[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6496237,"mediaKeyId","5733936-e7370c970cfe38eeebffa324a49b61b0","parentId",5733936,"title","Votes at a glance: South Kingstown council actions Sept. 8, 2025","audioSeconds",430,"startMs",2341000,"endMs",2771000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5733936-e7370c970cfe38eeebffa324a49b61b0&start=2341&end=2771","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5733936-e7370c970cfe38eeebffa324a49b61b0/thumbnail_2341000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6496237/Rhode-Island/Votes-at-a-glance-South-Kingstown-council-actions-Sept-8-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6496237-6773f20a4973fa8f177866c3d7c087ad/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436603&Signature=W6KGwO1UvBxuvy4BREA~3m-hWkaMf4uVKdeYGUrmWB4-lgWnEqtzeHV95sY9yH2Q7so2psUxU8jgvqhPrRCudgWFW5SjvW419-Im4JKZ6ZURWrCCyUV4bWe5N4kjsRJX-nv7zjeltgLsXL9X~UJeRdHeNBVgu~mjoQJUWrdzxx6pyXVSLENN8zUQpxhwYksbIThMkBmsrEyFmf8uhuhLh~fSfc4F00hi~N8eCmqNaPjBy9P9sLzVchLka~I4vqWHkhtWrn~2weKb99fZTZawi6QzWHfa6eMaTgtHyewZHq6oTiD~ZDzZmvyGiokrx9C6VobFNL6nlaUwvKlsK56B8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","South Kingstown","date","2025-09-09T03:53:24Z","article","The South Kingstown Town Council on Sept. 8 recorded a series of routine and substantive actions. Below is a consolidated summary of items the council voted on during the meeting.

Key approvals

- Approval of minutes (items 4 a, b, c): Motion to approve the minutes from prior meetings carried by voice vote. (Outcome: approved)
- Consent agenda (items 5 a, b, c): Council approved the consent agenda by voice vote. (Outcome: approved)
- Licenses: The council approved a set of temporary event and beverage licenses for community events: EA Fest block party (temporary mass‑gathering permit and class F beverage license), Hera Gallery full moon party (class F 19‑hour beverage license), and a Holiday Sales license for a new Taste of Korea business in Kingston. (Outcome: approved)
- Appointment to 250th ad hoc committee: The council appointed volunteers to the 250th anniversary committee (Raphael Champlin; Roland Bergeron; Wayne Young; Melissa Cascala; Joan Nippo; Guy Stanton; Kayla Carter). (Outcome: approved)
- Contract award — Independent inspection and testing agency: The council approved a recommendation to award the inspection and testing contract (code-required QA) to S.W. Cole on a unit-rate basis following the RFQ process. (Outcome: approved)

Notes

- In several cases the council used omnibus motions to approve multiple related items to manage time. Where recorded, votes were unanimous by voice vote; some items were approved after discussion and without a roll-call tally recorded in the public meeting minutes.
- For procedural and informational reasons, staff will provide more detailed contract and permit materials in follow‑up agenda packets so council members and the public can review line-item terms and costs.

If you want a copy of the meeting minutes or the official roll call for any single action, the council clerk’s office maintains the certified minutes and vote records.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","September 8, 2025 Town Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Summary of formal actions and votes recorded during the Sept. 8 South Kingstown Town Council meeting, including approvals of minutes, licenses, appointments and a contract award.","taxTitle","South Kingstown, Washington County, Rhode Island","taxId",79771,"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},6496243,"South Kingstown school building committee reports enabling site work complete, bids and soils update",520,8930000,9450000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5733936-e7370c970cfe38eeebffa324a49b61b0&start=8930&end=9450","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5733936-e7370c970cfe38eeebffa324a49b61b0/thumbnail_8930000.jpg","/articles/6496243/Rhode-Island/South-Kingstown-school-building-committee-reports-enabling-site-work-complete-bids-and-soils-update","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6496243-ac5b9e206d61a7b5fdf8fd612d3e7aca/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436603&Signature=ZBV~HxiGGeIjxOreXJ9Y0xfQM9b7bRguWpPpNlCA4DwlnrlNDPsg1ubwOMbeOV2FjS1U~LN4sXtqjlchopSTewWWl0XYtIxq3SQOHsIWOdbZr2KFdl-CFjkXNRuwJD7yTb4Yt9mSHyh8p96ihv5aImzKoiMxYhcpAFGFAP-rjm7gsDNc6LxYNu703doWhsjHATwCMWvxtdS42rfZPVoydMSdqtwrMLJATSiq1ga1M-NpAquF53yawLcxbItDcpUwmE0J9OsSb0BRg~F7afdaS7O~QsGcwB7T5B3VPMXXZUEZDQ9IPJsJ8Fo7ZqT2cgBsknnDb~z5eXOAuuyeSRMfHw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The South Kingstown School Building Committee told the town council on Sept. 8 that enabling site work at the new high school is substantially complete, early bid packages have been issued, and construction mobilization is expected in mid‑ to late‑September by the CM/contractor.

