01:00 AM EDT on Thursday, April 19, 2007

By Maria Armental

Journal Staff Writer

CHARLESTOWN — The Town Council is expected to vote tonight on a proposal to use $1.65 million in open-space money to finance the construction of a new pavilion and road improvements at Blue Shutters Beach.

The town would then seek to offset the cost by applying for state and federal grants and other funding.

“If I have the support of the majority of the council, that [matter] will be settled tomorrow night,” Councilman James M. Mageau said yesterday.

At issue is whether the open-space money should be used for construction projects.

There is just over $2 million in the account previously authorized by voters “to finance the acquisition, preservation or protection of open space or any interest therein, along with or in conjunction with federal agencies, state agencies, land conservancies, land trust or preservation organizations for preservation, ground-water protection or the development of public recreational facilities.”

Critics say while the bond language included “the development of public recreational facilities,” the intention of the bond as expressed by town officials’ comments and explanations was to fund open-space projects, primarily land acquisition.

“The language of the bond is clear,” Mageau said. “It said it could be used for recreation.”

Furthermore, he said, prior councils had approved the use of open-space money for building projects in at least three occasions, including the reconstruction of the town dock in 2003; work at the Charlestown Senior Community Center, also in 2003, and the construction of tennis courts at Ninigret Park in 2006.

“There is sufficient case precedent in the public record to support the use of open-space money for recreational projects,” Mageau said, adding Allen and Waterman had voted for some of those expenditures.

“It shows you the hypocrisy of these two people,” Mageau said. “If they want it, it’s OK. If they don’t want it, you can’t do it.”

Tonight’s meeting was originally announced as a workshop session for the project’s architect to make a presentation to the council and answer questions.

As of Friday, the agenda was posted as a special meeting of the Town Council and the Parks and Recreation Commission to be held at 7 p.m. at the Charlestown Elementary School to consider and/or approve a request for proposals for a Ninigret Park Master Plan and the Blue Shutters Improvement Plan.

The council had voted 3-0 at a special meeting on April 4 to make the construction project a warrant item. Councilman John O. Craig Jr. did not attend the meeting. Mageau left the meeting earlier.

The proposed project, phase I of the public beach improvement program, would include building a two-story, 5,539-square-foot pavilion and new entrance and exit roads, and redesigning the parking lot.

Under the proposed timeline, the construction would begin in October and be completed by May 2008.

Phase II of the project would include pavilion construction and infrastructure upgrades at Charlestown Town Beach.

There is no timeline for the Charlestown Beach project to move forward.

The current building at Blue Shutters dates back to 1948. The restrooms and showers no longer work and the dressing room is insufficient, said Lisa DiBello, parks and recreation director.

In 2000 the town leased portable toilets. But the toilets, which the town eventually purchased, proved inadequate, DiBello said.

The town purchased the property in 1990 for $1.4 million, with the state contributing 50 percent of the cost.

marmenta@projo.com