In accordance with notice to member of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, a virtual meeting was held on Tuesday, February 23, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. utilizing Zoom Webinar, and Council members participating remotely.

Members Present
Jennifer Cervenka, Chair
Raymond Coia, Vice Chair
Donald Gomez
Jerry Sahagian
Joy Montanaro
Ronald Gagnon, RIDEM
Michael Hudner

Excused
Trish Reynolds

Staff Present
Jeffrey Willis, Executive Director
James Boyd, Deputy Director
Anthony DeSisto, Legal Counsel
Ryan Moore, Moderator
Lisa Turner, Office Manager, Recording Secretary
Cindy Tangney, Court Reporter

1. CALL TO ORDER

Chair Cervenka called the meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. and identified the participants of the meeting, Council Members, Staff members, and applicants. The Chair stated that the meeting would be recorded.

2. Ryan Moore, Meeting Moderator, briefed participants on the meeting housekeeping items.

3. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING

Chair Cervenka called for a motion regarding the minutes for the February 9, 2021 Semi-monthly Meeting.

Motion approve the minutes of 02-09-2021.

Motion: Vice Chair Coia
Second: Mr. Hudner
Roll Call Vote:
Vice Chair Coia Aye
Mr. Gomez Aye
Mr. Gagnon Aye
Ms. Montanaro Aye
Mr. Sahagian Aye
Mr. Hudner Aye
Chair Cervenka Aye

Motion Carried to approved minutes from 02-09-2021 meeting.

4. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS:

Raso Aquaculture matter – post hearing briefs have been files with CRMC and posted on CRMC webpage and available – workshop to be held on 03-08 at 10;00 a.m.

5. STAFF REPORTS:

• Stay Agreement agreed upon with South Fork Wind Farm until May 12, 2021 to continue negotiations for agreement with the mitigation plan;
• New CRMC employee, Odetta Morris will begin working on March 1, 2021in the CRMC position of Engineering Tech III.
• Received approval from Dept of Administration to advertise for CRMC’s Coastal Geologist position.
• Coastal Policy Analyst Interviews will proceed the first week of March.
• Block Island cable order is on track with the cable being laid next week after being a bit delayed by weather conditions regarding boat delivering equipment from England.

Mr. Sahagian asked Mr. Willis about CRMC retaining Attorney Dan Prentiss for Vineyard Wind. There was discussion about having a discussion in Executive Session at the Council’s next Semimonthly Meeting.

6. Right- of –Way Subcommittee Recommendations before the Full Council for Review and Decision: Town of North Kingstown:

2002-04-080 Allen Harbor Complex - Allen Harbor is a lot running on the northwesterly side of Bruce Boyer Street, approximately Eighteen Hundred Seventy (1870’) feet along said street, bordering on the westerly side by Allen Harbor. It consists of approximately 8.8 acres and is located in the Town of North Kingstown and is known as Lot 2 on Assessor’s Plat 194.

2002-04-081 Town Wharf – Town Wharf is a wharf located at the end of Main Street in the Town or North Kingstown. It consists of a wharf facility jutting into Wickford Cove, on the Westerly shore of Wickford Cove. It is known as Lot 257 and Plat 117 and consists of approximately Forty-four Thousand Three Hundred (44300’) square feet.

2002-04-082 Wilson Park – Wilson Park is a lot located at the norther terminus of Intrepid Drive. The property consists of approximately 7.15 acres. It is bordered on three sides by Mill Cove and is shown as Lot 35 on Assessor’s Plat 118.

Mr. DeSisto gave a brief overview of the three Rights of Ways (ROWs) stating that they are very unique in that the Town was asking for entire parcels be designated at ROWs. Mr. DeSisto commended the Town of North Kingstown for their forward thinking in providing indefinite public access for everyone in these areas.

Mr. DeSisto stated that the parcels were nominated by the Town of North Kingstown in 2002 and that title searches were done, public hearing were held within the community by the ROW Subcommittee and that the ROW Subcommittee recommended designation. Mr. DeSisto stated that there was a second request submitted by the Town of North Kingstown when process was not completed. Mr. DeSisto reviewed all of the previous materials and recommendations and stated that documentation and land titles were clean and in order.

Mr. DeSisto stated that the ROW Subcommittee voted to recommend that they be designated as ROWs to state waters by CRMC.

Chair Cervenka asked for Council Questions

Mr. Hudner asked if there would be any changes to the current status of the ROW. Mr. DeSisto stated that future public access could not be limited by future Town Council’s as the property would be designated by CRMC making it open to the entire public.

Chair Cervenka stated that the designation of the ROWs was consistent with Mr. Willis’ priority for this year in designating more ROW in coastal communities. Mr. Willis confirmed for Chair Cervenka that CRMC has designated 200 ROW to date and that CRMC’s goal is to have 420 ROWs designated which would equate to one CRMC designated ROW per every mile of RI coastal shoreline. Mr. Willis stated that there were 10 more ROW in the queue for designation.

Mr. DeSisto explained the ROW Designation process.

Chair Cervenka confirmed that the ROW Subcommittee approved a motion to forward the three North Kingstown ROWs for approval by the Council and for the Council to accept the report prepared for the Subcommittee. Mr. DeSisto added that the decision would be forwarded to the RI Secretary of State office to be included in their list for Public Rights of Ways.

There were no further questions from the Council

Chair Cervenka opened the Public Comment section of the meeting.

No comments being heard, public comment portion closed

Mr. DeSisto confirmed for Mr. Gomez that the three ROWs could be considered with one motion and vote as was done by the North Kingstown Town Committees.

Mr. Gomez motioned to accept the report of Subcommittee and to accept all three parcels of land: Allen Harbor, Wilson Park and Town Wharf as CRMC designated Rights of Ways.

Chair Cervenka clarified that the motion was to accept the ROW Subcommittee report, to designate the three parcels of land as CRMC ROWs and to transmit the Council decision to the RI Secretary of State office.

Mr. Sahagian seconded the motion.

Roll Call Vote:
Vice Chair Coia Aye
Mr. Gomez Aye
Mr. Gagnon Aye
Ms. Montanaro Aye
Mr. Sahagian Aye
Mr. Hudner Aye
Chair Cervenka Aye

Motion carried to accept the ROW Subcommittee report, designate the three ROWs and send the decision to the RI Secretary of State office.

Mr. Sahagian asked to confirm that there would be a discussion regarding retaining Attorney Dan Prentiss as the next Council meeting. Mr. DeSisto stated that, in Executive Session at the next Council meeting, he would give a litigation report and will bring up all the issues as requested by Mr. Sahagian.

Chair Cervenka stated that she would not attend the next Council meetings Executive Session as she was recused from this matter.

8. ADJOURN

Motion: Chair Cervenka
Second: Mr. Hudner
Motion to adjourn carried.

Meeting adjourned at 6:35 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Lisa A. Turner
Recording Secretary

 

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