[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6089213,"mediaKeyId","2875257-effc85481e7de60592d52686f10d8978","parentId",2875257,"title","Votes at a glance: Charlestown council actions Jan. 27 — appointments, licenses and resolution","audioSeconds",668,"startMs",48000,"endMs",716000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2875257-effc85481e7de60592d52686f10d8978&start=48&end=716","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2875257-effc85481e7de60592d52686f10d8978/thumbnail_48000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6089213/Charlestown/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Votes-at-a-glance-Charlestown-council-actions-Jan-27-appointments-licenses-and-resolution","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089213-e8200ea7cff5c0599ab0b7b52d9af527/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149502&Signature=Cq9C4SbzUVn86jz2LED1nydcV-3zGgPU-q8qv9Nr4dhsOfKF-aC-dWGJqKMydiWd-gvZJQ2iLOZcPkeSB8tnG3O0I4QJkuaXMM0RI8bA8RnY-6~4efjXOmtyNkS5cp6nDO0X5cXx9ZK5wzTiENZJ-J95rddn5GhlZdWGzbZ92fiGxLPTmVT0oYudEG7f1jk4YEHmmIEznszBxDr-9FJ14sBT7oyYLJVXL3TvsiSGh1Mq2TNXGn3aQccJFI9dmjjkIKK59VXSRxbI-WM9MDHot73jBlu4hcDzKy6Z3bNj7iDE3IGdDwtk~X0obiBtDihOahKDmkY4Y-xrd7YkMNAG8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Charlestown Town Council","date","2025-01-27T00:00:00Z","article","The Charlestown Town Council took several procedural actions at its Jan. 27, 2025 meeting. Most votes were unanimous; the council recorded a 4–0 tally where roll calls occurred.

Resolution of respect: The council read and approved a resolution of respect honoring Jean M. Clark, the town’s 24th town clerk, recognizing her public service and asking that the resolution be forwarded to her family. Motion to approve the resolution passed unanimously (4–0).

Consent agenda: The council approved the consent agenda (items CAA through CAD) and placed related records on file by unanimous roll call (4–0).

Licenses and permits: The council voted to order advertised for public hearing (Feb. 24, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.) two license applications: a general indoor/outdoor entertainment license application for The Hungry Haven (hours proposed Wednesday–Monday, 6:30 a.m.–2:00 a.m.) and a special outdoor entertainment license application for the General Stanton Inn (dates to be included in the clerk’s advertisement). The council authorized the town clerk to include the dates provided to staff and to take all actions relative to advertising. Both motions passed unanimously (4–0).

Appointments: The council appointed three members to the Charter Review Advisory Committee from four applicants. The appointed members were Cheryl Lille; Loretta A. Rainey; and Laura A. Grama. The council also appointed Laura A. Grama to serve as chair of the committee. Motions for appointments and the chair appointment passed unanimously (4–0).

Other procedural votes: The council approved scheduling and other routine matters listed on the agenda; items not requiring further action were continued or left for later consideration as noted in the meeting minutes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle"," Charlestown Town Council Regular Council Meeting 1/27/2025 7:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","At its Jan. 27 meeting the Charlestown Town Council approved a ceremonial resolution, routine consent items, ordered two entertainment license applications advertised for public hearing, and appointed members to the Charter Review Advisory Committee; votes were unanimous where recorded.","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},6089218,"Charlestown authorizes bikeway subcommittee to coordinate field visit with RIDOT and DPW for safety signage",365,2313000,2678000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2875257-effc85481e7de60592d52686f10d8978&start=2313&end=2678","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2875257-effc85481e7de60592d52686f10d8978/thumbnail_2313000.jpg","/articles/6089218/Charlestown/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Charlestown-authorizes-bikeway-subcommittee-to-coordinate-field-visit-with-RIDOT-and-DPW-for-safety-signage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089218-047cb89da42c589a075dfe5c71102794/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149502&Signature=JwTjhCAZarzc-s06RLuakZd807qilftl6APhAgfOuWGK5vJLe-8fclzKEmtF-nMF9ukgAAQv3bk6PH6~5EF372cPNIR14Al0bzXrVeZVflHP~PT6yLe~z0enuLnCyiO2Gjn2v4W12-fTrtPhTfUmlkhX~qOsgJn9FqMwigAEr7l7DG2S-4U62XY3Fhs8dv6TXsJSRUEXnH2CmrWJFYm4iLJNDvOsc4ImDWnQ-4SFU3XvFcSfnn-XCJSgvNaVbuWXXnrOY9AWVjtUIw81mgtCPL1CtH-nutu1Kf9wXR1k2flgp67LwynD-mgX8m0yCmF0egjS-XM-nz5v2ldSfwCntA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Charlestown Town Council on Jan. 27 voted unanimously to authorize the Block Island Sound Bikeway ad hoc subcommittee to coordinate a field visit with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, Charlestown Department of Public Works and town administrator to review locations for bicycle safety signage and vegetation trimming.

