The North Kingstown Town Council on multiple unanimous voice votes approved liquor license renewals, an expansion of premises for Buttercup at 4 Brown Street, new no-parking limits on Lafayette Road, amendments to Chapter 21 on sign and awning rules and historic zoning, and adopted a proclamation honoring Colonel Adam G. Wiggins. The council also passed a first reading of proposed amendments to municipal tax-exemption sections and set a public hearing date for that matter.

The actions were taken largely without public comment; the clerk reported no speakers signed up for the hearings on the listed items. President Mancini opened and closed the hearings, and motions were moved and seconded by council members before being approved by voice vote.

Why it matters: These votes change local parking and sign regulations, allow a specific liquor-premises expansion, and move proposed changes to property-tax exemption rules forward to public hearing. The approvals for Chapter 21 amendments and the Lafayette Road parking limits will affect local businesses and motorists; the tax-exemption changes will return to council after the required public notice and hearing.

Most important outcomes

Votes at a glance
- Alcoholic beverage renewals — Motion to open public hearing, close with no speakers, motion to approve renewals approved by voice vote (unanimous). (Recorded during the meeting as routine renewals.)
- Buttercup (expansion of premises, 4 Brown Street) — Public hearing opened and closed with no public comment; motion to approve expansion passed by voice vote (unanimous).
- Proposed no-parking limits, Lafayette Road (amendment to section 11.37) — Second reading/public hearing opened and closed with no public comment; motion to approve new no-parking limits passed by voice vote (unanimous).
- Amendments to Chapter 21 (signs, awning signs) — Public hearing opened and closed with no speakers; motion to approve proposed amendments passed by voice vote (unanimous).
- Amendments to Chapter 21 (historic zoning) — Second reading; public hearing opened and closed with no speakers; motion to approve proposed amendments passed by voice vote (unanimous).
- Proclamation for Colonel Adam G. Wiggins (Rhode Island Air National Guard) — Council approved a proclamation commending his service and authorized presentation to the colonel at Joint Force facilities in East Greenwich; motion passed by voice vote (unanimous).
- Item 18 (vacating/vacillating license involving North Kingstown United Methodist Church) — Dr. Page recused herself because she serves on that church's board of trustees; the council approved the item by voice vote (unanimous, with recusal recorded).
- First reading: Amendments to sections 19.26, 19.27 and 19.29 (property tax-exemption changes) — Council passed the first reading; public hearing set for Nov. 17 and advertising to occur for two consecutive weeks prior to that meeting.
- Resolution delaying property-tax payment deadlines for certain federal employees affected by the federal funding lapse — Passed by voice vote (unanimous); text amended to replace the word “headquarters” with “facilities.”

What the council said and did
President Mancini conducted the hearings and called the voice votes. Councilor McCoy introduced the proclamation for Colonel Adam G. Wiggins and moved the first-reading ordinance changes to property-tax-exemption sections. The clerk reported no public testimony for the license renewals, Buttercup expansion, Lafayette Road parking changes, or the Chapter 21 amendments before the council voted.

Procedure and next steps
The council advanced the property-tax-exemption amendments from first reading and scheduled a public hearing for Nov. 17. Items approved administratively (license renewals, Buttercup expansion, zoning and parking rule amendments) take effect according to the town’s standard implementation procedures. The proclamation for Colonel Wiggins will be presented at Joint Force facilities in East Greenwich, with date coordination to follow.

Ending note: Several votes were unanimous by voice; where a council member recused (Item 18), the recusal was announced on the record. The Nov. 17 public hearing will be the venue for public comment on the proposed property-exemption changes.