As conservation-minded Zoning Board members’ terms expire they are being replaced with new members with ties to the building and development industries. Town Councils have the power to make appointments and move regulations in whatever direction they choose, but residents should be aware of the direction this Town Council is taking which is one that reduces environmental protections and encourages faster growth.
On May 22 the Town Council held a public hearing on the Planning Commission’s request to not accept new Public Storage Facility applications until the town has new design guidelines. On June 12 the Town Council voted 4 to 1 not to require increased residential buffers, and to allow cannabis retail sales on any lot zoned C3 or C2. The Town Council continues to propose changes to the Zoning Ordinance for the subdivision of residential land that would reduce developers’ costs, increase the number of allowed lots… Details on all of these in the post.
When: Wednesday, May 17th at 4 p.m.
Where: Room 35 – State House
Why: Send an e-mail to the legislature (directions on how to send the e-mail in the post)
The farmland preservation program will not be funded without a strong outpouring of public support. This spring, Rhode Island’s state funding for farmland conservation is rapidly approaching zero for the first time since 1981. There is a backlog of over 40 farms that have been approved for permanent protection, but not enough funding to protect them. Leaving the farmland protection program unfunded will halt the program altogether and leave at least $5 Million in federal funding on the table.
Vic was elected to the Planning Commission in 2008 along with others in our first slate of candidates. Over the intervening years he donated his photography skills to make campaign photos of many of our candidates and in 2020 made candidate videos as well. He gave his time to those candidate photo shoots with amazing kindness and patience.
If you love the stars, there’s a new Facebook group in town you will want to join! ”Charlestown RI Dark Sky Advocates” is dedicated to celebrating our glorious night sky and learning what we can do to reduce light pollution for our health and enjoyment and to protect our environment. Read the post to learn how to join.
When: Monday, May 1st at 7 p.m.
Where: Charlestown Town Hall
Why: Public Hearing on the Tentative 2023-2024 Municipal Budget of $15,825,425.00
The municipal budget represents an increase in spending of $764,492.00, which is a 5% increase over the previous year.
Celebrate Trails Day is a nation-wide annual spring celebration held on the fourth Saturday of April since 2013. The celebration encourages people to get outside and enjoy our nation’s exceptional trails and trail systems. In Charlestown, getting outside and connecting with nature is easy with over twenty public open spaces located throughout our town.
When: April 15 to April 22, 2023
Where: The sky above Charlestown, Rhode Island
Why: Charlestown’s dark sky protects the health of both people and wildlife, gives us a fabulous view of the universe, and so much more. Charlestown is an important location for the study and viewing of the cosmos because we have the darkest skies along the coast between New York and Boston. Read more to learn how you can celebrate International Dark Sky Week.
The proposed changes overrule local regulations and effectively eliminate single family zoning in Charlestown. This increase in overall housing density is being proposed for Charlestown without any assessment of the cumulative potential impacts of the increased septage on groundwater, drinking water, and the coastal ponds and other water bodies. Putting no limit on the number of bedrooms and allowing any lot to create a new additional dwelling unit that can be used as a summer rental will impact coastal areas especially.
Developers, land use attorneys who represent developers, a gravel bank owner, and other business owners were among those appointed by the Town Council on March 13 to committees to review and rewrite all of the town’s ordinances, propose revisions to the Town Charter, and recommend a new Town Administrator.
The two remaining applicants, Jeffrey Allen, the town’s previous police chief, and Gary Tedeschi, chair of Charlestown’s Disc Golf Course Ad Hoc Committee, were interviewed on February 9 in executive session. At the end of the private meeting the town council announced that they had chosen Jeffrey Allen as the interim Town Administrator.
On January 31, the Charlestown Town Council held an executive session meeting with Joseph Larisa, Charlestown’s Indian Affairs attorney, to discuss the BIA’s proposed change in the rule used to determine whether a tribe was “under federal jurisdiction” in 1934. The proposed rule change is an administrative action and its adoption would effectively overturn the Carcieri v. Salazar U.S. Supreme Court decision. The Council returned to open session after the executive session to announce that they had taken a vote to authorize Attorney Larisa to craft an official response from the town on the rule change and submit the response before the March 1 deadline. The rule change and its importance is explained in the post.
Mark has served the town masterfully for ten years and has no desire to leave. He is being forced out to avoid being fired because of ongoing difficulties with the Council President unrelated to his outstanding performance as Town Administrator. In every performance review during Mark’s ten years, the Town Council has judged his performance as being superior in all areas of responsibility. Given his great service to the town, it is clearly in the town’s best interest to have Mark continue in his role as Town Administrator.
N.O. Bar, LLC, that manages the Clam Shack located in the Shelter Cove Marina on Charlestown Beach Road, has been before the Charlestown Town Council for a liquor license renewal and is currently before the Charlestown Zoning Board for a Special Use Permit for the construction of an outdoor bar.