Committee chair Kate Massenanti and project partners from Gilbane, Lehi/Studio JADE and other consultants presented a schedule update and an environmental soils briefing:

Enabling work and schedule

The committee said crews completed most enabling work this summer so that major foundations and full building construction can proceed while school is in session. Remaining items include a power tie-in that is dependent on Rhode Island Energy’s overhead work and a shutdown/transfer that must be coordinated to avoid impacting school operations. Foundation permitting is under way and full building permits are expected later in the fall; bids for major packages are scheduled with a target guaranteed maximum price (GMP) recommendation to council in November.

Soils and environmental findings

An environmental contractor delineated petroleum‑impacted soils outside the school woodshop, with total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) exceedances found between 7 and 10 feet below grade. The town’s environmental consultant has discussed the findings with the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RIDEM), which recommended filing a Notification of Release so the department can determine next steps. Because the contaminated soils are deep and appear unlikely to leach to surface water, the committee said RIDEM staff indicated removal might not be necessary; however, if removal is required the volume appears limited and that work is scheduled for the later (2027) phase of the project so that it does not delay current foundations work.

Independent inspection and testing award

The town sought an independent inspection and testing agency (code-required quality assurance). The town received one responsive proposal from S.W. Cole and staff recommended awarding the contract. At the meeting the council approved the selection and noted the unit‑rate billing structure used for sampling and testing will be monitored against anticipated quantities.

Change‑order task force and cost controls

The committee reported work by a change‑order task force to recommend members and limits for change‑order authorizations; the draft will be reviewed by town legal staff before returning to council for approval. The committee plans for a community groundbreaking ceremony Oct. 4 at 10 a.m.

Next steps

Committee members said independent cost estimates are pending reconciliation and that bids for remaining construction packages are due in October with a GMP request back to the council in November. The town council will review the independent inspection/testing contract and the change‑order policies in subsequent meetings.","School building committee reported completion of summer enabling work, progress on permits and bidding, and soil contamination delineation that will require a separate 2027 remediation phase if removal is necessary.",{"_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},6496249,"Town officials: Ram Point riparian dock lease will not be renewed; master plan for Marina Park recommended",247,10246000,10493000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5733936-e7370c970cfe38eeebffa324a49b61b0&start=10246&end=10493","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5733936-e7370c970cfe38eeebffa324a49b61b0/thumbnail_10246000.jpg","/articles/6496249/Rhode-Island/Town-officials-Ram-Point-riparian-dock-lease-will-not-be-renewed-master-plan-for-Marina-Park-recommended","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6496249-df2f3750fa2f4a432420981c3088fb1f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436603&Signature=QDlAjwJbpD0RuvRABPA0wg6uoJEGX49lJvyt4-0GavTxJvwVjx-Lgdf8aShD~UTnf56SM5dak-~HAlI7x7W00IcXLEbzhwM07cPjgLP9D4npbjil2ymrfegqkB2QS5uptCRVf4E1RZG-4VBGOJaKShipqVS01ckxlMsv45iKY842dpAYlfuTlHvTVqW-sgj2pJTQ~M~A0jyxFD-hsHI6mapzvAiy56JXBTgbHgagOt8wB-v-oIiFeruGD-PpvbpQ38dNX4QirSoCyIychF9f9wwmsmPOGf~hMfhFT~wv7IzbbVBnNtUuSD0ohxTuNk-7goxvLLgp5IUGyspEbYES8A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","South Kingstown staff told the Town Council on Sept. 8 that a short riparian lease at Ram Point adjacent to Marina Park — about 320 linear feet of riverfront docking — will not be renewed when it expires June 30, 2026. The board also discussed a proposed Marina Park master plan aimed at improving public access, parking and boat access to downtown Wakefield.