Melanie Champion, vice chair of the bikeway subcommittee, and Phil Moreschi, the subcommittee member who led the application work with RIDOT, told councilors that RIDOT completed a traffic study of Old Post Road and proposed signage including “Bicycles Allowed Use of Full Lane” signs and improved curve markings. “They’re the safety experts,” Moreschi said, describing the signs RIDOT recommended and RIDOT’s offer to pay for signs on state‑owned roadway segments.

Why it matters: Old Post Road and Matunuck Schoolhouse Road are part of a coastal bike route the subcommittee is advancing; the signs are intended to make drivers aware of cyclists’ legal right to occupy the travel lane and to improve sightlines where trimming is needed. RIDOT also recommended selective trimming within its right‑of‑way and repair of chevrons/curve markers.

Action details: Councilor Marr moved and Councilor Sarah seconded a motion authorizing the field visit; the motion added the town administrator and the town’s DPW for coordination. The motion passed by unanimous vote (4–0). Councilors and subcommittee members noted the town will pay for signage on municipal segments when needed, while RIDOT will fund state segments. The subcommittee will share RIDOT’s proposed signage and mapping with council staff.","Council unanimously approved a request from the Block Island Sound Bikeway ad hoc subcommittee to coordinate a field visit with Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) and the town's Department of Public Works to determine locations for bicycle safety signage and vegetation trimming.",{"_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},6089223,"Charlestown council reviews proposed home-burial ordinance, agrees to add technical setbacks and return cleaned draft",406,1540000,1946000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2875257-effc85481e7de60592d52686f10d8978&start=1540&end=1946","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2875257-effc85481e7de60592d52686f10d8978/thumbnail_1540000.jpg","/articles/6089223/Charlestown/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Charlestown-council-reviews-proposed-home-burial-ordinance-agrees-to-add-technical-setbacks-and-return-cleaned-draft","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089223-001a50212b20a2205f79077e5969de41/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149502&Signature=kQ9h15LK9-KsDUTRMEDDU8EfGt5dYfTlTKLDOgXVs1-fE6Q55X7gJReoL8ghKupJu0I3g5uBO9OCqRySHooVVxyel8QZj2CRsX2lAEsBFAWQRGxMvDqMQJ-gEedyY2imQ3AtHptP0bMvMMpFJZBvsLbcl0~zzRBMaV7F5-pH~MnuYPvZDClCiJEeiek6~zeTpeAOnbR~SShXnWOgyXc~Wl5yeGATnhGDh94myUfwUNxz5N3HSE29qBlK~aW9AjFauK6QHK8jFmnmGSLv6uyE0d40Rr-flD~3S9YtE1fOqLStQR2U4ReCx8Sj4S6AyImCOBT1tIGTWRi1EXIXTLXbEA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Charlestown Town Council reviewed a draft ordinance to add a chapter on family home burials (proposed amendment to chapter 130) and directed the solicitor to reformat and return the draft with specific setback and plan requirements.

Councilors discussed substantive technical standards recommended by the town’s wastewater management specialist, Matt Dowling, which the council agreed should be included in the ordinance language if the home‑burial code moves forward. Dowling’s memo (dated Jan. 8) recommends setbacks including 400 feet from potable wells, 200 feet from subsurface drains, 200 feet from salt‑pond/coastal shoreline features and 50 feet from watercourses; the council asked that those numbers be added into the draft.

Why it matters: the draft would allow ground family burials on private property under specified conditions and recordation standards. Councilors worked through policy questions including whether to allow above‑ground vaults or mausoleums (several councilors preferred to exclude them), how to structure plan‑of‑survey requirements, minimum lot‑size considerations, and whether to set fees or fines by council resolution.

