At a glance: Council approves liquor license, bills, tower contract, police vehicle and makes multiple board appointments

The Nelson Field Town Council took several procedural and expenditure actions during its Jan. 20 meeting. Key actions and outcomes are listed below.

Votes at a glance

- Knights of Columbus: The council approved a Class F liquor license for the Knights of Columbus event at the St. Paul Street hall on March 15, 2025. Michael Esperance (representing the applicant) said the hall sits in North Smithfield while the parish is in Blackstone. The application indicated a beer and wine license and that entertainment would be provided; the applicant also confirmed a TIP‑certified bartender would serve.

- Payment of bills: The council approved the payment of bills for January 2025 in the amount of $3,446,310.18 following a motion and roll call.

- Tax Increment Financing liaison appointment: The council appointed Councilor Mr. Beauregard as the town council liaison to the Route 146 tax increment financing (TIF) feasibility study.

- Mabry Tower / Mill City contract: Having previously awarded the reconstruction bid to Mill City (Jan. 16), council authorized the town administrator to execute the contract now that required documents were received and par engineering had approved them. Councilor Buragard recused from this vote.

- Police vehicle replacement: The council approved purchase of a replacement Ford Explorer from Colonial Municipal Group for $45,274.90 and upfitting by Island Tech Services for $4,518.40 (grand total $49,793.30). The insurer’s reimbursement check of $14,600 will be applied, leaving a net of $35,193.30 to be paid from the police detail/cruiser account.

- Committee, board appointments and reappointments: The council confirmed a slate of appointments and reappointments across multiple boards and commissions, including: Michael Davis to the Budget Committee; Gregory Burnap, Elizabeth Newberry, Kevin Newton and others to the Charter Review Committee; Kim Solona and Kathleen McConaughey to the Public Art Advisory Committee; Michael Ganim Jr. to the Sewer Commission; Gail Burlinghoff to the Zoning Board (seat 4); and Joey Savini as a zoning alternate. Several other appointments and vacancies were discussed and held for later action.

Procedural notes and recusals

- Councilor Buragard recused from the Mill City contract vote. Several agenda items (dissolution of predecessor Hallowell/Multi‑Generational committees and appointments to the new HBC) were tabled for the next meeting pending the revised resolution.

If additional documentation is required for any of the items above (contracts, grant agreements or full roll‑call spreadsheets), the town clerk’s office has been asked to circulate the clean documents ahead of the next meeting.