Agenda 2026-03-23

PORTSMOUTH TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
MARCH 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.

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

PRESENTATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

1. Recognition/Award for Patrol Officer Noah Paon of the Portsmouth Police Department for the
2025 “Officer of the Year”

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 #1361 on 3/5/26 in the amount of $186,480.56 as approved by the
Finance Director
Payment Voucher #1368 on 3/12/26 in the amount of $209,176.82 as approved by the
Finance Director
2. Peddler License – Mobile Food Establishment (MFE), Renewal:
Longade LLC d/b/a Dels Lemonade, 729 West Main Rd, Middletown, 4 vehicles (#9422)
3. Committee Minutes:

Solid Waste and Recycling Committee 2/12/2026

Tax Assessment Board of Review 2/19/26

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. Entertainment License:

Ragged Island Brewing Co, 54 Bristol Ferry Rd, for the Ragged Island Music Festival to
be held June 13 & 14, 2026, from 12:00-8:30 pm (#9357)
2. Peddler License – Mobile Food Establishment (MFE), New:
a. Triple Deuce LLC d/b/a Seb's Wood Fire Oven, 222 Wood Street Apt.1, Bristol (#9412)
b. Marina Lucia Lopez Giron d/b/a La Loncherita Food Truck, 108 Congress Ave,
Providence (#9423)
c. Bitter Sweet LLC, 23 Aldrich Ave, Cranston (#9426)
3. Victualler License, Annual, New:
Iron & Oak Kitchen LLC, 500 Anthony Rd (#9429)

4. Class F1 Daily Liquor License:

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Travel Tavern LLC, 198 Summit Dr, Cranston, for a “Welcome Reception” at Newport Polo
Grounds on June 2, 2026 from 5:00-9:00pm (#9403)
5. Entertainment License – Fee Waiver Requested:

Portsmouth Portuguese American Citizens Club, 35 Power St, for the St. Anthony’s

Feast, July 16-19, 2026, 8:00am – 1:00am (#9420)
6. Victualler License – Fee Waiver Requested:

Portsmouth Portuguese American Citizens Club, 35 Power St, for the St. Anthony’s

Feast, July 16-19, 2026, 8:00am – 1:00am (#9421)

ADJOURN

MINUTES

3/9/26

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

1. Budget update
2. Cities4Cities update
3. Abandoned vessel reimbursement update
4. Safety Enhancement Grant Award

RESIGNATIONS AND APPOINTMENTS

1. Resignations:

Bristol Ferry Town Common Committee – W. Dwyer III
Harbor Commission – J. Parks
2. Appointments:

Conservation Commission (ReAppt.) – B. Ritt

OLD BUSINESS (Discussion/Action)
1. Monthly Finance Report. / K. Marsden (5)

NEW BUSINESS (Discussion/Action)
1. Request approval to renew Potter League Contract 2026-2029. / B. Peters (10)
2. PUBLIC HEARING: Request from Matthew Gray for approval for a variance to the sound limits
set forth in the Codification of Ordinances Chapter 257: NOISE, for multiple events to allow for
live amplified music to take place throughout the summer on the lawn at Ragged Island Brewing
Co, 54 Bristol Ferry Road. The first event is the Third Annual Ragged Island Music Festival to
be held June 13 & 14, 2026, from 12:00-8:30 pm (OpenGov #9357). There will also be live
music on Wednesday evenings starting June 24 through August 26, 2026 from 6:00-8:30 pm and
Sundays June 28, July 12 & 26, August 9 & 23, and September 6 & 13, from 1:00-7:00 pm.
(OpenGov #9358)

a. Zoning Board of Review decision
3. PUBLIC HEARING: Community Development Block Grant Application. / L. Hitchen & R.
Plain, Church Community Housing Corp.
Review, prioritize, and approve of proposed activities and programs for inclusion in the
Town’s application for a Small Cities Community Development Block Grant to undertake a
range of activities including:
a. Affordable housing: Provide funding for 40 affordable homeownership condominiums
at the corner of Bristol Ferry Rd and Sprague St and Turnpike Ave to be built by

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Church Community Housing Corp. Amount: $680,000.
b. Affordable housing: Provide funding for recovery housing to be located at 79 East Main
Rd to be owned by Community Blessings Foundation dba Healthy Living in Recovery.
Amount: $1,100,000.
4. Resolutions of the Town Council regarding the CDBG Application – Small Cities Community
Development Block Grant (CDBG) – Approving the prioritized list of projects for submission
with the Town’s 2023 CDBG application and authorizing the Town Administrator to file said
application. / R. Plain, Church Community Housing Corp. (5)

a. Resolution approving the Affordable housing: Provide funding for 40 affordable
homeownership condominiums at the corner of Bristol Ferry Rd and Sprague St and
Turnpike Ave to be built by Church Community Housing Corp.

