Town Council Meeting Wednesday, September 16, 2026 07:00 PM Town Hall - 10 Court Street, Bristol Rhode Island

Note: If communications assistance is needed or any other accommodations to ensure equal participation, please contact the Town Clerk’s office at 253-7000. Anyone requesting interpretive services for the deaf or hard of hearing must notify the Town Clerk’s office at 253-7000, 72 hours in advance of the meeting date and anyone requesting assistive listening devices or wishing to speak on a matter designated “CA” (consent agenda) or citizens public forum on the council docket must notify the Council Clerk prior to the commencement of the meeting.

In-Person Participation Only

The public may VIEW the meeting live by using the following link https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87349390477, or by visiting zoom.com meeting code 873-4939-0477. Please be advised, this link will NOT allow for public participation and access, or live stream is not guaranteed. 

Please be advised that the council intends to discuss and/or act upon each and every item appearing on this agenda

Present:

Meeting Dates:

October 7, 2026 - Town Council Meeting
October 28, 2026 - Town Council Meeting
November 18, 2026 - Town Council Meeting
December 9, 2026 - Town Council Meeting

The Pledge of Allegiance

Motion RE: Consent Agenda -  To Approve the Consent Agenda

A.Submission of Minutes of Previous Meeting(s)

  1. A1.Town Council Meeting Minutes (draft) - July 29, 2026 (full minutes)

  2. A2.Town Council Meeting Minutes (draft) - August 19, 2026

B.Public Hearings

  1. B1.Ordinance No. 2026-10 Proposed Amendment to Chapter 28 Zoning, Article IX, Division 2, Development in the areas of Special Flood Hazard, Section 28-303 Definitions (modification from 10 to 5-year look back period) (see also C2)

  2. B2.Ordinance No. 2026-11 Proposed Amendments Chapter 28 Zoning Article 1, Section 28-1 Definitions, Article III, Section 28-82 Use Regulations, Article V, Section 28-162 Short Term Rentals (see also C3)

C.Ordinances

  1. C1.Ordinance No. 2026-09 Amendment to Chapter 16 Motor Vehicles and Traffic, Article IV, Section 16-114 Stop intersections designated (Four-way stop, intersection Coggeshall Avenue and Platt Street) (2nd reading)

  2. C2.Ordinance No. 2026-10 Proposed Amendment to Chapter 28 Zoning, Article IX, Division 2, Development in the areas of Special Flood Hazard, Section 28-303 Definitions (modification from 10 to 5-year look back period) (2nd Reading) (see also B1)

  3. C3.Ordinance No. 2026-11 Proposed Amendments Chapter 28 Zoning Article 1, Section 28-1 Definitions, Article III, Section 28-82 Use Regulations, Article V, Section 28-162 Short Term Rentals (2nd Reading) (see also B2)

  4. C4.Ordinance No. 2026-12 Proposed Amendment Chapter 12 Fire Prevention and Protection, Article 1, Section 12-1 Outdoor fires prohibited; exceptions, Section 12-2 Recreational and cooking fires, (withdrawn form consideration - Section 12-3 Permitted burning for land clearing and yard waste) (withdrawn  from consideration Section 12-4 Training fires) Section 12-5 Restrictions; hazardous conditions, Section 12-6 Use restrictions, Section 12-7 Enforcement, Section 12-8 Penalties (outdoor and recreational Fire Protection) (2nd Reading)

D.Licensing Board - New Petitions

  1. D1.Rosa Paiva, St. Elizabeth’s Church Holy Ghost Committee, 577 Wood Street – Request for One-Day Dancing and Entertainment License Saturday, October 3, 2026, from 6:00 PM – 11:00PM 

    a. recommendation - Town Administrator and Chief of Police

    b. recommendation - Town Administrator and Fire Chief

  2. D2.Margarida Chaves for VFW Post #237, 850 Hope Street - Request for a Bingo License for the second Thursday of each month, through September 2027, 5:30-10:00 pm

    a. recommendation - Town Administrator and Chief of Police

    b. recommendation - Town Administrator and Fire Chief

  3. D3.Albert Quito, Quito's Shellfish and Restaurant, Inc. 411 Thames Street, request Transfer of Class BV Liquor License to Serve Up Hospitality, LLC d/b/a Q's Waterfront by O.M.G. with Expansion of licensed Premises (new ownership – Adam Oppenheimer, Frank Martucci, and Anthony Guaetta) Call for public Hearing - October 7th

    a. Notice of Claim - Alan Sousa, Bay View Farms d/b/a Mello's Fruit

    b. recommendation - Town Administrator and Chief of Police

    c. recommendation - Town Administrator and Fire Chief

    d. recommendation - Town Administrator and Director of Community Development

E.Licensing Board - Renewals

  1. E1.Notification of Name Change for Cruz Goler, Korcula Culinary Consulting, LLC d/b/a Judge Roy Bean Saloon, 1 State Street to Korcula Culinary Consulting, LLC d/b/a Prudence (Receive and File Only).