Mike Stack, the town’s waterfront/staff lead, briefed the council on the park and marina landscape. He described three commercial marinas that operate under long-term leases, two boating clubs, and municipal public amenities including the municipal boat ramp, an overlook and two parking lots. The town collects lease revenue from businesses in Marina Park; staff noted about $380,114 in lease revenue for fiscal 2024–25 from the area’s tenants.

Ram Point riparian lease

Stack said the riparian lease inside the park — a shorter, separately negotiated arrangement that included small skiff slips and some floating docks — was executed as a five‑year riparian agreement that expires next summer. The town recently notified the current tenant that the riparian lease will not be renewed on 06/30/2026. Stack said the leaseholder may remove docks they installed; if the town wants to preserve docking in that specific area the town would need to fund replacement docks (staff estimated roughly $200,000 as a ballpark figure for replacement in that location).

Master plan for Marina Park and riverwalk ideas

Council members and staff discussed a Town‑funded master plan proposed in the capital improvements program for 2026–27 that would examine pedestrian and bicycle connectivity, improved parking and traffic flow, enhanced shore access along the Saugatucket River, and potential public transient slips that would let visiting boaters walk to downtown Wakefield. The plan would also look at connectivity under the Route 1 overpass to Town Farm Park and potential upgrades to public parking areas (the town has already completed some improvements to western parking and a paddle‑sport launch in prior years).

Ownership and assignment notes

Stack reviewed a recent history of ownership changes: one marina parcel across the river called Silver Spring was sold to a large marina owner (Blackstone/large operator), and Grove Point (an institutional marina investor) assumed the long-term Ram Point lease in 2021. Stack said the town’s consent is required before leased marina properties can be assigned or transferred to a new owner; the council authorized an assignment in 2021 when the long-term Ram Point lease was assumed by the current tenant.

Next steps and council interest

Stack recommended further public engagement and a master planning process to evaluate long-term park and waterfront strategies. Council members asked for a master-plan cost estimate so that the council can consider funding in the 2026–27 CIP. Some council members said they favor keeping public access and transient boating options under town control rather than relinquishing waterfront opportunities to private operators.","Town staff told the council the small riparian lease at Ram Point will not be renewed on June 30, 2026, and presented plans for a Marina Park master plan to improve public access, parking and transient boating slips.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6496254,"South Kingstown council hears data on water ban, usage peaks and well‑field options",411,4072000,4483000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5733936-e7370c970cfe38eeebffa324a49b61b0&start=4072&end=4483","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5733936-e7370c970cfe38eeebffa324a49b61b0/thumbnail_4072000.jpg","/articles/6496254/Rhode-Island/South-Kingstown-council-hears-data-on-water-ban-usage-peaks-and-wellfield-options","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6496254-94ac04e2c4f78dbad5037aa2383ff631/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436603&Signature=Mly98RwDJ8EocNZqIINLP0XR-Z8mu3TlMJw3U3A8eHBnvzto9b9T5cz1QIaZy~5~xH2~tqcCk9s9sBRl7JlO6UtJ41ibBzgGXqF7KWoufYpWExKbo1mHZjaPbonVcRTclLWnIlZTvL0tXcMahUVikQ7U3uiXXjrgQzcnQMeFvGAsE277e-u4lGjAbmuhL93qnDXo2HlQ4EKhsJsQ1kGkay4WxnKOoIusl6CyKM~AX3PdpbXtLIHoPaEZzkUYA83Ws9Gh6NaHuswS5sn5b7oqhncgs4dhc~HoAjOY3na38KQuFLgD3wkZsMolDUth43kjObHxRcJuyz20q~pNwkCETg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","South Kingstown officials told the Town Council on Sept. 8 that the town’s South Shore water system faced high summer demand from outdoor irrigation and that short-term remedies will focus on consumption controls, enforcement and potential ordinance changes rather than rapid new supply.

Rich Bourbonnais, South Kingstown’s director of public services, and Chris Jacobs of Veolia Water gave a data-driven briefing after the council placed a residents’ letter about water infrastructure on the agenda.

