Council Postpones Heidi Drive Hearing After Nepotism Questions are Raised

A longstanding dispute between two neighbors—the Glen Ridge Alpaca Farm and Rhode Island Nurseries—has been placed into the hands of the next Town Council.

The current town council voted to postpone Wednesday's public hearing on Heidi Drive until after the election, when the majority of the council's members will be replaced. The postponment was recommended after questions of nepotism arose.

The issue of nepotism involved Councilor Karen Gleason's brother-in-law, who is representing one of the parties involved. Gleason refused to recuse herself, stating she is "estranged" from her brother-in-law.

"After being in town politics for eight years, I've never been so pressured to not be involved," Gleason said. "This is embarrassing to me, but I have a responsibility to the public until my term expires...I have every right to be here at this hearing."

"This afternoon I received a letter from the attorney for Rhode Island Nurseries," Town Solicitor D.A. D'Andrea said. "He pointed us to the town charter. It might not make any sense that a brother-in-law or sister-in-law has any interest in the business, but it does in state statute...that's why I've recommended Gleason recuse herself."

D'Andrea read a section of the town charter, as well as the state's regulatory statue on nepotism. Gleason said the law did not apply to "estranged" relations.

"Mr. Gorton and I are estranged and have not spoken in years," she said.

"I have called the Ethics Board and spoken to an attorney, Mr. Gramitt," said Council President Peter McIntyre. "It spells it out specifically. It spells out brother-in-law. That's what Mr. Gorton is to you. We have nepotism and favoritism. You should recuse yourself."

"I think you are missing the point," Gleason said. "There's an estrangement there. I do not have a relationship with Mr. Gorton."

Gleason's next statement led to a an uproar of laughter and a (temporary) recess from the tension felt in the room.

"Yes, I have a relationship per se because he's married to my sister. However, it's not the same as say your relationship with Mr. Little," she said. "Can you pick another person," said Councilor Hubert Little.

Attorneys from both parties addressed the council. 

"It's not an issue of respect. It's not an issue of enstrangement. It's an issue of the law," said Vernon Gorton, attorney for Rhode Island Nurseries, who recommended postponing the hearing. "I don't see why the council would put itself in such a situation."

"We've worked very hard to get here tonight," said Mark Liberati, attorney for the Glen Ridge Alpaca Farm. "We have experts ready to testify. If you allow us the opportunity to go ahead with the vote, Gleason's vote may not be the determinate of the matter tonight." 

Councilor Jeffrey Plumb made the motion to continue the hearing, which was seconded by Little. A "boo" was heard from the crowd.

"There's a lot of gray area here," Plumb said. "The best thing we can do is let the next council hear this matter."

"This is three nights in a row that we've had neighborly disputes. It's really sad," said Hamilton. "I wish the parties would just sit down in a room with a mediator and hash this out."

The more than 100 people in the room applauded at this last comment. Liberati offered to pay for the mediator. 

The vote to postpone the hearing was 5-1 with Gleason in opposition. Councilor James Seveney recused himself due to a business relationship with one of the parties involved.

Immediately following the vote, one person among the more than 100 residents packed into the town council chambers yelled out, "You should be ashamed of yourselves."

"This is an absolute embarrassment for the town," said Jennifer Balch, who attended wearing a "Save Glen Ridge Farm" sticker on her shirt. "There's an alternative road. What is so important with this road?"

"I'm glad that it's still an open issue," said Dr. Marian Royer. "I do not want to see that road paved because I truly believe they are paving paradise."

The two neighbors involved in the dispute also entered into a loud, verbal argument regarding the outcome. 

"All you have to do is to sit down and talk with us," said Kevin Tarsagian of the Glen Ridge Alpaca Farm. 

"You're trying to steal my land," responded Bruce Vanicek, owner of Rhode Island Nurseries.

Tarsagian had petitioned the town to abandon a proposal to create an emergency access road, which is known as Heidi Drive. 

Rhode Island Nurseries' owner Vanicek is subdividing and selling part of his land. However, the subdivision is currently only accessible by one road.

Vanicek needs to build an emergency access road to comply with town regulations, which is the paper road Heidi Drive. 

The planning board initially denied his request in November 2009. In June, however, Vanicek appealed the decision and a changed vote by Dr. Christopher Ottiano resulted in approval of the road. Ottiano is currently running for Rhode Island state senate.   

However, an issue has risen. The proposed emergency road runs through the Glen Ridge Alpaca Farm, located off Glen Road on Frank Coelho Drive.

The owners of Glen Ridge Farm, Tarsagian and Ann Fiore, argue that the construction of this road will disrupt the day-to-day operations of their farm so profoundly that the farm will no longer be viable.

The owners also cite the possibility of other options, which would leave their farm untouched, as a reason for appealing the proposed road. 

Vanicek and Rhode Island Nurseries argue that the proposed road is to be built on land that is not owned by Glen Ridge Farm; therefore, they do not technically have the rights to it. 

In addition, Vanicek doesn't believe that a gravel road, which is only to be used for emergency purposes, would make the farm not viable. 

"I'm not surprised," Vanicek said about the vote to postpone the hearing. "Every meeting I come to is like a Cracker Jack box. There's a surprise at every meeting."

"I just wanted it resolved," said Fiore, who could not hold back tears. "It's too stressful. I just want this done." 

Rhode Island's Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission has raised another issue to the dispute. According to a letter from the commission to the Coastal Resource Management Council, dated September 2009, Vanicek's lot contains "three known Native American sites." The commission has requested an archaeological survey of the area. 

The public hearing on Heidi Drive will now be held on Dec. 13.

Only Councilors Canario, Seveney and Hamilton are running for re-election this year. Four of the board's seven seats will be filled by new members after the election this Tuesday, Nov. 2.