Council considers town building committee

NARRAGANSETT - Discussion over the future management of large capital projects came in the form of two separate agenda items at the Narragansett Town Council’s meeting on Dec. 19. The first, listed as item number 14 on the evening’s agenda, was a motion to discuss a proposal put forth by councilor Patrick Murray from a request from the Narragansett Finance Committee that would give the body “financial and process controls review of all proposed major capital projects, the costs of which are expected to exceed $1 million, and related bond issues.” However, councilor Michael Moretti motioned to move agenda item number 15 before number 14. Number 15, submitted by Moretti, was “a motion to form a town building committee for town initiated construction projects that the town manager deems appropriate.” This motion passed 5-0, and so, discussion on agenda item number 15 began.

“This idea and thought came from where I lived prior to moving back to Narragansett, and it was a committee in a town very similar to Narragansett where they were going through certain capital projects that everybody was interested in,” said Moretti. “If we go back to when the athletic field was approved by the voters in November, I watched the construction of that and I heard a lot of varying views on the process to get that completed, including the financial impact. I met with the town manager and town engineer, and I thought that creating a town building committee to oversee and directly design the construction of these projects by providing technical project management, cost and schedule expertise.”

Moretti also proposed the town building committee may provide advice for projects not under its direct oversight if requested by the town council, town manager or project sponsor.

“This was prompted simply because of the passage of the library vote,” said Moretti.

Moretti confirmed that the first task of the town building committee should it be formed would be to oversee construction of the library project. In November, Narragansett voters approved a $5.8 million bond to construct a new library in town. Moretti further said the committee was designed to oversee only the larger capital projects, and would not have oversight on smaller projects. Under Moretti’s proposal, the decision of when to charge the hypothetical building committee with oversight of construction projects would be subject to the town manager’s recommendation.

“I spoke to councilman Moretti at length, and with [town engineer] Jeff Ceasrine,” said town manager James Manni. “There were some revisions that came up. The first project would be for the library committee and that’s what we really want. It’s not  so much oversight as it’s trying to get expertise to help us with these projects.”

Moretti then explained the selection process for the proposed committee.

“The town building committee sits for two years with five members appointed by the town council after we review their resumes,” he said. “Then we say, ‘here’s your first project.’ It just so happens to be the library at this point in time. If during that process, another major project comes up, we want them to be the review board. It’s really an extension of Jim [Manni’s] staff.”

Moretti then put forth his proposals for the make-up of the group.

“[it would be] five members who are experts in the fields listed and then adding two members specific to whatever the project is,” he said. “So, in this case, the library would appoint two people to sit on this committee for the term of the project.”

Moretti said he was open to adding more people that were specific to the project to sit on the building committee. He further said he was open to allowing council representation on the committee, stating he was “not into limiting.”  

“Just so the public knows, these would be appointed by the town council,” said councilor Matt Mannix. “Both the standing members and the ones for particular projects.”

The town council then deliberated.

“I hear some general support but I think we have to get the make-up and composition a little clearer,” said town council president Susan Cicilline-Buonanno. “Do you want to take another meeting and revisit it? I think that we could probably add a couple more community people.”

“I would do three and four and then we could be done” said Mannix. “The majority would still be with the project, unless that goes against the intent.”

Moretti then spoke to why he chose to move the agenda item before the council heard the motion from the existing finance committee.

“Just to be clear, the reason why I moved this ahead of item 14, the finance committee has a desire to be involved as well,” said Moretti. “I think it’s important to have the expertise from a project standpoint.”

The council then amended the motion to five standing members and three community members per project. This amendment passed 5-0.

After this motion passed, the floor was opened to the public. Chair of the Narragansett Finance Committee Harris Chorney spoke on behalf of that organization.   

“This is obviously something that we’re all concerned about on the finance committee, and I don’t want to re-hash the past,” he said. “A couple things concerned me from what I heard tonight. First was that, this committee, although a standing committee, would be activated only at the request of the town manager.”

Moretti then said the proposed committee could be activated at the request of the town manager or the town council.

“In other words, it’s not a requirement,” said Chorney. “This is a standing committee that may have nothing to do. That doesn’t make any sense to me...We believe the finance committee would be the right place to have these capital projects be reviewed before they got off the ground.”

After comment from the public, which was overall cautious of the proposed committee, including comment from Library director Laurie Kelly that asserted the reason for the current library’s condition was an original lack of input from the library board, Cicilline-Buonanno said she thought the proposed committee motion needed more time and that she “couldn’t support it right now.” She asked the council for a motion to continue the subject to a future date. Murray said he thought the committee was a “good idea” and that the town had capital projects that needed oversight.

“I’m willing to table it to get it done,” said Moretti, adding that he was open to switching up the membership majorities.

“To put this in simple terms, we need some subject matter experts to guide us along in this - appraisals, building, so forth,” said Manni. “But we also need subject matter experts from the library committee to be on and tell us exactly what they need so that we are eligible for state reimbursements and we can meet the needs they’re looking for so we don’t have an issue like the current library.”

Manni further said he would never request the building committee be activated until consulting with the town council.

Another amendment was made by Mannix that would appoint a total of nine members to the proposed committee with the majority being project-specific. The amendment was seconded by Cicilline-Buonanno before a word of caution from town solicitor Dawson Hodgson.

 “I feel that in the interest of making clear what making the majority project-specific is, you are allowing a voting majority of the committee to be people who are most interested in the outcome of that project,” said Hodgson. “And your experts that you are asking to serve in a standing capacity will always be in the minority. I just do want to play devil’s advocate here to say that you could end up with deadlock of a permanent majority of people who want everything that they want because they are so passionate in a truly wonderful cause, and the professionals that you have solicited to serve to hold the reins, for lack of a better term.”

Moretti made a motion to table the item, which was seconded by Murray. The motion passed 5-0.

The council then heard from the finance committee in the form of Chorney, who said that the town should be using its finance committee to assist in capital projects. Chorney praised town finance director Laura Kenyon, but said she was “only one person” making financial decisions for the town and that it was good to have multiple opinions. Town engineer and former acting town manager Jeff Ceasrine said this was not true, and that financial decisions within the town are carried out, typically, by the department-specific staff, in conjunction with Kenyon. Ultimately, the council voted to host a workshop on the issue 5-0, with a date yet to be determined.

After the meeting, Moretti said he was willing to work with the finance committee.

“As far as the finance committee goes, their proposal to do a financial analysis on anything over $1 million, I’m in favor of that,” said Moretti. “I just think they need to work at the request of the finance director and not autonomously.”

The Narragansett Times inquired if Moretti thought the finance committee should be involved in the proposed building committee.

“Yes, absolutely,” he said. “Financial estimation and financial analysis should be a part of that committee.”

The town council meets next on Jan. 3.