Town Hall News Briefs – March | Charlestown Citizens Alliance

March 14th Town Council Meeting Summary

Public Hearings:

Wind Energy Generator Towers and Systems: Chapter 218-37

Following a lengthly discussion this Ordinance was approved as amended. (The adopted Ordinance is available from the March 14th Town Council Agenda.) In addition to approving the Ordinance the Town Council approved a six-month moratorium on application filings for wind energy systems. This will allow the Planning Department and Town Council the opportunity to make additional amendments to the Ordinance prior to the any filing of applications.

Building Construction: Ordinance 337 Chapter 91

This Ordinance allowed for an increase in fees by the Building Department. The Council approved this Ordinance which went into effect immediately.

Zoning Map Change: Ordinance 332 Chapter 218

This Public Hearing was continued until April 7th.

Telecommunication Towers/Poles: Ordinance 336 Chapter 218

This Public Hearing was continued until March 28th.

Fiscal Matters:

Richard’s Trail Study:

The Town Council authorized the Conservation Commission to use $2,775 from the Open Space and Recreation Bond Fund to complete an archeological study of the parking lot area for the Richard’s Trail property located on South County Trail.

Architectural Services:

The town authorized the Town Administrator to sign a contract in the amount of $9,995 to complete plans and cost estimates and bid documents for beach restroom facilities at the two Town beaches.

March 28th Town Council Meeting Summary

New Business:

Buckeye Brook Road Financial Explanation:

The Executive Summary and Conclusions of an extensive set of documents (available on Clerkbase), which explained how General Funds in the amount of $1,481,000 were used to finance these road improvements. These road projects were approved for bond funding at Financial Town meetings; Buckeye Brook Road Phase 1 on June 13, 2004 and Buckeye Brook Road Phase 2 and Old Coach Road on June 4, 2007. At the recommendation of the Budget Commission General Funds rather than Bond Funds were used to pay for these road improvements. The recommendation saved the Town $660,000 in interest and bonding costs and this saving was the basis for the use of General fund expenditure.

Presentation of the Fiscal Year 2012 Budget:

The Budget Commission presented their recommended budget to the Town Council along with their letter summarizing the major changes to the budget (again on Clerkbase). The recent revaluation resulted in a change in the tax rate from $7.48 to $8.74 per thousand. The recommend budget increased the tax rate by 2.23% increasing the tax rate to $8.95 per thousand.

From a budget perspective, the budget increased from $23,882,471 to $25,503,847 or $1,621,376. These numbers include all revenues including school aid and the fund balance from the road projects discussed above. From a tax levy perspective, real estate and motor vehicle taxes increased from $20,625,672 to $21,086,283 resulting in a tax rate increase of 2.23%

Public Hearings:

Telecommunication Towers/Poles Ordinance: Chapter218-37

The Town Council opened the public hearing for the proposed amendments to the Telecommunication Towers/Poles Ordinance. The two issues that were discussed during the public hearing were the requirement that all towers be monopoles with internal antennae and that there be a required separation of two miles between each tower. The public hearing is continued until April 7th, 2011.

Announcements:

The Town Council congratulated Jay Primiano, Director of Parks and Recreation, for receiving a $1,500 grant from the New England Frisbee Association for upgrading the signage at the Ninigret Park Disk Golf Course.

Communications and Petitions:

The Council voted to send a letter in support of House Bill 5680 to local Legislators. This Bill will require voters to provide identification at the polls when they are voting.

Appointments and Resignations:

Bernard Bishop resigned from the Parks and Recreation Commission. The Town Council read a proclamation to Bernie for over twenty years of exemplary service to the Commission.

Richard Phelan and Whitney Frost were re-appointed to the Coastal Pond Management Commission.

Kenneth Smith was appointed to the Juvenile Hearing Board.

Jodi LaCroix resigned as the Charlestown Town Clerk. Jodi is retiring after 30 years of municipal service and will be relocating to Tennessee.

Amy Weinreich was appointed Acting Town Clerk.

Legal Matters:

The Town Council authorized the Town Administrator to enter into an agreement with the Town of Richmond to provide shared Geographic Information System (computer mapping - GIS) services between Richmond and Charlestown.

Next Town Council Meetings:
Council Agenda Meeting April 6th followed by Personnel Manual Workshop

Council Meeting April 7th with Public Hearings for the Zone Change of the Ocean Community YMCA Property and the Telecommunication Tower/Poles Ordinance

Don’t Forget the Easter Egg Hunt at Ninigret Park on Saturday, April 9th at 1:00pm. Rain date is Sunday, April 10th.

Town Hall News Briefs – March

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