[{"_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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6475346,"mediaKeyId","5734472-8d66db962cef0791dac55b1da7c480f1","parentId",5734472,"title","Town council approves fee changes, school name change and several routine items","audioSeconds",89,"startMs",257000,"endMs",346000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5734472-8d66db962cef0791dac55b1da7c480f1&start=257&end=346","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5734472-8d66db962cef0791dac55b1da7c480f1/thumbnail_257000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6475346/Rhode-Island/Town-council-approves-fee-changes-school-name-change-and-several-routine-items","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475346-72268e12966fbc8e9113bdb585938db2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770570685&Signature=aaXEDnYJX4Mk5EmRxUVDClnF1YPdBsHEhmXce3mmftNEM3OFYCxvCLnxZZdUxg~COut1eyi8k4ZtN80XD3vKSCPtbQXXksRjRnzaU0geGpwTHcvYdoF2kVKHYQV892iZUGFi6BjCtEIFcc9I2o-JnEl9cgsUlCr5bhQZylr7Er6S9MPUqKQ52u6f9w28dXZvkPJMj9AhvL9rtd6wlwWuTNTbcemexliNWN7YjyF0hWH5PpJGhGlpB7tCE8ip6Vi9aJfdFfqcUhotS-Z5VrY3zmtLrUR6pk6o8H3xqmTTG7e5HwwlnT1bmXEfHLmOyfEKKibTxzwmMCDHOX4q0gHSOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","North Kingstown","date","2025-09-08T00:00:00Z","article","The North Kingstown Town Council approved a set of routine motions on Sept. 8, including a building-permit fee schedule amendment and a school name change, and confirmed multiple appointments.

Building-permit fee schedule: The council opened and closed a public hearing on a proposed amendment to the fee schedule and then voted to adopt the amended building permit fee ordinance after no one from the public signed up to speak. The council president called for a motion to pass the proposed amended ordinance; the motion was seconded and the council approved it by voice vote.

Davisville Academy renaming: The council opened and closed a public hearing on a request from the North Kingstown School Committee to rename Davisville Academy. No members of the public testified. The council voted to rename Davisville Academy to \"Davisville Academy and Early Learning Center.\" The motion passed by voice vote.

Consent agenda and appointments: The council approved the consent agenda, including items 7, 8 and 10 through 26. The council confirmed multiple appointments: James Tavaros was appointed second alternate to the Building Code Board of Appeals; Susan Keller was appointed second alternate to the Zoning Board Review; Carrie Kolb was appointed to the Worker Advisory Committee; and the council approved several library board appointments and reappointments (names recorded in the meeting record). All appointments were approved by voice vote.

Fire department maintenance vehicle: The council approved purchase of a replacement maintenance utility vehicle to replace a 1987 Chevrolet pickup used by the fire department. Fire Chief John Leonard Cree said the replacement will come from the Rescue Billing Fund and described the existing vehicle as “at the end of its life.” The council approved the purchase by voice vote.

Other routine business: The council accepted a donation from North Kingstown-Wickford Little League for a new scoreboard at Wilson Park field 1 and proceeded through several administrative items. No controversial roll-call votes or recorded tallies were taken at the meeting; outcomes were recorded by voice vote as “the ayes have it.”

Ending: Council members asked staff for follow-up information on several items, and managers said they would return with additional details at future meetings when needed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","North Kingstown - Town Council","oneSentenceSummary","The North Kingstown Town Council approved a set of routine motions on Sept. 8, including a building‑permit fee amendment and a school name change, and confirmed several appointments and departmental purchases.","taxTitle","North Kingstown, Washington County, Rhode Island","taxId",79577,"location","Rhode Island","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6475351,"Residents report long waits and safety concerns at West Allenton–Route 4 intersection; town to contact state DOT",1189,393000,1582000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5734472-8d66db962cef0791dac55b1da7c480f1&start=393&end=1582","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5734472-8d66db962cef0791dac55b1da7c480f1/thumbnail_393000.jpg","/articles/6475351/Rhode-Island/Residents-report-long-waits-and-safety-concerns-at-West-AllentonRoute-4-intersection-town-to-contact-state-DOT","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475351-770844949efedc867513032cae19b847/orig.mp4?Expires=1770570685&Signature=gmRUhnB4okzehHbyYq5nhAFKNmT3l5HV--eEKVWPxjri-ZpOD8U05bZdL1Iy0XWyVGiAVaF03ZwqwznEMRK5aqCS6a~KcLQbVsrzpKXAJ3YCoAks2fGuPpF6DgUeeY4Jf03Q7PAi6Nyhm04IPCZ4vxVy67cNsH6tSajLu1FH~af63ZqwhxLSzDbFa-Z~IhDdPfY79AZsTH5fdDWaGeTVcmnWGm4jOhnFIq5bH2KMvo8iydnePaQ804rbIUErscFtSVSHl2Pj0P7-SM2DIA-OhIaSdJazphKj-rCQ5X3s2vdPYukalLwXW-r9p4xaqfJghSbevOw3v9LLOPwFhHeCvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents urged the town to press the state for fixes at the West Allenton Road and Route 4 traffic signal after multiple speakers described lengthy waits and safety hazards during the Sept. 8 North Kingstown Town Council meeting.