The increase in overall housing density is being proposed for Charlestown without any assessment of the cumulative potential impacts of the increased septage on groundwater, drinking water, and the coastal ponds and other water bodies. Putting no limits on the number of bedrooms and allowing any lot to create an additional new short-term rental will impact coastal areas especially.
In late 2022, the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) published a new proposed rule on the federal-lands-into-trust process for Native American tribes. The lands-into-trust process is a set of procedures that the BIA uses to acquire title to land and hold it for the use of tribes. This process was established by the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 and was later interpreted by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of Carcieri v. Salazar in 2009. The proposed rules appear to be an administrative action to overturn the Supreme Court decision.
Starting the day after the election we began retrieving signs. Now that we have retrieved all that we can find, there are 27 signs missing. The signs themselves have no value, but the stands can usually be reused and are expensive to replace. If you pulled a sign into your garage or shed that we forgot to pick up, please let us know and we’ll come get it.
We’ve made a list of some of the recent things we are thankful for in Charlestown. There’s so much more. Let us know what you are thankful for in Charlestown.
On October 31, I received a letter from Clay Johnson, and rarely have I seen a letter with so much misinformation and derogatory innuendos. Mr. Johnson, you mention, “stop the madness.” The madness that must be stopped is the wanton publication of unsubstantiated stories designed to inflame people who do not take the time to uncover the facts.
When you fill in your mail ballot or enter the voting booth on November 7 or 8, please vote for the Independent candidates in this post. From the shore of the Block Island Sound to the villages along the Pawcatuck River they will protect our quality of life, our low tax rate, and our beautiful environment. Image in post to download to your phone or printer to bring with you to the polls.
Every two years we get the opportunity to exercise the right and privilege to vote. We all work to protect the right to vote, but some do not take advantage of it each election cycle, and we should. A clear majority of you said you approve of the direction Charlestown is taking in the town-wide community survey, so vote for these candidates to continue that direction and record of achievement and to implement your wishes. Voting continues through November 8th. Get out and vote now.
CHANGE OF VENUE
When: Thursday, October 27 at 7 p.m.
Where: Saint James Chapel Community Room, 2079 Matunuck Schoolhouse Road, Charlestown
Join us to meet the candidates CCA has endorsed for Charlestown Town Council, Planning Commission, and Chariho School Committee. This was originally scheduled at the Police Station, but the meeting room at the station is needed for storage related to the election. We are grateful to St. James Chapel for allowing us use of the community room on such short notice.
Entitled Beauty Among the Ruins, Mossa uses her art to find beauty among the ruins of abandoned schools, theaters, hotels, hospitals, farmhouses, junkyards and barns. Join Carol for the opening night of her month-long solo exhibit on November 2 from 5 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. At the exhibit you will view thirty original images of abandoned properties from New England, New York, Tennessee and beyond.
Representatives who have values similar to ours would be expected to represent our views and to vote the way we would vote most, but not all, of the time. There are times when there are legitimate differences between people of similar values, and that is to be expected.
Jim Mageau is back this election on the Town Council ballot, again promising to fire staff. This time his target is Charlestown’s excellent Town Planner. Other candidates are also talking about firing Town staff and forcing out our highly-regarded Town Administrator. Before marking your ballot this election, please watch this video to see what happens when residents vote for someone they believe will “shake things up”.
It’s not a surprise that an opposition candidate would look to the Charlestown Citizens Alliance for campaign ideas and website content. What is a surprise is the willingness of Deb Carney’s group to shamelessly steal entire content, word for word, from the CCA website. Plagiarism is just the newest tool in their bag of campaign dirty tricks. Having the same content and branding leaves voters with the impression that there is very little difference between the two groups, when in fact there is a world of difference.
When: Saturday, October 15
Who: You and your family and friends
Where: Pick any road you like in Charlestown to pick up roadside litter
What: The town is providing the bags and the transfer station and fire stations will accept them without charge on October 15 from 8 AM to 4 PM
Join us at a ZOOM meeting to meet all the CCA candidates for Charlestown local offices.
When: Thursday, October 6 at 7 p.m.
Where: From the comfort of your home via ZOOM
Why: These candidates will protect our quality of life, our low tax rate, our beautiful environment, and our future.
Details on joining the ZOOM meeting in this post.
We have images for signs, posters, handouts, emails, Facebook posts, Facebook banners or anything your creativity inspires that we are happy to share with you to promote these candidates who will protect Charlestown’s environment, tax rate, and future.
Our candidates are independent citizens willing to invest their diverse backgrounds, talents and time to work hard to protect and improve our community. We expect to be the beneficiaries of their investment through continued low taxes, protected natural resources, and all the other benefits of living in this beautiful community, but they need your support.
