Richmond council approves road grant application, rezones town parcel, adopts waste-fee changes; votes at a glance

Richmond Town Council members on [date not specified] approved a package of measures including authorization to apply for a Rhode Island Road Restore grant, a rezoning of a small parcel on Richmond Townhouse Road to public and governmental use, and amendments to the town's recycling and solid-waste tipping-fee and 'materials-accepted' ordinances.

The council voted to authorize the town administrator to submit a Road Restore grant application to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and to allow the town solicitor and town representatives to sign any resulting grant contract. Staff recommended three priority projects for the grant application: the Wilbur Hill area (including Small Pond and Deer Run Road), repair of the Old Mountain/Hillsdale end, and work on Pine Hill Road. Interim town staff told the council the town had a match and roughly $551,519 in local funds available for road work and had received a state match offer of $133,509 for the fiscal year; final bid numbers will determine which projects proceed.

The council also approved a zoning-ordinance map amendment for Lot 18 (4 Richmond Townhouse Road), changing its designation from R-2 residential to public and governmental (PUB/GOV). During the public hearing a resident asked what would be built on the parcel; a town representative said the current request only rezoned the property and that earlier materials posted with the agenda include a schematic for a Phase 1 plan that would provide a pavilion, septic, ADA-compliant parking and a lawn area using a HUD grant. The council voted to approve the rezoning after public comment.

On solid-waste policy, the council opened hearings and then voted to adopt proposed amendments to Chapter 8.18 of the town code. The changes included adopting specific tipping fees and a listed set of materials accepted at the transfer station; councilors asked staff to confirm the intended treatment of yard waste under the new fee schedule. A town official said the proposed $110-per-ton tipping fee reflected a comparative study of hauler and resource-recovery costs and remained competitive; the council approved the ordinance changes.

Other actions taken by the council included routine appointments and reappointments to boards and commissions, authorization to sign the annual school resource officer contract with the local school district, and approval to advertise proposed changes to the town's business-registration rules as a business license ordinance.

In administrative matters the council approved a multi-part office reorganization proposed by the interim town administrator. The approved steps included naming the finance director as department head of a reorganized finance area, relocating the tax assessor's office to a first-floor room adjacent to the tax collector to improve public access and cross-training, and soliciting bids to install a handicapped-accessible front door and perform limited exterior repairs (the vote authorized soliciting cost estimates only, not committing to construction). The council also approved restructuring the building, planning and zoning offices and named Josh Jordan as director of building and zoning.

The council set direction for hiring a municipal court judge: staff and the town solicitor will review applications, conduct initial interviews as needed, and present up to three finalists to the council for interview and appointment. Councilors discussed whether the council should interview more than one finalist; the approved approach asks staff (including the solicitor) to narrow the field and bring candidates forward.

Public comment at the meeting highlighted several neighborhood concerns. Residents urged the council to address a dangerous intersection at Glenrock Road and Punchbowl Trail and asked for clearer signage and a two-way stop; other callers urged additional crosswalk signage and a motion-activated flashing pedestrian sign at Hillsdale Mobile Home Park. Commenters also asked the town to review email contact information on official pages and to expand opportunities for organic waste diversion.

The Economic Development Commission presented an informational update outlining three lines of work: reviewing development-plan and zoning rules for barriers to business activity, organizing small-business outreach and training with partners such as the U.S. Small Business Administration and the University of Rhode Island, and administering new membership benefits from a municipal membership in the local chamber of commerce. EDC leadership said it will prepare specific policy recommendations for council review.

Votes at a glance (selected items) - Outdoor entertainment license (Hot Air Balloon Management), event in September 2025: motion to approve contingent on final Fire Marshal approval. Roll-call vote: Councilors Dinsmore, Madnick, Palmasiano, Reynolds and Wilcox recorded as voting yes; motion approved. - Zoning-ordinance map amendment: change Lot 18 (4 Richmond Townhouse Road) from R-2 (residential) to PUB/GOV (public and governmental): motion approved by roll call (Councilors Dinsmore, VanNick, Tomashano, Reynolds and Wilcox recorded as voting yes). - Amendments to Code of Ordinances Chapter 8.18 (tipping fees and materials accepted): motions to open hearings and to adopt the proposed changes; final votes recorded as 'yes' by councilors during roll calls; ordinances adopted. - Road Restore grant application and authorization to sign contracts: motion to authorize town administrator to submit application for the Wilbur Hill-led project list and for solicitor/town representatives to sign: motion approved (roll-call recorded). - Office reorganization: three separate motions to (1) designate the finance director as department head of a reorganized finance area, (2) relocate town offices as presented (move tax assessor to first floor and paint/add a window in the former mail room), and (3) solicit bids for an accessible front door and exterior repairs (solicit only): all three motions passed by roll-call votes. - Restructure of Building, Planning & Zoning and appointment: council approved the proposed restructure and named Josh Jordan director of Building & Zoning (motion approved by roll call). - Municipal court hiring process: motion approved directing staff and the solicitor to review applications and present up to three candidates to council for interview/appointment. - Business registration ordinance: motion to advertise proposed business-license changes for public hearing approved. - School Resource Officer contract renewal: motion to approve renewal and authorize signing approved.

What the council did not finalize: several items were continued or sent to staff for follow-up: the town solicitor was asked to review proposed recreation/wellness and senior-activities ordinance changes before advertising them for hearing; councilors asked for a clearer organizational chart and solicitor analysis before moving forward.

Why it matters: the Road Restore authorization lets Richmond seek state matches that could significantly increase town road work this year without bonding; the zoning change and office reorganizations affect local land use and public access to town services; the waste-fee changes alter how certain materials (including yard waste) are processed and charged at the transfer station. Several measures require follow-up bids, final Fire Marshal sign-off, or contract execution, so further council approvals will follow once staff returns with final numbers or conditions.

Looking ahead: staff will go to bid on the roads work and on the door/accessibility estimate, return with final bid numbers for council approval, and present finalists in the municipal court judge search process. Councilors asked staff to post clear contact information for town email addresses and to report back on the Punchbowl/Glenrock intersection for possible engineering or signage solutions.