Jun. 1, 2026 - Regular Meeting
3HIS MEETING CAN BE HEARD IN ITS ENTIRETY ON THE TOWN OF MIDDLETOWN WEBSITE WWW.MIDDLETOWNRI.COM OR THE DVD IS AVAILABLE AT THE MIDDLETOWN LIBRARY.
At a Regular Meeting of the Town Council of the Town of Middletown, RI at the Middletown Town Hall, 350 East Main Road, Middletown, RI in person on Monday, June 1, 2026 at 6:03 P.M.
Members Present:
Council President Paul M. Rodrigues, Presiding
Vice President Thomas P. Welch, III
Councilor Peter D. Connerton, Sr.
Councilor Charles R. Roberts
Councilor Dennis B. Turano
Councilor Barbara A. VonVillas
Absent:
Councilor Christopher M. Logan
Assistant Town Solicitor Michael Monti was also present.
POSTED – MAY 27, 2026
REGULAR MEETING JUNE 1, 2026
TOWN COUNCIL OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLETOWN, RHODE ISLAND
The following items of business, having been filed with the Town Clerk under the Rules of the Council, will come before the Council at a regular meeting to be held on June 1, 2026 at 6:00 Executive Session; Town Updates Immediately Following Executive Session and 6:30 P.M. Regular Meeting at the Middletown Town Hall, 350 East Main Road, Middletown, Rhode Island. Said meeting will be conducted in person. Virtual access will also be provided by telephone conference call/ webinar and members of the public may access and listen to the meeting in real-time by calling 1-877-853-5257 (Toll Free) or 1-888-475-4499 (Toll Free) and entering Meeting ID: 845 2453 0984 or on the web at; https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84524530984 **however, virtual access is being provided only as a convenience and is not an official "location" where access to the meeting is guaranteed. Being physically present at the meeting is the only way to guarantee complete access to the meeting, as the meeting will not be paused or rescheduled if the virtual access fails. **
If you choose to join the meeting by zoom or telephone, Council Rules allow for the Public to speak only during the Public Forum and Public Hearings. If calling in by telephone, pressing 9 raises your hand and pressing 6 will unmute.
The items listed on the Consent portion of the agenda are to be considered routine by the Town Council and will ordinarily be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless a member of the Council, or a member of the public so requests and the Town Council President permits, in which event the item will be removed from Consent Agenda consideration and considered in its normal sequence on the agenda. All items on this agenda, with the exception of the Public Forum Session, may be considered, discussed, and voted upon in executive session and/or open session.
Pursuant to RIGL §42-46-6(b). Notice – “Nothing contained herein shall prevent a public body, other than a school committee, from adding additional items to the agenda by majority vote of the members. Such additional items shall be for informational purposes only and may not be voted on except where necessary to address an unexpected occurrence that requires immediate action to protect the public or to refer the matter to an appropriate committee or to another body or official.”
Any person not a member of the Council, desiring to address the Council concerning a matter on the docket of the Council, not the subject of a Public Hearing, shall submit a written request to the Town Clerk stating the matter upon which he desires to speak. Persons are permitted to address the Council for a period not to exceed five (5) minutes.
The Middletown Town Council follows the codification of present-day general parliamentary law as articulated in Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised 10th edition (2000), together with whatever rules of order the Council has adopted for its own governance. The motion to reconsider is one of the motions that can bring a question again before an assembly, and is designed to bring back for further consideration a motion which has already been voted on:
If, in the same session that a motion has been voted on, but no later than the same day or the next day on which a business meeting is held, new information or a changed situation makes it appear that a different result might reflect the true will of the assembly, a member who voted with the prevailing side can, by moving to Reconsider [RONR (10th ed.), p. 304-321] the vote,
propose that the question shall come before the assembly again as if it had not previously been considered. (From Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised In Brief, Robert, Evans et al., De Capo Press, 2004)
There were no reconsiderations.
