At their February 26 meeting, the Charlestown Planning Commission voted unanimously to send an advisory against the proposed ordinance for utility scale solar development to the Charlestown Town Council.
The Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA) has held the leadership role in the Town Council and Planning Commission for the last decade and has accumulated an outstanding record for good governance, while maintaining the character of the Town and the low tax rate.
On Feb. 10, Alissa Cox, a Ph.D. candidate at URI’s Laboratory of Soil Ecology and Microbiology, made a presentation to the Charlestown Town Council to explain her research and data which shows ever rising water tables and a reduction in the separation of septic systems and ground water in the town’s coastal areas.
Janet Coit, Director of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM), stated in a recent communication to Charlestown Town Council President Virginia Lee that DEM has dropped their plans […]
Rhode Island Sea Grant has prepared this guide to Shoreline access in Rhode Island. Choose an activity from the first drop down menu and then pick all of Rhode Island or narrow your search to a particular town. The application will sort the public access points starting with the one closest to your current location. Charlestown Town Council President Virginia Lee researched and produced the first edition of Public Access to the Rhode Island Coast, a guide to coastal areas. This current guide builds on Virginia’s earlier work.
When: Monday July 8, at 7PM
Where: Charlestown Elementary School
What: Public hearing on the revised 2019/2020 budget
Town Council members noted that the most common statement from those who voted in the Financial Referendum on June 3 was that they wanted the one-time surplus back in the form of a tax reduction.
Update June 28 – According to staff at DEM, the camping platform on the north edge of Watchaug Pond was a “demonstration” campsite built by the concessionaire and was removed […]
The EFSB’s denial of the power plant is certainly a victory for Burrillville, the Conservation Law Foundation, the Rhode Island Chapter of The Nature Conservancy and others, but it is a victory for Charlestown too. The threat the power plant posed to our drinking water, roads, wetlands and other natural resources is now over and the opportunity to protect the wildlife corridor that connects the two towns is still a possibility.
When: Monday, June 3, 2019 from 8 am to 8 pm
Where: Charlestown Town Hall
Why: No tax increase, a well-run town, and the start of a town-wide conversation regarding a possible Community Center
Learn more: In this post with questions and answers
In late 2016 when CCA discovered the federal railroad proposal for the “Old Saybrook to Kenyon Bypass” that threatened to bisect northern Charlestown, our first internet searches on the proposal […]
Wild And Scenic Rivers Legislation Is Now Law
President Trump today signed the Natural Resources Management Act which in part designates the rivers of the Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed as National Wild and Scenic Rivers. This will provide federal protection to our rivers and allow for federal funding for projects that protect and promote the rivers. The Pawcatuck River forms the northern border of Charlestown.
The Town Council voted unanimously on February 11 to approve the Zoning Ordinance changes proposed by the Planning Commission that will make Charlestown less attractive to Box Stores. The Town Solicitor explained at the meeting that the Town cannot legally prohibit corporate chain and franchise stores or apply regulations differently to local applicants. The strategy taken by the Planning Commission is one that treats all applicants equally and will be able to withstand court challenges.
On Tuesday, February 11, the U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly to approve legislation to designate rivers in the Wood Pawcaruck Watershed as Wild and Scenic. The designation will make the rivers eligible for up to $100,000 a year in federal funds for conservation purposes.
There has been much misinformation about Charlestown’s planning efforts for bike paths. We hope this post helps to answer citizen questions. If you have questions that aren’t answered here, please post a question in the comment section for this post.
“Thank you, George, for being willing to step into an unexpected vacancy to make a complete five member Town Council so that we could effectively govern the Town of Charlestown for 2018. As the voter’s choice and Vice President of the prior Town Council, you had the unique ability to have the confidence of the citizens of the Town and to fully participate immediately with the work of the Town Council in a seamless transition. Your wisdom, humor, articulate communication and thoughtfulness were a valuable contribution to our deliberations and decisions.”
“Thank you Denise for your dedication to protecting the environment and public health of all the citizens of Charlestown. We thank you for your insight about how easily change can come to our beautiful community when we don’t have local control. Your integrity, compassion, courage and careful weighing of all the facts in your work on the Town Council are greatly appreciated.”
You can find the sum total of all public comments at the FRA website. Hint… not one candidate on the slate calling itself Charlestown Residents United even bothered to send an email opposing the Kenyon to Old Saybrook Bypass.
