Minutes 2026-06-08

PORTSMOUTH TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
JUNE 8, 2026

MINUTES

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

SITTING AS THE PORTSMOUTH TOWN COUNCIL

1. Roll Call
MEMBERS PRESENT: Sondra Blank, David M. Gleason, Keith E. Hamilton, Mary A.
McDowell, Sharlene Patton, Juan Carlos Payero and David Reise
EXECUTIVE SESSION – Motion to go into Executive Session under RIGL 42-46-5(a) (2) made
by Mr. Gleason, seconded by Mr. Payero. Motion passed unanimously.
1. RIGL 42-46-5(a) (2) – Sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation, or work sessions
pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation. – Police – No votes taken
2. RIGL 42-46-5(a) (2) – Sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation, or work sessions
pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation. – Contract Negotiations – No votes taken
ADJOURN – Motion to seal the minutes and return to Open Session made by Mr. Gleason,
seconded by Mr. Payero. Motion passed unanimously.
Time: 7:04 PM
7:00 PM – Town Council Chambers, Portsmouth Town Hall, 2200 East Main Road
Time: 7:10 PM

EMERGENCY EVACUATION PLAN

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

SITTING AS THE PORTSMOUTH TOWN COUNCIL

1. Roll Call
PRESIDENT’S EXECUTIVE SUMMARY – Executive Session was held prior to the meeting.
There were no votes taken. Mr. Hamilton congratulated the Portsmouth High School Seniors on
graduating and congratulated the High School Boys Lacrosse team on winning the championship.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Chris Corbet, 92 Sunrise Dr. – Spoke about a request for speed bumps in his neighborhood as well
as a lower speed limit in his neighborhood.
Ansel and Jason Fila thanked the Council on their response to get porta potties at the Turnpike Ave.
Playground.
CONSENT AGENDA – Motion to approve as presented made by Mr. Gleason, seconded by Mr.
Payero. Motion passed unanimously.
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.

TCM 6/8/26
Page 2
1. Bills
Payment Voucher #1476 on 5/21/26 in the amount of $225,844.50 as approved by the
Finance Director
Payment Voucher #1480 on 5/28/26 in the amount of $15,582.82 as approved by the
Finance Director
2. Committee Minutes:
Board of Canvassers 5/5/2026
Conservation Commission 3/19/2026
Parks and Recreation Committee 4/16/2026
3. Peddler License – Mobile Food Establishment (MFE), Renewal:
a. Boba Wave LLC d/b/a Boba Wave, 28A Mount Hygeia Rd, Foster (#9480)
b. FYR Foods LLC d/b/a FYR Grill, 84 Mulberry Dr, Wakefield (#9483)
c. Sportgraphics, Inc. d/b/a Berry Sweets, 87 Spring St, Shrewsbury, MA (#9484)
d. Martinez Food Truck LLC d/b/a BBQymas, 3 Sylvania Rd, Portsmouth (#9489)
e. Coastal Cones d/b/a Ben and Jerry’s, 359 Thames St, Newport (#9493)
f. JA Patty LLC d/b/a JA Patty RI, 560 Mineral Spring Ave #2136, Pawtucket (#9499)
g. Brie & Honey, 180 Cottontail Drive (#9494)
h. Friskie Fries LLC d/b/a Friskie Fries, 100 Washington Street, Providence, (#9496)
4. Peddler License, Annual:
a. Lola & Company Inc. d/b/a Love Shack by LOLA, 400 Thames St, Newport (#9485)
b. Newport Fine Linens LLC, 132 Spring St, Newport (#9490)
c. Simply Chickie, 6 Findlay Place, Newport (#9491)
d. Air & Anchor, 115 Pettaconsett Ave, Cranston (#9495)