F.Petitions - Other

  1. F1.Camron Rancourt, Rhode Races & Events Inc. in Partnership with the Bristol 4th of July Committee to hold a Half Marathon on Saturday, June 26, 2027, 6:30AM-10:00AM starting at Independence Park 

    a. recommendation - Town Administrator and Chief of Police

    b. recommendation - Town Administrator and Fire Chief 

    c. recommendation - Town Administrator and Director of Public Works

    d. recommendation - Town Administrator and Director of Parks and Recreation

  2. F2.Bristol Police Department request for Council Contingency Funds to support for the 7th annual Halloween Trunk or Treat/Walkabout Event on Sunday, October 25, 2026, from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM ($1,500)

G.Appointments

  1. G1.Harbor Commission Advisory Committee - 2 three- year unexpired terms set to expire August 2029

    a. Tim Serbst, 7 Basswood Road - interest/appointment

    b. James Ferrato, 23 Noyes Avenue - interest/appointment

    c. Dr. Thomas Enright, 129 Poppasquash Road - interest/appointment

H.Old Business

  1. H1.Municipal Liquor Licensing Practices – consideration of Resolution to adopt Policy/Guidelines and Phased Approach (continued from July 29, 2026)

    a. Draft Resolution No. 2026-9-16-H1

  2. H2.Richard Rocha, 9 Jessica Drive, requests the installment of two stop signs at the intersection of Kathy Court and Jessica Drive (continued from August 19th)

I.Other New Business Requiring Town Council Action

  1. I1.Andrea Rounds, Sowams Heritage Area - Feasibility Study 

  2. I2.Town Administrator Contente request to proceed with an RFP (request for proposals) for the sale of Reynolds School, 235 High Street 

  3. I3.Town Administrator Contente re Consideration of an increase to the Town Administrators Salary FY 27-28 and FY 28-29

CF.Citizens Public Forum
PERSONS WISHING TO SPEAK DURING THE CITIZENS PUBLIC FORUM MUST NOTIFY THE COUNCIL CLERK PRIOR TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE MEETING

J.Bills & Expenditures

  1. J1.Bid No. 1096 - 2027 Full Revaluation Update

  2. J2.Bid No. 1097 Guiteras School Sewer Line Replacement

K.Special Reports

  1. K1.Bristol County Water Authority Board of Directors, update on current projects and initiatives

  2. K2.FY2026 BCWA Annual Report

  3. K3.BCWA Tri Town Monthly Report August 27, 2026

L.Town Solicitor

M.Executive Sessions

  1. M1.Request for Executive Session pursuant to RIGL § 42-46-5(a)(5) lease of real property

Consent Agenda Items:

(CA) AA.Submission of Minutes - Boards and Commissions

Approval of consent agenda = “motion to receive and place these items on file”

  1. (CA) AA1.Historic District Commission Meeting Minutes - June 29, 2026

  2. (CA) AA2.Bristol Fire Department Board of Engineers Meeting Minutes - August 31, 2026

(CA) BB.Budget Adjustments

Approval of consent agenda = “motion to approve these adjustments”

  1. (CA) BB1.Tax Assessor Leadem  Recommended Abatements & Additions for September 2026

(CA) CC.Financial Reports

Approval of consent agenda = “motion to receive and place these items on file”

(CA) DD.Proclamations, Resolutions & Citations

Approval of consent agenda = “motion to adopt these Proclamations, Resolutions and Citations as prepared and presented”

  1. (CA) DD1.Resolution No 20267-29-F1 - ADA Accessible Parking 43 Bayview Avenue (signed)

  2. (CA) DD2.Resolution No 20267-29-F1 - ADA Accessible Parking removal 44 Church Street (signed)

(CA) EE.Utility Petitions

Approval of consent agenda = “motion to approve these petitions”

