[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6089242,"mediaKeyId","2875223-632a3a0c92005de209f7b658f7b1a96c","parentId",2875223,"title","Votes at a glance: Charlestown Council approves event licenses, ARPA furniture purchase and housing resolution","audioSeconds",2609,"startMs",191000,"endMs",2800000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2875223-632a3a0c92005de209f7b658f7b1a96c&start=191&end=2800","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2875223-632a3a0c92005de209f7b658f7b1a96c/thumbnail_191000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6089242/Charlestown/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Votes-at-a-glance-Charlestown-Council-approves-event-licenses-ARPA-furniture-purchase-and-housing-resolution","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089242-6e948f61ff239ea870138ba278add3c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202990&Signature=lpgZyCnnwvpe0y7bOz3xoSkQarLu-R1Uvw~Y9MT0XrWojn1CgZOuV3WFIZOW6Ku8u1fNa94DJwdwrhgQg-jyNaj3xMpT48J9URvxmWeIji4Q9b3uAPjiVCsjtrv5bmUl7gv5orVqQbGVEbB7T6iIugGBPJYpSaW4CWuvz6wIS41bvttBkrw4ax6t7D7ZsHP1v0N8SMgl0HuhaOKDfWtJ~H-ZPqr6d7Jy8JxngJvoL91KJa4r8FRQIzzlCx3iwJFDQ5Wb~PzzzUIKe6pR8T~k8YlHvEkAQsQ4VfpuBr-hOmUrFb5T7pn8-TVAjNpX9Jtve5xVqjMTIrKTSeuyCTg2jg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Charlestown Town Council","date","2025-03-24T00:00:00Z","article","The Charlestown Town Council took a series of formal actions at its March 24 meeting. The council recorded unanimous or near-unanimous votes on licenses, budget items and policy statements; one councilor recused on an event license.

Key actions and outcomes

1) Acceptance of thank-you card from fourth grade at Charlestown Elementary School — Approved unanimously. Motion to accept the card and include it in the minutes was made by Councilor Sarah and seconded by Councilor Maher; vote recorded as unanimous.

2) Consent agenda (items CAA through CAF) — Approved unanimously, 5–0.

3) Beverage license: Atlantis Rising International Sand Competition (Ninbrook Park, May 30–June 1, 2025) — Approved with modified service hours. The council amended the Saturday and Sunday service hours to 11:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Saturday) and 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Sunday in the application) during the hearing; final motion (with Saturday and Sunday set to 11:00 a.m. start times) passed unanimously, 5–0.

4) Beverage license: Charlestown Chamber of Commerce 40th Annual Seafood Festival (Niinnegar Park, Aug. 1–3, 2025) — Approved, subject to receipt of required paperwork. Councilor Maher recused from this discussion; the motion passed 4–0 with the recusal noted.

5) Continuation of public hearing on Ordinance amending Chapter 130 (family home burials) — The council voted 5–0 to continue the public hearing to Monday, June 23 at 7:00 p.m., and authorized the town administrator to consult the state medical examiner, Department of Health, funeral directors and other experts before that date.

6) Purchase of office furniture from WB Mason via the OMNIA Partners cooperative contract R191804 — Approved, not to exceed $26,813.84, using American Rescue Plan Act funds (budget line 43-0-0.51). Motion passed unanimously, 5–0.

7) Resolution in support of House Bill 2025 H5957 (act relating to towns and cities; low and moderate income housing) — Approved unanimously, 5–0. The council also voted to forward the resolution to the local delegation, the governor and the other 38 cities and towns.

8) Request from Verizon for a permanent wireless coverage pole at the park — Council voted to continue consideration pending further information and a definitive plan from Verizon and other stakeholders; motion to continue passed unanimously, 5–0.

9) Other procedural votes — The council sat as the beverage licensing board for license matters and recorded a 4–0 vote on a procedural adjournment where recusal was noted.

Where recorded votes were available, the transcript records unanimous approval for motions unless otherwise noted. Several motions were subject to receipt of required paperwork or further staff follow-up.

Full vote details and follow-ups are below.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Charlestown Town Council Regular Council Meeting 3/24/2025 7:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","At its March 24 meeting, the Charlestown Town Council approved multiple routine and substantive items, including two class F beverage licenses for public events, a furniture purchase funded by ARPA, continuation of a family-burial ordinance for further study, and a resolution supporting House Bill H5957 on low- and moderate-income housing.","taxTitle","Charlestown, Washington County, Rhode Island","taxId",79687,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6089246,"Council continues family home burials ordinance, seeks expert input on setbacks and practice",1383,1307000,2690000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2875223-632a3a0c92005de209f7b658f7b1a96c&start=1307&end=2690","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2875223-632a3a0c92005de209f7b658f7b1a96c/thumbnail_1307000.jpg","/articles/6089246/Charlestown/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Council-continues-family-home-burials-ordinance-seeks-expert-input-on-setbacks-and-practice","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089246-d580c3279dcd7ab939e1d01505e6b74b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202991&Signature=cR7FxoPYJz-I2RLcFGqujGrYsfXO324oy1HR2L5ToCuSsNU~BXIRcL0OaCH2z-54fO6y6Y4E81wqE2mL-Psjh-H5tFezKJlMVfaRX9Q7ItmieFkvA35geYRDX~i2XF7h4EvusCH2vW-Z4b0IVsvFursQLpH9i27PNMv~Uy9VI~4DmCG-NMGE8zpYE9D53R7D1-4OGPqvjvlDo2ytGuA8bt6q4bN3a4zFfeuOxKzVW2Q5bbRm2eGAA8XbbX3ltvqO8AKs7uSsjVg7n25A-fkvSI-gXuVTgxweAM3Mpfd2tgkH4N1ECRWehKIRA-uhO4EfXaSBd6LnAyVEemgHok8zeA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Charlestown Town Council on March 24 continued its public hearing on a proposed ordinance amending Chapter 130, which would regulate family home burials, and asked staff to seek further expertise before taking final action.

