Burrillville Town Council Meeting 9-23-15 AGENDA

REGULAR MEETING of the Burrillville Town Council to be held Wednesday, September 23, 2015 at 7:00 P.M. in Council Chambers, 105 Harrisville Main St., Harrisville, for and within the Town of Burrillville.

PRESENT: Council President John F. Pacheco III and Councilors Stephen N. Rawson, Nancy F. Binns, Michelle D. Bouchard, Kimberly Brissette Brown, Donald A. Fox and David J. Place
MEMBERS ABSENT:
1.      Pledge of Allegiance

2.      That the question of accepting the minutes of the regular meeting held September 9, 2015 and the question of dispensing with the reading of said minutes be now taken up.
3.      Public Comment

4.      General Good and Welfare of the Town of Burrillville

5.      Special Business to be considered and acted on: None

        

6.      Petitions: None

15-258  Relative to obtaining citizens’ requests and views on proposed Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) activities.

A.      Comments/Input/Recommendations from the Administration

B.      Public Input

C.      That closure to the public hearing be now taken up.

D.      Town Council Members Comments/Input/Deliberation

E.      Action relative to funding requests, setting priorities and adoption of the proposed resolution relative to the CDBG application for 2015/16.

F.      Adjournment of public hearing

8.      Unfinished Business to be considered and acted on: None

9.      New Business to be considered and acted on:

15-259  Consider and act on a recommended motion that the Town Council approve the submission of the roof projects not to exceed $991,827 for funding from the State School Building Authority Capital Fund. The advanced funding for these projects would be from the Debt Reduction Fund. The State reimbursements will be returned to the Debt Reduction Fund. Any funds needed over the requested amount of $991,827 will be taken from the School’s fiscal year 2017 annual CIP appropriation.

15-260  MOTION to declare surplus 80 four-foot fluorescent lighting fixtures, as requested by the Burrillville School Department; to be considered and acted on.
15-261  Correspondence from John P. Mainville, Finance Director, regarding Financing – Refunding Bonds.
15-262  Correspondence from Matthew J. Misiaszek regarding his resignation from the Burrillville Housing Authority.
15-263  First reading of proposed amendments to the Revised General Ordinances of the Town of Burrillville, RI, 2004, Chapter 25 entitled Traffic and Vehicles, Sec. 26-32 – No parking schedule of streets, adding portions of Colwell Road and portions of Whipple Avenue to the locations where parking is prohibited; to be scheduled for public hearing (Note: public hearing is recommended for October 14, 2015

15-264  First reading of proposed amendments to the Revised General Ordinances of the Town of Burrillville, RI, 2004, Chapter 25 entitled Traffic and Vehicles, Sec. 26-39 – Handicap parking zone, adding a portion of Whipple Avenue (Note: public hearing is recommended for October 14, 2015).

15-265  First reading of proposed amendments to the Revised General Ordinances of the Town of Burrillville, RI, 2004, Chapter 30 entitled Zoning, Sec. 30-71 – Zoning district uses; would allow for kennels in General Commercial (GC) districts by Special Use Permit; to be scheduled for public hearing (Note: public hearing is recommended for October 28, 2015).
10.     Town Clerk/Communication to be considered and acted on:
15-266  Correspondence from Michael Tondra, Chief, Office of Housing and Community Development regarding the monitoring of Burrillville’s CDBG programs 11/03/26 and 13/03/27.
15-267  Correspondence from Kevin M. Flynn, Associate Director, Statewide Planning Program regarding the approval of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment recognizing three new substandard areas for potential recognition as Redevelopment Districts.
15-268  Correspondence from Denise Panichas, Executive Director of The Samaritans of Rhode Island, regarding the FY2016 appropriation of $500.

15-269  Public Notice of Proposed Rule-Making regarding Rules and Regulations for Professional Land Surveying in the State of Rhode Island.

