In accordance with notice to members of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, a meeting was held on Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. located at the Administration Building, Conference Room A, One Capitol Hill, Providence, RI.

Members Present
Raymond Coia, Chair
Ronald Gagnon, DEM
Donald Gomez
Stephen Izzi
Kevin Flynn
Joseph Russolino

Staff Present
Jeffrey M. Willis, Executive Director
Laura Miguel, Deputy Director
Richard Lucia, Environmental Engineer IV
Anthony DeSisto Legal Counsel
Mark Hartman, Assoc Legal Counsel
Lisa Turner, Recording Secretary
Ryan Moore, IT
Bruce Lofgren
Kevin Sloan

 

1. CALL TO ORDER

Chair Coia called the meeting to order at 6:10 p.m.

3. Review/Action of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting – December 10, 2024

Motion: Mr. Russolino
Second: Mr. Flynn
Motion carried.

4. Staff Reports

Mr. Willis gave a brief overview of the following:

• Wind Farm Executive Order pauses new leases for offshore wind but there are several leases allowed in Northeast that have federal permits in hand.
  • SouthCoast Wind’s export cable into RI waters up the Sakonnet River across Portsmouth and into Mt
    Hope Bay
  • Revolution Wind – Federal and State Project – laying cable up west passage making way to Quonset
  • Starboard Wind – secured lease from Federal Govt – beginning stages of planning farm

• CRMC sent out a Solicitation document for the Fishermen’s Advisory Board searching for volunteers.

• The report for the NOAA Evaluation done in Fall of 2024 should be in hand by next week or week after; however, the draft report disclosed good news for the agency.

5. Subcommittee Reports

Chair Coia introduced the Planning and Procedures Subcommittee’s Recommended Decision - for review and action:

1. 2024-04-071 Quidnessett Country Club (QCC) Petition for Change to Map of Water Type Classification
for North Kingstown (north).

Mr. DeSisto explained to the Full Council the parameters of the QCC petition as well as the process for its review by staff and the Subcommittee. Mr. DeSisto stated that prior to this meeting, the Planning and Procedures Subcommittee adopted written recommendations which had been forwarded to the Full Council. Mr. DeSisto stated that the written recommendation is to deny the application.

There were no questions from the Council for Mr. DeSisto or CRMC staff.

Mr. DeSisto stated that the matter was in order for a motion.

The Council opted to not allow discussion on the matter as there had four meetings in front of the Subcommittee.

Chair Coia stated that the Subcommittee report was ready for motion and vote.

Mr. Russolino motioned to adopt the recommendation of the Planning and Procedures Subcommittee to deny the petition for regulation changing water type classification from Type 1 Conservation waters to Type 2 Low Intensity use classification.

Mr. Flynn seconded the motion.

Roll call vote by Chair Coia:
Mr. Flynn Aye
Mr. Izzi Aye
Mr. Russolino Aye
Mr. Gagnon Aye
Ms. Reynolds Aye
Chair Coia Aye

Motion carried on unanimous vote. Recommendation of the Subcommittee adopted by the full Council

6. Applications which have been Out-To-Notice and are before the Council for Review and Action:

2024-09-054 TOWN OF PORTSMOUTH – As-Built 600 ft Structural Shoreline Protection Facility on
bluff adjacent to Narragansett Avenue between Edda Avenue and Alice Avenue Prudence Island.

Present for the applicant was Brian Woodhead, Portsmouth DPW Director, and Timothy Piacentini of VHB. Both were sworn in and identified themselves for the record.

Mr. Lucia addressed the Council and stated:

• The project was originally approved as an Emergency Maintenance Assent and construction was
  completed soon after the Assent was issued.
• Maintenance Assent stipulated that an application for assent be submitted for shoreline structure.
• Stairs down the riprap revetment were required to be removed but could be reapplied for by the Town of Portsmouth.
• CRMC Staff had no objections to the project and recommended approval.

Mr. Woodhead stated that the Town of Portsmouth agreed with the CRMC staff report and stipulation for stairs explaining that the Prudence Island Homestead Owners Association would also be applicant with the Town of Portsmouth.

There was no one in attendance to speak for or against the application. Chair Coia asked for a motion.

Mr. Flynn made a motion to accept the staff’s recommendation of approval based on the testimony heard and the staff report.

Mr. Izzi and Ms. Reynolds both seconded the motion.

No discussion

Roll call vote by Chair Coia:
Mr. Flynn Aye
Mr. Izzi Aye
Mr. Russolino Aye
Mr. Gagnon Aye
Ms. Reynolds Aye
Chair Coia Aye

Motion carried on unanimous vote.

7. Executive Session pursuant to RIGL § 42-46-5(a)(2), Litigation; Discussion and possible action regarding decision rendered in Dumplings v CRMC and SHM Jamestown Boatyard, C.A. No.: PC- 2021-00296.

Mr. Izzi motioned for the Council to go into Executive Session
Seconded by Mr. Russolino.

Roll call vote by Chair Coia:
Mr. Flynn Aye
Mr. Izzi Aye
Mr. Russolino Aye
Mr. Gagnon Aye
Ms. Reynolds Aye
Chair Coia Aye

Motion carried on unanimous vote

Discussion amongst the Council Members.

Mr. Izzi motioned to come out of Executive Session. Seconded by Ms. Reynolds.

Roll call vote by Chair Coia:
Mr. Flynn Aye
Mr. Izzi Aye
Mr. Russolino Aye
Mr. Gagnon Aye
Ms. Reynolds Aye
Chair Coia Aye

Motion carried on unanimous vote

Ms. Reynolds motioned to seal the minutes of the Executive Session. Seconded by Mr. Russolino.

Roll call vote by Chair Coia:
Mr. Flynn Aye
Mr. Izzi Aye
Mr. Russolino Aye
Mr. Gagnon Aye
Ms. Reynolds Aye
Chair Coia Aye

Motion carried on unanimous vote

Mr. Flynn made a motion that the Council advise Attorney DeSisto to act in accordance with discussion held in the Executive Session.
Seconded by Mr. Izzi.

Roll call vote by Chair Coia:
Mr. Flynn Aye
Mr. Izzi Aye
Mr. Russolino Aye
Mr. Gagnon Aye
Ms. Reynolds Aye
Chair Coia Aye

Motion carried on unanimous vote

 

7. ADJOURN

Motion to adjourn:

Motion: Ms. Reynolds
Second: Mr. Gagnon

Motion to adjourn approved on a unanimous voice vote.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:39 pm.

 

Minutes respectfully submitted,

Lisa A. Turner
Recording Secretary

 

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