Minutes

Rights of Way (ROW) Subcommittee Meeting — Tuesday, April 28, 2026; 5:30 p.m.
Administration Building, Conference Room A, One Capitol Hill, Providence, RI

 

ROW Subcommittee Members Present: Raymond Coia; Patricia Reynolds; Ronald Gagnon
Staff Members Present: Laura Miguel, Deputy Director; Ryan Moore, IT; Lisa Turner, Recording Secretary

1. Approval of Minutes from February 10, 2026 and April 13, 2026

Approval of 02-10-2026 meeting minutes:
Motion: Mr. Gagnon
Second: Chair Coia
Chair Coia called the roll for motion to approve 02-10-2026 minutes:
Mr. Gagnon: Aye
Chair Coia: Aye

Approval of 4-13-2026 meeting minutes:
Motion: Mr. Gagnon
Second: Chair Coia
Chair Coia called the roll for motion to approve 04-13-2026 minutes:
Mr. Gagnon: Aye
Chair Coia: Aye

2. Update on scheduling a Public Hearing on the Buttonwoods Matter

Attorney DeSisto addressed the Subcommittee on the following:

• Next step in the process would be to forward this matter for public hearing in City of Warwick.
• Contact City of Warwick for public space to hold meeting.

Attorney D’Ovidio recalled that at the previous meeting:

• The subcommittee voted for CRMC Legal Counsel to prepare a report regarding the and allow parties to respond to report.
• There was no recommendation that it go to public hearing.
• Subsequently, he sent a report to CRMC and Legal Counsel explaining why the Buttonwoods Fire District did not agree that there was incipient dedication.

Richard Langseth addressed the subcommittee and provided historical information from King George prior to 1776 to 1902 when the State Board of Public Roads was established for the development of a state highway system; and that he believed there was dedication through the state highway system process.

Attorney D’Ovidio countered that pre-colonial law did not automatically flow into RI Law and that the General Assembly has the ability to take a road but cannot accept a road. Attorney D’Ovidio also stated that the ROW process requires a dedication and an acceptance – neither of which have happened in this instance.

Discussion was had regarding the hearing process and it was requested to have clarity of process for understanding.

Attorney DeSisto stated that he would go through the record to see what the final action of the Subcommittee was and recommended to the Subcommittee to continue at the next meeting. Attorney DeSisto stated that Mr. Langseth’s motion would also be discussed at the next meeting.

Motion to continue meeting for the reading of the prior record:
Motion: Mr. Gagnon
Second: Chair Coia Aye
Mr. Gagnon: Chair Coia: Aye

3. Adjournment

Motion: Mr. Gagnon
Second: Chair Coia
Motion to adjourn approved on a unanimous voice vote.

Minutes provided by L. Turner, Recording Secretary