[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-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",[32,75,86,98,110],{"_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",6089185,"mediaKeyId","2875370-d0ef7c746c283ed4786d16b695bc1ade","parentId",2875370,"title","Council approves summer event permits; reduces Seafood Festival fee to $9,500 after Parks & Rec debate","audioSeconds",4577,"startMs",4577000,"endMs",-1,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2875370-d0ef7c746c283ed4786d16b695bc1ade&start=4577&end=0","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2875370-d0ef7c746c283ed4786d16b695bc1ade/thumbnail_4577000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6089185/Charlestown/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Council-approves-summer-event-permits-reduces-Seafood-Festival-fee-to-9500-after-Parks-Rec-debate","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089185-30052b54479dadf40949f32ca2e0d7c9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185852&Signature=D9BEGd2LVgHdb3lWF-64hCAewQe6obGR5kQb2hrnbepjxGBt0NraWsQKnSORunh6VUCM3klItmBIoDzIeypb-E6sgT2cbJ9RxhnmBMFogpGqrwZpq01z-7KGRR6kIN-fDW6hsA4-SyDRam4~9cjwaJFESk1cGM2Apdp1MoVZTS08Qs7LM3-PkKrECspUgeJdATPsKNqpl~F7F1t3zWUMzNvPnGEOKmTS-0pP3FNzlQKWZbnJFTcw0TOvpFPZsgRSP12i2uC1vjRDnBzD6R1bL-uic-4oEdGfExx5ZjbXNbI0oHwlGlvV6~XXDgmLgEtp3Ugnv25QGFLXmiJSHahuIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Charlestown Town Council","date","2025-02-10T00:00:00Z","article","The Charlestown Town Council approved multiple event permits and associated insurance requirements at its Feb. 10 meeting, and set the Seafood Festival fee at $9,500 after discussion between Parks & Recreation and the Charlestown Chamber of Commerce.

The council approved the Charlestown Chamber of Commerce Seafood Festival for Aug. 1–3, 2025, with camping allowed and insurance requirements set at $6,000,000 general liability and $2,000,000 liquor liability. Parks & Recreation initially recommended a $10,000 fee; the council split the difference and voted to approve the event with a $9,500 fee (roll‑call, unanimous among present councilors). Chamber representatives noted the event’s broader community contributions, including support for summer concerts, movie nights and other town activities.

The council also approved Rhythm & Roots festival (Aug. 29–31, 2025) with camping and the same insurance minimums; the council recorded a unanimous vote to approve the event and the $15,000 fee requested for that event. The bicycle event “Buzz the Tower” (March 29, 2025) was approved with $3,000,000 general liability insurance and a $300 fee.

A separate event, Sunshine Criterion (May 3, 2025), was tabled for further review under the town’s event procedures.

Council discussion focused on balancing the town’s auxiliary costs for services and safety (police details, portable lighting and cleanup) with the chamber’s financial and in‑kind contributions to town programs. Parks & Recreation provided a multi‑year fee history during the discussion.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Charlestown Town Council Regular Council Meeting 2/10/2025 7:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Charlestown Town Councilors approved several community event permits Feb. 10 and set the Seafood Festival fee at $9,500 after considering Parks & Recreation’s recommendation to raise the charge to $10,000.","taxTitle","Charlestown, Washington County, Rhode Island","taxId",79687,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6089190,"Council appoints Sherry Jackson as Economic Improvement Commission chair; tables conservation commission appointment over residency paperwork",0,4448000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2875370-d0ef7c746c283ed4786d16b695bc1ade&start=4448&end=4448","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2875370-d0ef7c746c283ed4786d16b695bc1ade/thumbnail_4448000.jpg","/articles/6089190/Charlestown/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Council-appoints-Sherry-Jackson-as-Economic-Improvement-Commission-chair-tables-conservation-commission-appointment-over-residency-paperwork","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089190-9fc365247904f73a1406c6c28cb8e5d8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185852&Signature=iaNm1wP6rH2imwgrL-XLSzTdXJKvtWe6dTirFQ4yknHRM2hPp0nJGXy1hUN~gslhBg5Rcv~U0YDzVf05XsWpW8KzneLN2xm3LBHImwZreVOeT2afF9Ks-N0220j9GmCWkzKzf4kioLrTEU84VAjYTIOP7adyKr-z5SJgnHFOY4zQF-4C2iQIAFzzMMo9gsmkr4QeA02-eULd~0qcudwke7aD~QaP8~PVP~Se42JmgmMY9Qjw-nimdrXe7WDTv7We590B~iPCgNPveMStGx1W~0hU-zr91SffoJT3BkK~nSCI8pJpVu8xECMsMrvFb5nKAK-NQJV6ktQ1xNw02xTQOQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its Feb. 10 meeting the Charlestown Town Council named Sherry Jackson chair of the Economic Improvement Commission by unanimous vote. Councilors cited Jackson’s local business involvement and previous service as reasons for the appointment; the ordinance that establishes the commission requires the council to designate the chair.