The most immediate concern came from Chet Kosak, who said traffic signal timing can be inconsistent and sometimes causes long waits: “We went away for a few days, we come home, and I understand there were some serious problems with it. People waiting 15, 20 minutes for a light to change,” he told the council. He described waits as long as four minutes in low-traffic periods and as unpredictable at other times.

Marie Noble, who lives on Butternut Drive, said she waited 21 minutes to make a left turn on a recent Friday morning: “I was second in line and waited 21 minutes to make a left hand turn.” She urged the town to ask the state to restore shorter signal phases used in prior years so more vehicles can clear the intersection during each cycle.

Resident Jean Watmau stressed public safety: she recounted a fatal crash near the intersection in the early 1990s and more recent serious injuries, saying the intersection’s congestion can block emergency apparatus and endanger response: “Back in either 1992 or 1993, there was a major accident at that intersection. Three teenagers died in that car and one ended up with serious injuries,” she said.

Why it matters: The intersection is on a state road and multiple residents described long delays that they said affect commutes and create safety risks. Several speakers said prior seasonal timing reduced waits and could be restored.

Town Manager Ralph Mullis told speakers the town has raised the problem with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation since 2017 and will follow up immediately with the specifics raised at the meeting. Mullis said the town recently received an email from the DOT acknowledging the situation and promising further review; he asked residents to send specific timing examples so staff can pass them to DOT.

No formal vote was taken. Council and staff said the town’s authority is limited because the intersection is on a state road, but staff committed to communicating residents’ examples to DOT and continuing to press for operational fixes, signage or other mitigations.","Several North Kingstown residents described waits up to 21 minutes and a history of serious crashes at the West Allenton Road/Route 4 intersection during public comment; the town manager said staff will follow up with Rhode Island Department of Transportation about signal timing and other mitigations.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6475354,"Residents complain of traffic, privacy and maintenance after troll art installed at Ryan Park",2237,680000,2917000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5734472-8d66db962cef0791dac55b1da7c480f1&start=680&end=2917","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5734472-8d66db962cef0791dac55b1da7c480f1/thumbnail_680000.jpg","/articles/6475354/Rhode-Island/Residents-complain-of-traffic-privacy-and-maintenance-after-troll-art-installed-at-Ryan-Park","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475354-e3780461348b8c098cd286b57247dd03/orig.mp4?Expires=1770570685&Signature=itwrBR4Nc3HDXAer78ozHPSlmI7uzD1HnUO-C8j7kqUOqsNtlqqGeRUdQIc7wYVcYFfiK1vbAQhrGPLTVyusmcnzb6uk6D6Tyvz77ncN6MdBn~L8ycY5KslDZxzx7vViSqO3~vqOi1e0r1YDLrGxHShvcQYsWVWioS4oviuRfr5WgfMM~j-fdeBkLpCqF63iZJEg-jXxvsRFQV2FnJyCUCosjfqVUGhwkHwSysLM-zyIFOOcEIXpAl3lu5BUigJ3j-jfQ2KRLwse3T4aaqkzK0m1zI~fdLtCVyU7Cju15RmmVwoUXof2djZrQj7WLfH3qTrY9ZapK4HDQQGaVxON2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A steady stream of visitors to Ryan Park for a Thomas Dambo troll installation has prompted complaints from nearby residents about parking, crowding, sanitation and privacy, residents told the North Kingstown Town Council during public comment on Sept. 8.

The concern came into focus when Benjamin Folsom of 54 Lafayette Road said the project’s planning and logistics were “short sighted and grossly underestimated.” He said visitors were trespassing on private property, leaving dog waste and creating late-night noise and safety problems. “Driveways have been ruined,” he said. “Public urination midday occurred right on the Fuhrer Park sign while my children played in the yard.”

Why it matters: The installation has drawn regional visitors and local volunteers but concentrated traffic and parking at the Lafayette Road entrance to Ryan Park, residents said. Town officials told the council they expected an initial surge of visitors and are taking steps to shift parking and manage the site, but residents said the effects on nearby neighborhoods have been immediate.

Town Manager Ralph Mullis told the council the troll was presented to the council as an externally funded cultural attraction and the town supported it partly because it required no town funding. “We presented the idea of a troll to the town council because it didn't require any town funding,” Mullis said. He described the site-selection process: town staff proposed Ryan Park; the artist then inspected the park and selected the precise location within it. “He then walks the park with our recreation department. And his vision then becomes that is the spot for it,” Mullis said.

Mullis acknowledged the town underestimated the intensity of early visitation and the timing of the opening. He said organizers cut the ribbon the week before Labor Day and that contributed to higher initial traffic. He also told the council the installation was funded outside town budgets but “we are about $20,000 short” of promised outside funding, and staff are pursuing sponsors and tourism funding to make up the gap.

