In accordance with notice to members of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, Right- of-Way Subcommittee a meeting was held on Tuesday, March 26, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. in Conference Room A, Administration Building, One Capitol Hill, Providence, RI.

Subcommittee Members Present
Jennifer Cervenka, Chair
Ron Gagnon, RIDEM
Trish Reynolds

Staff Present
Grover Fugate, Executive Director
Anthony DeSisto, Legal Counsel

1. CALL TO ORDER

Chair Cervenka called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.

2. Citizen-Generated Report In Support Of Buttonwoods Avenue And Andrew Comstock Road In The Buttonwoods (Warwick) Fire District As Candidates For CRMC-Designated Rights-Of-Way

Attorney DeSisto gave a brief overview of the framework set up to designate a public ROW explaining that this particular inquiry was by citizen request – Richard and Jo-Ann Langseth. Attorney DeSisto stated that his meeting was for discussion purposes only.

Attorney DeSisto informed the subcommittee members that Mr. and Mrs. Langseth have been researching the Buttonwoods ROW for many years and have worked with CRMC staff member Kevin Cute.

Also present was Peter Dorsey, President of Buttonwoods Beach Association to provide the Association’s viewpoint on the ROW research.

Mr. Langseth gave an overview of his research stating that all the streets were considered public city streets and citing the following documents:

January Session, 1925
Rules and Regulations of Old Buttonwoods Fire District
Petition for Abandonment of F Avenue
RIDOT document – Buttonwoods Avenue had been funded by federal government
Buttonwoods Fire District Minutes

Mr. Langseth stated that police are set up at certain locations to prevent people from accessing area.

Mr. Langseth specified his request to have ROW signs at the intersections of Buttonwoods and Promenade and Buttonwoods and Comstock but the actual ROW would be further down the street at the water. At this time, the signs are these buttonwood intersections say citizens and members only.

Mr. Langseth referenced superior court case Clark vs Buttonwoods Beach Association; August 2017.

Buttonwoods Assocation

Peter Dorsey, President of Buttonwoods Beach Association, addressed the Council making sure both sides were represented. Mr. Dorsey refuted many representations presented by Mr. Langseth and provided documentation pertaining to street ownership – 2004 City of Warwick Sewer project and documents from Snow Removal contractor confirming contract with BBA.

Mr. Dorsey referred to the Buttonwoods Beach Fire District Charter – Section 4 giving the Fire District the right to tax the residents of the fire district which helps to pay for maintenance and rebuilding of the roads.

Chair Cervenka stated that further meetings will be scheduled after more research had been done.

CRMC Legal Counsel will also research land ownership and report to Subcommittee.

3. ADJOURN

Motion to Adjourn:
Motion: Mr. Gagnon
Second: Ms. Reynolds
Motion carried on unanimous voice vote.

Meeting adjourned at: 6:00 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Lisa A. Turner
Recording Secretary

CALENDAR INDEX