Separately, the council voted unanimously to table the appointment of Bridal Ahern to the Conservation Commission until the March 10 meeting after staff and council discovered Ahern’s voter registration appeared to remain in Warwick. Ahern told the council he and his wife own property in Charlestown and are in the process of moving full time; he agreed to attend a Conservation Commission meeting before the March appointment to familiarize himself with the commission’s work.

The council’s tabling motion was intended to allow time to verify residency and to avoid appointing a nonresident in contravention of the town charter. The council asked the town clerk to confirm registration status before the March meeting.","The Charlestown Town Council appointed local business owner Sherry Jackson as chair of the Economic Improvement Commission and tabled the appointment of Bridal Ahern to the Conservation Commission after discovering Ahern's voter registration had not been updated to Charlestown.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6089195,"Company pitches community choice aggregation to Charlestown council; officials seek more detail on opt‑out protections",523,3477000,4000000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2875370-d0ef7c746c283ed4786d16b695bc1ade&start=3477&end=4000","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2875370-d0ef7c746c283ed4786d16b695bc1ade/thumbnail_3477000.jpg","/articles/6089195/Charlestown/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Company-pitches-community-choice-aggregation-to-Charlestown-council-officials-seek-more-detail-on-optout-protections","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089195-05242eb5876d2084f8ae9321cf892783/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185852&Signature=BUiiXxcPu33~20fwNZ5djGVNG1N6MzfwJYQ9ExW726ww35SSjmU~g2qsU97XMoNhYNYhwBohzWKOErgys00FlXo0TlxjgqMMRE0raCkWIXCdi-tvwCyHQzJX4MfD9DFGnzyts8wwgrEZw1Atg31gTWNlOqua9LuwFj3PiZOOxxhglUTImtlmponhN0waLVxgqiT~rHfHeOJtxAIVLhX3o1tQ36pI7ipri3WjxxF8XayaOVmML6qaZ336LiFlDwWH~X0OHNPwAZL~OA9N7nsPVwfdD3UL-Oi~3899p3rSGIJWReCo8ClU~nvGHN2t4j5dtmw7Snt4kKp-T7VVwaGokQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives of Freedom Energy Logistics presented community choice aggregation (CCA) to the Charlestown Town Council on Feb. 10, describing the program as a municipality‑enabled bulk purchasing option that can lower electricity supply costs for residential and small commercial customers.

Presenter Bart Brometh (Freedom Energy Logistics) said CCA is enabled by local ordinance in Rhode Island and is an opt‑out program: standard‑service customers would receive a notice and have 30 days to decline participation. Brometh said opt‑out design makes customer acquisition financially viable; he added program vendors and utilities must process enrollments and disenrollments on meter dates, which can create effective lags to when changes appear on a bill.

Councilors asked about guardrails for older residents and others who might miss a mailed or posted notice, and about the practical time it takes to re‑enroll with the default utility. Brometh acknowledged there is no guaranteed long‑term rate below the utility’s price, but said multi‑month contracts typically offer savings over the course of a year and provide budget certainty during price spikes. He said program operators provide an online portal and phone support to process opt‑outs and reenrollments.