1. Executive Session - Pursuant to provisions of RIGL, Sections 42-46-2, 42-46-4 and 42-46-5 (a), (2) Collective Bargaining (IAFF) and (5) Land Acquisition (East Main Road).
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to recess open session and reconvene in executive session at 6:05 p.m.
Vice President Welch recused himself from action on Collective Bargaining (IAFF) and left the session at 6:05 p.m.
Vice President Welch returned to the session at 6:14 p.m.
On motion of Council President Rodrigues, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to recess executive session and reconvene in open session at 6:18 p.m.
Vice President Welch recused himself from action on Collective Bargaining (IAFF).
On motion of Council President Rodrigues, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to ratify the IAFF Collective Bargaining agreement.
On motion of Council President Rodrigues, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to approve the IAFF MOA regarding positions.
On motion of Council President Rodrigues, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to approve the IAFF MOA regarding Article 18.
On motion of Council President Rodrigues, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to seal the executive session minutes pursuant to Section 42-46-7. RIGL
Vice President Welch returned to the dais.
2. The Town Administrator will provide an update on:
a. Town Projects
b. School Building Project
c. Library Building Project
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to begin the Town Projects, School Building Project and Library Building Project updates. Shared Facilities Director Ed Collins addressed the Council reviewing progress on the Library Building Project, Elementary School project and Middle High School project:
· Library construction will begin soon.
· The library final GMP will be before the Town Council tonight.
· Library has received donations and grants, it is in a great position, within budget but not on time.
· Elementary School Project– Waiting on approval for the watermain, planning for furniture and playgrounds, painting, mechanical systems and roof will begin when the students are out for the summer.
· The Middle High School Project – Site work, interior work and planning furniture for the facility, ductwork, staging for masonry work, card access and room numbering, project on time and on budget.
3. Communication of Jay Edwards, Project Manager, Downes Construction Company, re: Proposed GMP #1 for the renovations to the Middletown Town Library at 110 Enterprise Center.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to receive said communication.
Jay Edwards, Project Manager, Downes Construction Company addressed the Council reviewing the communication above, including all the RTAs within the resolution below.
Discussion centered around the Library project should be substantial completed in about four and a half months, reimbursement from the state for the project, the Town portion of the building is not reimbursable from the state, and the Town Administrator will provide the Council with budget numbers for the project.
4. Resolution of the Council, re: Approving the recommendation for Ahlborg Construction Corporation to award the subcontracts of Demolition, funding for this proposal is to be from the Bond Anticipation Note Proceeds, interest income that has been accrued and all expenses recorded in the Town’s Capital Project Fund and Upon approval from the State of Rhode Island’s Office of Library Information Services, the Town Administrator is authorized to notify Ahlborg Construction Corporation to award the subcontracts of Demolition.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted to pass said resolution; Councilor Roberts voted NO to said motion.
Council President Rodrigues requested a moment of silence for former Town Employee Elliott Marshall, Former Middletown High School Principal Jack Regan, Former Senior Citizens Board member and lifetime resident Theresa Lacerda and Former Member of Various Town Boards Joseph Cirillo.
5. Pursuant to Rule 25 of the Rules of the Council, Citizens may address the town on one (1) subject only, said subject of substantive Town business, neither discussed during the regular meeting nor related to personnel or job performance. Citizens may speak for no longer than five (5) minutes and must submit a public participation form to the Council Clerk prior to the start of the meeting. All items discussed during this session will not be voted upon.
No one spoke during this session.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to act as a Board of License Commission.
6. Notice of Public Hearing from the License Commissioners, re: Application of Newport Creamery Restaurants, LLC dba Newport Creamery, 208 West Main Road for a BV Liquor License for the 2025-2026 Licensing year, for use at the same premises. (Town is an abutter to the applicant)
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to receive said notice of public hearing.
7. Public Hearing advertised; abutters notified.
Application of Newport Creamery Restaurants, LLC dba Newport Creamery Restaurants, 208 West Main Road for a Class BV Liquor License for the 2025-2026 licensing year. (NEW)
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to open the public hearing.
