Narragansett Council approves contracts, appointments and extensions in 5-0 votes

The Narragansett Town Council on Jan. 21 approved a package of contracts, committee appointments, wage changes and program authorizations, with most motions passing unanimously by 5-0 votes. The council also appointed a probate judge following an executive session.

Highlights of actions taken include approval of three-year seasonal food-truck vending permits at the town beach; acceptance of a FEMA grant award and an interagency agreement for the Colonel John Gardner Wall project with Bonnet Shores Fire District; a one-year extension for water-testing services with Rhode Island Analytical Laboratories; multi-year contract extensions for the Town Fusion records system with govOS (formerly Cofile Technologies); and multiple committee appointments to the Economic Development Committee, the Historic District Commission and the Affordable Housing Trust Collaborative.

The council approved the award of wastewater chemical supply contracts for sodium hypochlorite and sodium bisulfite, a resolution revising seasonal and part-time wage ranges for FY2024–25, and several other routine procurements and administrative items. One procurement — the bid for seasonal trash-receptacle/rubbish removal recommended to Joe Harvey Landscaping LLC — was continued to allow solicitors to review charter and ordinance issues and to confer with the vendor.

After a closed executive session to interview candidates for the probate judge position and to discuss personnel matters related to the town solicitor and assistant solicitor, the council reconvened and appointed Anthony Magninelli as judge of the probate court. The council also reported votes in executive session approving salary adjustments and an annual flat litigation/special projects rate and an hourly litigation rate for the town solicitor; those items were announced on the record after the session.

Several motions were routine and lacked extended discussion; the majority of votes were recorded as 5-0. Where motions recorded only “motion to approve” and “second,” the minutes did not identify the individual mover or seconder.

Votes at a glance (selected): - Consent agenda (items D1–D3): approved, 5-0. - Seasonal food-truck vending permits (North Lot, Mondays and Wednesdays, June–Labor Day, 6 p.m.–10 p.m., three-year contracts): approved, 5-0. - FEMA grant acceptance and interagency agreement for the Colonel John Gardner Wall (with Bonnet Shores Fire District): approved, 5-0; town manager authorized to sign after solicitor review. - One-year extension with Rhode Island Analytical Laboratories (water testing): approved, 5-0. - Wastewater chemicals: sodium hypochlorite contract and sodium bisulfite contract awarded as recommended, approved, 5-0. - Resolution revising seasonal/part-time wages for FY2024–25: adopted, 5-0. - GovOS (Town Fusion records management) three-year extension at annual rates shown in the minutes: approved, 5-0. - Appointments: multiple appointments to Economic Development Committee, Historic District Commission, Affordable Housing Trust Collaborative and confirmation of the Chamber representative: approved, 5-0. - Trash-receptacle/rubbish-removal bid (recommended to Joe Harvey Landscaping LLC): continued to a date uncertain for solicitor review. - Appointment of probate judge Anthony Magninelli (after executive session interviews): approved, 5-0.

The council scheduled a zoning workshop for Feb. 18 (time stated in the meeting record) and approved a “spotlight on schools” item to allow regular presentations by the school superintendent or designees; the council amended that motion to remove a fixed 10-minute time limit so presentations may run longer at the council’s discretion.

The meeting minutes and motions as announced during the session provide the official record of the votes listed above.