Gansett Council: URI Arrests, Citations Up 74 Percent

According to a report filed by Narragansett Acting Town Manager and Narragansett Police Chief Dean Hoxsie discussed at Monday night’s town council meeting, there have been 64 citations and arrests issued by police in the first two weeks of URI’s courses.

Hoxsie said the arrests are an increase of 74 percent from a similar time frame last year, with noise complaints also up 10 percent. Issued stickers are down from 11 houses to seven houses.

“The majority of those stickers are social host violations,” Hoxsie said. “The guys have made a real good effort this year to target the renters.”

Part of the increase is due to new laws on the books, such as a town ordinance that prohibits public drinking. Hoxsie said officers targeted certain streets for enforcement based on the composition of the neighborhood.

“Every house on Greene Lane is now a rental, and it has turned into a stress notorious for loud parties, so we do concentrate on it,” he said. “It appears to us that it’s better, we’ll continue to work. Hopefully the neighborhood associations will continue to engage us.”

Councilor Susan Cicilline-Buonanno noted that she went on a ridealong with police over the weekend, and saw one student arrested for disorderly conduct. In the incident, the student broke a car window and needed to be tazed to be subdued.

The council heard and filed Hoxsie’s report. In other business on Monday night:

• The council approved a negotiated settlement reached with the ACLU about parking on Narragansett Avenue by a 4-0 vote. Councilor Chris Wilkens abstained from voting because he is an abutter. For a copy of the agreement, see the attached PDF.
• The council approved a motion by Wilkens to appoint seven people to the ad hoc Town of Narragansett 125^th Anniversary Committee. Marie McLaughlin, Richard Vangermeersch and John Shaw were appointed, along with one choice each from the members of the Narragansett Historical Society, the Towers Committee, the Narragansett Recreation Advisory Board and the Economic Development Committee.
• The council received and approved a plan by a 5-0 vote from Town Engineer Jeffry Ceasrine to modify how the town uses service contracts. For Ceasrine’s memo, see the attached PDF. In summary, service contracts – for example, for general masonry work around town – would be limited to a yearly amount of $50,000. Additional funding or larger contracts – for example, a $100,000 sewer line repair – would require council approval.
• The council scheduled a public hearing for SoHo Restaurante at its Nov. 5 meeting. SoHo is requesting the expansion of alcohol service area to increase outdoor seating, an additional portable service bar and to change the service bar inside to allow six seats at the bar, and to allow musical entertainments.
• The council scheduled a hearing for the five-year budget projections for 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 3.
• The council approved $189,791 in amendments to the major maintenance non-capitalization fund for the 2012-13 budget by a 5-0 vote.
• The council approved by a 5-0 vote an agreement with Matt Eddy to act as the interim caretaker and property manager for the recently acquired Middlebridge property.
• The council approved by a 5-0 vote the purchase of landlord and rental management software from Vision Government Solutions for $15,000, after review by the acting town manager and town solicitor.
• The council approved a first reading of ordinance changes for the hiring of eligible fire personnel by a 5-0 vote.
• The council approved a letter of understanding between the town and the Local 1179 making minor modifications to the terms of the collective bargaining agreement.
• The council approved a motion to receive and file a request to take action to preserve the historic green on Gibson Avenue. The council directed staff to look into the issue.

The council also approved the consent agenda by a 5-0 vote. On the consent agenda:

• A request from Rhode Island USA Gymnastics to conduct a National Gymnastics Day Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 22 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Narragansett Town Beach.
• A motion to approve $5,445 in emergency repairs to the Sprague Park Little League Field lights by Musco Sports Lighting, LLC.
• A motion to approve $3,590.09 in real estate abatements.
• A motion to approve the annual service agreement for the water meter reading system from Itron, Inc. for $3,992.56.
• A motion to approve the annual service agreement for the emergency communications system from Everbridge for $6,745.