15-270  Soil management plan, proposed recreational area, 75 Tinkham Lane, Burrillville (Map 160/Lot 69).
11.     Reports #1 through 25 to be received:
1.      Animal Control Officer: Report of August 2015

2.      Board of Canvassers: No report

3.      B-PAC: No report

4.      Budget Board: No report

5.      Building Official: Report of August 2015

6.      Burrillville Extended Care Board of Directors: Meeting of May 5, 2015

7.      Burrillville Extended Care: No report

8.      Conservation Commission: No report

9.      Emergency Management Agency: No report

10.     Finance Dept. Treasurer and Tax Collector: Report of August 2015

11.     Housing Authority: Meeting of August 12, 2015

12.     Information Systems Department: Report of September 2015

13.     Jesse M. Smith Library Board of Trustees: Meetings of July 9 and August 20, 2015

14.     Ordinance Subcommittee: Meeting of July 15, 2015

15.     Personnel Board: Meetings of August 18 and September 1, 2015

16.     Planning Board/Town Planner: Meeting of August 3, 2015

17.     Police Department: Reports of June and July 2015

18.     Public Works: No report

19.     Recreation Commission: Meeting of July 13, 2015

20.     Redevelopment Agency: Meeting of July 28, 2015

21.     School Committee: Meeting of August 11, 2015

22.     Screening Subcommittee: No reports

23.     Sewer Commission: No report

12.     Additional New Business to be considered and acted on:
15-271  Request for executive session from Michael C. Wood, Town Manager, pursuant to Rhode Island Open Meeting Law §42-46-5(a)(2) for discussion and action relative to matters of litigation between the Town and TransCanada (Ocean State Power)

13.     Adjournment

The Town of Burrillville will provide accommodations needed to ensure equal participation. Please contact the Burrillville Town Clerk at least three (3) business days prior to the meeting so arrangements can be made to provide such assistance at no cost to the person requesting it. A request for this service can be made in writing or by calling (401) 568-4300 (voice) or “via RI Relay 1-800-745-5555” (TTY).

3 Aquidneck Island beaches surpass parking revenue records

Posted by Wayne G. Barber
Posted Sep. 17, 2015 at 12:48 PM

NEWPORT, R.I. (AP) - Three Rhode Island beaches have broken parking revenue records this summer. 

Providence Journal Story and Photo by Mary Murphy

The Newport Daily News reports the figures for Easton's Beach in Newport and Sachuest and Third beaches in Middletown surpassed previous marks. 

Easton's Beach took in nearly $540,000, exceeding last summer's record by more than $22,000. 

Middletown Town Council President Robert Sylvia says Sachuest and Third beaches brought in almost $1,450,000 combined this summer, shattering the record set in 2012. 

Newport Beach Manager Erik Reis says this summer has been one of the best beach seasons he can remember, despite a slow start. 

Reis says there are several ideas in the works for 2016, including a pilot location for a faster water-testing program. 

NEW HIGH-TECH HYDROPONIC AGRICULTURE FACILITY IN WEST KINGSTON

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Atlantic Produce, Inc. officially opened Rhode Island’s first commercial, high-tech, hydroponic greenhouse here today, launching the Boston Greens™ line of herbicide-free, pesticide-free produce grown year-round.
The opening was conducted by Atlantic Produce Founder and Chief Executive Lewis Valenti, R.I. Department of Environmental Management Director Janet Coit, R.I. Commerce Corporation Chief Operating Officer Darin Early, R.I. Department of Environmental Management Division of Agriculture Chief Kenneth Ayars, University of Rhode Island College of the Environment and Life Sciences Dean Dr. John Kirby, South Kingstown Town Council President Abel G. Collins, and South Kingstown Town Manager Stephen A. Alfred.

The grower will sell the Boston Greens™ line of leafy green vegetables and herbs year-round to commercial and restaurant customers throughout Southeastern New England.
Valenti said the product line will have economic, health, environmental, and educational benefits for the state and the region. Two years ago, Rhode Island joined other New England states in setting a goal of producing 50 percent of the
Atlantic Produce, Inc. officially opened Rhode Island’s first commercial, high-tech, hydroponic greenhouse here today, launching the Boston Greens™ line of herbicide-free, pesticide-free produce grown year-round.
The opening was conducted by Atlantic Produce Founder and Chief Executive Lewis Valenti, R.I. Department of Environmental Management Director Janet Coit, R.I. Commerce Corporation Chief Operating Officer Darin Early, R.I. Department of Environmental Management Division of Agriculture Chief Kenneth Ayars, University of Rhode Island College of the Environment and Life Sciences Dean Dr. John Kirby, South Kingstown Town Council President Abel G. Collins, and South Kingstown Town Manager Stephen A. Alfred.

