WORKSHOP SESSION of the Town Council held Monday, January 22, 2001 at 7:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber, Town Building, Harrisville for and within the Town of Burrillville.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Council President Wallace F. Lees, Councilwoman Jacqueline Zahn; Councilmen: William A. Andrews, Edward F. Bonczek and William E. Gonyea. Councilman Norman C. Mainville arrived at 7:45 p.m.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Councilman Louis Bleiweis was absent.
Relative to the Goals & Objectives and the Legislative Agenda for 2001.
The purpose of the meeting was to review and update the goals and objectives that the Town Council wants the staff and administration to work on. The following is the updated list of goals and objectives determined at the workshop:
GOALS & OBJECTIVES AND PUBLIC POLICY 2001
PARKS & RECREATION FACILITIES
Ongoing Programs
Spring Lake Beach A plan for the use of newly acquired land (parking, storage, etc.).
New Programs
A) Youth outdoor ice skating facilities low cost/low maintenance.
B) High School tennis court/ADA compliance reconstruction.
C) Fire Fighter s Memorial Park Harrisville.
D) Hauser Field Softball/Multi-use facility.
E) Branch River Park hardball Little League field.
F) Skateboard facility study and report.
Buildings and Town Facilities
Ongoing Programs
New Town wide library utilization of existing Smith Library building.
A) Special Building Committee hold workshop and develop short-term plan.
B) ADA compliance program continue with schedule
C) Determine a long-term plan for the Pascoag Grammar School (Town, School, Housing Authority, other).
New Programs
A) Recreation center complete HVAC upgrade and interior renovations.
B) Planning for a senior center stand alone or coupled with the Library on recreation center building projects
C) Short-term solutions to storage problems
D) Assembly building work with Board of Administration to develop a Capital Plan.
E) Police Station upgrade BCI room.
Public Works Projects/Programs
Ongoing Programs
A) Develop and maintain a short and long-term plan for sidewalk, road and bridge improvements, construction and reconstruction.
B) Replace or erect new signs (streets, villages, town entranceways, traffic control).
C) Continue funding DPW facility s groundwater cleanup project.
New Programs
A) Review options to relocate the Public Works facility.
B) Mapleville Main Street infrastructure upgrades/beautification project.
C) Develop a Town wide bike/walking trail program
D) Zam Dam complete dam replacement.
E) East Avenue sidewalks do the work from intersection to the bridge and ask the Legislators for a commitment to fund the road, drainage and sidewalks to Whipple Avenue.
Capital Improvement Projects/Programs
Ongoing Programs
See Capital improvement program schedules.
New Programs
See Capital improvement program schedules.
Economic Development New business and industry
Ongoing Programs
A) Develop a mission (vision) statement.
B) Review Comprehensive Plan (revise or amend if needed). Implement the final plan.
C) Target, identify and rezone areas of the Town for new industrial/commercial growth.
D) Develop a land acquisition program plan for balanced use of acquired property.
E) Open lines of communication and provide information to perspective developers as well as our current business community.
F) Review staffing/organizational needs for expanded economic development efforts.
New Programs
A) Clear River Drive Industrial Park the roadway into Stillwater.
B) Advocate bringing modern communications into Town.
C) Proper integration of cell towers into Town.
D) Bring in a new cable company to compete with Cox.
E) Expand RIPTA bus service (RIDOT Program).
Economic Development Redevelopment
Ongoing Programs
A) Redevelopment needs specific attention implementation and integration of a “Redevelopment Agency” into the Town Government.
B) Work on a project to restore the Stillwater Mills, or to address this blighted site.
C) Downtown Pascoag rehabilitation.
New Programs
A) Form and implement a Redevelopment Agency into the Administration.
B) Farmer s market for the Town possibly as a redevelopment initiative.
Planning and Planning Board
Ongoing Programs
A) Review and change Subdivision regulations/standards when necessary.
B) Incorporate Blackstone Valley Heritage Corridor Group into Town s planning.
C) Streamline our administrative review processes/improve coordination between developers, Boards, Committees, professional and administrative representatives.
D) Reactivate the Comprehensive Planning Update Committee.
New Programs
A) Design guidelines commercial and industrial.
B) Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance.
C) Support Maplehill Water/Sewer Capital Programs.
D) Revise Home Occupation Ordinance.
Conservations and Land Preservation
Ongoing Programs
To work closely with the private land trust to coordinate open space/conservation land. Town Land Trust not to be active at this time.
New Programs
Open space acquisition in concert with Council priorities see attached list of target properties.
Central Administration
Ongoing Programs
A) Standardize department head/non union benefit and wage program.
B) Employee handbook.
C) Benefit and wage plan.
