Council Continues Agenda Items on Lengthy Agenda

By Cynthia Drummond for BRVCA

February 5th 2025

RICHMOND – After three and a half hours, members of the Town Council agreed to continue several items on Tuesday’s long meeting agenda, because it was getting late and councilors were growing tired.

Town Moderator

The first discussion focused on the application of Chris Kona for the position of Town Moderator.

Councilor Jeffrey Dinsmore asked whether the town had received any applications in addition to Kona’s.

There was a second application, submitted on Friday, Jan. 31 by former council President Nell Carpenter, which arrived too late to be included on the meeting agenda. The agenda deadline was Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Carpenter asked the council to “reconsider” her submission,

But Town Council President Samantha Wilcox replied that the only agenda item under consideration by the council was Kona’s application.

“So, we really should be assessing that,” she said, noting that she supported Kona for the position.

Councilor Jim Palmisciano said he agreed with Wilcox’s support of Kona, but asked whether the council could also consider Carpenter.

“Is there a way that we could accommodate her, knowing that we have two applicants?” he asked. “What is the procedure that would allow that to be done? Because I don’t think we’re in danger of anything by delaying something and that way, the council could vote on two or more candidates.”

Town Solicitor Christopher Zangari told council members that if they wanted to consider two applications, they would have to rescind the motion to approve Kona and continue the item to the next council meeting on March 4.

Thomas Marron, who ran unsuccessfully for a council seat,  also weighed in, accusing the council of “hypocrisy.” The council, he explained, was considering the Democratic Town Committee Chairman for the Town Moderator position when Marron’s application to the Tax Assessment Review Board had been rejected because as a Republican Candidate for council, he had accepted a donation from The Preserve, which is appealing several years’ property tax assessments.

“How can you approve Mr. Kona?” he asked. “Mr. Kona has given donations to all of you, indirectly, so is that being inconsistent with your decision about Tom Marron applying for a commission? A double standard?”

Council Vice President Mark Reynolds, the former Chair of the Tax Assessment Review Board, said,

“My concern with Mr. Marron’s application to the Board of Tax Assessment…”

Wilcox broke in.

“Point of order,” she said. “I mean, that’s not…”

Reynolds continued,

“I’m going to answer his question,” he said. “My concern was that, as a Republican candidate, there had been donations from The Preserve to the Republican Town Committee and that in Mr. Marron’s capacity on the Tax Assessment Board of Appeals, he would be hearing matters related to The Preserve. So it wasn’t so much the connection of Mr. Marron to the Republican party that was a conflict, the potential conflict was, he was going to have to decide issues relating to an entity that had donated to his campaign. Mr. Kona is not going to have to decide any issue. He’s going to moderate a meeting, next year, in April or May.”

With Dinsmore casting the only ‘no” vote, the council approved Kona’s appointment.

Town Administrator’s Report

Town Administrator Karen Pinch requested and received council approvals of a contract with Vision Appraisal for $68,600 for statistical revaluation services.

The council also approved the awarding of a $14,500 contract to Westway Construction for improvements to the police station.

Pinch also provided an update on the work at the town’s property at 4 Richmond Townhouse Road, where GZA GeoEnvironmental continues work on the environmental study.

Tax Abatements

Tax Assessor Carmen Labelle, who has resigned from her position with the town and whose last day is Friday, presented proposed amendments to the Code of Ordinances pertaining to tax abatements and exemptions.

Labelle recommended, and the council agreed, to slowly phase out the flat amount exemption during revaluation years. There is a revaluation this year.

Reynolds made a motion, which was approved, to advertise for a public hearing on the amendments.

Ordinance Review

Councilor Dan Madnick proposed working with staff to come up with amendments to the town’s Code of Ordinances that would eliminate obsolete ordinances and streamline license applications and other application processes. The town’s zoning ordinance would not be included in the review.

Palmisciano and Dinsmore said such a review would be expensive and asked where the funding would come from.

The previous Town Council had discussed an ordinance review using American Rescue Plan Act funds, which are no longer available. That review did not take place.

“I think we couldn’t do it in this current fiscal year,” Pinch said. “There has to be something budgeted for the next fiscal year, starting July 1.”

The council voted to approve a motion calling for a review of ordinances (with the exception of zoning) and recommendations for modernization and greater efficiency of licensing procedures.

Town Council Goals

Councilors discussed and generally agreed on their goals for the town. Those include the completion of the facility at 4 Richmond Townhouse Road, encouraging sustainable growth, welcoming new businesses and supporting existing businesses, encouraging and maximizing funding from grants, and continuing work on the town’s hazard mitigation plan.

Several councilors agreed that the revitalization of Chariho Plaza should be added to the list.

Chariho Cowboys

Charlestown Town Council member Stephen Stokes asked the council to support a request by the Chariho Cowboys football team to use the Chariho field. The team currently uses Puchalski Field.

“What we were asking is for you to support one of your other fellow towns in encouraging that Chariho brings up this issue and gives the Cowboys, essentially, an avenue to sit before Chariho [School Committee,] “he said.

Stokes noted that the use of the Chariho field, if approved, would occur only five times a year.

Reynolds said he believed the proposal was beyond the authority of the towns.

“My concern is the specificity of using one particular area,” he said. “I totally agree there should be a conversation, clearly that campus has the most open space, flat space field space. Parking – it’s the perfect location. But to say it has to be in this location on the compass is, I think, us overstepping our bounds.”

Reynolds and Wilcox said they preferred to leave the decision to the school district.

The council approved a resolution encouraging the Cowboys and the school district to discuss the request.

“I think the best way to go is to encourage to engage in dialogue,” Wilcox said.

Economic Development Task Force

It was getting late, but several weighty items remained on the agenda, including a presentation by Palmisciano on the Economic Development Task Force.

Some councilors said they wanted to continue the items to the next meeting, on March 4. Other members preferred to keep going.

“It’s not about the importance of the items, and I appreciate that,” Reynolds said. “It’s about people being mindful of how many items they’re putting on the agenda, and this is not the first time we’ve had an agenda that’s been this long …It’s not about not wanting to stay up late. It’s not about not wanting to do the work. It’s about trying to set a precedent of we need to be mindful of what we’re putting on the agenda.”

After some discussion, councilors agreed to hear the Economic Development Task Force presentation.

Two members of the Economic Development Commission questioned the need for a task force but Madnick and Dinsmore agreed with Palmisciano that a task force would support the commission. Reynolds ended up supporting a resolution defining the task force. Wilcox cast the only opposing vote.