcMNb1Eu9r0m-4knNqnt2GL~1dmt0EqsU2U99yphVNMGqdu8cf~JOXFqnnqCWPytXL7-79eSYKyraAZy6VCZxVD47FRJeYWuOyk4uZcYdOjsB2gWd7cqwlAj-jmkZgevgsxo1DlZPhrA-D6JB4asJAlRZWcAlCnvPZPY47U~zkzutvc-2UkRa77RsVN3EU-R~vh2mnxYD2w1z2qtOkRnrALKpxZVEunTQkRvqiFFDiGNxHaeB2sM4-056CA8k5JT9kZJveTdPQON1WfTdmxSRozlVCrtcnte8NVoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its Sept. 22 meeting the South Kingstown Town Council approved a mix of routine and substantive items including event permits, business licenses, zoning amendments, and capital and contract awards. Below are the actions the council voted on during the meeting.

Key votes and outcomes

- Approval of minutes and consent agenda: Council approved previous meeting minutes and the consent agenda (motions recorded as passed).

- Item 7(a) Wakefield Oktoberfest (temporary mass-gathering permit): Approved. Permit conditions include a hold-harmless agreement and certificate of insurance naming the town as additional insured.

- Item 7(b) Arts & Eats temporary mass-gathering permit: Approved. Applicant confirmed traffic detail and parking arrangements with police.

- Item 7(c) Private detective license for Dominique Denitto: Approved.

- Zoning Board of Review reappointments (Jeff Elliot; Thomas Daniels): Approved.

- Item 10(c) Traffic/parking ordinance amendment (Old North Road in front of Christ the King Church): Approved. Chief Moynihan presented revised language limiting a no-parking zone to 200 feet north of Fortin Road and 200 feet south of Carriage Lane. One councilor recused; motion passed (vote announced as \"that passes 4-1 recusal\").

- Item 10(b) Cottage-community zoning amendment (Article 5): Council adopted the cottage-community provision with a three-year sunset (set to expire 12/31/2028) as discussed; motion passed.

- Tenant/rental-dwelling ordinance (Article 5 amendments, registration fees): Public hearing continued to Oct. 14 for additional council consideration and drafting of fee options and treatment of short-term vs. long-term rentals.

- Item 11(a) Amendments to council rules and agenda procedures: Approved after edits to preserve work-session language and to keep the regular-session start time at 7:30 p.m.

- Item 11(k) School construction change-order task force and authorization thresholds: Approved (see separate article on the school project for details).

- Item 11(d) Recognition plaque language for the Peace Dale library Community Learning Center: Council selected Option 3 (long-form language) to be installed on the plaque; staff to verify name spellings.

- Capital and contract approvals (items 11(e) through 11(h)): Council approved multiple procurement and capital items including:
* Municipal road/bridge grant acceptance and required municipal match
* Fuel-management software update (integration with Fleetio)
* Fresh Meadow culvert/guardrail and related bid award to True North Civil (project budget and contingency approved)
* Hydrogen-sulfide analyzer purchase for wastewater monitoring
All four items carried on motions with unanimous recorded \"aye\" votes.

- Item 11(i) Purchase of a jet dock for the town marina: Approved (funded in current CIP allocation); councilors discussed arranging a public ceremony and boat rides when equipment is delivered.

Appointments

- Zoning board reappointments: Jeff Elliot and Thomas Daniels reappointed (unanimous vote indicated by \"all in favor\").

- Planning board appointment: The council appointed Armen Monaco to the planning board following interviews; the clerk recorded a split vote (council recorded the final outcome as 3-1 with 1 abstention).

Procedural notes

Several items were approved by voice vote with the clerk announcing \"Aye\" and \"That passes.\" Where a recusal, abstention or split vote occurred, the clerk recorded the divergence in the minutes and announced the outcome. The rental-dwelling public hearing was explicitly continued to Oct. 14 to allow the council and staff to refine fee tiers and legal guidance.

Speakers (selected)

- Council President MacIntyre (presided)
- Council Vice President Marin
- Chief Moynihan (police)
- Applicants and licensees (Steven Fox; Paul Baptista; Dominique Denitto)

