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Votes at a glance: Town of Bristol council adopts provisional budget, approves event permits, appointments and ordinance referrals
Summary
The Town of Bristol Town Council voted on its 2025–26 provisional budget, approved multiple one‑day event permits and licenses, scheduled public hearings and appointed or reappointed volunteers to boards and commissions in a series of largely unanimous voice votes.
The Town of Bristol Town Council on an evening meeting adopted its 2025–26 provisional budget, approved a slate of licenses and event permits, set a May 7 public hearing on a liquor‑license ordinance amendment, and moved forward a variety of appointments and reappointments.
The council voted to adopt the provisional budget as presented in the packet; the clerk read the motion to adopt the 2025–26 provisional budget and to advertise and forward the document for a public hearing on April 14. Mary moved the motion and Tony seconded. The motion passed on a voice vote.
Council members approved a consent agenda and a set of one‑day dancing and entertainment licenses and street‑use requests, including: - Banda Santa Isabel, one‑day license for April 12 at 577 Wood Street (approved). - Our Lady of Mount Carmel, May 31 fundraiser at 127 State Street (approved). - Bristol Book Fest, April 4 at Rogers Free Library (approved). - Smoke on the Water fundraiser, June 21 at 65 Ferry Road (approved). - Bristol Merchant Association State Street fairs and associated Lower State Street closure requests (approved).
The council received and continued license renewals and renewals reviews, including tattoo license renewals, cesspool license renewals, and a six‑month review and renewal for Folklore LLC (Folklore Provisions, 301 Hope Street). On Folklore LLC, the council accepted the six‑month review and moved forward a separate request to increase the number of class B‑V liquor licenses (to expand alcohol service area and increase the town total from 32 to 33) by referring an ordinance to the solicitor and scheduling a public hearing for May 7.
Traffic and parking items included approval to remove or relocate an accessible parking space on Shaws Lane and referral to the solicitor to draft an ordinance creating a no‑parking box to assist driveway egress (approved; referral for ordinance drafting).
Event permits for road races were approved, with the council asking organizers to coordinate details with the police department: Colt State Park half marathon (November 2; up to 500 runners) and Run for the Kids 5K at Vigilant Brewery (September 7) were both approved.
Boards and commission business included the council accepting resignations and appointing or setting interviews for multiple positions: Pamela Romano was appointed to a full Harbor Commission seat; the council scheduled interviews for several harbor advisory and library trustee openings at the April 28 meeting; assistant harbor master appointments and multiple planning, zoning and pension board reappointments were approved.
Resolutions passed included a council resolution urging restoration of general revenue sharing to cities and towns, which the council was told would increase Bristol’s revenue by $787,255 if enacted by the state, and a resolution supporting the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns legislative priorities.
Other items the council voted to receive and file included the Keep Bristol Clean townwide cleanup notice, the July 4 committee membership and calendar of events, and the Bristol County Water Authority Tri‑Town monthly report for February 2025.
Votes were recorded as voice votes in the meeting record; where a mover and seconder were stated in the transcript those names are recorded below. The council did not record detailed roll‑call tallies in the minutes for most routine approvals.