D) Low/moderate income housing.
New Programs
A) Human Services coordinator.
B) Rewrite all position descriptions.
C) Centralize personnel records system
D) Centralize purchasing function.
E) Coordinate a program to sell Town-owned parcels that are not of use to the Town (short or long-term).
Legislative Agenda
Ongoing Programs
A) “Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights” supports an effort to make major changes.
B) Registry of Motor Vehicles for Burrillville.
C) Reintroduce statewide modification to junkyard laws.
D) Introduce legislation to change TDI laws to include Police Officers on IOD.
New Programs
A) Modify State law empowering Energy Facilities Siting Board to prohibit them from overriding local zoning and comprehensive plans.
B) Change to State Zoning Laws to allow both a special use permit and dimensional variances.
C) Statewide pond weed abatement program.
local Ordinances
Ongoing Programs
A) Junk ordinance (unregistered vehicles).
New Programs
A) Weight restrictions on local roads.
B) Parking ban ordinance modified during winter.
C) Ordinance prohibiting unregistered motorized equipment from using Town roads and R.O.W. S.
Litigation
Ongoing Programs
A) Indeck.
B) Gravel road Western Hill Gravel.
C) Western Hills Auto junkyard.
D) Pascoag Reservoir.
New Programs
Intergovernmental Relations
Ongoing Programs
New Programs
Public Works Projects/Programs
Ongoing Programs
New Programs
Senior Programs
Ongoing Programs
A) Financial breaks for senior citizens.
B) Explore new programs for senior citizens.
C) Create master list of options.
New Programs
Libraries
Ongoing Programs
New Programs
Public Schools
Ongoing Programs
A) To generally support the School Department s internal goals by carefully reviewing the
Annual budget request and to provide short-term financial planning for implementation of these goals. This encompasses working with the School Committee/Administration,
Budget Board and Town Administration to determine the cost/benefit of related proposals
and to schedule implementation.
B) Student performance and measurement of performance.
C) Staff development through use of technology and performance measurement.
D) Communication with parents and the community at large, encouraging and facilitating community involvement into the decision making process and ongoing planning activities.
E) Short/long-term capital plan for the hockey rink.
New Programs
Meet with School Committee to go over short/long-range planning for improving education. How is this tied to the prospective budgets?
Building Official and Zoning Board
Ongoing Programs
New Programs
A) Implementation of the Gravel Ordinance.
B) Develop a short and long-term staffing plan for the Department.
Finance Department
Ongoing Programs
A) No new debt/maintain responsible fund balance.
B) Responsible, affordable budgets.
C) Commit to long term financial planning.
D) Build the major capital improvement account.
New Programs
A) Restructuring of the Finance Department.
B) Resources to fund the GASB34 Accounting Project.
C) Accounting standards/procedures manual.
D) Support Assessors Resolution Project.
E) Add a new “Redevelopment Fund” to Capital Ordinance.
Police/Public Safety Programs
Ongoing Programs
A) Implement progressive community based police programs.
B) Enhance training programs/department flexibility.
C) Continued support for the Juvenile Court.
D) Add a Registry to Town services.
New Programs
Town Clerk
Ongoing Programs
Codification of Town Ordinances.
New Programs
Integrate technology and access using technology to the Capital Plan for the Department.
Information Services
Ongoing Programs
Properly implement the MUNIS System into administrative functions at all levels
New Programs
A) Coordinate Centrex phone systems Townwide.
B) Coordinate mobile/cell phone contracts/services.
C) Upgrade municipal communications networks looking to the future, which contemplate Internet interaction with the Town Government.
D) Implement a GIS maintenance/management program.
Town Council
Ongoing Programs
New Programs
Emergency Management
Ongoing Programs
New Programs
GENERAL ATTITUDE STANDARDS
Ongoing Programs
Town employees to be professional to each other, friendly, helpful and courteous at all times. Our objective is to interact constructively with the residents and businesses of the Town. Look to give a positive, constructive response first, especially when considering economic development opportunities. Respond back to the residents when calls, complaints, etc. are received.
New Programs
VOTED to adjourn at 9:57 p.m.
Councilwoman Jacqueline Zahn made the motion. Councilman William E. Gonyea seconded the motion. The vote was unanimous by the six members present. Voting in favor of the motion were Council President Wallace F. Lees, Councilwoman Jacqueline Zahn and Councilmen William A. Andrews, Edward F. Bonczek, William E. Gonyea and Norman C. Mainville. Councilman Louis Bleiweis was absent.
Information relating to the meeting is on file with the record of the minutes. The meeting was taped and the tape is on file with the record of the minutes.
Recorded by
Louise R. Phaneuf, Town Clerk
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