CCA Blog and Mail Box

This unassigned fund balance was 15% in 2014. If the surplus money under discussion remained in the unassigned fund balance, the balance would be over 30%, well above the auditor’s recommendation that a maximum of 25% is appropriate for a coastal town.

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If the Legal Defense Fund is unneeded, the money stays there unspent, costing the taxpayers nothing. Even if it did lower taxes, what would be the goal of making Charlestown weak in defending against big developers? The big developers of course will want to see this money removed from the budget, but why would we?

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The budget discussion should be about how best to fund the services provided by the town (such as, how our roads get plowed or our children’s education) and about how to continue to keep our ship sailing on the best course to a bright future.

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With its record of solid fiscal management, one of the lowest property-tax rates in the state, and a solid financial reserve, Charlestown is well positioned to weather an unexpected storm.

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It is with heavy hearts that we must report the passing of Connie Baker. Connie was elected to the Charlestown Planning Commission in 2012 and 2014 where she brought her deep love of our special and unique part of Rhode Island to all of her decision making.

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In the discussion of the budget, there are many terms used that may need explanation. In the post are some definitions and explanations of many of the terms being used in these discussions.

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Charlestown’s town government has been fiscally conservative for many years and that has resulted in one of the lowest tax rates in the state and made Charlestown one of RI’s most solvent towns. If this year’s budget passes, Charlestown’s tax rate will be reduced from $9.23 to $8.20 per thousand of assessed value, while Hopkinton’s tax rate is $20.68 and Richmond’s is $21.88.

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There is much misinformation now circulating about the proposed budget, characterizing payments of debt obligation to the police pension as frivolous spending. Money put into the pension system will earn more long term than holding it in the surplus account.

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A REDUCTION in Charlestown’s tax rate is integral to the budget adopted unanimously by the Charlestown Town Council on April 13 for presentation to the Budget Public Hearing on May 4.

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Bob Petrone has created this beautiful video using a drone at Charlestown’s amazing shore. A good reminder of how lucky we are to live here. Thank you Bob!

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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.

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Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge is permanently protected, but more intense development on nearby public land and thoughtless destruction of forests and shrubland elsewhere will chip away at the value of the refuge to those species it was created to protect.

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I am a relatively new resident of Charlestown who was attracted by the beautiful beaches, salt ponds, and miles of forested trails, which I hope will be available for all to enjoy for many years to come.

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At their March 9 meeting, the Charlestown Town Council voted unanimously to deny  Freepoint Solar LLC’s  zoning text amendment that would have allowed large scale commercial solar installations in the northern part of Charlestown.

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Land use is constrained by ordinances and closely monitored by Charlestown’s CCA-dominated Planning Commission. Their work contributes to the sustainable rural culture that CCA has sought to cultivate and advance since its inception.

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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.

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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.

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Rhode Island’s 386,373 acres of forest protect drinking water, filter air, mitigate climate change, provide opportunities for outdoor recreation, promote health, harbor wildlife, and create economic value, according to the state’s Department of Environment (DEM). The Ocean State’s forests also improve air quality, sequester carbon, help manage stormwater runoff, and provide a “sense of place” for rural communities.

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Charlestown is an important stopover point in the Atlantic Flyway, the main migration route for birds along the east coast, and the bird migration has begun! Key West radar captured a surge of migrating birds leaving Cuba, crossing the Keys, and landing in Florida.

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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.

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Bill is a native of Charlestown, graduating from CHARIHO in 2002. When Bill is interviewing politicians for his podcasts or appearing on PBS or radio he brings with him an understanding of the natural and cultural history of Charlestown.

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This past year Robert Petrone was able to video various stages of the dredging process of Quonnie Pond and Ninigret Pond.  He recently created a summary video of the dredging operation,  from launching of the dredge machine to the planting of the salt marsh.

