Live Blogging: Town Council Meeting of Sept. 26

The Portsmouth Town Council met Monday, Sept. 26, at . 

6:59 p.m. — Audience rises for Pledge of Allegiance. Councilor Keith Hamilton is absent. 

7 p.m. — Council approves agenda and minutes for council meeting on Sept. 12. Liz Pedro asks for correction on agenda item, asks to add adoption of check list for . Town clerks says she will check the minutes. 

7:06 — Interim Town Administrator David Dolce gave his report. Dolce said the old compactor at transfer station will be removed and a new one will be installed on Nov. 5. Aquidneck Island Christian Academy has expressed interest to renew lease, he said. One of barns at Glen Farm is being rebuilt.

Dolce has spoken with management about conduct of security guards. New signs will also be installed at the transfer station.

A walk through of Sprague Street was held recently. Police, DOT and town officials looked at street and discussed installing sidewalks. Elderly men and women have complained about walking on Sprague Street. 

7:14 — Marshall Huggins presents his proposal for a new summer camp at . "This is designed to be quaint, something like youth sailing, a service to kids to get them out during the summer." "Anything we can do to offer a service to the children...is good," Jim Seveney said.

7:17 — Council unanimously approves Huggins' summer camp. 

7:19 — Council President Joe Robicheau reads meeting conduct rules as "a reminder," he said. Robicheau presented two new rules; one  places "three minute limit" on public speaking. 

7:31 — Council members discuss rules presented. Liz Pedro suggests five minute or 10 minute time limits. "Hearing no motions, let's move on," Robicheau said. The council moves to the next agenda item. 

7:39 — Council votes unanimously, 6-0, to appoint School Committee member Jon Harris to .

7:44 — Dolce presents eight "post orders" for security guards at the . Staven motions to discontinue the three-month yard waste program starting on Thursday. The station is closed on Wednesday. "We're seven weeks into the program and it's not working," Staven said. "I recommend you give it time and see if it does work," Dolce said. 

7:53 — Robicheau says motion needs to be put on next agenda. Staven motions to make various changes to first post order. 

7:58 — Council unanimously approves changes to post 1, keeps program. 

8:10 — Paul Kesson asks Finance Director David Faucher about expenditures. Larry Fitzmorris speaks at podium. Entire discussion ends at 8:21 p.m.

8:26 — Robicheau motions to not approve amended fiscal budget for 2010-2011. Motion fails in a 3-3 vote with Staven, Pedro and Kesson opposed. Pedro motions to direct the town administrator and finance director to address revenue shortfall. Staven amends to have issue placed on next council agenda. Council votes 6-0 in approval. 

8:28 — Council votes 6-0 to reconsider the previous vote (amending the budget). Council votes 6-0 to not approve the amended budget. 

8:32 — Council votes 6-0 to appoint John King as emergency management agency director. 

8:38 — Council approves request for Portsmouth High School boosters to bring recyclables to transfer station. Pedro asks about recycling at Portsmouth schools. A report was heard about the . 

8:46 — Seveney motions to approve the allocation of $78,500 for remaining use of energy grant. Motion passes 5-1 with Kesson opposed. 

8:53 — Staven talks about parking at Carnegie Abbey, right of way at end of Willow Lane and dock. Kesson motions to forward letter to town administrator. Staven amends motion for D'Andrea and Dolce to look into flooding of Willow Lane and parking for boat ramp, as well as "legal rights" to property. Staven says "rights" should be separate motion. Staven stops motion at "public access to Willow Lane boatramp." No second on amendment to motion. "I would like clarification as to what the motion is," Staven said. "To resolve the issues brought up...within 90 days," Kesson said. 

9:07 — representative speaks, says there's been "a number of rude visitors…drinking on the beach." "We help boaters. We hold lines. We do a variety of things we don't have to do, but that encourages people to use the dock." Representative recommends limiting parking to Portsmouth residents only. 

9:09 — Bob Hanson, member of Harbor Commission, spoke. "Like many other rights of way, we have parking problems. The Willow Lane parking problem is not unlike other parking problems we have…I don't support Mr. Lopes' recommendation to have Portsmouth residents park along Willow Lane and other residents of Fall River and Bristol to park on Elliot Road. A public right of way is a public right of way."

9:17 — Motion to look into Carnegie Abbey parking issue passes unanimously. Staven motions to have D'Andrea look into the town's legal rights to the Willow Lane boat dock. Motion passes 5-1 with Robicheau opposed. 

9:19 — Council votes 6-0 to accept the Tremblay vs. town of Portsmouth complaint and place it on file. 

9:23 — D'Andrea talks about the Northern Waterfront Association, whose members are seeking to construct public crossings over state-owned railroad tracks. The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) will not approve request without town's permission, D'Andrea said. 

9:39 — Council votes 4-2 to approve the request with Staven and Kesson opposed. 

9:40 — Council votes 6-0 to approve resignation of firefighter Third Class Thomas J. Rousseau. 

9:47 —  Council voted unanimously to approve $9,100 award of a contract for pension actuarial services. 

9:51 — Council voted unanimously to reject the bids for maintenance service on the wind turbine. Recommendation to extend contract with Lumis will be placed on next meeting agenda. 

9:52 — Council unanimously approves tax vouchers. 

10:03 — Council meeting is adjourned. 

The next town council meeting will be held on Oct. 11 at 7 p.m.

A workshop will be held on Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. with the Elmhurst Planning Committee.