The Charlestown Citizens Alliance was created over a decade ago to foster exactly this type of “good government” and civil discourse, as Charlestown voters joined together to reject the political attacks that now sadly characterize national politics. The result is that Charlestown has among the lowest taxes in the state, while providing proven leadership to protect our town against expected and sometimes unexpected threats.
CCA receives 100% of its funding from Charlestown property owners, nearly three quarters of donations are from year round residents and the rest from seasonal residents. Seasonal residents contribute to CCA for the same reason full time residents do, because they want Charlestown to remain a beautiful community with taxes they can afford.
CCA-endorsed candidates for 2018 are proven leaders whose education, experience, and integrity have prepared them to best represent you in town government. These independent candidates are not affiliated with any political party. What they share in common is a dedication to civil and open government and a passion for preserving and protecting those assets that make Charlestown such a unique and treasured place to live.
Charlestown Citizens Alliance has endorsed these candidates because of their commitment to our town and their record of accomplishment. Some accomplishments include: Keeping our taxes among the lowest in the […]
At the August 14 Town Council meeting, the Council voted unanimously to partner with the Rhode Island Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to protect a 55 acre parcel of land that is contiguous with TNC’s Pasquiset Preserve on Old Coach Road. The new parcel is also contiguous with cluster subdivision open space and Pasquiset Preserve is contiguous with Charlestown’s South Farm Preserve.
We are very pleased to announce that Leo Mainelli has agreed to serve as the Charlestown Citizens Alliance President! Leo currently serves as Charlestown’s Town Moderator. Leo will be stepping […]
CCA 2018 Platform for Charlestown Our Economy – Our Environment – Our Future The Charlestown Citizens Alliance* (CCA) is committed to enhancing the overall quality of life for all Charlestown […]
Vice President of the Council, Julie retired from a senior management position at Bank of America and is an expert in risk assessment and business lending. As Ex Officio member of the Budget Commission, she is instrumental in maintaining our property tax rate among the lowest in the state and our excellent credit rating. She was a leader in stopping the Federal Railroad Administration’s “Old Saybrook to Kenyon Bypass” and spearheaded Solarize Charlestown to promote rooftop solar. Julie has a BA in English and studied Law.
President of the Town Council, with an MS in Oceanography, Virginia is an internationally recognized coastal planner and an expert on our salt ponds and the coastal effects of climate change. She brings expertise to protecting our environment, our drinking water, and community character. She led the charge to protect our town from the railroad bypass and to stop the removal of our water from the watershed. She initiated the new Harbor Management Plan for the salt ponds and the recommended landscaper process to protect our drinking water.
Elected to the Town Council since 2014, Bonnie views the protection of our natural resources as critical for our economy. As a Town Councilor she has championed protecting the local environment, including our dark skies, and safeguarding our rural community with its low taxes. She advocates for inclusive recreational opportunities throughout our town. A former director of the Frosty Drew Nature Center and Observatory, Bonnie works in publishing and has a BA in Economics.
Bill has an MS in Health Care Administration, a long career as a hospital director, and a life-long love of the environment of our coastal community. When younger, Bill had a commercial lobster license. Bill serves on the Salt Ponds Management Commission. He has served on the Parks and Recreation Commission and the Bicycle Pathway Ad Hoc Committee. His advocacy for balanced use of our resources, his championing of our recreational assets, and his deep appreciation of our town, its environment, and its history will serve us well.
Ruth has a BS degree in Biology, works at URI, has had a long career in scientific research and technology, and serves on the Planning Commission. The beauty of Charlestown’s natural environment brought Ruth here over 40 years ago. She was invaluable in the defeat of the Federal Railroad Administration proposal to bisect Charlestown with new rail lines; she was a leader in stopping Invenergy from trucking our ground water out of town; and Ruth has always reminded us of the connection between natural resource protection and our relatively low tax rate.
Denise, a 13 year resident of Charlestown, and a four year veteran of the Town Council now seeks to serve our town as a member of the Planning Commission. She brings an experienced voice for Charlestown’s environment and the health and safety of our citizens adversely impacted by the intense quarry operation in Westerly on the Charlestown border, where she lives. Denise believe it is “important to protect our environment and the health and welfare of our residents, while keeping taxes low and affordable for everyone.”
