Agenda 2026-04-27

PORTSMOUTH TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
APRIL 27, 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. – DPW
2. RIGL 42-46-5(a) (2) – Sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation, or work
Sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation. – Prescription health care benefit

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

PUBLIC COMMENT

Residents may address the Town Council on matters relevant to the authority and jurisdiction of
the Town Council, and not otherwise on the agenda, during the public comment period; speakers
will be called in the order they appear on the public comment sign-in sheet, which will be
available up until the meeting start time, and then will be provided to the presiding officer at the
start of the meeting; a speaker may approach the Town Council only once per public comment
session; speakers shall state their name and address for the record; each speaker will be limited to
three (3) minutes in the public comment period and the period will not exceed fifteen (15) minutes
total during a meeting; we ask that all speakers direct their comments to the presiding officer and
that they be respectful and courteous when speaking; the presiding officer shall enforce the rules
and maintain order.

PRESENTATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

1. Proclamation proclaiming May 3-9, 2026 as Professional Municipal Clerks Week

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 #1420 on 4/9/26 in the amount of $328,649.31 as approved by the
Finance Director
Payment Voucher #1430 on 4/16/26 in the amount of $81,071.03 as approved by the
Finance Director
2. Committee Minutes:

Conservation Commission 2/19/26, 3/5/26

TCM 4/27/26
Page 2

Parks and Recreation Committee 2/19/26, 3/19/26
3. Peddler License – Mobile Food Establishment (MFE), Renewal:
a. MacKinnon Enterprises LLC d/b/a Sprinkles Ice Cream, 9 Bowens Wharf, Newport

(#9448)

b. SW Food LLC d/b/a Newport Sushi Co., 8 Garfield St., Newport (#9449)

c. Baby Duck, LLC d/b/a Tacofied, 38 Dean Ave, Johnston (#9451)
d. Antonio Miranda d/b/a/ La Guaguita Del Sabor, 3 Pine Drive, Hopkinton (#9456)
4. CRMC – Public Notice 1984-05-013 Modification
Joseph & Mary McDowell, 94 Point Road, Portsmouth, RI 02871 for a State of Rhode
Island Assent to construct and maintain an as-built residential boating facility consisting of a
5’x81’ fixed timber pier, a 3’x22’ ramp, two 4’x31’ floats, and two tie off piles. The tie off
piles extending 75ft beyond mean low water. This application is a modification of Assent
1984-05-013. A variance to CRMC Redbook section 1.3.1(D)(11)(1) is required where the
facility extends 25ft beyond the 50ft standard. Project Location: 94 Point Road.

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:

Newport Creamery Restaurant LLC d/b/a Newport Creamery, 781 Tiogue Ave, Coventry
(#9452)
2. Class F1 Daily Liquor License:
Travel Tavern LLC, 198 Summit Dr, Cranston, for a Graduation Celebration at 29 Chelsea

Dr on June 13, 2026 from 4:00-7:00pm (#9460)

ADJOURN

MINUTES

3/23/26 & Exec.
4/13/26 & Exec.

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

1. End of winter operation at RI Energy Old Mill Lane site
2. Community Aggregation Program reminder
3. Portsmouth Award nominations
4. Arbor Day

RESIGNATIONS, REMOVALS AND APPOINTMENTS

1. Resignations:
Dog Park Committee – R. Nassau
2. Removals:

Bristol Ferry Town Common Committee – N. Smith

OLD BUSINESS (Discussion/Action)
1. Portsmouth Solid Waste Ad Hoc Committee Hedley Street Transfer Station (TS) Comments and
Recommendations. / D. Gleason, M. McDowell and J. Spadaro (15)

2. Monthly Finance Reports. / K. Marsden (5)
a. March 2026 Finance Report

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Page 3

b. School Finance Report: January 2026, February 2026

NEW BUSINESS (Discussion/Action)
1. Request approval for the 8th grade class at St. Philomena School to have a campfire at Sandy
Point Beach on June 4h from 2:00 pm to sunset. / D. Abbott (10)
2. Proposed revised entry/exit routes for Polo. / D. Keating (10)
3. Request approval of a resolution requesting immediate reform of the ISO-NE Day-Ahead
Ancillary Services Initiative. / K. Hamilton (10)
4. Request to perpetually proclaim April 24th as Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day and to fly
the Armenian Flag in the Council Chambers on that day every year. / J. West (5)
5. Request approval for Sandy Point Beach proposed parking fee schedule, elimination of 4-pack
passes and increasing stickers from 2 per household to 3. / W. Bulk (10)
6. Request approval of letter in support of Bristol litigation against RITBA. / R. Rainer (5)
7. Presentation and Submission for Review – Town Administrator’s Proposed Budget Fiscal Year
July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027. / R. Rainer (20)
(Proposed Budget is Available on the Town’s Website or by using the following:
FY 27 Town Administrator's Proposed Budget)

a. Town Administrator opening statements

b. Budget – Revenues

CORRESPONDENCE

1. Certificate of Special Recognition acknowledging the Dept. of Public Works for their
extraordinary efforts during the Blizzard of 2026. / Governor D. McKee
2. Resolutions adopted on April 6, 2026. / Exeter Town Council

a. In support of House Bill 7049 and Senate Bill 2147 adjusting primary election day to
Wednesday after Labor Day.
b. Letter of support for the Blue Ribbon Commission’s report, Equalizing Opportunity:

Creating a Fair and Transparent Funding System for Rhode Island’s Public Schools.
c. In support of House Bill H7224 (2026 – An Act Relating to Towns and Cities – Award
of Municipal Contracts).
d. Opposing Senate Bill 2389 and House Bill 7305 relating to the Access to Public Records
Act (APRA).
3. Resolutions adopted on April 13, 2026. / Charlestown Town Council
a. Concerning Municipal authority over land use and housing decisions.
b. Joint Municipal Statement supporting Portsmouth’s resolution in support of municipalities
collaborating in reviewing, analyzing, and responding to 2025 affordable housing laws.
c. Concerning Senate Bill S2275 relating to comprehensive permit review and affordable
housing unit accounting.
d. Identifying shortcomings in the housing 2030 element of the Rhode Island State Guide
Plan.

FUTURE MEETINGS
Apr 28 7:00 PM – Town Council Budget Hearing
Apr 29 7:00 PM – Town Council Budget Hearing
Apr 30 7:00 PM – Town Council Budget Hearing (If needed)
May 11 7:00 PM – Town Council Meeting

EXECUTIVE SESSION - (If needed)

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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 4/22/26