Residents and volunteers offered contrasting perspectives. Jim Finley, who said he walks Ryan Park frequently and serves on the leisure services advisory committee, described several visiting groups who “loved the troll” and said the installation draws families and regional tourists. Keith Fink, chair of the Leisure Service Advisory Committee, thanked volunteers and said the project put North Kingstown “on the world stage.”

Council and staff responses and next steps: Mullis said the administration has opened the Fuhrer Park lot, added temporary no-parking signs, placed additional directional signage and is encouraging visitors to use the Oak Hill lot farther from the troll. Recreation staff and public safety have discussed options including better trail signage to guide visitors to Oak Hill parking and temporary enforcement. Mullis said staff will continue to meet with police, the recreation director and public works to find additional mitigations.

No formal council action was taken at the meeting. Residents urged quicker operational fixes, such as adjusted parking controls, crosswalks, gates that close lots at night and improved signage. Several people offered to help as volunteers for crowd management or to advise on relocating or modifying the site if necessary.

Ending: Town officials said they will continue to monitor the site week to week and pursue funding and operational changes. The council did not schedule a vote on relocating the installation; staff said they would collect more data on visitor patterns and continue talking with residents and enforcement agencies.","Residents near Ryan Park in North Kingstown told the town council the Thomas Dambo troll installation has generated heavy visitation, parking and sanitation problems; town officials say the installation was sponsored externally, chose the Ryan Park site with artist input and the town is working to manage traffic and operations.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_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":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6475341,"Town manager updates council on Revolution Wind injunction, Woodford lot and public safety complex plans",0,3462000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5734472-8d66db962cef0791dac55b1da7c480f1&start=3462&end=3462","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5734472-8d66db962cef0791dac55b1da7c480f1/thumbnail_3462000.jpg","/articles/6475341/Rhode-Island/Town-manager-updates-council-on-Revolution-Wind-injunction-Woodford-lot-and-public-safety-complex-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475341-4e437fec2c1cee310d0d6456922b419d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770570685&Signature=Dx4GSwAbBpy507i11vt1hhrq-VznoPJTH7hs06yrzRXdJ8C96KVm3AuQVYKBzbu2g0cF3LKC0Q-9fItHP181ePDHNnNVilXzhyVXHV33WtY7WZPa7nCMSULUlqNo6-KtjHHLmp~gEdhGYAo92zlSEv3Rj6vXYiXSB2cdkprXZhUrmnkQlvSnUDssJr8XsiPndZwmFYvmfyDkFDXnAeSh7Brn7qNDlMSLvtBzSs3O5KLXPM61gOMtQo-NVO8IMuvjhIN~fEcF~3VD36Yfh4AGChhWXF1bUUbfy69Cphtjzj7QTQ785heXu0SMyzw1vVaC3LJnWUTLhjCbXMJXii6Rdg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town Manager Ralph Mullis gave the council a series of project updates at the Sept. 8 meeting, including a federal stop‑work order affecting Revolution Wind, near-term milestones for the Woodford Waterfront municipal parking lot, and next steps on plans for a new public safety complex.

Revolution Wind: Mullis said Revolution Wind complied with a federal stop‑work order by bringing vessels and workers to shore, but the company has filed “a preliminary injunction against the stop work order.” Mullis said state and federal elected officials are involved in efforts to lift the stop‑work order and that the town will continue biweekly meetings with Revolution Wind. Onshore work at the substation is continuing, he said.

Woodford Waterfront municipal parking lot: Mullis said contractor Rycon has completed the granite cap on the side seawall and is on a schedule to finish pavers, landscaping and the sidewalk connection to Brown Street. He said the town is “still looking at early October for it to be 100% complete.”

Public safety complex and cost estimates: Mullis said cost-estimating packages for a new public safety complex (including a station planned for the post‑road site) are with a cost estimator. If cost estimates fall within the bond amount, the town will schedule a public meeting to present the plan and begin preliminary work on a project labor agreement; if estimates exceed the bond, the town will need to consider alternatives before public presentation. Mullis said he is negotiating with Quonset Development Corporation on acquiring land in Quonset Business Park required for the project and expects to bring options to the council in late September or October.

Other updates: Mullis said the state has begun bike-lane striping on Boston Neck Road and that work on a mini‑roundabout in Wickford will begin Sept. 14 with overnight operations and posted detours. He also noted the town library has launched a strategic plan survey and that the community center is slated for interior and exterior improvements, with proposed closure November through April to complete work.

Ending: Mullis asked council members and residents to submit questions and said staff will return with further details and public meeting dates as projects move through design, cost estimating and state review.","Town Manager Ralph Mullis told the council the developer Revolution Wind has paused offshore work under a federal stop‑work order and filed a preliminary injunction; he also updated the council on the Woodford Waterfront municipal parking lot timeline, cost-estimate steps for the public safety complex and a mini‑roundabout project beginning Sept. ","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Town council approves fee changes, school name change and several routine items

Residents report long waits and safety concerns at West Allenton–Route 4 intersection; town to contact state DOT

Residents complain of traffic, privacy and maintenance after troll art installed at Ryan Park

Town manager updates council on Revolution Wind injunction, Woodford lot and public safety complex plans