The council did not take action Feb. 10; members invited the presenter to return and recommended staff consider placing a CCA discussion on a future agenda so the town can evaluate program terms, customer protections and vendor references from other New England municipalities that have adopted CCA.","Freedom Energy Logistics presented community choice aggregation (CCA) to Charlestown council Feb. 10 as a way to pool residential purchasing power for lower electricity rates. Councilors raised questions about enrollment, opt‑out timelines and customer protections for older residents and people on fixed incomes.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6089200,"Charlestown leaders press state lawmakers on zoning, beachfront funding, procurement and short‑term rental revenues",2083,975000,3058000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2875370-d0ef7c746c283ed4786d16b695bc1ade&start=975&end=3058","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2875370-d0ef7c746c283ed4786d16b695bc1ade/thumbnail_975000.jpg","/articles/6089200/Charlestown/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Charlestown-leaders-press-state-lawmakers-on-zoning-beachfront-funding-procurement-and-shortterm-rental-revenues","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089200-7d130a86dccad525f62ed837992d4523/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185852&Signature=N066vv4q0qLYp8Fdb~zDf8qceWxO4vTJ-QUp9WOL3c~2xd1FTMB489IAlrMb8zZT65dA6jKE6pWBlHrXoWlJWCnpmc6ANeTiCZrgArDH-bseA9qrXjjnP3aYkQq-1w9NWmY9Gw2qB0J6XzWgJazoyrQCc5~yT7fruDOuefoO8GrRJ6PXVNBWKgEqZYET2Oq9tRhp4YXKHLrddiLjNPgWIsjoArRLg7HPn8YCpvKgG0iIQcIcRD8gtZOBLnQIJw3OAywWbnTJ3WnC8o3w7cLR-E3oB2YXf3PuJFXOj6Iq8raMaW4d7zmci7X1jlMc0DKwR0QNw36YNIduQb6tGPS5bQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Charlestown Town Councilors met Feb. 10 with Representative Tina Spears and Senator Victoria Gu to review the town’s legislative priorities for the 2025 session, raising concerns about density bonuses tied to affordable housing rules, funding for the Charlestown beach/breachway reconstruction, municipal procurement rules and proposals to redirect short‑term rental and hotel tax revenue to the towns where it is collected.

On density and zoning, councilors told lawmakers that Charlestown’s lack of public water and sewer makes state-wide density bonuses difficult to apply locally. Councilor Stokes and others said developers can use an affordable-housing percentage to qualify for a density bonus that increases the size of entire developments even though only a fraction of units are designated as affordable. Senator Gu and Representative Spears said state regulation (including DEM permitting for wells and septic) and statute include tiers that account for water/sewer availability, but they invited specific local language if the town wants state modifications. “If the town proposes something to give back that local control…then that’s when I think you’ll see a lot more autonomy,” Senator Gu said.

On the Charlestown beach/breachway project, lawmakers said dredging funds were moved up from fiscal 2027 to 2026 and that the state Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has project-level capital funds that could be candidates for support. Federal funding remained uncertain, and lawmakers warned a $220 million state shortfall could affect final appropriations. Representatives said green bond funding and state capital funds remain potential avenues and encouraged the town to be prepared to testify at hearings.

Councilors also raised procurement concerns, including the effective threshold for bid rules (noted as $10,000 for some construction work) and the impact of prevailing‑wage requirements on small municipal projects. Council members asked whether thresholds could be adjusted or whether towns could have more flexibility for low-dollar purchases; lawmakers said they would take those concerns back for review.

Finally, councilors discussed proposed changes to the hotel/homestay tax: the governor’s budget would subject some whole-home short‑term rentals to a 5% tax that is currently applied to hotels, with state-level distribution for homelessness. Representative Spears and Sen. Gu said bills under development would instead target revenues back to the towns where the tax is collected, enabling local spending on resilience, affordable or workforce housing. Officials advised the council to prepare a resolution supporting a preferred formula once bill numbers are posted.

