As a vacation destination, areas near Watchaug and our saltwater ponds could be especially impacted. Also, developers of new subdivisions would be able to add a second dwelling unit to each lot, doubling the number of houses in their subdivisions. In short, Charlestown’s zoning would be thrown to the wind in favor of state control, and the number of dwelling units possible in town could conceivably double.
What was proposed in the 2014 draft? A Performance Venue, Camping, and Lighting—A 19-acre performance area is to be located in an undeveloped area; an 8-acre camping area is to be located north of Little Nini Pond; and lighting will be placed throughout the Park. Parking—Cars, and buses, are to be parked in parking lots and in among the existing recreational facilities in Ninigret Park. Attendees–The baseline is 8,000 people, a number that can be waived for larger, one-time events.
Rather than have an authentic conversation over the issue of the balance of experience on the Zoning Board of Review, Mr. Cahir chose to deflect using a groundless personal attack on a town volunteer and his family. He is certainly free to express those opinions. However, misrepresentation and making stuff up are not OK and are not only dishonest but toxic. Mr. Cahir needs to disagree better.
How will real discussions and debates occur when members of the public are not able to participate fully? Allowing citizens to ask questions, provide input, and offer comments is essential to an open and transparent government. Not gathering the information available and then weighing all the evidence in order to make considered decisions is not transparent, is not in the best interests of the citizens of the town, and also makes no sense.
This June 14 marks the fourteenth anniversary of the grand opening of the John G. Drew Sky Theatre in Ninigret Park. Over the last 14 years, the original dream of connecting views seen through the large telescope to a screen in the Sky Theatre has been accomplished—and more.
The new ordinance eliminates the requirement that open space contain any upland (developable areas), in spite of the fact that developers of major subdivisions have been required to set aside upland areas while clustering their lots since 1988. The number of lots that a developer has available to develop has not been reduced by this requirement, but the negative environmental impact of new residential development has been reduced. There is wide agreement that this method has worked.
The new Town Council majority has, suddenly, proposed drastically changing this long-standing, well-tested ordinance that protects the environment in order to provide “choice” for developers. In addition, the choice that will be provided to developers by the proposed changes will also greatly reduce developers’ costs by allowing them to design their subdivisions essentially as they please.
The Charlestown Town Council is conducting important business in special meetings that are scheduled randomly at the call of the Council. As a result, being an informed citizen in Charlestown in 2023 has suddenly become a formidable task, and instead of fostering more transparency and more citizen participation, using special meetings for important business has resulted in less, much less, of both.
When: Tuesday, March 21 at 7 p.m.
Where: Charlestown Town Hall
What: N.O. Bar, LLC, is requesting a Special Use Permit to construct a bar on an existing deck and appealing Charlestown’s Zoning Official’s ruling that the new use is an Outdoor Café. N.O. Bar is located at 523 Charlestown Beach Road.
Mr. Stankiewicz, a true professional, would have served the new Council well, as he has served a number of other Town Councils. Claims seemingly used to justify forcing Mr. Stankiewicz to leave are petty and inaccurate. As a result, the new Council is now wasting time searching for a new Town Administrator, instead of focusing on pressing town matters.
Charlestown taxpayers are served by a dedicated Town staff. For example, during the pandemic, ours was the only town in the state to provide uninterrupted services to our residents, and to those who needed assistance, even during the worst of Covid-19. Most Charlestown residents correctly understand that their Town is well managed and have every reason to be happy about the state of its fiscal health.
At the Charlestown Town Council meeting on December 12, town employees were again attacked for being paid for work they had performed. These attacks smear the reputations of town employees who have been committed, even during the global pandemic, to providing top-quality services to the people who call Charlestown home.
The law requires that employees be compensated for all their regular work hours. Before alleging, again, that a serious problem exists and before accusing Town staff, falsely, of a serious misdeed, Mr. Hoff should recognize that Charlestown’s method of calculating its employees’ hourly pay is standard practice and has not created a long-standing “silent liability” that needed to be paid. Charlestown paid its employees for the hours they worked.
I am humbled to have served the Town of Charlestown for eight years and I thank the citizens of the town for the opportunity. The town is in excellent shape. Much of the credit for this goes to our town administrator, Mark Stankiewicz. He has guided the town commendably well, under the direction of the Town Council, for approximately nine years. Without his excellent leadership, our town would not be where it is today.
The “positive way to move forward” is to elect representatives who will work for the best interests of citizens in all areas of town. The Independent candidates endorsed by the CCA commit to protection of our natural environment; low taxes and a stable financial position; responsible development; well-managed, responsive, civil, and open government; access to recreational opportunities; and quality education.
