In accordance with notice to members of the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council, a meeting was held on Tuesday, November 25, 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
Patricia Reynolds
Joseph Russolino
Michael Reuter, DPM
Kevin Flynn
Steven Izzi

Staff Present
Jeffrey M. Willis, Executive Director
Laura Miguel, Deputy Director
Leah Feldman, Coastal Policy Analyst
Bruce Lofgren, Coastal Policy Analyst
Anthony DeSisto Legal Counsel
Mark Hartmann, Assoc Legal Counsel
Laura Dwyer, Education/Information Coordinator
Ryan Moore, IT
Lisa Turner, Recording Secretary

1. CALL TO ORDER

Chair Coia called the meeting to order at 6:13 p.m.

2. Review/Action of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting

The Council considered approval of the October 28, 2025 meeting minutes.

Motion: Second: Vote: Outcome: Mr. Russolino
Ms. Reynolds
All in favor.

Motion passed. October 28, 2025 Semimonthly Meeting minutes approved.

3. Subcommittee Reports

Mr. Willis reported:

The ROW Subcommittee meeting was held and the legal recommendation for Buttonwoods ROW was discussed and the two parties have been given the opportunity to respond to recommendation by January 16th at 3:59 p.m.

The ROW Subcommittee will hold a third public hearing on the proposed ROW, Spring Avenue Extension The evidentiary hearing has been scheduled for January 6, 2025.

4. Staff Reports

Mr. Willis Reported:

• NOAA awarded a grant for the removal of the pilings remaining in the Providence River after the removal of the Point Street Bridge. Thank you to Bruce Lofgren for his work on securing this grant award.
• SouthCoast Wind Project was awarded the ability toe enter into a PPA with RI and MA in August. Since then, and for reasons unknown to us, RI Energy has pulled out of negotiations. CRMC will still review the cable application as Rhode Island will still benefit in some ways by the project such as infrastructure improvements on Aquidneck Island and Town of Portsmouth. Mr. Willis explained that staff is about ¾ done with the review of the SoCo Wind cable application. Discussion on compensation and Fishermen’s Advisory Board involving FAB contracting legal counsel.

5. Rights of Way Subcommittee Recommendation before the Council for Review and Action:

2023-03-069 TOWN OF WESTERLY – Proposed CRMC ROW designation of Everett Avenue in the Watch Hill section of Westerly.

Anthony DeSisto, Legal Counsel, summary:

• Provided a report and recommendation to the Council and explained the long designation history. The request for public ROW for Everett Avenue had been reviewed and voted on by ROW Subcommittee for designation between 1978 – 1980 in which it was approved for designation on January 30, 1980 by the CRMC Council.
• In August of 1980, there was a question on designation as abutters brought more questions and asked to provide further documentation against the designation, which was never submitted.
• With the recent request of the Town of Westerly to revisit this ROW designation and the additional information received from Anthony Palazzolo, Mr. DeSisto stated that the recommendation was to approve Everett Avenue, Westerly, as a CRMC state designated ROW.

William Conley, Westerly Town Solicitor, addressed the Council stating that the Town agreed withthe CRMC Legal Counsel recommendation and asked that they accept the designation of EverettAvenue.

Anthony Palazzolo, Westerly property owner and would be user of Everett Avenue if designated,also spoke in favor of CRMC accepting and designating Everett Avenue as a CRMC state designatedROW. Mr. Palazzolo also suggested other proposed ROW for review by the Subcommittee: NianticAvenue, Waters Edge (aka Meadow Lane), Ninigret Pond.

No further questions and no Council discussion.

Council Discussion and Motion:

• No further Council discussion
• Motion: Mr. Izzi motioned for the dedication of Everett Avenue in the Town of Westerly as a designated ROW to the tidal waters of Rhode Island.
• Seconded: Mr. Gagnon and Mr. Russolino

Chair Coia did a roll call vote:
Mr. Flynn Aye
Mr. Izzi Aye
Mr. Russolino Aye
Dr. Reuter Aye
Mr. Gagnon Aye
Ms. Reynolds Aye
Chair Coia Aye

Motion carried with unanimous approval.

Outcome: Motion passed.

6. Council Review and Action on of a Technical Amendment to Previously Adopted CRMC Proposed Rulemaking:

Title of Rule: Management Procedures (650-RICR-10-00-1)
Rulemaking Authority: R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 46-23 et seq.

Summary of Rulemaking Action:

The Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) has proposed two amendments to the Management Procedures Program, 650-RICR-10-00-1.2(B) Meetings and Members and 650-RICR- 10-00-1.4.6(A)(22) CAD Cell Disposal Fee.

Management Procedures Program 650-RICR-10-00-1.2(B) Meetings and Members

R.I. General Law § 46-23-2 Coastal Resources Management Council – Appointment of Members and R.I. General Law § 46-23—4 Officers of the Council - Quorum and Vote Required for Action was recently amended by the General Assembly in 2025 (see Senate Bill 0998 Substitute A and House Bill 6126 Substitute A). The amendments reduce the number of Coastal Resources Management Council members from ten (10) to seven (7). The amendment at 46-23.4 also reduces the number of members required for a quorum from six (6) to four (4). The General Assembly requires the CRMC to initiate rulemaking within 30 days of the date of passage. To implement this legislation, Section 1.2(B) Meetings and Members of the Management Procedures (650-RICR-10.00.1) is proposed to be amended to reduce the quorum requirements of the Council from six (6) members to four (4) members pursuant to § 46-23-2(b).

CRMC previously adopted language in red strikethrough and the proposed technical revision language in underlined blue.

1.2 Meetings and Members

A. The regular meeting schedule, unless changed by the Chairman or the Vice Chairman, shall consist of the second (2nd) and fourth (4th) Tuesday of the months of September through June and only the fourth (4th) Tuesday in July and August.

B. Pursuant to § 46-23-4 a quorum shall consist of four (4) members of the council. The quorum of the Council shall be pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 46-23-4.

CRMC Coastal Policy Analyst, Bruce Lofgren, addressed the Council explaining that the regulatory change before them had previously been approved in October 2025. However, when provided to the office of Management and Budget, there was confusion as to the quorum language. The proposed technical amendment language is to strike “a quorum shall consist of four members of the Council” and add “the quorum of the Council shall be pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws.”

Mr. Lofgren stated that CRMC staff supports the technical amendments and ask that the Council adopt the language and we will resubmit to the office of OMB.

Council Motion:

Motion: Mr. Russolino to adopt the technical amendment as presented by the staff and direct the CRMC staff to resubmit the final rule to OMB and SLF.

Seconded: Mr. Flynn

Chair Coia did a roll call vote:
Mr. Flynn Aye
Mr. Izzi Aye
Mr. Russolino Aye
Dr. Reuter Aye
Mr. Gagnon Aye
Ms. Reynolds Aye
Chair Coia Aye

Motion carried with unanimous approval.

Outcome: Motion passed.

6. ADJOURN

Motion to adjourn:
Motion: Mr. Russolino
Second: Mr. Izzi

Motion to adjourn approved on a unanimous voice vote.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 pm.

 

Minutes respectfully submitted,
Lisa A. Turner, Recording Secretary

 

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