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Council approves five‑year lease extension for Fire Station No. 8 after failed purchase bid
Summary
The council approved a five-year lease extension for Fire Station No. 8 at T.F. Green Airport property after attempts to buy the land failed; the lease increases annual rent to $10,748.10 and includes FAA/RIAC constraints discussed by members.
Warwick's full council on Oct. 6 approved a five-year lease extension for Fire Station No. 8, allowing continued use of land controlled by the Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC).
Bill Forsonti, chief of staff to the mayor, told the council the city owns the station building but not the land, which was acquired by the airport authority as a clear zone. The original lease (entered in 1999) contained CPI-based rent increases and an option framework tied to federal aviation rules. The proposed renewal extends the lease through Dec. 31, 2029, and sets the adjusted annual rent at $10,748.10 based on consumer-price-index adjustments.
Council members asked whether the lease amendment affects any option-to-purchase language in the original agreement. Forsonti and administration lawyers said the city attempted to buy the land but RIAC (and FAA constraints) did not permit sale; the administration said it will continue to pursue purchase options but the airport declined to sell. Councilman Ricks and others pointed to Article 15.1 (option to purchase) and sought assurance the extension would not prejudice the city's legal rights; administration representatives said the option language remains intact and the lease preserves the city's operational needs.
The council recorded roll-call votes with a mix of yes and no votes noted in the transcript; the motion for favorable action passed. Members urged continued engagement with RIAC and noted the FAA's regulatory role in disposal or sale of airport-acquired parcels.