Key figures and findings

Bourbonnais summarized meter and usage data showing winter baseline monthly use in the South Shore service area near 4.4 million gallons in March and a summer monthly peak near 18 million gallons in July. He said peak daily flows in summer reached well above the system’s design expectations — creating days when tanks could not be fully refilled overnight.

Bourbonnais and Veolia staff used meter-level examples to show that a small number of properties can account for a disproportionate share of summer demand: one property used about 173,000 gallons in a single month and had single‑day flows in the 5,000–6,300 gallon range. Staff said that level of irrigation is consistent with watering microclimates a half‑inch to an inch per day — far above normal irrigation guidance (roughly 1 inch per week).

“We could not fill our tanks in the evening when normally we’d fill them,” Bourbonnais said, describing the system’s inability to recover capacity during peak periods.

Why the wells are not an immediate fix

Council and staff discussed options to bring the Green Hill / Factory Pond well field back into service. Bourbonnais described multiple technical and cost obstacles: the well field will need treatment for iron, manganese and PFAS to meet modern health and water‑quality standards, and past estimates for a comparable project topped several million dollars. He said previous federal and state grant efforts have not yielded the full funding needed and warned that a new treatment plant would also add substantial operating costs that would fall to ratepayers.

“The well field is a resiliency item rather than a short‑term fix,” Bourbonnais said. “It’s going to be expensive and it will not eliminate the need for demand management.”

Immediate and near-term actions discussed

Staff and Veolia described a mix of near-term measures: 1) stronger enforcement and clearer local rules on outdoor watering, 2) upgraded meter queries and automated notifications to detect sustained high use, 3) a public education campaign about irrigation best practices, and 4) outreach to the town solicitor to draft enforceable watering rules and penalties if needed.

Chief Moynihan reported the police department has been involved in notifying residents during the total outdoor water ban and that some violations were addressed through citations; the council’s solicitor later confirmed that a $100 fine exists in ordinance language for violations when a ban is in place.

Metering, detection and targeting

Bourbonnais said the town can query smart-meter data to identify unusually high hourly or daily usage at particular accounts but that staff capacity to run proactive, daily queries is limited. Council members discussed whether the town could automate notices for properties that exceed preset thresholds, add odd/even watering day rules, and target outreach to properties that show sustained high-volume irrigation.

Longer-term strategy and financing

Jacobs of Veolia and Bourbonnais both urged a two-pronged approach: regulate and reduce demand now, and pursue long‑term supply/resiliency projects (e.g., well‑field rehabilitation or regional storage) with state and federal funding. Jacobs noted Veolia’s recent investments in storage tanks and main replacements in the broader service area but cautioned that even large storage tanks cannot substitute for high sustained demand.

Council direction

Council members asked staff to draft enforceable watering language and urged pursuing regional coordination with Narragansett and state agencies on longer‑term groundwater planning. Several members asked the town manager to pursue grant and legislative avenues to fund well-field work and other major infrastructure.","Council and utility staff reported peak summer water demands, groundwater concerns and limited options to quickly add supply; staff recommended ordinance changes to regulate outdoor irrigation and pursue longer-term well-field funding.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6496260,"South Kingstown housing authority unveils revised Champaign Heights plan to win state funding",216,189000,405000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5733936-e7370c970cfe38eeebffa324a49b61b0&start=189&end=405","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5733936-e7370c970cfe38eeebffa324a49b61b0/thumbnail_189000.jpg","/articles/6496260/Rhode-Island/South-Kingstown-housing-authority-unveils-revised-Champaign-Heights-plan-to-win-state-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6496260-142d6e33685de754a5776c2e594c0596/orig.mp4?Expires=1770436603&Signature=Kxd~qGrxPDciBZUDCEAw-wDL9oFuCAJmHW7R6q3Gg6Ystow0yUY3AtNRV361cyJ2WwB4qwtdU2z-BB2kqQYhFSYzWiPWGtRG-JGusleYZ3dvqW6~kKYszpll~cNyS2Z5HHJtqOONpe0ezYE5OojeRuu7kXetU4N2GOo~-axdb2gEQGFB1fE7EHcHUNNNRKLA7hW-jUxQJGcV4JyXPuivCBb1aQyEuZLUipdaWT4-kwQqtDNhLazsMAszrbyvOIsR~12K5btJfpZVznF4eSL3ZV~XhINOLT8rCaGMtzArq-4aN7XReliYJgtzkgFC7CjxXY16a4f24esKD0gX0zhhkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The South Kingstown Housing Authority on Monday presented a redesigned plan to redevelop Champaign Heights that reduces the number of buildings while keeping the same number of apartments and bedrooms, officials said.

