The East Greenwich Town Council held a public hearing and approved renewal of many alcoholic beverage and vending licenses for the 12/01/2025–11/30/2026 licensing year, appointed an alternate to the planning board, and approved routine consent items. Most votes were unanimous (4–0). Water Street Kitchen & Bar (the Monastra building) received license renewal subject to full compliance with building and fire inspections; the restaurant’s request for outdoor amplified sound remains conditional on sound testing by a qualified acoustical professional under the town noise ordinance.

Town Clerk Lee Carney outlined the renewal process and grouped applications into three categories: complete and recommended for approval; approved pending local inspections; and incomplete or requiring state approvals (to be continued). The council repeatedly voted to renew groups of licenses and to continue the public hearing for incomplete applications to the Nov. 10 meeting.

Votes at a glance

- Commendations for the Civics Bee winners: motion approved, 4–0 (ceremonial).

- Consent calendar (minutes Oct. 14; change order for Jade Corporation increase of $5,000, raising the purchase order from $116,850 to $121,850 for Swift Community Center furniture paid by the Coronavirus Community Learning Center grant; award of contract to Martone Inc. for not to exceed $74,294 to paint/repair Fire Station 1; transition of David Johnson from planning-board alternate to regular member with term to 05/01/2028). Motion carries 4–0.

- Alcoholic beverage license renewals:
• Richard’s Pub and Providence Oyster Bar 2 — renewed, motion approved 4–0.
• Water Street Kitchen & Bar — alcoholic beverage license renewed subject to full compliance with building and fire marshal inspections; outdoor amplified sound must show acceptable sound-testing results performed by a qualified acoustical professional under the ordinance before outdoor amplified music may begin. Motion to approve with conditions carried (vote recorded as aye).
• A larger group of other applicants (as enumerated by the clerk) was approved pending full compliance as determined by the clerk; motion carried 4–0.
• Applications that were incomplete or required state approvals were continued to Nov. 10; motion carried 4–0.

- Vending (retail) license renewals: groups of businesses were renewed when complete; others were renewed pending clerk confirmation of inspections; motions carried 4–0.

- Appointment: Manny Gonzalez was appointed as an alternate member to the planning board to serve the remainder of a two‑year term ending 05/01/2026. Motion approved 4–0.

- Executive session: the council approved executive-session minutes (10/14/2025) by a 4–0 vote and voted to seal the executive-session minutes; motion carried 4–0.

Noise ordinance and amplified sound procedure

Clerk Carney and councilors reviewed a 2023 amendment to the town noise ordinance that takes effect Nov. 30, 2025. The ordinance requires applicants for outdoor amplified sound permits to demonstrate via sound testing conducted by a qualified expert (specified credentialing such as membership of the Acoustical Society of America or similar) that outdoor amplification will not exceed the maximum permitted sound level at the property and will not exceed 70 dBC at the property line. The council and applicant discussed how the town will treat outdoor music and reiterated that testing must use the substantially similar equipment the applicant intends to use.

Water Street Kitchen & Bar (Monastra building) told the council it intends to use outdoor amplified music only for special events such as private parties; the council approved the alcoholic beverage renewal but required the applicant to return with the required sound-testing documentation before allowing amplified outdoor music.

What the votes mean

Most renewals were routine and carried without debate. The clerk emphasized that approvals are contingent on final local inspections (building, fire, zoning as applicable) and, for amplified sound, satisfying the sound-testing standard. Applications that are incomplete or still awaiting state approvals will be placed on the Nov. 10 agenda for continued public hearing and action.

The council’s formal votes recorded multiple 4–0 outcomes for motions to approve or continue, and one conditional approval for an amplified‑sound request that requires a follow‑up submission and review by staff and/or the solicitor’s office.