In accordance with notice to members of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, Rights- of-Way Subcommittee, a meeting was held on Tuesday, April 25, 2023 at 5:21 p.m. located at the Administration Building, Conference Room A, One Capitol Hill, Providence, RI.

Members Present
Raymond Coia, Chair
Ronald Gagnon

Staff Present
Jeffrey Willis, Executive Director
Laura Miguel, Deputy Director
Anthony DeSisto, Legal Counsel
Mark Hartman, Asst Legal Counsel
Lisa Turner, Recording Secretary

1. CALL TO ORDER

Chair Coia brought the meeting to order at 5:21 p.m.

2. Staff Report

Mr. Willis reported to the Subcommittee the status of potential sites that will be available for the Subcommittee to review soon.

• Warren has a number of sites.
• Westerly has four sites.
• Warwick in the Buttonwoods area.

3. Status update on Spring Avenue.

Mr. DeSisto requested that the Spring Avenue ROW process be streamlined as there was a large quantity of information submitted to date.

• Michael Rubin was present representing Caroline Contrata of Westerly for the opening of ROW.
• William Conley, Westerly Town Solicitor was present for the Town, willing to assist parties and subcommittee.

Both attorneys stated that they were willing to meet to hammer out Agreed Statement of Facts for submittal at a reasonable deadline set by the Subcommittee.

Richard Langseth, Budlong Farm Road of Warwick was present asked that the Subcommittee set a date certain for information and if the Weekapaug Fire District does not respond the subcommittee should move forward accordingly.

Thomas Macelli addressed the Subcommittee stating that he was surprised that access to beach blocked and that a guard at the Weekapaug Public Access point keeps people from the beach.

Bob Goulet, summer resident of Westerly, stated that he was in favor of restoring Spring Avenue ROW; Picture submitted for marking as exhibit.

Ben Webber addressed the Subcommittee and asked that the ROW be restored as many people are reliant on ROW for public access to using the shoreline which is Rhode Islanders constitutional right.

Christen Martino of Westerly stated that they were denied access to the shoreline from neighbors who stated that there was no public access to the shoreline. Asks the Council to move forward to prevent a precedent being set.

LoriAnn Sharon addressed the Subcommittee stating that the shoreline should be available to all and that ROW/public access should be preserved for future generations.

Recess for a few minutes.

Mr. DeSisto stated that a schedule would be set for public hearings at the second May meeting so hopefully can start in June.

Mr. DeSisto talked about an Agreed Statement of Facts being submitted to streamline the hearing and make testimony go a lot faster and replace the need for preliminaries.

Mr. Gagnon motioned for an update on agreed statement of facts be submitted and for hearing dates in June.
Seconded by Chair Coia.
Motion carried unanimously.

Mr. Rubin stated that he was trying to hire an esteemed title expert and was not sure he could be retained until early June and will he have enough time in time for a June hearing. Mr. Rubin’s side doing this on probono basis.

Mr. DeSisto stated that the schedule of meetings would be set at the meeting on May 23rd. Mr. DeSisto stated that there would be advanced notice for the ROW meetings in Westerly.

Mr. Gagnon motioned to adjourn with a second from Chair Coia.

Meeting adjourned at 5:50 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Lisa A. Turner
Recording Secretary

Meeting can be viewed at the CRMC YouTube channel

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