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The Council has dealt with plans conceived for our town by state agencies with good success. The education provided our children is excellent. Our finances are in great shape and our taxes are low. Our town staff is excellent and morale is high. Our staff has provided needed services. Our facilities are in good shape … and much more in the post

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Misinformation has been circulated on social media about Mr. Lamb’s Christmas lights, which he sets up next to Route 91, a two-lane state highway. Charlestown has never regulated Christmas lights, and there is no proposal to regulate them now, including those put up by David Lamb on Route 91.

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The budget surplus reflects superior fiscal management in Town Hall, and a declining enrollment in the regional school system. Charlestown has the fourth lowest tax rate of all 39 municipalities in Rhode Island. It is a mystery to me why anyone would want to mess with current policy, other than to fuel political wrangling.

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What: Locate 6 hidden elves around participating Charlestown businesses
When: November 29th to December 20th, 2019
How: stamp your passport & provide the location found on the Elf on the Shelf form for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate for any program.

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Ms. Carney seeks to dismantle the very fabric of what makes Charlestown special and provides residents with the fourth lowest tax rate in Rhode Island.

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On September 17th, 2019, the Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Complex released seven New England Cottontails (NEC) at Ninigret NWR, in coordination the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Southern […]

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Where: Charlestown Rathskeller, Old Coach Road, Charlestown
Why: October is Breast Cancer Awareness month
When: Sunday, October 6, 2019 – Registration begins at 8:30 am
Cost: There is no cost to register for the walk

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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 […]

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On August 28, 2019, 11 new rental units of affordable housing were dedicated on the Charlestown side of Shannock Village. These were Virginia Lee’s comments at the ribbon cutting. Virginia […]

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The self-storage facility on property on the pond side of Rt. 1 between the Hitching Post and the Willows Annex was on the Planning Commission’s agenda for July 24. However, at the beginning of the meeting, Attorney Steven Surdut, who represents the applicant, informed the Commission that his client was withdrawing its application.

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When: Wednesday, July 24th at 7 p.m.
Where: Charlestown Town Hall
The Charlestown Planning Commission will continue the public informational meeting on the Master Plan application of Storage Place LLC to build a self-storage facility on property on the pond side of Rt. 1 between the Hitching Post and the Willows Annex.

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When the camp was created, Charlestown had a small population and Charlestown like much of South County was mostly undeveloped. But land use has changed dramatically over the decades and the importance of the remaining large unfragmented forest parcels has greatly increased for species that depend on these large parcels.

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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.

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The University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography was recently awarded a grant to study how groundwater affects the amount of nutrients found in Rhode Island’s coastal waters, including in the salt ponds. They will be focusing their studies on Green Hill and Ninigret Ponds.

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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.

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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 […]

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Rhode Islanders’ rights to the shore are clear, but what is less clear is where exactly you get to enjoy those rights. Legislation that provides a clear and easily measurable line of where public access starts would help everyone. Just landward of the seaweed line might be a good place to start.

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The property contains forested wetlands and some vernal pools. Along with tall white pines, the forest overstory is dominated by three species of oak: northern red oak, white oak, and scarlet oak; as well as American beech with some ash, red maple, black birch, tupelo, and big-toothed aspen.

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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

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Quonochontaug Breachway has been dredged! Phase two of this project is salt marsh planting. The Salt Pond’s Coalition’s project partner, Save the Bay, is coordinating the salt marsh planting effort. On Thursday, May 16, Bob Petrone created another informative video of the experts explaining Phase Two of the Quonnie Dredging project:

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This past winter Robert Petrone created four educational videos to inform the viewer about the dredging process of Quonnie and Ningret Ponds. CCA shared all four videos. Bob has now […]

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There is exceptionally good news for taxpayers in the Charlestown Town Budget. The Town Budget is projected to have no tax increase. In addition, there is $3,095,000 available for a […]

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Even if bobcats are becoming more common in parts of Charlestown, they are still elusive. Bobcats seldom venture out during daylight hours. You are most likely to catch a glimpse of them at dusk and dawn when they are most active.

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