SITTING AS THE BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS

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. Peddler License – Mobile Food Establishment (MFE), New:
a. Pedro J. Gutierrez d/b/a Antojitos & Delicias Kamila's Inc, 21 Lexington Ave, Cranston
(#9481)
b. JM Eccleston LLC d/b/a Kona Ice East Providence, 691 Main Street, Warren (#9486)
c. Sorbae Frozen Treats, LLC, 1353 Purchase Street, New Bedford, MA (#9488)
d. Off The Rhode BBQ LLC d/b/a Off The Rhode BBQ, 26 Kirkbrae Dr, Lincoln (#9504)
e. Turner Bros LLC d/b/a Turner Bros LLC, 60 Madison St, Pawtucket (#9497)
Motion to approve all Peddler Licenses made by Mr. Gleason, seconded by Mr. Payero. Motion
passed unanimously.

ADJOURN

MINUTES – Motion to approve as amended for the vote of NB3 to reflect 7-0 vote to motion to
deny the permit instillation request but have staff work with Mr. Anderson for another solution,
made by Mr. Gleason, seconded by Mr. Payero. Motion passed unanimously on June 8, 2026.
5/26/26 & Exec.

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

1. Raytheon Groundbreaking – This morning, I attended Raytheon's groundbreaking for a new
radar test range at their Portsmouth facility. Raytheon has been an important member of our

TCM 6/8/26
Page 3
business community for many years, and projects like this help support good jobs and strengthen
our local economy. I want to congratulate Raytheon on this milestone and thank them for their
continued investment in Portsmouth.
2. EMS Support Grant Award – Our Fire Dept has been selected to receive a Southcoast Health
EMS Support Grant Award of $15,000 for the purchase of portable ventilators. Ventilators are a
critical piece of equipment for patients who have been intubated at the Paramedic level of care.
3. PPD Youth Leadership Camp – The Police Dept will hold its Youth Leadership Camp at the
high school over two sessions occurring July 20-24 and July 27-31. There are still open spots for the
first session, and the department will continue to accept registrations until the camp is filled.
4. Open Government Summit – The Rhode Island Attorney General's 28th Annual Open
Government Summit was held on June 4 and provided training on the Access to Public Records Act
and Open Meetings Act. The program was offered both in person and virtually and will be made
available online for those who were unable to attend. Our Town Clerk is asking that completed
validation forms be submitted to her office no later than September 30. If anyone has questions
regarding the training or reporting requirements, please contact the Town Clerk's Office.
5. FY 27 Budget Public Hearing, June 10th – The public hearing on the provisionally approved
FY27 budget will be held here in the Council Chambers this Wednesday starting at 7:00 PM.
6. FY 26 Audit Update – Work has already begun on the next audit of the Town’s Finance
operations. Auditors will be on site June 22 through 26 to review our internal financial controls.
7. Upcoming Recycling events – Hard Plastic Collection: will be collected at the Transfer Station
on June 13th from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM. This event is for Portsmouth residents only. Electronic
Waste Collection: will be July 18th from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Portsmouth High School.
This event is open to all RI residents. A truck will be stationed at the Prudence Island transfer
station one week before the event to collect and transport e-waste to the high school.
8. Town Hall, Transfer Station closed June 19th. Curbside delayed one day. – Town Hall will be
closed Friday, June 19th in observance of Juneteenth. The Transfer Station will be closed that day,
and curbside pickups for that Friday will be conducted the following day, Saturday the 20th.
9. Hurricane Season begins – As a reminder, the Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June
1st and runs through November 30th. Now is a good time for residents to review their emergency
plans, check emergency supplies, and make sure they are prepared should a storm threaten our area.
The Town's Hurricane Preparedness Guide is available on the Emergency Management section of
our website, and hard copies are also available at Town Hall for anyone who would like one.
Additionally, there will be a car show benefiting the Portsmouth High School Music Department
this coming Saturday. The event will be held at the Middle School from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and
will include music, food trucks and vendors.
OLD BUSINESS (Discussion/Action)
1. Request approval of Curbside amendment proposal and FY27 program pricing options. -Motion
to approve option 2, no contract extension, existing contract terms remain unchanged, FY27 CPI
adjustments applies, FY26 deficit recovered over FY27 and subscriber fee is $569 made by Mr.
Gleason, seconded by Ms. Patton. Motion passed 5-2. Mr. Payero and Mr. Hamilton in dissent.
2. Request approval of a resolution requesting the Rhode Island General Assembly to Exempt the
Town of Portsmouth from the Sales Tax for the Amount Paid for Parking at the Municipally
Operated Beach in the Town of Portsmouth. – Motion to approve made by Ms. Patton, seconded
by Mr. Payero. Motion passed unanimously.
3. Review and update the existing MOU with the Prudence Island School foundation to reflect
present day circumstances. / M. McDowell