The council voted 5–0 to continue the ordinance to a special meeting on Monday, June 23 at 7 p.m. in council chambers and directed the town administrator to consult the state medical examiner, the Rhode Island Department of Health, funeral directors and other appropriate experts and report back.

Matt Dowling, the town’s on-site wastewater management specialist, told the council his recommendation for a 400-foot setback came from a literature review. He said, “The recommendation that I made for the 400 foot setback is based on 4 or 5 published sources that all recommend a 50 meter setback to a human burial,” and that those sources suggest about 150 meters (492 feet). He explained his recommendation was conservative and that the council could deviate from 492 feet down to about 400 feet for family plots.

Residents who spoke during the hearing urged the council to consider smaller lots and different burial practices. Frank Glista said restricting family plots by distance could prevent long-time local families from burying relatives on small properties: “I was born here… so the fact that somebody can come into town from another state, buy a 3 to 5 acre parcel, and can have a cemetery when a native of Charlestown can't, I think is unfortunate.” Bill Coulter cited recurring stormwater flooding on some properties and said concerns about groundwater and water table levels should be considered.

Councilors discussed distinctions raised by residents and staff, including whether embalmed remains sealed in vaults pose different groundwater risks than so-called “green” or organic burials; council members and the solicitor agreed the ordinance could include provisions limiting embalmed burials or require vaulting, and that variance or waiver procedures might be used for cases that could not meet a setback. The solicitor noted other towns handle family burial requests on an ad hoc basis and that a formal ordinance would create a clearer, standardized process.

Councilor Stokes moved to continue the ordinance and to have the administrator contact the listed agencies and stakeholders; Councilor Marr seconded. The motion passed unanimously, 5–0. The council asked staff to return with more information and model frameworks from other jurisdictions before the June hearing.","After public comment and a staff literature review, Charlestown Town Council voted unanimously to continue consideration of an ordinance amending Chapter 130 (family home burials) to June 23 and authorized the town administrator to consult the state medical examiner, Department of Health and funeral directors.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6089251,"Council authorizes outreach to state officials after CRMC stalls Charlestown Beach Road resurfacing",498,212000,710000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2875223-632a3a0c92005de209f7b658f7b1a96c&start=212&end=710","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2875223-632a3a0c92005de209f7b658f7b1a96c/thumbnail_212000.jpg","/articles/6089251/Charlestown/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Council-authorizes-outreach-to-state-officials-after-CRMC-stalls-Charlestown-Beach-Road-resurfacing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089251-77e680ae3babe84cac6539150e774ad0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771202991&Signature=Qao5gEi4CvWrwgkQijzvFXpQGBX1qnmv8SEcuI2J2H7jEG5zJZ1o-ESM3Nkw7nGAO82gX87lUrbM40C--I~7MBqttRZ34aR3z-tkC-itOS-kpqITMTHTwC4p-wxAzpqSbddWHyOR0ZeHlaQsJAMclmIU~YBgzTp2T8E4mkhsK8EEkis4lu4ntwN2z0jWyZtYVtRat-U~GYS-VNF~E94Z8HZB7Ay74VOIYBV6vTcexDXQqv~JCbIyruXtgjCHXgAxs0MQV9PSV7bQKz3fM0QsHVcRKcObOmY6pdSQYXBMd~Spp2SZ5VfK2brnRtZU8nxCaYuXEn1zaZegkOuBXODbHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Charlestown Town Council on March 24 authorized the town administrator to send correspondence to the governor, state senators and the state representative asking them to intervene after the town said it has received no timely response from CRMC about whether maintenance work on Charlestown Beach Road is permitted.

Town Administrator Alan reported the town has “yet to hear from Mr. Willis” at CRMC and said the delay is affecting the town’s budget planning for resurfacing the road. The council voted 5–0 to have the administrator request intervention and to revisit the matter in one month.

The action came after Alan told the council CRMC staff had installed 1.5 layers of milled gravel on the road in October but had not given the town a clear, timely determination about whether the work is covered as maintenance and therefore exempt from permitting. Alan said he has asked for a definitive yes-or-no response because the town is in the middle of a budget process and needs to know whether to allocate funds.

Councilors debated possible next steps if CRMC continues not to respond. Councilor Sloane said the delay “feels like he's trying to avoid the situation,” adding residents are waiting for a decision. Councilor Stokes noted the 2013 certification that had been granted and asked whether the town could rely on that prior determination. The town solicitor explained the difference between a permit and a maintenance certification and said an executive director of CRMC can make maintenance certifications.

Several councilors suggested asking the town’s state legislators and the governor’s office to intervene; if that fails, some members said the town could proceed with repairs and accept potential enforcement action by CRMC. Councilor Marr moved the request for outreach; Councilor Stokes seconded. The motion passed unanimously by roll call, 5–0.

The council asked the administrator to return with an update in one month. No immediate construction authorization or spending decision was made at the March 24 meeting.","Charlestown Town Council voted unanimously to direct the town administrator to request intervention from the governor and local legislators after the Coastal Resources management council (CRMC) did not respond to the town's request about maintenance certification for Charlestown Beach Road.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Charlestown Council approves event licenses, ARPA furniture purchase and housing resolution

Council continues family home burials ordinance, seeks expert input on setbacks and practice

Council authorizes outreach to state officials after CRMC stalls Charlestown Beach Road resurfacing