In accordance with notice to member of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, Rights-of-Way Subcommittee, a virtual meeting was held on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 5:45 p.m. utilizing Zoom Webinar, and Council members participating remotely.

Members Present
Jennifer Cervenka, Chair
Ronald Gagnon
Patricia Reynolds

Staff Present
Jeffrey Willis, Executive Director
James Boyd, Deputy Director
Anthony DeSisto, Legal Counsel
Lisa Turner, Office Manager, Recording Secretary

1. CALL TO ORDER

Chair Cervenka called the meeting to order at 5:45 p.m. and identified the participants of the meeting, Council Members, Staff members, and applicants. The Chair stated that the meeting would be recorded.

Mr. Willis acted as moderator as well as presenter.

2. Potential ROWs for review in 2021

Mr. Willis briefed the Council and explained the meeting would be informational only and that future meetings will be more in-depth requiring a longer meeting time.

Mr. Willis explained that during the course of the year several potential ROW were brought to CRMC attention by municipalities along with requests by said municipalities to review as Right-of-Ways to the shore. See List below:

• Portsmouth
• Providence
• South Kingstown
• Westerly
• Buttonwoods Warwick Member of the public

Mr. Willis confirmed for Chair Cervenka that the requests were received by municipalities with the exception of the Buttonwoods Warwick ROW which was brought to CRMC attention by a private citizen.

Mr. DeSisto clarified that CRMC would not be creating the ROW’s as they already exist through easements or historically used pathways. Municipalities usually provide the researched information and ask CRMC to step in and make it an official ROW.

Mr. DeSisto explained the process:

• Subcommittee will hold a public hearing in the City/Town of ROW location with City/Town official and members of the public
• At the hearing, the Subcommittee will hear testimony and documents will be introduced
• The Subcommittee will have a workshop to review the information and a Recommendation will be created to present to the Full Council
• The Full Council will be presented the ROW Subcommittee Recommendation at a Semimonthly
• Meeting where they will review and make a decision.

3. North Kingstown ROW’s -- Allen Harbor, Town Wharf, Wilson Park

Mr. Willis explained that the three North Kingstown ROWs listed on the Agenda has been through the above process.

Mr. DeSisto will write a Subcommittee Report and Recommendation for the Subcommittee to review and submit to the Full Council with a potential date being the February 23, 2021 Semimonthly Meeting.

Mr. Willis stated that the Buttonwoods ROW research was well underway with support from the local municipality.

Mr. DeSisto explained that the local municipalities have been showing quite an interest in pursuing confirmation of ROW that we have many requests received. Mr. DeSisto discussed with the Subcommittee members the possibility of utilizing the Roger William University Law students to assist with the legwork (title work) under Mr. DeSisto’s supervision.

Chair Cervenka clarified that this meeting was information and to discuss the ROW process going forward, and asked if anyone had questions about process or how to proceed from here.

Barbara Ray of the North Kingstown Harbor Management office asked about grants.
Becky from the Town of North Kingstown thanked the Subcommittee for working with the Town of North Kingstown to finalize the ROW confirmation.

Richard Langseth of Warwick was happy that the ROW subcommittee will be working with this effort on the Buttonwoods situation and offered his help.

Meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Lisa A. Turner
Recording Secretary

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