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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.

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Cynthia Drummond, who wrote for many years for the Westerly Sun, has brought her considerable skill and high journalistic standards to cover Richmond Town Council and Planning Board meetings for the BRVCA. You can read her articles at the BRVCA web site. Because of our shared borders and interests, Cynthia’s coverage is also a benefit to Charlestown readers.

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Thank you to everyone who donated to our 2021 fundraiser for RI CAN!! We raised over $1,500.00 this year. That brings your total donations to our last two RI CAN fundraisers to over $11,500.00!

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Charlestown has little debt, a high level of savings, and a higher quality of life than most anywhere on the East Coast. When there is nothing to find fault with, a false scandal has to be manufactured. Using lies and smears to destroy local politicians is not an acceptable way to attempt to win an election, but in an age where fewer people read newspapers and with expanding access to social media, this is an effective way to mislead some people.

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On February 14, the Charlestown Town Council adopted, on a 3 to 2 vote, the Fund Balance Policy that was recommended by the Charlestown Budget Commission. The purpose of this policy is to establish the recommended level of unassigned fund balance that is to be maintained in the General Fund for generally accepted accounting principles and budgetary requirements of the Town.

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The purpose of this MOU is to establish a framework of cooperation between the Town and the Refuge in regards to management of natural resources in the Park to meet the intent that these lands be managed in a manner consistent with the Refuge while facilitating the development of the Park for the benefit of the public.

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When so much time and effort in local government is devoted to just managing the status quo, it is refreshing to see that there is some outside-the-box thinking going on in Charlestown. Councilor Cooper is one person who encourages improvements in the lifestyle of Charlestown residents.

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“Charlestown Commons” was proposed as a mixed-use project on 8 acres of land at the corner of Rt. 1 and Falcone Lane, and consisting of retail, restaurant and residential. At the January meeting the Planning Commission Chair read a communication from the applicant explaining that the soil on the site would not support a septic system and was therefore “not a buildable lot given its soil conditions”.

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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?

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A lock box on a home allows police, fire and rescue crews to quickly gain access to the home in the event of an emergency, saving critical time and perhaps damage to a home. The program is available to Charlestown residents who are 65 and older or who have special needs or a medical disability. It is free for residents to sign up.

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Charlestown is a great community, rich in beauty and natural and historic resources. For Charlestown to continue as a wonderful place to live, we need an engaged community and volunteers who will work in the community’s interest.

Please consider filling out the form in this post to learn how you can be more involved!

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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.

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The five new open positions were announced in January and appointments will be made by the Town Council at the February Council meeting, and interested Charlestown residents may submit applications at any time between now and early February.

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Vintage postcards of Quonochontaug from about 1908 make up this 2 minute video from Carla Ricci

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On the agenda at the December 13 Town Council meeting is a renewal of the Memorandum Of Understanding (MOU) between the Town of Charlestown and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge. Ninigret Park is on land that was part of a WW II-era naval air training base. The base closed in the early 1970s. Approximately 380 acres became the USFWS’s Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge and the remaining 230 acres became Ninigret Park, owned by the town.

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What: Public Hearing on the creation of the Charlestown Climate Resiliency Commission
When: Monday, December 13 at 7 p.m.
Where: Town Council Meeting, Town Hall, 4540 South County Trail
In part, the commission will work to protect the quality of life for Charlestown residents and minimize climate change effects on the community as much as is possible.

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Bob Petrone has created this beautiful year-end video of seasonal scenes of Quonnie. The video takes 6 minutes to watch, but you’ll wish it was longer.

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RI DEM owns and manages a public boat launch and about 40 acres of property in Charlestown to the west of the breachway that connects Quonochontaug Pond to Block Island Sound. An informational meeting, hosted by DEM, presented a recent assessment of the breachway and the access road/parking lot and focused on ways to improve the pond and breachway’s resiliency in the face of rising sea levels and other climate-crisis impacts.

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Food insecurity continues to rise nationally due to the pandemic and our town is no exception. The Rhode Island Center Assisting Those In Need (RI CAN) is a local lifeline to many. We are asking you to join CCA’s fundraising campaign with a financial donation that will be presented to RI CAN.

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The Charlestown Town-Wide Survey has been completed. Citizens favor the low tax rate and keeping Ninigret Park as it is, and they do not favor more residential growth or a national company’s commercial development.

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There are great health benefits, for body and soul, when connecting with nature, and autumn is one of the most beautiful times to hike in Charlestown. And after a big Thanksgiving meal you may be looking for fun ways to burn off some calories.

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The public was invited to participate in an information session on November 18, regarding coastal resiliency at Quonochontaug Breachway. A link to a recording of that meeting is available in this post along with a link to provide feedback to DEM.

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Those in Charlestown who oppose land conservation and the resulting protection of wildlife habitat, ground and surface water and other natural resources continue to misrepresent a good land deal for our town. Acquiring a property that protects important natural resources at a price well below its retail value is a good deal for our town and a good use of funds dedicated to land conservation by the voters.

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“The problem is, according to Haberek, Kenyon Industries is not currently capable of meeting the new, stricter standards. He said DEM and the company would therefore need to negotiate a consent agreement that would set a timetable for Kenyon to comply with the state’s new effluent limits.”

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