CRMC Chairman confirmed by Senate

June 20, 2008, WAKEFIELD – The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council’s Chairman Michael M. Tikoian was confirmed by the full state Senate on June 18 for another three-year term ending January 31, 2011. This is Tikoian’s fifth term as head of the Council.

Originally appointed to the Council in 1993 by former Governor Bruce Sundlun, Tikoian, of Narragansett, was re-appointed by former Governor Lincoln Almond and then appointed chairman of the Council in 1997 and now by Governor Donald Carcieri. Before his formal confirmation by the Senate, Tikoian went before the Senate Committee on Environment and Agriculture, chaired by Sen. V. Susan Sosnowski, on June 11, to receive a recommendation for re-appointment.

Officials who testified on behalf of Tikoian included former RI State Police Col. Steven Pare; Sen. Dennis Algiere (R-Westerly); Rep. Jan Malik (D-Barrington, Warren), chair of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee; Myrna George, president of the South County Tourism Council; Nancy Dodge, Block Island town manager; Jane Austin of Save The Bay; and CRMC vice-chair Paul Lemont and Council members Neill Gray and Don Gomez.

During his tenure as chairman of the Council, Tikoian has been involved in numerous initiatives and has been an integral part of the changes that have transpired within the CRMC. His accomplishments include promulgating regulations for the review of all activities concerning freshwater wetlands within the coastal zone, and coordinating the state’s review of the Army Corps of Engineers’ Environmental Impact Statement for the Providence River and Harbor Maintenance Dredging project. During Tikoian’s tenure, the CRMC has worked on revisions to the Narrow River and Salt Ponds Region Special Area Management Plans (SAMPs) and adopted the Greenwich Bay SAMP. Under his leadership, the CRMC has transformed itself from a permitting-heavy agency to a more policy-driven one, through the adoption of the Marine Resources Development Plan in 2006. The CRMC is also currently updating the former Providence Harbor SAMP – now called the Metro Bay SAMP – which provides management guidelines for shoreline development projects in the cities of Cranston East Providence Pawtucket and Providence. In 2006, the chairman also instituted the Coastal Education Series to educate Council members and the public about management issues and other agencies and groups that work with the CRMC. The education takes place at each semi-monthly Council meeting, and to date has introduced nearly 30 topics and speakers on all coastal, policy and planning topics.

“I am honored to have been reappointed by Governor Carcieri to serve the people of this state for another three years,” Tikoian said. “As a steward of the state’s coastal resources, I will continue to strive to continue the mission of the CRMC as mandated by its enabling legislation: to preserve, protect, develop and where possible, restore the coastal resources of the state for this and succeeding generations.

“We have accomplished so much in the last three years, and I look forward to continuing that progressive work with the help of the CRMC staff, Council members and public.”