Council ratifies DPW director appointment, approves police promotion and other routine items

The Little Compton Town Council ratified several personnel and administrative actions during its meeting.

The council ratified the town administrator’s decision to enter a contract with Frederick Boddington III as the town’s new director of public works. The motion to ratify passed with a recorded vote of 4–1; one councilor opposed. Discussion before the vote included whether a previously discussed six-month review should trigger a $1,500 salary increase; the council considered but did not change the executed contract during the ratification.

The council approved the police chief’s recommendation to promote Corporal Caitlin Silvera to the rank of sergeant effective Oct. 19, 2024. The promotion was the result of a promotional process comprising a written exam, seniority points, and an oral board; council approved the recommendation by voice vote.

Other approvals included reappointment of two incumbents, Anne Grimes and Shirley Hardison, to the Little Compton Free Public Library board of trustees, acceptance of a final acceptance certificate and authorization for town signature for a newly completed fire apparatus after inspections by the chief and captain, and authorization for the town clerk to advertise a public hearing on retail beverage license renewals for Nov. 7, 2024 (license year 2024–25).

Next steps: The administrator will complete any follow-up contract implementation steps for the DPW director; the police department will implement the promotion; staff will process license hearing notices and finalize fire-apparatus paperwork.