The grower will sell the Boston Greens™ line of leafy green vegetables and herbs year-round to commercial and restaurant customers throughout Southeastern New England.
Valenti said the product line will have economic, health, environmental, and educational benefits for the state and the region. Two years ago, Rhode Island joined other New England states in setting a goal of producing 50 percent of the the regions needs by 2060
At present, only one percent of Rhode Island’s food is produced within its borders. The 8,435 square-foot greenhouse opened today is a key project in helping Rhode Island contribute toward the regional goal by growing 250,000 heads of lettuce (120,000 pounds) every year, providing fresh, nutritional produce year-round.
“We strive for the highest quality, purest produce on the market,” Valenti said. Hydroponic agriculture involves growing crops in a mineral-nutrient, pure water solution. Potable tap water is pumped in, then further purified. The plants are never in soil, so they absorb no chemicals or contaminants that can exist in soil, and they require no herbicides or pesticides.
Economic Benefits of New Venture
Atlantic Produce has been funded with $1.3 million from private investors and currently employs eight people. Phase II includes the purchase of a 20-acre site and construction of 16-acre structure where 30-million heads (or 14-million pounds) of lettuce, herbs and greens will be grown annually. Projected employment when all 16 acres are at 100 percent capacity is more than 120 people.
  “Thumbs up to Atlantic Produce for finding an innovative way to produce high-quality, delicious produce year-round,” said DEM Director Janet Coit. “By making freshly-grown, chemical-free lettuce, greens and herbs available to consumers no matter what the season, you have an opportunity to make a real impact on the diets and health of our state’s residents. Rhode Islanders crave local food, and Boston Greens will be a fabulous addition to restaurant menus and local grocery shelves.”
Hydroponic plants consume virtually 100 percent of the water pumped in and generate no wastewater or compostable waste. ”When we’re at full production by the fourth quarter of 2016, we’ll be on a 20-acre site, producing a yield equivalent to a traditional 400-acre farm,” added Valenti.
At present, Atlantic Produce offers gourmet lettuces: red, green, red oak, Boston Bibb, a gourmet trio (green, red and red oak), and gourmet mini romaine. The company also grows red and green kale, baby leaf rainbow chard, and a variety of herbs that include green basil, purple basil, Italian flat-leaf parsley, cilantro, and mint.
The Boston Greens™ business model was formulated with medical and scientific input from advisor Thomas J. Fahey, Jr., M.D., who is Senior Vice President Emeritus for Clinical Development at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York.
“Time is the ally of bacteria,” said Dr. Fahey. “It is difficult to overstate the health benefit of locally grown, farm-to-table produce, with no pesticides, herbicides, or genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Atlantic Produce’s platform significantly reduces, if not eliminates, harmful bacteria from its produce.”
Currently 80 percent of produce consumed in Rhode Island is shipped from California, Mexico, or Central or South America, requiring at least 30 days between harvest and consumption. Most often, crops are picked before they are ripe, and ripen in transit and storage. The freshness of Boston Greens™ , picked when ripe and eaten within days, makes them not only more nutritious, but also more tasty,” Valenti said.
Valenti, a graduate of the University of Rhode Island, was committed to building his business in the Ocean State and working to develop job opportunities with his alma mater. “U.R.I. has a tremendous College of Environment and Life Sciences under the direction of Dean Kirby, and they’ve served as a resource to me as I researched methods, mechanics and vendors for hydroponic technology.
“I’m pleased that Atlantic Produce will be able to offer research projects, work-study opportunities, and internships to graduate students at U.R.I. as a way of giving back to the institution that has given so much to me,” Valenti said. “Together, we hope to nurture a new generation of agricultural innovators through practical internships and, eventually, job opportunities at Atlantic Produce.”
* * *
Atlantic Produce, founded in 2013, operates Rhode Island’s first high-tech, hydroponic growing facility. Located in West Kingston, the company offers gourmet lettuces, fresh greens and herbs that are nutritional, tasty, and herbicide and pesticide-free. Marketed under the brand name Boston Greens™, the fresh produce is available year-round at Dave’s Fresh Marketplace, Belmont Market, and Shore’s Market, and at such fine Rhode Island restaurants as Matunuck Oyster Bar in South Kingstown and La Masseria Restaurant in East Greenwich. Source; MK Talbot PR (Star Patcher)