b. Resolution approving the Affordable housing: Provide funding for recovery housing to be
located at 79 East Main Rd to be owned by Community Blessings Foundation dba
Healthy Living in Recovery.
5. Request approval to support the following House Bills: D. Gleason, S. Patton (10)
a. RI House Bill H7971 – Relating to Public Property and Works – Labor and Payments of
Debts by Contractors.
b. RI House Bill H7678 – Joint Resolution Creating a Special Joint Legislative Commission
on City and Town Affairs.
c. RI House Bill H8029 – Relating to Taxation – Collection of Taxes Generally.
d. RI House Bill H8013 – Relating to Motor and Other Vehicles – Mobile and Manufactured
Homes.
6. Request to revise the protocol for management salaries. / R. Rainer & L. Puglia (10)
7. Request addition of a Citizens Public Forum section to Town Council agendas. / S. Patton (5)
8. Discussion to determine whether we should join Bristol in acquiring the RI Bridge and
Turnpike’s most recent inspection report on the Mt. Hope Bridge’s structural condition. / S.
Patton (10) (No backup)
9. Approval of sticker prices for Curbside and Portsmouth Transfer Station. / R. Rainer (10)

Proposed FY27 Transfer Station & Curbside Sticker Costs

FY2025 Transfer Station – Net Position Deficit Explanation

Hedly St Transfer Station – Year End

Hedly Transfer Station Projected Sticker Calculation

Hedly Transfer Station Projected Sticker Calculation with Approval of PI Proposal

Curbside Collection – Year End

Curbside Collection Projected Sticker Calculation

a. Request for approval of a prorated price for the Prudence Island transfer station for the
remainder of the fiscal year. / M. McDowell

CORRESPONDENCE

1. Monthly RIRRC Report. / Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corp.
2. Repeat Public Notice – Drinking Water Warning, significant deficiencies in Prudence Island
Water District’s water system. / Prudence Island Water District
3. Letter of unanimous support of the Aquidneck Club request to alter freshwater wetlands. /
Portsmouth Conservation Commission
4. Resolution to amend the Wavemaker Fellowship. / Warren Town Council
5. Resolution for Exemption for Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities as well as
Persons with Neurological Disorders. / Warren Town Council
6. Resolution in Support of H-7298 relating to tax classification in Tiverton. / Tiverton Town

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Council
7. Resolution in Support of H8181 relating to bridge replacement, reconstruction, and maintenance
fund – exemptions from tolling for waste management vehicles. / Tiverton Town Council
8. Resolution in Support of H8029 relating to Motor and Other Vehicles -Mobile and Manufactured
Homes. / Tiverton Town Council
9. Resolution in Support of H8025 relating to taxation – property subject to taxation. / Tiverton
Town Council
10. Resolution in Support of H8026 relating to taxation – property subject to taxation. / Tiverton
Town Council
11. Resolution supporting healthcare advocacy and fair reimbursement to preserve local access to
care. / Exeter Town Council
12. Resolution in support of Senate Bill S2275 & House Bill H7447 relating to low- and moderate-
income housing – comprehensive permits. / Exeter Town Council
13. Resolution in support of House Bill 7356 & Senate Bill 2216 “School Employee Background
Checks.” / Exeter Town Council
14. Resolution in support of legislation allowing Exeter to establish a tax exemption for 100%
service-connected disabled veterans. / Exeter Town Council
15. Joint Municipal Statement supporting Portsmouth’s resolution in support of municipalities
collaborating in reviewing, analyzing, and responding to the 2025 affordable housing laws. /
West Greenwich Town Council
16. Joint Municipal Statement supporting Portsmouth’s resolution in support of municipalities
collaborating in reviewing, analyzing, and responding to the 2025 affordable housing laws. /
Bristol Town Council
17. Resolution in Support of Municipalities Collaborating in Reviewing, Analyzing, and
Responding to the 2025 Affordable Housing Laws. / Smithfield Town Council
18. Resolution in support of Senate Bill S-2917 and House Bill H-8015 relating to Towns and Cities
– RI Housing Resources Act of 1988. / Smithfield Town Council

FUTURE MEETINGS
Apr 13 7:00 PM – Town Council Meeting
Apr 27 7:00 PM – Town Council Meeting
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)

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. – Disability Pension
2. RIGL §42-46-5(a) (2) – Sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation, or work
sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation. – Cease and Desist

ADJOURN

RETURN TO OPEN SESSION

OPEN SESSION

ADJOURN

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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 3/19/26