Please Consider When Voting for the Narragansett Town Council

Reasons Why You May Want to Consider Voting Against the TC3.

1. They failed to fight to save Galilee by NOT filing litigation against the RIDEM for failing in its fiduciary duty to use the land in Galilee in the best interest of the Town as the RIDEM awarded a 20 year street level parking lot to James Procaccianti and Joseph Paolino after the duo created the worst health, safety, and environmental hazard on RIDEM leased land since the inception of the State of Rhode Island.
2. Rather than working with the rental owners the TC3 pushed forth litigation that cost the town hundreds of thousands of dollars.
3. The TC3 pushed for more and more time limited signage throughout our Town. They pushed for time limited signage along Ocean Road Narragansett Avenue even when the area businesses along Ocean Road and Narragansett Ave were against it.
4. The appointed a resident, Paul Zonfrillo to the EDC after the EDC Committee Chairperson, Breta Nelle Combs recommended an alternative candidate who was more qualified as Paul was a previous member of the EDC who had relationship issues with the committee members. Both Breta Nelle Combs and Amy Marcello both resigned. The EDC then failed to meet after Paul was appointed and as far as I know the committee has been disbanded.
5. The TC3 failed to allow Jason Considine to operate Narrow River Kayaks on Middle Bridge even though Narrow River Kayaks was the lowest bidder. The TC3 said other bids did not come in, BUT, I provided evidence the TC3 lied.
6. The TC3 failed to award a contract to Abcore Restoration for the expansion of the North Clubhouse. With the TC3 failing to award the preliminary bid of 180,000 to Abcore, the TC3 then awarded the bid to another company for over 70,000 dollars more.
7. My family and I spent 6700 for a memorial that was being built at the Parks and Recreation Ground on Clarke Road in memory of my dad, yet the Town Council ordered the Town Manager not to recognize my dad. We had to get a private lawyer to get our money back.
8. I have had over a dozen residents speak out regarding the insanity of this Town Council for NOT fighting for what is right in Galilee, YET they refused to fight the RIDEM even though I provided the TC3 with case precedent that Richmond and Exeter fought the RIDEM and Richmond and Exeter won against the RIDEM in the Supreme Court of Rhode Island.
9. The TC3 has followed the directives more times than not where the TC3 follows the commands of the Narragansett Pier Residents Assocation aka Narragansett Town Residents Association. It cost has hundreds of thousands of dollars in trying to follow the NPRA / NTRA Agenda and marching orders.
10. The Town of Narragansett spent 147,000 on a beach carrying capacity study, and its results concluded with my statements from the beginning and my own independent research in that Narragansett Beach is not overcrowded. We also could have reached out to the Army Corps of Engineers, and they could have done the study for 50 percent of the cost. Dr. Gail Scowcroft and Tom Warren pushed for this study, so the TC3 followed their lead. While the study does discuss ways to mitigate beach erosion, in all honesty it was nothing that we already did not know. I would add, the study FAILED to mention the asphalt parking lots should be removed and replaced with sand-based parking lots as they have at George's Parking lot as asphalt parking lots can exacerbate future beach erosion.
11. The TC3 also should not push for the Narrow River Dredging unless we are going to have the job done correctly, so that we will not have a reoccurrence within several years. I did reach out to Senator Reed's Office, and they ARE looking into getting additional money, so the job can be completed correctly. I would NOT want the town to spend over 1 million dollars of its own taxpayers' money.
12. Our TC President pushed for a dog park, yet our playgrounds for our children are in disrepair. When I asked Michele Kershaw if we can have fundraisers for a modern state of the art playground and a skatepark/ bike ramp park, I was told the Town will not allow it and they will not pursue it. I had taken video of the modern playgrounds in North Kingstown, Jamestown, and Portsmouth. Casey Montanari, Tyler Garceau, Lindsay Holmes, Emily Gunnell Bennett, and many others noted they would be willing to do fundraisers for a modern state of the art playground / skateboarding park and bike ramp park. Our Town spent good money on Pickleball Courts, yet our playgrounds and programming for kids seems minimal in comparison. I thought the TC3 supports families with children.
13. The synthetic ice rink should be converted to a real ice rink that can also be used as a roller-skating rink in the spring, summer, and fall. It needs to have a surrounding wall added to it. It also should be enlarged. A town pool should also be a consideration.
14. Our TC President and other TC members appoint family members to various committees. Case in Point, the TC President appointed her husband to the Finance Committee. He proposed giving people with year-round rentals a tax break and increasing the taxes on seasonal homeowners. The TC3 reason that year-round rentals may bring more families into the area. If one looks at the cost of year-round rentals, one can conclude most families with children will NOT be able to afford year-round rentals. In fact, year-round rentals will most likely be occupied by 2 or more single professionals. It is a false narrative to ASSUME year-round rentals will be occupied by families. If a seasonal homeowner is in Narragansett for less than 6 months out of the year, then why did the finance committee recommend that seasonal homeowners pay more taxes. Some have mentioned to me if they are forced to sell, investors most likely will purchase up those properties. Therefore, if the TC3 is AGAINST more rentals, then why do they consider giving those with year-round rentals a tax break. James Durkin who owns many properties and many other rental owners are AGAINST this insane idea. I am surprised Rupert Friday is supportive of giving those who rent year-round a tax break. Let us NOT FORGET those who rent out property get to depreciate their taxes, so they already are getting a tax break.
15. There is a wait list for over 10 years for cabana rentals. The cabana owners have their own shower and reserved parking spot. The cabanas were purchased by the beach enterprise fund. It makes no sense to me any one person is allowed to rent out a cabana year after year. There should be a limit of 1 to 2 years per rental owner. A lottery should be used for those who are on the waiting list.
16. The TC3 wanted to reduce the number of short-term rentals each year for 3 years. How can this be done without the Town facing more lawsuits? How can the Town determine which rental will be removed from a a short-term rental? This is one of the many proposals by our Town Council that has my head spinning.
17. The TC3 is making the assumption rentals have caused the increase in home prices, yet there are many of seaside communities and other parts of the state where prices have gone up precipitously.
18. To argue our schools, have few children is due to the number of rentals is not a direct causal correlation. Schools in Warwick and other cities have had a decrease in the number of students where Warwick had to close down a high school and consolidate other schools.

Based on all of the above you need to decide if you support or do not support the TC3.