R.I. among top 5 states with underwater mortgages in 2Q

Posted by Wayne G. Barber
RHODE ISLAND was among the top five states with underwater mortgages in the second quarter, according to CoreLogic. A total of 13.8 percent of mortgaged residential properties were in negative equity.

 

PROVIDENCE – Rhode Island had the fourth-highest percentage of mortgaged residential properties in negative equity at 13.8 percent in the second quarter, according to data released Tuesday by CoreLogic.
The Ocean State trailed only Nevada (20.6 percent), Florida (18.5 percent) and Arizona (15.4 percent) for mortgaged properties in negative equity, which also is known as “underwater” or “upside down.”
Negative equity refers to borrowers who owe more on their homes than they are worth. It can happen due to a decline in home value, increase in mortgage debt or a combination of both, CoreLogic said.
In comparison, Texas had the highest percentage of mortgaged residential properties in positive equity at 97.9 percent, followed by Alaska (97.6 percent) and Hawaii (97.5 percent).
The percentage of mortgaged residential properties in the Providence-Warwick area in negative equity also was 13.8 percent, matching Rhode Island’s rate. That represents a slight drop from 14.4 percent in the second quarter of 2014, according to CoreLogic.
CoreLogic said 49,248 properties were in negative equity in the metropolitan area in the second quarter, compared with 50,904 during the same period a year ago. An additional 10,339, or 2.9 percent, of all properties were in near negative equity in the second quarter compared with 10,152, or 2.9 percent, in second quarter 2014.
CoreLogic said 759,000 properties nationwide regained equity in the second quarter, bringing the total number of mortgaged residential properties with equity to approximately 45.9 million, or 91 percent.
The total number of mortgaged residential properties with negative equity is 4.4 million, or 8.7 percent of all mortgaged properties, a drop from 5.4 million homes, or 10.9 percent, in second quarter 2014.
“For much of the country, the negative equity epidemic is lifting. The biggest reason for this improvement has been the relentless rise in home prices over the past three years which reflects increasing money flows into housing and a lack of housing stock in many markets,” Anand Nallathambi, president and CEO of CoreLogic, said in a statement. “CoreLogic predicts home prices to rise an additional 4.7 percent over the next year, and if this happens, 800,000 homeowners could regain positive equity by July 2016.”
   Approximately 9 million, or 17.8 percent, of more than 50 million residential properties with a mortgage have less than 20 percent equity (known as “under-equitied”), and 1.1 million, or 2.3 percent, have less than 5 percent equity (referred to as near-negative equity).
Borrowers who are “under-equitied” may have difficulty refinancing their existing homes or obtaining new financing to sell and buy another home due to underwriting constraints. Borrowers with near-negative equity are considered at risk of moving into negative equity if home prices fall, CoreLogic said.
“Home price appreciation and foreclosure completions both reduce the number of homeowners with negative equity, the latter because most homeowners who lost homes through foreclosure had some level of negative equity,” Frank Nothaft, chief economist for CoreLogic, said in a statement.   “Between June 2014 and June 2015, the CoreLogic national Home Price Index rose 5.6 percent, and we reported the number of homes completing foreclosure proceedings exceeded one-half million. Both of these factors helped reduce the number of homeowners with negative equity by one million over the year ending in June.”Source; PBN.COM  Core Logic Q2 2015

Burrillville Charter Review Commision Meeting

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

REGULAR MEETING of the Burrillville Charter Review Commission to be held Monday, September 21, 2015 at 7:00 P.M. in the Town Council Chambers, Town Building, 105 Harrisville Main St., Harrisville, RI.

