Charlestown council authorizes solicitor to draft eminent domain resolution for Map 9, Lot 19

The Charlestown Town Council voted at a March 10 special meeting to authorize the town solicitor to draft a resolution that would give the town authority to acquire Map 9, Lot 19 (Charlestown Beach Road) by eminent domain and to place that resolution on the council's March 24 meeting agenda. The motion to authorize drafting the resolution passed unanimously, 5-0.

The action followed an executive session called under Rhode Island General Law 42-46-4 and 42-46-5(a)(5) to discuss real estate and potential litigation related to Map 9, Lot 19. The council initially voted to move into executive session on that basis (motion carried 4-0), then voted to seal the executive session minutes and later returned to open session before taking the eminent domain authorization vote.

Council procedure: the motion to move into executive session was made by Councilor Marr and seconded by Councilor Sloane; the transcript records that motion passing 4-0. After the executive session the council voted to seal the executive session minutes on a motion from Councilor Sarah, seconded by Councilor Marr (the motion to seal passed unanimously, 5-0). When the council returned to open session, Councilor Sarah moved to authorize the town solicitor to draft the eminent domain resolution and place it on the March 24 agenda; Councilor Stokes seconded. That motion passed 5-0.

The meeting record shows the council took no additional public actions on the property during the March 10 session; the next formal step recorded was placement of the draft resolution on the March 24 agenda. The transcript identifies the relevant statutory basis cited by council members as Rhode Island General Law 42-46-4 and 42-46-5(a)(5). The town solicitor who will prepare the draft resolution was not named in the transcript, and no specifics about the property owner, appraisal, compensation, funding source, or timeline for acquisition were provided at the March 10 meeting.

No public comment or substantive debate about the merits of acquiring Map 9, Lot 19 appears in the March 10 transcript. The council's votes were procedural: to meet in executive session under state law, to seal the executive session minutes, and to authorize the solicitor to prepare eminent domain paperwork for the March 24 agenda. The draft resolution will return to the full council for consideration on March 24, per the council's action.

Upcoming steps: the drafted resolution will appear on the March 24 Town Council agenda for further consideration and any potential formal action by the council.