(CA) FF.City & Town Resolutions Not Previously Considered

Approval of consent agenda = “motion to receive and place these items on file”

  1. (CA) FF1.Town of Little Compton - Requesting the Rhode Island General Assembly and the Executive Office of Housing to Recognize the Unique Challenges Facing the Town of Little Compton in the Development of Affordable Housing and to Provide Support to Address These Obstacles

  2. (CA) FF2.Town of Glocester - Resolution # 2026-11 - Requesting the Rhode Island General Assembly to Relieve Cities and Towns of the Unfunded Mandate to Prepare Emergency Action Plans for Privately Owned Dams, and to End the Penalizing of Municipalities for Owner Noncompliance

(CA) GG.Distributions/Communications

Approval of consent agenda = “motion to receive and place these items on file”

  1. (CA) GG1.Town Administrator Contente - Bid 1095 Award Letter

  2. (CA) GG2.Town of Richmond - No -Knock Registration Ordinance

  3. (CA) GG3.Town Treasurer Carulli CliftonLarsonAllen LLP -  Governance Letter (Audit)

  4. (CA) GG4.RIDEM Freshwater Wetlands Program - Response to Geoffrey Vicente 11 Waterview Lane, Warren Notice

  5. (CA) GG5.Collective Bargaining Agreement TOB and United Steel Workers July 2026-June 2029 (signed)

  6. (CA) GG6.RIDEM regarding PFAS Concentrations

  7. (CA) GG7.Town Administrator Appointment, Matt Poin - Building Code of Appeals

  8. (CA) GG8.Town Administrator Contente - Landscaping Services, Inc - Bid Award No. 1094 - Curbside Collection of Residential Yard Waste

(CA) HH.Distributions/Notice of Meetings
(Office copy only)

Approval of consent agenda = “motion to receive and place these items on file”

  1. (CA) HH1.Historic District Commission Meeting - September 3, 2026

  2. (CA) HH2.Bristol Housing Authority Meeting - August 20, 2026

  3. (CA) HH3.North and East Burial Grounds Commission Meeting - August 19, 2026

  4. (CA) HH4.Recreation Board Meeting - August 26, 2026

  5. (CA) HH5.Board of Canvassers Meeting - September 9, 2026

  6. (CA) HH6.Planning Board Comprehensive Plan Update Meeting - August 27, 2026

  7. (CA) HH7.BCWA Board of Directors Meeting - August 27, 2026

  8. (CA) HH8.Bristol 250th Commission Meeting - September 1, 2026

  9. (CA) HH9.Bristol Housing Authority Board of Commissioners Meeting - September 2, 2026

  10. (CA) HH10.Bristol Fourth of July Committee Ball Subcommittee Meeting - August 31, 2026

  11. (CA) HH11.Department of Community Development Capital Projects Commission Meeting - September 1, 2026

  12. (CA) HH12.Zoning Board of Review Meeting - September 14, 2026

  13. (CA) HH13.Board of Canvassers Meeting - September 10, 2026

  14. (CA) HH14.Bristol Housing Authority Board of Commissioners Meeting - September 10, 2026 (Cancelled)

  15. (CA) HH15.Budget and Declining Enrollment Workgroup Meeting - September 10, 2026

  16. (CA) HH16.Planning Board Meeting - September 10, 2026

  17. (CA) HH17.The North and East Burial Grounds Commission Meeting - September 9, 2026

  18. (CA) HH18.Bristol Harbor Commission Meeting - September 14, 2026

(CA) II.Claims (Referrals)

Approval of consent agenda = “motion to refer these items to the Insurance Committee and at its discretion to the Interlocal Trust”

  1. (CA) II1.Scott Waterhouse, 34 Annie Moore Road, Balton, MA - claim for damages

  2. (CA) II2.Jayne West, 283 Wood Street- claim for damages

  3. (CA) II3.Christine Micheletti - claim for injury

(CA) JJ.Miscellaneous Items Requiring Council Approval

Approval of consent agenda = “motion to approve these items”

(CA) KK.Curb cut petitions as approved by the director of public works

Approval of consent agenda = “motion to grant these curb cuts per the recommendation of, and conditions specified by, the Director of Public Works”

  1. (CA) KK1.Chris Woodard, 318 Wood Street request for curb cut  

    a. recommendation - Town Administrator and Director of Public Works

Adjourned: ______________________

/mc

Posted: September 11, 2026