MEMBERS PRESENT:  James Alix, Donison Allen, Dennis Anderson, David Houle, Kelly C. Hunt, Arthur R. Hurley, James A. Langlois, Elizabeth Lees, Robin Muksian-Schutt

MEMBERS ABSENT:  

RELATIVE TO:  Organizational Meeting of the Charter Review Commission.

Public Comment:

New Business to be considered and acted upon:

Swearing in of Commission by Town Clerk

CR15-001        Introduction of members

CR15-002        Election of officials
    Chair

        Vice Chair

        Secretary

        Other

CR15-003        Consideration of adoption of a schedule for Commission meetings

CR15-004        Duties of the Commission

CR15-005        Discuss and act on procedure for managing input by interested parties and consider adopting a standard form

General Discussion of the Project

Adjournment

---

The Town of Burrillville will provide accommodations needed to ensure equal participation.  Please contact the Burrillville Town Clerk at least three (3) business days prior to the meeting so arrangements can be made to provide such assistance at no cost to the person requesting it. A request for this service can be made in writing or by calling (401) 568-4300
(voice) or “via RI Relay 1-800-745-5555” (TTY).

Cumberland Farms Great Business Plan

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Good Morning - Just letting you know that the "New Cumberland Farm" gas station on Cumberland Hill Rd. in Woonsocket, R.I.is now open and "GAS" is $2.15 cheaper then Mass. right now and carries Cigarettes too !  This will be helpful to all the North West Rhode Island commuters who work at the Industrial Park

Activists Lock Themselves to Construction Equipment to Protest Fossil-Fuel Expansion

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

BURRILLVILLE, R.I. — Environmental activists once again staged an act of disobedience on the grounds of a natural-gas pipeline project and a proposed natural-gas power plant.
Before sunrise on Sept. 14, Matt Smith of New Jersey, Nick Katkevich of Rhode Island and Keith Clougherty of Massachusetts locked themselves to construction equipment with fortified PVC pipes. Work was halted for nearly four hours until police removed them from the site at 8:45 a.m. Nearly 60 workers had to leave the compressor station during the incident.
The three were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and trespassing. They were released later in the day from Providence District Court.
The expansion project at the compressor station, owned by Spectra Energy, will increase the volume of natural gas flowing along the 1,200-mile Algonquin pipeline that runs from New Jersey to a distribution hub outside Boston
The protests was held to draw attention to the local and global environmental impacts of natural-gas extraction, distribution and use as a fuel.
“What happens in Burrillville doesn’t stay in Burrillville. This project hurts communities across the Northeast and climate change is already killing people around the world,” said Clougherty, who lives near a proposed compressor station and pipeline expansion project in Weymouth, Mass.
On Aug. 13, two protesters were arrested after locking themselves to the gate of the compressor station. Both were released the same day and eventually convicted of trespassing. One of the arrested was Peter Nightingale. The University of Rhode Island physics professor recently embarked on a series of fasts to coincide with several protests in Rhode Island and an ongoing protest outside of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the agency in Washington, D.C., that issues permits for fossil-fuel projects.
“FERC has a pattern of rubber-stamping fracking-related infrastructure and other fossil-fuel projects, in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act as well as ancient, venerated legal principles,” said Nightingale, a founding member of the divestment advocacy group Fossil Free Rhode Island.
Activists have held regular protests at and outside the compressor station. In May, two protesters were arrested after a tree-sit at the edge of the compressor station. Civil disobedience has been on the rise since Gov. Gina Raimondo announced last month plans for a $700 million natural gas-fired power plant on land next to the compressor station.
National Grid recently unveiled plans for a $100 million gas-liquefaction plant on the Providence waterfront. A similar project is planned for New Bedford, Mass. A new gas-fired power plant also is being built in Salem, Mass., in tandem with pipeline expansion.
New England’s governors say the projects are needed to ease winter demand for natural gas and control price swings.
This latest protest was organized by Fighting Against Natural Gas (FANG), a group with an active chapter in Rhode Island that has engaged in several protests against natural-gas projects across southern New England since it was founded in 2014.Source; ECO NEWS