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Council assigns Neighbor Day duties to Multicultural Committee, orders hearings to tidy dormant boards
Summary
After debate, the council authorized the Westerly Multicultural Committee to continue coordinating Neighbor Day activities (amended to remove the word "permanent") and ordered public hearings to repeal or amend several dormant board and commission ordinances. The changes prompted disagreements about preserving future grant‑eligibility and the administrative cost of advertising hearings.
The Westerly Town Council moved to consolidate Neighbor Day oversight and to tidy several dormant boards and commissions during Wednesday's meeting.
Councilors debated a resolution to authorize the Westerly Multicultural Committee (MMC) to "continue serving in the additional role of the Neighbor Day Committee." Several councilors recommended removing the word "permanent" from the resolution language to preserve flexibility; the council adopted that amendment and then approved the modified resolution.
Separately, the council ordered proposed ordinances for advertising and public hearing (June 22) to repeal or amend dormant boards, including parts of the Neighbor Day ordinance and an inactive Bike Path & Cycle Advisory Commission. Some council members opposed repeals, arguing keeping an ordinance in place preserves the town's ability to apply for future grant funding; others argued removing unused ordinances cleans up governance.
Council also asked that Neighbor Day historical records remain part of the town archives and that the MMC be reminded to document activities and expenditures. The council's votes included both support and opposition on different board cleanup items, but the immediate administrative step was to order the proposed ordinances advertised for public hearing.