Ms. Carney is wrong. A conservation restriction has been determined to be a “reasonable regulation,” not a confiscation of property, and case law supports that determination. Conservation restrictions are a widely used tool throughout Rhode Island to protect open space, including wetlands and other sensitive areas, from unsuitable development.
Mr. Serra is promising that, if elected, he will fire the Town Planner, recall the Chair of our elected Planning Commission, and remove the Groundwater Protection District requirement that 20% undisturbed open space be set aside to protect the aquifer. It would seem, because he has said so, that Mr. Serra is running for office in order to derive a personal benefit from changes that would be detrimental to our town and our drinking water—possibly one of the worst reasons to run for office.
Actions by candidates endorsed by Charlestown Residents United (CRU) contradict the claim that they will protect the town’s environment. For 12 years, Independent Town Council members endorsed by the Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA) have consistently acted to protect our environment and keep our taxes low. These actions are in keeping with priorities clearly expressed in the recent Town-wide Community Survey.
There have been innumerable complaints from residents living in wide-spread locations throughout Charlestown concerning commercial quarrying, extraction and earth and gravel removal operations at pre-existing nonconforming extraction operations currently operating in Town. This resolution seeks an amendment to the RI General Laws to allow the Town of Charlestown to regulate the extraction operations.
Charlestown Town Councilor Bonnie Van Slyke introduced the blasting resolution at the February 28 Town Council meeting. The resolution received the full support of the other Council members and was sent to Charlestown’s State Senators Dennis Algiere and Elaine Morgan and House Representative Blake Filippi, and to all Rhode Island Cities and Towns, all Rhode Island Legislators, Speakers of the House and Senate, the State Fire Marshall and the Governor seeking their consideration of and support for this Resolution.
The taxpayers of Charlestown can have confidence that $3 million of their hard-earned money is not missing and that their taxes have been spent as they authorized. Further, they can be assured that the town is well positioned to weather an emergency. Telling a tale about an accounting error that does not exist and implying that there is fraud that also does not exist in order to try to confuse some people to gain political advantage does the town a grave disservice.
When: Monday, February 28, at 7:00 pm
Where: Webex virtual meeting, a telephonic and video remote special meeting
What: Charlestown Town Council member Bonnie Van Slyke has added a discussion and potential action regarding regulating the nuisance aspects of quarries that existed prior to zoning to include requesting the state legislature enact enabling legislation regarding quarrying and blasting to the February 28 Charlestown Town Council agenda.
On February 14, the Charlestown Town Council will continue to consider adopting a written fund balance policy. The discussion has been continued so that all residents will have ample time to review and digest the issues involved. The question that such a fund balance policy would address is, how would Charlestown maintain financial stability over time and also have the capacity to recover from a major hurricane or other disaster?
How would Charlestown’s surplus (unassigned fund balance) maintain financial stability and capacity to recover from a major hurricane or other disaster? On January 10, the Charlestown Town Council will consider this question and potentially take action upon a fund balance policy, a policy containing principles to guide present and future financial decisions.
Statements that Charlestown Town Councilors, duly elected by voters, have repeatedly refused to place items on agendas are simply not true. There is no requirement that any item brought forward by a Town Councilor must be put on the next agenda. The Council may consider whether other items need immediate attention, whether an item is ready for discussion or whether it needs further research, and whether the item can be better addressed in another way, such as administratively.
At the Council meeting, I proposed a motion “to authorize Town Administrator Mark Stankiewicz to take whatever action is necessary to protect the town” from changes to rail alignments or other proposals that may be made as part of the New Haven to Providence Capacity Planning Study. The authorization is needed so that the Town can be nimble as circumstances unfold.
Now thanks to Charlestown’s open space, regulatory standards, and the hard work of Charlestown Building Official Joseph Warner and other town staff, home owners will receive a 20% discount on flood insurance.
Candidates endorsed by the Charlestown Citizens Alliance have long championed protecting our irreplaceable natural and scenic resources because these are linked directly to our healthy tourist economy, our health, and our low tax rate. CCA candidates have called for responsible development and have opposed unfettered, willy-nilly residential and commercial developments that benefit developers and large corporations, not our residents and local businesses.
The 2020 election in Charlestown boils down to two different visions for the town. The first vision would maintain the delicate balance between protecting our natural and scenic resources and providing reasonable, responsible growth. The opposing vision for the town is to accelerate residential growth, encourage large businesses to come to Charlestown, and open up Ninigret Park for commercial gain.
Our town, like the nation and most of the world, is facing a tremendous challenge right now, and I am so grateful to know that Charlestown has Mark Stankiewicz as our town administrator. At a time like this the town needs someone with his experience and vision. In more peaceful times, his competent leadership has fostered a calm, stable environment and a well-run town that enjoys a low tax rate and a high quality of life.