No binding state action resulted from the meeting; lawmakers invited follow‑up language and encouraged the town to coordinate with nonprofit housing developers, the League of Cities and Towns and regional tourism groups.","Town councilors met Feb. 10 with Rep. Tina Spears and Sen. Victoria Gu to review Charlestown’s legislative priorities, including local control over density bonuses and septic/well limits, funding for Bri(e)chway/beachway reconstruction, procurement thresholds and whether short‑term rental taxes should be returned to towns.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6089204,"Charlestown council renews gatehouse lease to William Clark through June 2026; records intent that it be final renewal",646,299000,945000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2875370-d0ef7c746c283ed4786d16b695bc1ade&start=299&end=945","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2875370-d0ef7c746c283ed4786d16b695bc1ade/thumbnail_299000.jpg","/articles/6089204/Charlestown/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Charlestown-council-renews-gatehouse-lease-to-William-Clark-through-June-2026-records-intent-that-it-be-final-renewal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089204-be4acfb9215e3fff95db4c8d90fda33f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185852&Signature=V13m9RPJxKhAYWq9tAn4JTVmFV2xypwZ0mmtf-tVH5xbM0VSCEkCagGae0oGH0bKNOR-wG4Tev~AQ5Zj1uqtMjOawf23G0wrHMz0B1~0ZBFRlAMDuYqGfoxq3FBsjbvFINKSxfQZQ2dTqWbLouuCOb7jPOV9vqOA~z~jQhbtoWmIap9ti1Tfp2gPOwhNWlihhcDoljiz0-G-pLnbIRctR6UZLVNuoYEczkgIgVri4s98guOfHkUtI8p8k9acbGu2iJVyfFI-Kx0-h60nyCpZR~79D8~Sm-clBWQ8LB1quaKF5qfcsPLhFV0WXQZEZ4K0O1Fn1fROavEV-EZSYYjVfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Charlestown Town Council voted unanimously Feb. 10 to renew the gatehouse lease to tenant William Clark from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, at a monthly rent of $1,000 and authorized the town administrator and town treasurer to execute any documents necessary to carry out the renewal.

Councilor Stokes, who led the discussion, said he supported renewal but voiced a desire that the coming term be the lease’s last renewal so the town could plan future uses for the building. “I would recommend that we…renew the lease. I would just put a caveat that that would be the last renewal,” Stokes said during the discussion. The council did not amend the motion to include that caveat; the town solicitor advised the council to approve the lease under its current terms and address any future renewal at the next renewal point.

William Clark, the current tenant, spoke to the council about his long service maintaining the gatehouse and said he understood the town’s planning needs. He said he would cooperate with the council’s timeline and praised working with town staff.

The motion to renew — made by Councilor Maher and seconded by Councilor Sloane — was decided by roll call. The clerk recorded affirmative votes and the motion passed by a unanimous 4–0 vote. The council noted the intent that this be the final renewal but did not incorporate that limitation into the approved motion or lease language at this meeting.

The lease renewal keeps the property available to the town while staff and council continue to evaluate whether the gatehouse might be repurposed for Parks and Recreation or other municipal needs. Any future action to limit renewal or to change the building’s use will require a separate council vote.","At its Feb. 10 meeting the Charlestown Town Council voted to renew the gatehouse lease to tenant William Clark for one year at $1,000 per month and authorized town officials to execute documents. Councilors discussed but did not formally adopt language making the renewal the lease's final extension.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves summer event permits; reduces Seafood Festival fee to $9,500 after Parks & Rec debate

Council appoints Sherry Jackson as Economic Improvement Commission chair; tables conservation commission appointment over residency paperwork

Company pitches community choice aggregation to Charlestown council; officials seek more detail on opt‑out protections

Charlestown leaders press state lawmakers on zoning, beachfront funding, procurement and short‑term rental revenues

Charlestown council renews gatehouse lease to William Clark through June 2026; records intent that it be final renewal