By CARL CRITZ
NARRAGANSETT - Council members approved a variety of hotly contested
issues and scheduled upcoming dates for the selection of a new town
manager by the end of 2009 at Monday’s Town Council meeting at the Town
Hall.
The window for submission of applications for town manager has closed as
of Oct. 31, and the council is moving forward with its considerations.
They will meet in executive session to narrow the 62 qualified applicants
to eight or nine finalists by the end of the month.
By CARL CRITZ
NARRAGANSETT - Council members approved a variety of hotly contested
issues and scheduled upcoming dates for the selection of a new town
manager by the end of 2009 at Monday’s Town Council meeting at the Town
Hall.
The window for submission of applications for town manager has closed as
of Oct. 31, and the council is moving forward with its considerations.
They will meet in executive session to narrow the 62 qualified applicants
to eight or nine finalists by the end of the month.
Councilman Christopher Wilkens stressed the importance of bringing in a
new town manager before the beginning of budget season, an indication that
a town manager could be selected by the end of the calendar year.
Council members also briefly discussed potential transportation issues for
the candidates, some of whom live out of state. The possibility of paying
for transportation of the candidates for an interview struck a chord with
some members of the audience who spoke out against spending more money on
the selection process considering the current budget climate.
Under direction from Town Solicitor Mark McSally, the council unanimously
approved the request from Red Stripe restaurant to lift several liquor
license restrictions to allow live entertainment seven days a week, until
1 a.m. The approval is subject to several conditions, including the
submission of a written security plan for the building and a trial period
to be determined at the Nov. 16 meeting of the Town Council.
Attorney Donald Packer, representing Red Stripe restaurant, came before
the council to ask for the removal of two restrictions on the restaurant’s
liquor license. The first condition limits the days and hours that live
entertainment can be featured at the restaurant, which Packer asked to be
lifted completely. The second condition limits the number of band pieces
to four, which Packer also asked to have lifted completely.
The request stems from two incidents that occurred at Red Stripe on Sept.
9 & 16, when Red Strip management attempted test-runs of this style of
operation and were met with an overwhelming crowd. Police and fire units
arrived on scene on Sept. 16, though the only violation issued was that of
its liquor license.
Packer stated his client is still planning to operate the restaurant part
of his business as its primary function, but is asking for the leeway to
creatively pursue additional revenue sources.
Jamie D’Oliveira, CFO of Red Stripe affirmed he would continue as a
full-service restaurant, but would like to pursue music and dancing during
select nights beginning at 10 p.m.
The change would require the movement of 12 tables in the center of the
restaurant, where a tile floor exists, to create a dance floor. During
the time of the live or DJ entertainment, all the doors and windows would
be closed and additional staff would be present to regulate behavior
within the establishment, such as re-reentry.
During this time food will still be served until closing, though
D’Oliveira said the late night menu will be more of a pub-style offering
that the restaurant’s well-known variety of dishes.
Though the center table will be cleared, there will still be seating room
for an estimated 120 guests, according to D’Oliveira.
“We attempted operations this way, admittedly and unknowing that we were
in violation, on two occasions,” D’Oliveira said. “By the second evening
it was easy to see people would come.”
To enact changes that would make the building safe for such operations,
Packer said that an additional $10,000 to $15,000 worth of electrical work
would be required to satisfy the fire marshal with regards to the
electrical system.
“We’ve already seen an establishment similar to this already in this
meeting scheduled for a show cause hearing,” Wilkens said in reference to
the Monday, Dec. 14 show cause hearing scheduled for Pompeii Restaurant in
Mariner Square for alleged violations. “What assurances can you give us
that this type of behavior will not be repeated?”
D’Oliveira responded that the crowd brought in by a restaurant during that
event depends greatly on the style of music played. In his previous
attempts D’Oliveira admitted the DJ atmosphere drew in a mostly
college-aged crowd, but the aim of his expansion would not be to limit
live entertainment to just a DJ. In the future he said he hopes to bring
in some jazz and folk bands.
Steven Cataina, director of asset protection for Ocean State Job Lot, the
parent company of Red Stripe, said although the crowd during the Sept. 9 &
16 events was unexpected, the nights taught staff valuable lessons about
how many personnel to schedule at such an event.
Cataina outlined a plan for up to eight additional security personnel at
strategic locations to keep guests from exiting the wrong doors, entering
restricted areas, and checking ID’s at the door. “We turned over 35
people away that second night because they didn’t have a valid ID or they
didn’t look right,” Cataina said. “Clearly we want to do it right but we
don’t want anyone hurt. We need to try different avenues to keep this
venue alive.”
“These places could have problems but with proper controls in place, they
won’t,” Police Chief and acting Town Manager Joseph Little said.
Cataina also added that the building’s location away from any
neighborhoods, its stand-alone nature, good outside lighting, and ample
parking make it an ideal location for such a venue. “I understand what
goes on in the college business, and I would not go on with anything that
disrespect the town or the state,” Cataina said.
“The concern is security,” Wilkens said, who mulled over the police and
fire department’s response to the building after its second trial run.
“They should be kept on a short leash, at least initially.”
“I am surprised that the folks on the council are expressing their support
for a very large change in operations,” resident Steven Marasco said.
“You’re talking about allowing a nightclub.”
Marasco continued with a history of the site, explaining how Applebee’s
was initially refused a beer and wine license, which caused them to move
operations to South County Commons. When Café Newport opened with a beer
and wine license they also came before the council asking for full bar
license. Weeks after it was granted the property was sold to Red Stripe,
which according to Marasco only represents an augmentation of the
restaurant’s sale price.
In other news
The council weighed the options of paying $850 per month to restore live
television coverage of Town Council and School Committee meetings given
the current economic climate. Town engineer Jeffry Ceasrine stated that
both Verizon and Cox communications have leased advertising space on the
town’s two water towers at a cost of $30,000 annually, apiece.
Even so, cross-justification discussion continued between council members
who narrowly passed the motion to accept the charges for live service 3-2.
Chris Wilkens and Glenna Hagopian voted against the motion.
The council also voted 3 to 2 to reject paying for resident Ray West’s
bill of $10,571.94 for a driveway reconstruction in 1997.
Council President David Crook Sr. said “drastic action” would also be
required to deal with the state of unruly parties in Narragansett. Chief
Little said he and his staff have noticed an increase in activity during
last weekend’s holloweenoliday activities.
Residents Carol Stuart and Stan Wojiekowski spoke out against the behavior
once more, asking for help from the police.
The council will wait until the Homestead Exemption act is discussed in
the General Assembly in January to move forward with the creation of a
homestead exemption committee. Crook urged the public to become involved
when applications become involved to be a part of a homestead exemption
committee.
“This is simply about tax fairness,” resident John Miller said. He
pointed out that nine towns in Rhode Island have the option to use a
homestead exemption act. Seven of those towns currently have the
exemption in effect.
“Taxes for residents will likely decline, and the only group that taxes
would rise would be the landlords who use their rental properties as
businesses. Now Jim Durkin is probably the hardest working guy in town
but shouldn’t he and others be paying slightly higher taxes to offset the
additional overhead that is created by out of town rentals?”
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