TCM 6/8/26
Page 4
a. Prudence Island School Foundation Invoices – Motion to repeal the MOU and renegotiate
it made by Ms. McDowell, seconded by Ms. Patton. Motion passed 7-0. Motion to reduce the
Prudence Island School Foundation Civic Support Budget by $25,000 to $25,571 and place the
$25,000 into the Town Contingency made by Mr. Payero, seconded by Mr. Gleason. Motion passed
unanimously.
NEW BUSINESS (Discussion/Action)
1. Request to advertise for a public hearing for a sound variance to allow for live amplified music
at Sunset Cove, 706 Park Ave, July 1 & 2, from 5:00 to 8:00pm. (OpenGov #9498). / M.
MacFarlane – Motion to approve to advertise for a public hearing on June 22, 2026 for a sound
variance made by Mr. Gleason, seconded by Mr. Payero. Motion passed unanimously.
2. Request permission to hold the Annual Sakonnet Coastal Bike & Stroll on September 19. 2026-
Motion to approve the Annual Sakonnet Coastal Bike & Stroll on September 19, 2026 with a rain
date of September 26, 2026 made by Mr. Payero, seconded by Ms. Patton. Motion passed
unanimously.
3. Update on LMI Housing Resolution. – No votes taken.
4. Request approval to abate 2004-2014 delinquent taxes in the amount of $32,876.78. – Motion to
approve made by Mr. Gleason, seconded by Mr. Payero. Motion passed unanimously.
5. Request approval of FY 2027 Hedly St. Transfer Station Sticker Application and revised
Operating Procedures. – Motion to table to the June 22, 2026 meeting made by Mr. Gleason,
seconded by Ms. McDowell. Motion passed unanimously.
CORRESPONDENCE – Motion to receive and place on file made by Mr. Gleason, seconded by
Mr. Payero. Motion passed unanimously.
1. Natural gas pipeline safety brochure. / Rhode Island Energy
2. Resolution requesting continued funding of the RhodeRestore Program in the state budget. /
Tiverton Town Council
3. Invitation to the 12th Annual Townsend Luncheon on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at 11:30am at
Ocean Cliff Hotel. / Child & Family
4. Resolution in support of legislative action to clarify and reaffirm state responsibility for public
boating access infrastructure, including infrastructure located within the Town of Charlestown. /
Charlestown Town Council (fm 5/26/26)
5. Resolution in support of House Bill 2026-8030 Entitled an Act Relating to Towns and Cities –
General Power. / South Kingstown Town Council
6. Resolution opposing House Bill 7632 Relating to Age-Appropriate Design Code. / Hopkinton
Town Council
7. Resolution in Support of Rhode Island Senate Bill 2239 Regarding Local Authority Over
Unfunded Education Mandates. / Hopkinton Town Council
FUTURE MEETINGS
June 10 7:00 PM – Town Council Meeting Budget Public Hearing (Wednesday)
June 22 7:00 PM – Town Council Meeting
July 13 7:00 PM – Town Council Meeting Cancelled
July 27 7:00 PM – Town Council Meeting
ADJOURN – Motion to adjourn made by Mr. Gleason, seconded by Mr. Payero. Motion passed
unanimously.

TCM 6/8/26
Page 5
Time: 9:40 PM

________

Jennifer M. West, CMC, Town Clerk