Discussion centered around the request is for a full liquor license and the Town has liquor licenses available.
There being no person present desiring to be heard, public hearing was declared closed.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted to grant said license; Councilor Turano voted NO to said motion.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to reconvene as a Town Council.
8. Approval of Minutes, re: Special Meeting, May 2, 2026.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to approve said minutes.
9. Approval of Minutes, re: Regular Meeting, May 4, 2026.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to approve said minutes.
10. Approval of Minutes, re: Special Meeting, May 7, 2026.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to approve said minutes.
11. Approval of Minutes, re: Regular Meeting, May 18, 2026.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to approve said minutes.
12. Applications from the following-named persons, firms and corporations for RENEWAL of Mechanical Amusement Device Licenses, for the 2026-2027 licensing year:
Mechanical Amusement Device – Expires – May 5th, 2027
Gilbert-Burton Post #4487/VFW- 52 Underwood Lane
(One Juke Box, One Pool Table and One Game)
HPK, Inc./Tickets- 15 Aquidneck Avenue
(One Juke Box)
Kempenaar Real Estate/Howard Johnson Motor Lodge- 351 West Main Road
(Four Games)
S.C.S.JR. Restaurant Corp., Inc/Scotty’s Big Dawg’s Sports Pub – 823 West Main Road
(One Juke Box, One Pool Table and One Game)
Shaw’s Supermarkets, Inc. #1442/Shaw’s- 71 East Main Road
(One Game)
Sonesta International Hotels Corporation/Sonesta Select Newport Middletown-
9 Commerce Drive
(Two Games)
The Pub at Two Mile Corner, Inc./ The Pub at Two Mile Corner- 10 Maple Ave
(One Juke Box, One Pool Table, Two Games)
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to grant said licenses.
13. Application for Special Event Permit to change date from Saturday, June 13, 2026, to Saturday, July 11, 2026 (Rain date Saturday, August 1, 2026) from SOSO Radio for Music on the Beach to be held at Second Beach from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. (The original Special Event Permit was granted on April 6, 2026.)
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to grant said Special Event Permit, change of date.
14. Application for Special Event Permit from Pulse Gym & Studios for Pulse Beach Boot Camps at Second Beach on Wednesdays from Wednesday, June 10, 2026 to Wednesday, September 2, 2026, from 6:30 am to 7:30 am.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to grant said Special Event Permit.
15. Application for Special Event Permit from Hagerty/Peabody Beach, Hagerty July 4th Fireworks & Party at Peabody’s Beach, to be held on Saturday, July 4, 2026 from 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm. (Fireworks display at 9:00 pm)
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to grant said Special Event Permit.
16. Communication of J. Clement “Bud” Cicilline and Ray Malone Co-Chairs, NAACP Newport County Branch Golf Tournament Committee, re: Request for support by sponsoring a Tee Sign for the Golf Tournament.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to receive said communication and sponsor a tee sign in the amount of $150.00 to be appropriated from the Council President’s Discretionary Fund.
17. At the request of Council President Rodrigues, re: Discussion of Summer Schedule –
Current Schedule Meeting dates - July 6, 2026, July 20, 2026, August 3, 2026 and August 17, 2026.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to begin said discussion.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to have Monday, July 6, 2026 and Monday, August 3, 2026 summer meetings.
Town Administrator Shawn Brown addressed the Council regarding item #13, noting that the change of date would be to the weekend after the July 4, 2026 holiday. Mr. Brown noted concern that the Beach would be busy and it could be difficult to accommodate the event.
Nicholas Sarazan, representing SOSO Radio, was present to answer Council inquiries.
Discussion centered around last year the event took place on the same weekend, there were no incidents at the beach during the event and Mr. Sarazan will be cautious when setting up to not disrupt the beach patrons.
On motion of Vice President Welch, duly seconded, it was voted unanimously to adjourn said meeting at 6:57 p.m.
Wendy J.W. Marshall, MMC
Town Clerk