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Votes at a glance: Narragansett council approves appointments, contracts and ordinance referrals
Summary
At its March 3 meeting the Narragansett Town Council approved minutes, personnel actions, vendor agreements, multiple appointments, a parking subcommittee and two ordinance actions; all recorded votes passed 5-0.
The Narragansett Town Council on March 3 carried a slate of routine and policy actions by unanimous votes. Key outcomes included appointments to advisory committees, contract authority for a beach volleyball league, revised marina slip rates, and a referral of extensive zoning ordinance amendments to the Planning Board for review.
Highlights (all votes recorded 5-0 unless noted):
- Approval of minutes: Minutes of the Feb. 3, 2025 regular meeting were approved (motion passed 5-0).
- Personnel: The council approved filling two wastewater-division vacancies created by resignations (5-0). The police department recruitment was noted as ongoing.
- Parks & Recreation and marina: The council approved 2025 Middle Bridge Marina slip rates at $800 for a full slip and $600 for a side slip for the 2025 season; staff reported a waiting list of 69 resident taxpayers for 34 full slips and two side slips (5-0).
- Contracts: The council approved a three-year volleyball league agreement with Newport Volleyball Club (Newport, RI) for use of the town beach and authorized the town manager to sign the agreement after review by the town solicitor (5-0).
- Appointments: The council appointed Melissa Crawford to the Democratic alternate seat on the Board of Canvassers and David Matrulo to the Republican alternate seat (both 5-0). Jerome Rao and Richard Wright were appointed to the Coastal Access Improvement Committee for three-year terms; Mark Brady was confirmed as the Planning Board representative to that committee (5-0). Steve (Steven) DeSimone was appointed to the Planning Board for a five-year term ending 11/01/2029 (5-0).
- Subcommittee: The council created a subcommittee to study resident parking and named Councilors Jim Durkin and Jason Colonies to serve on the panel (5-0). The council said the subcommittee will work with the town manager, police, highway and municipal court staff and may coordinate with an existing trolley/shuttle subcommittee.
- Ordinance first reading: The council introduced and, as a first reading, amended an ordinance (Chapter 14, Article 17 ' Solicitations) to change permitted solicitation hours to end at sunset rather than at 8 p.m. The motion to amend the draft to use 'sunset' passed and the first reading passed (5-0).
- Ordinance referral: The council voted to refer a set of proposed amendments to Appendix A (Zoning) to the Town Clerk, Planning Division and Planning Board for review and recommendation (5-0). That referral drew extended public comment (see separate coverage).
- Executive session: The council voted by roll call to enter executive session under Rhode Island General Laws —f 42-46-4 and 42-46-5 to discuss litigation (listed cases) and returned to open session; two executive-session votes were recorded inside the closed session (to close minutes and to adjourn), both passing 5-0. The open meeting adjourned at 9:18 p.m.
Ending: Most votes at the March 3 meeting were unanimous. The council scheduled additional public hearings and Planning Board review on zoning changes and created a working subcommittee on parking to return with proposals for council consideration.
