Agenda 2026-02-23

PORTSMOUTH TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
FEBRUARY 23, 2026

AGENDA

The Portsmouth Town Council meeting will also be live-streamed on the web and by phone dial-in
using the Zoom remote meeting service. The Executive Session will not be streamed to the public.
See below for directions.

6:30 PM – Town Council Chambers, Portsmouth Town Hall, 2200 East Main Road

EXECUTIVE SESSION

1. RIGL §42-46-5(a)(2) Sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation, or work sessions
pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation – Arruda v. Town of Portsmouth, NC-2025-0542
2. RIGL §42-46-5(a)(2) Sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation, or work sessions
pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation – Clarke v. Town of Portsmouth, NC-2025-0538

ADJOURN

7:00 PM – Town Council Chambers, Portsmouth Town Hall, 2200 East Main Road

EMERGENCY EVACUATION PLAN

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

SITTING AS THE PORTSMOUTH TOWN COUNCIL

1. Roll Call

PRESIDENT’S EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

CONSENT AGENDA

Directions to view licensing applications: 1) Click OpenGov, 2) Click Search, 3) Click Records, and then
type in the record number listed on the agenda, 4) Click on the highlighted record to view the application.
1. Bills

Payment Voucher #1326 on 2/5/26 in the amount of $137,298.48 as approved by the
Finance Director
Payment Voucher #1333 on 2/12/26 in the amount of $280,829.03 as approved by the
Finance Director
2. Committee Minutes:

Prudence Island Planning Commission 1/15/26

Portsmouth Conservation Commission 11/20/25
Portsmouth Board of Canvassers 1/20/26

Portsmouth Board of Canvassers 2/13/26
3. Notice – Rhode Island Dept. of Environmental Management

DEM Freshwater Wetlands Program has under consideration the application (No. 7115) of
Aquidneck Country Club, Inc., of 125 Corys Lane, Portsmouth, RI requesting permission to
alter freshwater wetlands in the Town of Portsmouth. Notice period ends March 23, 2026.

MINUTES

2/9/26 & Exec.

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

1. Budget update

TCM 2/23/26
Page 2

2. Cities4Cities Initiative
3. March 6th Founders Day-Portsmouth Compact Ceremony
4. Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns Annual Convention

RESIGNATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS

1. Appointments:
Conservation Commission (Re-Appt.) – J. Reise
Planning Board (1 vacancy, 3 applicants – Maleck, Rego, Nott)

Solid Waste Recycling Committee (1 vacancy, 1 applicant)

OLD BUSINESS (Discussion/Action)
1. Request approval of legislative priority resolutions. / D. Gleason (15)

a. RhodeWorks Restore

b. Public Boating Access Infrastructure
2. Discussion and adoption of the proposed policy establishing a consistent process for
appointments and reappointments to decision-making boards: Planning Board, Zoning Board
of Review, and Design Review Board. / L. Hitchen (10) (fr. 2/9/26)
3. Monthly Finance Report. / K. Marsden (5)

NEW BUSINESS (Discussion/Action)
1. Request to renew Potter League Contract. / B. Peters (10)
2. Request approval of the Bike & Pedestrian Advisory Committee bylaws. / H. Turner, Chair
3. Request permission to sample stocked trout deployed in Upper Melville Pond over an 8 week
period to quantify the rate of accumulation of PFAS. / Z. Shepard, Principal Environmental
Health Risk Assessment Toxicologist, Rhode Island Department of Health
4. Request to advertise for a public hearing for a sound variance to allow for live amplified music
at Ragged Island Brewing Co, 54 Bristol Ferry Rd, through the summer. (OpenGov #9357 &
9358). / M. Gray (5)
5. Request approval of a resolution in support of Rhode Island House Bill H7224 (2026 – An Act
Relating to Towns and Cities – Award Of Municipal Contracts). / R. Rainer (10)
6. Request support to declare any written and/or declarations from the past regarding any type of
exclusivity by any/all Sports Groups to be null and void. / D. Gleason (10)

CORRESPONDENCE

1. Monthly RIRRC Report. / Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corp.
2. Resolution related to low and moderate income housing. / Tiverton Town Council
3. Resolution in support of Senate Bill S2275 & House Bill H7447 relating to low- and moderate-
income housing – comprehensive permits. / West Greenwich Town Council
4. Resolution in support of House Bill 2026-H7127, section 6, enactment of R.I. General Laws 42-
17.1-47 transfer of management of Big River Reservoir Lands to the Rhode Island Department
of Environmental Management for use as open space. / West Greenwich Town Council
5. EFSB Docket No. SB-2021-04 Notice of LNG facility at Old Mill Lane provided additional
natural gas supply to Aquidneck Island’s natural gas distribution system on Feb. 8 & 9, 2026. /
The Narragansett Electric Company d/b/a Rhode Island Energy
6. Resolution in opposition to Senate Bill 2026 – S 2389 and House Bill 2026 – H 7305 Relating to
the Access to Public Records Act. / Burrillville Town Council
7. Resolution in support of Rhode Island House Bill 7356 and Senate Bill 2216 “School Employee
Background Checks.” / Foster Town Council

TCM 2/23/26
Page 3

FUTURE MEETINGS
Mar 9 7:00 PM – Town Council Meeting
Mar 16 7:00 PM – Town Council Meeting – Public Hearing Sign Ordinance
Mar 23 7:00 PM – Town Council Meeting

EXECUTIVE SESSION - (If needed)

ADJOURN

RETURN TO OPEN SESSION

OPEN SESSION

ADJOURN

Virtual access is being provided only as a convenience and is not an official “location” where
access to the meeting is guaranteed; please note that being physically present at the meeting is
the only way to guarantee complete access to the meeting.

To access the meeting through the web, go to the following web link in any browser to run the
Zoom app and view the meeting: https://livestream.portsmouthri.com/towncouncil

To access the meeting by phone dial-in, please dial 1-888-788-0099. Once prompted for the
meeting ID, please dial 996-8471-9966#. Once prompted for a participant ID, dial # again. You
will now be in the meeting. While in the audio conference, to raise your hand to ask a question,
dial 9 and the host will be notified of your interest in asking a question. Dial 6 to mute and
unmute yourself.

The public is welcome to any meeting of the Town’s boards or its committees. If communication
assistance (readers/interpreters/captions) is needed or any other accommodation to ensure equal
participation, please contact the Town Clerk’s Office at 683-2101 at least (3) business days prior to
the meeting.

POSTED 2/18/26