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Westerly council approves ordinances, property purchase and $75,000 semiquincentennial authorization
Summary
At the Dec. 15 meeting the council adopted ordinances to align local code with state law, authorized up to $75,000 for semiquincentennial events (to be reduced by grants/donations), and approved acquisition of two Atlantic Avenue parcels; council also handled routine fiscal matters and moved into executive session.
The Westerly Town Council took several formal actions at its Dec. 15 meeting, adopting ordinances required by state law, authorizing event funding and approving a property purchase.
The council voted to repeal the town's local holiday-sales license and to amend the town fee schedule to remove the $50 holiday-sales fee after the Rhode Island state legislature repealed the corresponding state license. Both items were presented in public hearings with no in-person public comments and were adopted by the council.
The council authorized the town manager to set aside up to $75,000 for the "Westerly 250th" semiquincentennial commission to stage 2026 events, with the stipulation that grants and fundraising or donations would reduce the town contribution. The town manager told councilors that the requested amount could be covered largely from previously appropriated or reserved monies (including a $15,000 carryover from earlier celebration accounts and other reserve balances) and that grant matches and private donations could reduce the net impact on town contingency.
Some councilors pressed for solicitor review of any large vendor contracts (one councilor highlighted a $60,000 proposal for drone programming) and for clarity about whether donations could be used to alter the budget. The council approved the funding authorization after debate and a motion that the town's contribution be reduced by any grants or donations.
Separately, the council approved a resolution authorizing the town manager to complete purchase of two properties on Atlantic Avenue (assessor plat/lot references shown on the agenda) using $243,900 from a grant-match/exchange account; manager said federal funding approval had been obtained and this was the next procedural step.
Councilors also approved routine fiscal matters (minutes approvals, abatements, and other small resolutions), and voted to go into a brief executive session at the end of the public meeting. Several council members used citizen comment time to urge that the semiquincentennial remain inclusive and celebratory rather than political; exchanges in that period grew heated and council leaders urged decorum.