Key clarifications included: the council agreed to exclude above‑ground mausoleums from the family‑burial definition; to include Dowling’s setback recommendations (the Jan. 8 memo’s items 1.a–d and related criteria); and to keep animal/pet burials out of the regulation by defining “human remains” in the draft. The draft leaves fees to be set later by council resolution; members discussed keeping civil penalties below state maxima and emphasized the ordinance should not inadvertently encourage unpermitted burials by setting trivial fines.

Outcome: the council did not adopt the ordinance at the Jan. 27 meeting. Attorney Ruggiero will reformat the draft to incorporate the agreed technical standards, renumber sections so that the plan‑of‑survey and the 11 technical criteria appear in a single, clear list, and return the revised draft at a future meeting for further consideration and public hearing scheduling.","Councilors discussed a proposed ordinance to allow family home burials with specified setbacks, survey and plan standards, and a fees/resolution mechanism; the solicitor will return a reformatted draft incorporating recommendations from the town's wastewater specialist.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6089226,"Charlestown council delays action on tree-committee overhaul, asks solicitor to rework draft ordinance",640,826000,1466000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2875257-effc85481e7de60592d52686f10d8978&start=826&end=1466","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2875257-effc85481e7de60592d52686f10d8978/thumbnail_826000.jpg","/articles/6089226/Charlestown/Washington-County/Rhode-Island/Charlestown-council-delays-action-on-tree-committee-overhaul-asks-solicitor-to-rework-draft-ordinance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6089226-ecde3a48b90885ed2dbcbec3bb715325/orig.mp4?Expires=1771149502&Signature=Jb9IN-BFnQZkeXhqAsoGuPQJ9NS4IlFqrpRHlc8Fhqmo5rw7EYExB9CCT2M89GlZpItohj~DXQAlxp4oKVr8qS-7eAgPbubrpW~ArpyfjaQpLlzSQzDON9YYqHZI~zNFZN9XQJ-SaVn1LwulBXx96-6g-Xzcix-aa2C6EzUAA8yrfxW2Wx3it5nclqiBHDHZP25qKQi3i27Jxn85yLTGvoZwBHgwuECeaJXrdahd9KjH9goTshRO~QBdJp-Y2b6VvEcL613tnbAM1gJgWhFJ5mLlIdxKXhNNmPnoBof4T9FZvC7EFVVVqAEUsItT-TA2N1-6rhVAN8A7JD2esFcxSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Charlestown Town Council discussed — but took no formal action on — a proposed ordinance to amend chapter 163 (Public Trees) that would eliminate a stand‑alone tree committee and vest those functions with the conservation commission.

The proposal, introduced at the council's Jan. 27 meeting, responded to years in which no one had been appointed to the separate tree committee and to guidance from state forestry programs. “I’m suggesting you keep the committee, just change the membership and use an existing committee to fill that function,” Attorney Ruggiero said, describing options that include assigning tree‑committee duties to the conservation commission and noting the town’s possible participation in the Tree City USA program.

Why it matters: the tree committee can act as an appellate body for disputes about tree health and help the tree warden. Councilors and members of the conservation commission disagreed on whether the town should retain a statutory committee in name or repeal the ordinance entirely, given the commission's limited membership and the town’s lack of a current tree warden.

Conservation Commission member Williams told the council he believed the ordinance is “meaningless” for a largely rural town and would add “another layer of bureaucracy,” and urged repeal unless the state requires it. Councilor Stokes and others raised a middle path — keeping tree oversight while allowing outside expertise — and suggested specifying that the town may consult a licensed arborist if a tree warden is not available.

Outcome: rather than moving forward with the text as published, the council agreed to take no action that night and asked the solicitor to reformat the draft ordinance and eliminate or consolidate references to the separate tree committee. Attorney Ruggiero said he would return an edited version that removes references across the ordinance so it would read cohesively.

What’s next: the solicitor will prepare a revised draft for a future meeting; the council did not vote to adopt or repeal the ordinance at the Jan. 27 session.","Councilors debated an ordinance to fold the town's tree-committee duties into the conservation commission and resolve a longstanding lack of appointees, but chose to take no action and asked the solicitor to return a revised draft.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Charlestown council actions Jan. 27 — appointments, licenses and resolution

Charlestown authorizes bikeway subcommittee to coordinate field visit with RIDOT and DPW for safety signage

Charlestown council reviews proposed home-burial ordinance, agrees to add technical setbacks and return cleaned draft

Charlestown council delays action on tree-committee overhaul, asks solicitor to rework draft ordinance