Council Moves to Study Alternative Fire, Rescue Services

The Narragansett Town Council last night approved a motion that would begin the process of investigating alternatives to the town’s fire and rescue service. 

The motion directs Town Manager Grady Miller to create a request for proposal document seeking bids for a study to evaluate alternatives to the service.

Councilman David Crook Sr. began discussion of the motion, emphasizing that the action was only the first step in a planned move to look at ways to reduce the cost of operating all the town’s departments.   

Asked by Crook to explain the project, Miller said that the move was a response to the town’s difficult financial situation, and repeated that the fire department was only the first of many departments to come up for evaluation.

“The fire department has not been singled out,” Miller said. “This is some of the low hanging fruit that we have. Public safety is one of our most important services but it’s also one of our most costly services.” 

Council President Glenna M. Hagopian agreed.  

“What has driven this particular study at this particular time is that the fire compensation lines are driving the largest variance to budget that we have right now,” she said.  “It’s very material, and we have the responsibility to you as taxpayers to fully understand what our alternatives might be.”

Miller told the council that it might be anywhere from four to six months before the results of the study became available, and that the study might cost in the area of $30,000 to $50,000.

The study will be funded from a town contingency fund, Hagopian said. 

Several community members spoke during the public discussion, with some opposing the motion as an attack on a public service and others supporting it as a money-saving effort.  

In other business:

• The council adopted a resolution opposing a proposed jitney service, Rogue Island Jitney, between the University of Rhode Island and several Narragansett bars. The motion calls for the town solicitor to take any appropriate legal action.
• The council unanimously approved a motion directing the town solicitor to draft an amended ordinance requiring that all liquor license holders and employees of Class A alcoholic beverage retailers undergo Responsible Beverage Service training. One town liquor store already faces this requirement, Miller said, and the amendment would extend equal treatment to all.  
• The council approved a change in the town’s purchasing policy allowing town administrators to change purchase orders under $50,000 by up to 10 percent of the originally approved amount without returning the question to the council.
• In its capacity as the Urban Renewal Board of Review, the council approved a Dunkin Donuts plan to install signs in the Pier Marketplace.
• The council approved six separate motions appointing individuals to the Historic District Commission, the Industrial Performance Commission, the Land Conservancy Trust, the Towers Committee and the negotiations teams for collective bargaining with Public Service Employees’ Local 1033 of the Rhode Island Laborers District Council and Local 1179 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.
• The council scheduled a workshop to review proposed capital improvements to the Narragansett Town Beach North Pavillion for March 7 at 6 p.m.
• A representative of the Friends of Canonchet presented the council with a $3,500 check to the town for a wetlands study of Canonchet Farm.
• Hagopian read a proclamation honoring the late Charles P. Lee for his community service, leadership, and fishing exploits, and calling him a “powerful influence for good in our community.”

Wednesday 2 p.m.: We originally reported that the Friends of Canonchet originally presented the council with a $35,000 check. Patch regrets the error.