Ending

The council concluded the meeting after appointments, committee nominations for the town's 250th anniversary planning and other routine business. Several items, including the rental registration public hearing, were continued for additional drafting and public comment.","The council approved multiple event permits, licensing items, zoning changes, appointments and several capital and contract authorizations during the Sept. 22 meeting; one zoning-related parking change drew a recusal and a planning-board appointment passed with a split vote.",{"_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},6461928,"South Kingstown officials say high school project estimate is under budget; council approves change-order task force",191,1545000,1736000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5813299-3663e07a79c574324fcad767f06fd08d&start=1545&end=1736","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5813299-3663e07a79c574324fcad767f06fd08d/thumbnail_1545000.jpg","/articles/6461928/Rhode-Island/South-Kingstown-officials-say-high-school-project-estimate-is-under-budget-council-approves-change-order-task-force","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6461928-e1b91ac257a9fd7fb639d76903754cb4/orig.mp4?Expires=1773079171&Signature=jkBdzLmf0zGNe4gy7FOHUmyuEUKokilvGiaKQmm6KYQGLK4j50Vc5Q2~XPQF16jn02f2gHX0S4anksKz23PZJ7OnJWaS2bqPdmdpyMm7DsVcP8Expdk956c7fpqWa9hZPQ3dzt9m9JEqddCtAZ~kOKUqpA3aGO1yJBmr~NkvJdWWyKOnDOlIwTA8URKC-wiCzfct98Guvn8vFq-ghohGSR4dwLAzfW-wndq~~cf7UzAL05rcyMrxzczHFizPqjZmcl8SyLohyHumszX~VrJWuuZ66jEaaXlS-F1XFcKaa46c6WQ4rP8AHJtbnfWO9LHY53HDpPcVuQ9J1vIKT6WCyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","South Kingstown officials told the Town Council on Sept. 22 that the high school construction estimate at the 60% design-document milestone is tracking under the town's construction budget, and the council approved a change-order task force to speed decisions during construction.

\"The 60% is the progress of completion of the drawings, not the progress of the estimate,\" said Kate Turner of the school building committee during a presentation on the project's cost and schedule. The town manager and finance staff said the overall project budget remains $150 million; the construction budget within that total was listed at roughly $116.27 million and the 60% progress estimate came in at about $115,000,005.34, or roughly three-quarters of a million dollars below that construction allocation.

The town presented a line-item breakdown: $116,266,963 (construction budget), $3,000,001.36 (furniture, fixtures, equipment and technology), $11,000,000 earmarked for Curtis Corner scope, $12,000,008 for professional services and expenses, and a roughly $6.8 million owner's contingency (about 5'6%). The project team said the contractor's GMP (guaranteed maximum price) estimate includes a 3% contractor contingency and additional allowances for escalation and coordination during the remaining design work.

Why it matters: With a $150 million total project and a major construction contract in place (Gilbane is the construction manager under contract), even relatively modest shifts in estimates or unforeseen work can change the town's financing needs and require council approval for additional contract amendments.

Change-order task force approved

To streamline on-site decisions and avoid stoppages, the council approved a change-order task force and a tiered authority structure for authorizing contingency work. Under the new process:

- Emergency authorization: the construction manager may authorize time-and-material work up to $5,000 with written notice to the task force and building committee; all such work will be tracked and presented for later ratification.
- Non-emergency, under $10,000: majority vote of the task force to proceed; school building committee (SBC) and town council will be notified at their next meetings.
- $10,000 to $25,000: requires task force majority and school building committee approval prior to proceeding; town council will be updated subsequently.
- $25,000 and above (unforeseen, time-sensitive): task force recommendation and SBC recommendation, then town council majority vote required before funding and contract authorization.
- Elective (non-time-sensitive) changes: up to $15,000 require task force review and SBC authorization before proceeding; $15,000 and above follow the full path to town council approval.

The council also authorized the project team to request special council meetings if a critical, time-sensitive change over $25,000 arises and cannot wait for a regular council meeting. The contractor's change-authorizations (ATPs) will be compiled and executed in formal AIA contract amendment documents (AIA G701 series) before funds are released.

Composition and process details

Town staff described the task force as including a town council designee, a member of the school building committee, the deputy town manager, the superintendent or the superintendent's designee, and the finance director; the architect and construction manager will attend but are nonvoting. Staff recommended weekly meetings to review potential change orders and to forward items to the SBC and council as required by the monetary thresholds.

Council members asked about quorum logistics for special meetings and whether splitting a larger change into smaller pieces could be used to avoid council approval; staff cautioned that splitting to circumvent approval would be inappropriate and that task force members could always elevate any item to the SBC or council regardless of amount.

What did the council vote?

The council voted to approve the task-force recommendation and the tiered authorization limits. Council members also asked staff to bring a recommended council designee to the next meeting so the task force could convene soon after.

Speakers (selected)

- Kate Turner, School Building Committee (presenter)
- Town Manager Jim (Town Manager)
- Brian (Finance Director)
- Council Member Bergner (Council)

Ending

Staff said the design team will continue refining documents toward a constructible bid set; officials asked for regular financial updates and said all change-authorizations will be presented at subsequent meetings for transparency and ratification. The council-approved task force aims to balance construction continuity with council oversight of larger expenditure changes.","Design team presented a 60% construction-document estimate that tracks about $750,000 under the town's construction budget; council approved a change-order task force and a process for authorizing contingencies and emergency work during construction.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Town Council continues rental-dwelling registration hearing to Oct. 14 to refine fee structure and short-term/long-term rules

Council reviews restricted town funds as possible sources for housing, discusses Wakefield Elementary and South Road School options

South Kingstown council meeting: votes at a glance — permits, zoning changes, appointments and contract approvals

South Kingstown officials say high school project estimate is under budget; council approves change-order task force