Votes at a glance: Glocester Town Council actions, Jan. 16, 2025

The Glocester Town Council on Jan. 16 held a public hearing and took formal votes on a range of items. Listed below are motions made, the outcome recorded at the meeting and key conditions or notes. Vote totals are recorded as voice votes in the transcript and are reported here as unanimous where the transcript recorded "Aye" for the motion.

1) Transfer of Class BT (tavern) liquor license to PZ LLC (Tavern on Main, 1157 Putnam Pike). Outcome: Approved (contingent on permits, taxes, fire/police approvals, employee alcohol certification, menu, BCI check and $300,000 minimum liability insurance). License restricted to interior only; valid to 11/30/2025.

2) New victualing (food) license for PZ LLC (Tavern on Main). Outcome: Approved (contingent on payment of taxes, zoning/building approvals, fire/police approvals, health department approval, food manager certificate, and valid sales permit). License restricted to interior only; valid to 11/30/2025.

3) Consent agenda: Approval of town council minutes (regular meeting 12/19/2024 and organizational meeting 01/02/2025); approval of tax abatements to the 2024 tax roll totaling $1,365.21; acceptance of finance director report for December 2024. Outcome: Approved.

4) Parade committee appointments (alternate #2 and #3). Outcome: Motion to table to Feb. 6, 2025. Outcome: Approved (tabled).

5) DPW building/facility supervisor appointment. Outcome: Motion to table to Feb. 6, 2025. Outcome: Approved (tabled).

6) Department head appointments (slate to run concurrent with council term—see full article for list including police chief Joseph Delpreet, finance director Elizabeth Beltram, DPW director Gary Tremmel, town planner Karen Scott and others). Outcome: Approved.

7) Reappointment of Sandra Shepherd as tree warden for 2025 (contingent on valid arborist license). Outcome: Approved.

8) Multiple board and commission appointments and reappointments (including Recreation Commission reappointments; Safety Commission appointments; Citric Watershed Commission appointments; Budget Board appointments; portable housing advisory board reappointment and tabling of multiple seats; Economic Development Board appointments and tabling of some seats; zoning board alternates; and others). Outcome: Approved or tabled as noted on the agenda and in minutes.

9) Personnel appointments: - Part-time dispatcher Mark LaPlatt, Gloucester Police Department at $24/hour, not to exceed 24 hours/week, contingent on background check; effective 01/17/2025. Outcome: Approved. - Temporary as-needed human services driver Robert LaPierre at $15.77/hour, contingent on BCI and valid RI driver’s license, appointment up to six months. Outcome: Approved (amended to up to six months).

10) Authorization for the tax collector’s office to use former tax collector Jane Steer as a consultant at $30/hour (transcript notes $30/hr; a motion recorded $330/hr in an apparent transcription error — clerk recused for conflict). Transcript text: request for consultant at $30 per hour, with total cost estimated $450–$600. Outcome: Approved in motion as consultant; council member recusal noted.

11) Disposition of town property — 1272 Putnam Pike: Motion to authorize demolition and removal of building and foundation and to remove electrical service. Outcome: Approved.

12) Transfer-station/litter mitigation: Motion to authorize DPW director to develop pricing for fence/barrier options that are aesthetically appropriate and to prepare a code-red public-education message; coordinate with police for enforcement. Outcome: Approved.

13) Filming authorization: Motion to authorize Vagrant Inc. to film in Chepachet Village for Rhode Island Commerce Corporation on Feb. 4 (company to notify police department prior to filming; advised to obtain permission from business owners). Outcome: Approved.

14) Ratification of state minimum wage increase per RIGL to $15/hour effective 01/01/2025 for applicable town employees. Outcome: Approved.

15) Union contract negotiations: Council acknowledged notice from unions (Gloucester Police Union IBPO; Gloucester Clerks Local 1322; Gloucester Dispatchers Local 1322) and appointed negotiation teams: for the Gloucester Police IBPO — Walt Steer and Will Worthy; for Gloucester Clerks Local 1322 — John Burlingame and Shelby Ratehouse; for Gloucester Dispatchers Local 1322 — Walt Steer and Stephanie Gleessey. Outcome: Approved.

16) Miscellaneous motions: motions to accept resignations from various board members with thanks; tabling of multiple board appointments to the Feb. 6 meeting where appropriate. Outcome: Approved as recorded.

17) Adjournment: Motion to adjourn at 8:48 p.m. Outcome: Approved.

Notes: The transcript records motions and voice votes with "Aye" for passing motions. Several items were tabled for Feb. 6, 2025 for lack of recommendations or to allow completion of vetting. Where the transcript recorded a recusal, that is noted above (tax-collector consultant authorization). Items requiring follow-up (evidence of insurance, health permits, background checks, DPW cost estimates) were left as conditions in the motions and are pending submission to the town clerk or relevant departments.