Town Council Appoints 35 Members to Charter Review Committee

The Town Council meeting began Tuesday with the swearing-in of five current members of the Portsmouth Fire Department.

Joseph F. Bento III was first sworn-in as the new deputy fire chief. He was followed at the ceremony by fellow members of the Portsmouth Fire Department: Thomas F. Fagan, Brendan P. Martin, Norman E. Moore and Howard F. Tighe, who were each promoted to the rank of lieutenant.

Town Clerk Kathleen Viera Beaudoin officiated at the ceremony.

After a brief recess, the town council returned and voted to approve all 35 applicants for the Charter Review Committee. The vote was 6-1 with Councilor Karen Gleason opposed.

"Let them all apply," said Councilor Dennis Canario. "Everyone, I'm sure, has their own agenda… I say give everyone a shot."

The following residents were appointed to the Charter Review Commission:

Salvador Carceller, Terri Cortvriend, Theodore T. Czech, George A. Easley, Lawrence J. Fitzmorris, Kevin P. Gavin, David M. Gleason, Lynne Glickman, Vernon L. Gorton Jr., Richard E. Gottlieb, Gary L. Gump, Conni Harding, Albert E. Honnen Jr., Leonard B. Katzman, Mark J. Katzman, Andrew V. Kelly, Beverly Kelly, Paul Francis Kesson, Charles J. Levesque, Jeffery C. Lewis, Joseph H. Lorenz, Alexandra J. Marks-Wood, John G. McDaid, Karen McDaid, Kathleen Melvin, Jhodi R. Redlich, Joseph W. Robicheau, Paul E. Ross, Susan Ryder-Lewis, Allen J. Shers, Judi Staven, Claudette Weissinger, William E. West, John H. Wood II and Nancy Zitka.

The appointment is effective immediately.

The town council also voted to postpone approving a letter, which was written to apply for four acres of free Navy land.

At a previous meeting, Town Planner Robert Gilstein asked the council to give him permission to draft a letter seeking a public benefit conveyance of four-acres of Navy land near Burma Road.

The deadline to apply for the land is Nov. 22. If approved, the land would be used for the creation of a parking lot, Gilstein said.

There is a list of approved projects for the site, according to the town planner. A parking lot is among the items listed.

"I would like to see the list myself," said Gleason, who later asked the town planner if the parking lot would charge fees. "I don't know," replied Gilstein to Gleason's question.

"The amenity is to create an attraction," continued the town planner. "It will probably functions as a parking lot on the way to Newport. Over time, it will become something people see and want to happen."

"We're talking about a parking lot here," said Councilor Jeffrey Plumb. "That's going to move Portsmouth forward?"

"You have to keep an open mind. There's all sorts of things this could lead to," said Councilor James Seveney. "The guy who runs the Newport Dinner Train might have another opportunity for business." 

"What I wonder is what benefit is there to Portsmouth for a parking lot down by the water," said resident Joe Robicheau. "I don't see how this benefits the town of Portsmouth. I would think the town would like some sort of commercial operation instead of something we have to plow."

The council voted unanimously to postpone the discussion until the next meeting on Oct. 25.

The Town Council also took the following actions Tuesday:

• The council also voted to approve the purchase of two commemorative benches, which were requested by Councilor Keith Hamilton. The benches will be purchased by private funds, which Hamilton is raising on his own. The benches, which will be placed outside the Multi Purpose Senior Center, will be dedicated and named after current Councilor Hubert Little.

• Voted unanimously to approve a bid from ADM Construction of $16,000 to install a handicapped bathroom at the senior center. The construction will involve converting two current bathroom stalls into one handicapped stall. The construction will be funded through a Community Development Block Grant.

• Unanimously approved the annual victualler licenses the following: Aquidneck Donuts Inc., owners of Dunkin' Donuts at 1550 West Main Road; Chris and Sofia Stefanopoulos, Chris' Diner; Clements Market Inc., Clements' Marketplace; Oceanside Enterprises LLC, Custom House Coffee; Drake Petroleum Co., Melville Xtra Mart with extended hours; New China Inc, New China; Newport Dinner Train; The North End Pizzeria; Ammouri Bros. Inc., Portsmouth BP; Portsmouth Donuts, Dunkin' Donuts at 3001 East Main Road with extended hours; Lori Cubellis, Prudence Variety; and RySav Inc., Subway-Sundaes.

• Unanimously approved peddler licenses for the following: Greg's Canteen Ltd., owner of Greg's Canteen; and Palagis 2000 Inc., Palagis Ice Cream.

• Unanimously approved gun dealer licenses for the following: Dominic J. Calarco of the Island Gun Shop and William G. Lapointe of Cottrell, Lapointe.

• Unanimously approved holiday licenses for the following: Byron and Gina Rymer, owners of All Island Landscape; Oceanside Enterprises LLC, Custom House Coffee; RI CVS Pharmacy LLC, CVS Pharmacy at 10 Turnpike Ave.; Dominic J. Calarco, Island Gun Shop; Lou Lou's Decor; Arthur Mello, Mello's Farm Stand; Drake Petroleum Co., Melville Xtra Mart; Nancy Millard, Natures!; Lori Cubellis, Prudence Variety; Maxi Drug South, Rite Aid store at 3034 East Main Road and 2456 East Main Road; Holiday LLC, 2nd Hand Rose; and Stalise Inc., Stalise.

• The council accepted a letter of resignation from the Portsmouth Harbormaster, Jacob Silva. Silva will remain on the Portsmouth Police Department, but has resigned as harbormaster due to personal obligations. The chief of police is currently accepting resumes for the position.