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Votes at a glance: Narragansett Town Council, Sept. 15 — appointments, scheduling items, ordinances and contract directions
Summary
The council approved minutes, appointed a bike-path ad hoc committee, scheduled parks/beach and grant hearings, adopted a fire-department ordinance amendment on second reading, authorized change orders and staffing fills, and directed staff to renegotiate a successor wastewater-flow lease with the University of Rhode Island.
The Narragansett Town Council conducted a series of routine and substantive votes at its Sept. 15 meeting. Highlights included appointment of a bike-path ad hoc committee, scheduling of several public hearings and work sessions, adoption of a fire-department ordinance amendment on second reading, approval of change orders for the town hall entrance project and multiple staffing fills, and a direction to staff to renegotiate a wastewater flow successor agreement with the University of Rhode Island.
Votes at a glance (selected actions):
- Minutes approvals: The council approved minutes for several meetings and executive sessions by individual motions (05/05/2025 regular meeting — motion passed 5-0; 07/21/2025 regular meeting — passed 4-0 with 1 abstention; 07/21/2025 executive session — 4-0 with 1 abstention; 08/04/2025 executive session — 4-0 with 1 abstention; 08/18/2025 executive session — 5-0).
- Appointments: The council appointed resident members to an ad hoc bike-path committee (Eric Menke, Don Frederick, David Smith, Christopher Slatayani, and Rebecca Kelly as recommended) and authorized staff involvement; motion passed 5-0.
- Scheduling: The council scheduled a Parks & Recreation work session on Oct. 20, 2025, at 6 p.m. to discuss beach policies and fees for the 2026 season (5-0). It also scheduled a public hearing for Oct. 6, 2025, on the RIDEM Outdoor Recreation Grant (5-0). The bike-path public workshop will take place Oct. 6 with an earlier committee meeting to be scheduled.
- Wastewater/URI flow space: The council considered a successor flow-space lease with the University of Rhode Island in the amount of $151,492 for one year. After discussion about the size of the increase and the town’s historical allocation of plant capacity, the council amended the item and directed the town manager to renegotiate the agreement; the amendment passed 5-0. Councilors emphasized the need to protect the town’s position while negotiating a multiyear arrangement.
- Infrastructure and contracts: Council approved change order number 1 (credit of $23,089) and change order number 2 (an additional $290,630.18) for the town hall front entrance refurbishment; motion passed 5-0. Council also approved a wireless communication tower antenna lease agreement with Celco Partnership DBA Verizon Wireless for the North End water tank site (5-0).
- Personnel and operations: The council approved filling vacancies: one Highway Division vacancy and one Process Control/Pretreatment Coordinator vacancy within the wastewater division (both motions passed 5-0). Council also authorized ratification/confirmation of the change orders and other routine operational items.
- Ordinance: On second reading the council read, passed and adopted an amendment to Chapter 26 (Fire Prevention and Protection), Article 3 Division 3 (Firefighters); motion passed 5-0.
- Finance and legal: The council approved the annual licensing fee for the town's financial software from Government Invest Inc., $22,058.75 (5-0), and approved a settlement for property located at Assessor's Plat 1, Lot 23766 (Wheatfield Cove Road) (5-0).
Meeting outcome: Most items were routine or procedural and passed unanimously or with single abstentions on minutes. The most contested or discussed item by council and the public was the URI flow-space amount; the council chose to pause final approval and direct staff to renegotiate.