The revised plan would consolidate earlier proposals that called for 34 buildings into 23 buildings while retaining 85 apartments and 222 bedrooms, Chris Little, chairperson of the South Kingstown Housing Authority, told the Town Council during the council’s Sept. 8 work session. Little said the changes respond to feedback from Rhode Island Housing and other state housing officials about construction cost and scoring under the 9% low-income housing tax credit process.

The housing authority and its partners plan to go before the Planning Board tomorrow seeking approval of a “minor modification” to the permit approved earlier this year, Little said. If the Planning Board recommends the change, the administrative officer will consider it and the team will pursue financing through Rhode Island Housing’s annual competitive funding round.

Why it matters

Little and project partners said they view the redevelopment as preserving existing public housing for 52 families while expanding the supply of affordable/workforce units. Little said the proposal would expand housing at Champaign Heights from 52 units to 85 units — a net increase of 33 units — and could also free capacity to redevelop Fournier with an additional 22 to 24 units.

What changed and why

Paul Ataman of Union Studio Architecture and Community Design described the design changes. To reduce per-unit construction cost, some smaller two-unit and three-unit townhouse-style buildings were aggregated into three- and four-unit townhouses, producing six building types deployed across the site instead of the seven types proposed earlier. Ataman said the consolidated building forms keep the original architectural materials, scale (two-story), and site footprint, but provide more open space, more landscaping between buildings, slightly larger pocket parks, and improved stormwater grading opportunities.

Frank Shea, representing partner Women’s Development, said one reason the project lost last year’s 9% tax credits was a high per-unit cost driven in part by the residential prevailing wage requirement tied to public housing replacement. The partners said Rhode Island Housing has clarified that prevailing wage may count as an “extraordinary condition” in the scoring this year and that the state Department of Housing has been engaged and supportive of the project’s overall redevelopment approach.

Resident engagement and services

Council members pressed the team on resident engagement and on-site services. Little said residents reviewed the original proposal and that the housing authority will continue resident outreach during the next two months before the funding application is filed in December. The team said there is an existing laundry facility in the administration building and the revised design includes a second, larger laundry room near the center of the site. Accessible (ADA) units were described as having in-unit washer and dryer hookups; project staff said they expect three or four units to be fully accessible with in‑unit laundry hookups.

Project schedule and next steps

The immediate procedural step is a Planning Board hearing on the minor modification request. The project team intends to finalize design, submit the funding application for the annual Rhode Island Housing 9% tax credit round in December and await awards around March–April. Partners said they would return to the Town Council to request letters of support when the funding application is filed.

Costs and financing

The team said the redevelopment expects to rely principally on 9% low-income housing tax credits administered by Rhode Island Housing and other common affordable‑housing capital sources. Little and Shea emphasized the project’s cash-flow advantages because public housing assistance would transfer to the new units, improving project revenue assumptions compared with many new, non‑public projects.

Outlook

Project partners said they remain committed and optimistic that the design adjustments improve the project’s competitiveness for state tax credits. Council members welcomed the update and said they expect continued resident engagement and requests for formal council support when the funding application is filed.

Ending

Pending local approvals and a successful tax credit award, the housing authority’s team said it plans to proceed to construction, with more detailed drawings and a council briefing to follow as funding and permits are obtained.","South Kingstown Housing Authority and partners described a revised Champaign Heights redevelopment — cutting buildings while keeping total units — and outlined next steps to secure 9% low-income housing tax credit funding and local approvals.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: South Kingstown council actions Sept. 8, 2025

South Kingstown school building committee reports enabling site work complete, bids and soils update

Town officials: Ram Point riparian dock lease will not be renewed; master plan for Marina Park recommended

South Kingstown council hears data on water ban, usage peaks and well‑field options

South Kingstown housing authority unveils revised Champaign Heights plan to win state funding