Accomplishments 2018
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 […]
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Charlestown Partners With Nature Conservancy On Preserve Expansion
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.
Leo Mainelli To Serve As CCA President
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
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 […]
Julie Carroccia
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.
Virginia Lee
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.
Bonnie Van Slyke
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.
William Wilson
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 Platner
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 Rhodes
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.”
Frances Topping
Frances is a Natural Science Illustrator, fine artist, educator and naturalist. She has both a Bachelor of Science in Geography with Botany and Zoology and a Bachelor of Fine Arts. She has served on the Charlestown Planning Commission for four years where she has demonstrated her work ethic, eloquent writing skills, and impressive knowledge of the local environment. Frances is a past member of the Conservation Commission and volunteers for the RI Wild Plant Society and other groups and has lived here for 16 years.
Update On Robert Malin
Robert Malin was a candidate for Charlestown Town Council in the 2016 election. He has also been very active in the opposition to the Invenergy Power Plant in Burrillville and many other issues and causes. Robert’s family have set up a Go Fund Me page where you can read more about his situation and learn how to help.
RIEMA Looking For Alternative To RT. 1 Site For Radio Tower
On April 23, Peter Gaynor, the Director of the RI Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA), wrote to Joe Warner, the Charlestown Zoning Official, to say that RIEMA would examine alternative locations for the radio tower they had proposed for the DOT Salt Barn property at the Cross Mills exit on Rt. 1.
Leo Mainelli Added Colonial History To The Budget
Before the budget presentation, Town Moderator Leo Mainelli presented a history of the origin of the town of Charlestown. Leo read from the colonial act that divided Westerly into two towns, with one remaining Westerly and the other becoming Charlestown.
Council Votes To Authorize Solicitor And Others To Take Action On Radio Tower
On Monday, April 9, the Town Council voted to authorize the Town Solicitor and other Town officials to take action to ensure the public health and safety of residents in relation to the 178-foot radio tower proposed for the DOT Salt Barn at the Cross Mills exit on Rt. 1. One of those actions will be to enforce the Town’s Zoning Ordinance.
Town to Consider Small Open Space Purchase
A six acre parcel of wooded land on the south side of the Town Hall property has been offered to the Town for $75 thousand. The access to Puchalski Field, […]
178-foot Rt. 1 Radio Tower On Town Council Agenda
When: Monday, April 9 at 7pm
Where: Charlestown Town Hall
What: On the agenda for discussion and a possible vote by the Town Council at Monday’s meeting is an authorization of the Town Administrator, Town Treasurer and Town Solicitor to take action to protect Charlestown with respect to the 178 foot radio tower proposed for scenic Rt. 1.
178-foot Radio Tower Proposed For Route 1
Before a new tower is located in this important tourism and wildlife location, the impacts to wildlife and tourism should be thoroughly studied. Alternatively RIEMA could find another location at a higher elevation that would allow for a well screened shorter tower with fewer visual and wildlife impacts.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is the regulatory agency that will make the decision on whether to approve the tower. Comments must be sent to the FCC on or before March 27.
What’s It Like With Tanker Trucks On Local Roads Every Day?
Thanks to residents of Burrillville who shared these two videos of tanker trucks carrying water to an existing power plant in northern Rhode Island.
Hearing on Withdrawing Water from Charlestown to Cool Northern RI Power Plant
When: Tuesday, December 5 at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.)
Where: Charlestown Elementary School, 363 Carolina Back Road (Rt. 112), Charlestown (map in post)
What: Hearing to allow public comment from Charlestown citizens and others on Invenergy Thermal Development’s proposal to withdraw groundwater from Charlestown and transport it by tanker trucks to Burrillville to cool the turbines of the natural gas and diesel power plant they are seeking to build in the forest in that town.
Energy Facility Siting Board Rules Charlestown is an Affected Community and Will Have a Public Hearing
On Tuesday, October 17, Charlestown Town Solicitor Peter Ruggiero successfully presented the Town’s motion for intervener status before the Energy Facility Siting Board (EFSB). The EFSB has determined Charlestown is […]
Thousands Converge on Frosty Drew for Eclipse
The eclipse in Rhode Island may have only been 67%, but the crowds at Frosty Drew Observatory in Ninigret Park on August 21 were full! Estimates on attendance range from […]
Charlestown Getting Ready for the Record of Decision
The official waiting period after the release of the Federal Railroad Administrations’s (FRA) Final Tier 1 Environmental Impact Statement ended on January 31. The FRA could have published a Record […]
Kenneth F. Payne, Ph.D.
Ken Payne is a student of the history of the structure of Rhode Island government and a recipient of a lifetime achievement award in 1998 from the Environment Council of Rhode Island for his work on rivers policy and protection.
Videos of the March 30 Update Meeting on the FRA Plan
Their consensus was that the people along the Old Saybrook to Kenyon ByPass have to remain vigilant in their opposition and continue to document their positions in both town and state plans. Those currently in positions of power will not be those who make decisions in the future, and regardless of the current decisions, the communities must create documentation that protects historic buildings, open space, farms, and tribal lands. The struggle continues.
Ruth Platner
Charlestown has the 3rd lowest tax rate in the state. Even with responsible development that will increase, but with the increased density that is often proposed, we could see much higher tax rates. We benefit from Ruth’s experience on the Planning Commission to continue to protect our environment and tax rate, as they clearly are closely related.
Update and Discussion of Federal Railroad Administration Plan at Kettle Pond
When: Thursday, March 30 at 7PM
Where: Kettle Pond Visitor Center, 50 Bend Rd., Charlestown
What: Status Update and Discussion on “Old Saybrook to Kenyon Bypass”
Our guest speaker is Gregory Stroud, Ph.D., Director of Special Projects at the Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation. Greg is also the founder of the grassroots advocacy group on High-Speed Rail, SECoast.
List of Opponents to the Bypass Continues to Grow
Links below are to letters of opposition written by organizations or officials to the Federal Railroad Administration. We don’t yet have links to all documents. If we’ve missed anything, please […]
Drop the Bypass Rally in Stonington Connecticut
Despite bone chilling cold and wet and some roads still covered from an overnight snow, a crowd of well over 100 gathered in the path of the proposed rail bypass […]
Julie Carroccia’s Comments at the Drop the Bypass Rally in Stonington
Julie Carroccia spoke on behalf of Charlestown at the Rally against the Bypass held in Mystic Connecticut on February 11, 2017. Other speakers were US Senator Richard Blumenthal, Loren Spears […]