Competition Heats Up For Developing Tiverton's Industrial Park

7:05 p.m. The meeting begins. The council goes into executive session to discuss "acqusition of disposition of town held property" relating to the industrial park.

7:49 p.m. Council reconvenes in open session.

8:12 p.m. After public forum, Town Administrator Jim Goncalo said they have not received any formal responses for the . They are due Friday, Feb. 17.

8:20 p.m. The council votes 7-0 to approve an entertainment license to Cheryl DeDucca of , at 1154 Stafford Road. The owner said she would like to have some comedy nights and some piano and guitar playing some nights in the dining room. She said no large dance parties will occur.

8:46 p.m. The council votes 7-0 to reappoint John Manchester as the town's tree warden. There were no other applicants.

8:47 p.m. The council votes 7-0 to appoint Rachel Peckham Elder to the Historic Preservation Advisory Board.

8:48 p.m. Council votes 7-0 to reappoint Kate Michaud as administrator officer to the Planning Board.

8:54 p.m. Council votes 7-0 to put forward a request-for-qualifications to hire a new municipal court judge. and Probate Judge Richard D'Addario has served the position in the interim.

9:16 p.m. Councilor Rob Coulter proposes a pilot department discretionary budget program for carry forward and transfer policies. Citing the snow removal and other "volatile" accounts, the idea would allow to carry those funds forward into the next fiscal year and give that department a fraction of the savings from the previous fiscal year.

Councilors Cecil Leonard and Ed Roderick raised concerns about it, saying it would "complicate budgeting."

Coulter said he will communicate with Goncalo about the proposal and come back to the council with new findings.

Renewable energy developer makes new presentation

9:36 p.m. Gerald Felise, CEO of Natural Energy Generation, and two representatives give a presentation to the council about a "major" energy generation project for the Industrial Park. He said he hopes the council gives him a letter of support to take to the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation and the State Energy Siting Board. The proposal calls for geothermal energy production (gas-fired power plant) and energy storage.

Felise said his presentation is not related to the executive session with the council earlier in the night about purchasing the industrial park.

Felise proposes developing over 600 acres of private land. He said they want to make a $150 million investment over the next 18 months. Under the development, Felise said they project this could bring $2.5 million in tax-rated income for Tiverton by the third quarter of 2013. Felise said the state's energy department is reviewing the proposal as a "demonstration site."

Felise adds this first development could bring 221 construction jobs and 58 permanent jobs.

10:37 p.m. Council votes 5-2 to approve a preliminary letter to support Felise's project, and let Town Solicitor Andrew Teitz review it and make changes to bring back for their Feb. 27 meeting. Councilors Ed Roderick and Brett Pelletier voted no.

Wind farm proponents have to wait on legislation

11:20 p.m. Council votes 7-0 to table a discussion item with members of East Bay Energy Consortium (EBEC) and DiPrete Engineering about the . Discussion ensued on drafting legislation, most likely a municipal bill, to make EBEC a public corporation for the project so it creates the ability to issue bonds for the renewable energy project. Councilors Dave Nelson and Rob Coulter expressed concern of Tiverton, while being the proposed host community for the wind farm, only has one seat on the nine-member EBEC that would have say in drafting the legislation.

The discussion is continued to March 12.

11:40 p.m. Andy Shapiro of Apex then got permission to talk to the council about the "real concern" he has with the concept of controlling the properties involved with the Industrial Park development, especially with the latest concept proposed by Felise of Natural Energy Generation.

11:45 p.m. The council votes 7-0 to continue the New Business item by Roderick on a petition regarding recently imposed fishing and recreational restrictions on Nonquit Pond to its Feb. 27 meeting.

11:46 p.m. The council votes 7-0 to table Vice President Cecil Leonard's proposal to update the Comprehensive Community Plan.

Proposal to use police pension funds for capital purchases

11:53 p.m. The council dicsusses a proposal by Leonard to "improve police pension fund investment earnings" and indicate they will bring it up at their next meeting. He said Tiverton has capital requirements and right now they're paying interest on long-term leases. Leonard said his proposal suggests to find "tangible assets" in the police pension fund investment report line item, and then "hold the paper" or "connect" some of those items back to the fund's investment advisor at the bank to decide on spending those assets on capital purchases. Leonard compared it to using pension funds to buying a fire truck for the department. Roderick said he did not feel comfortable with the idea, especially if the police pension goes unfunded one year.

Language on special use permits revisited for public hearing

11:58 p.m. The council votes 3-3, with Coulter abstaining, on setting a date for a public hearing on revisiting a zoning amendment to Article XV, Section 5 - Procedure For Special Use Permits and Variances. The motion failed and disucssion ended. Several individuals spoke to the history of Tiverton's zoning issues and unfriendly business climate dealing with this particular language. Leonard said it's a "very serious matter." Planning Board Vice Chairman Stu Hardy said this issue needs to be dealt with quickly so the town can move forward. A few other citizens objected to the proposal.

12:18 a.m. After comments from Goncalo and legal briefings by Teitz, the council goes into executive session.

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