To the editor:

I would like to comment about decisions I made and my votes last night at the Portsmouth Town Council meeting. Often, folks say to me, “It must be difficult making decisions at council meetings.” Often, this can be true, but some tough decisions are easier than others.

Last night we approved a lower monthly rate structure for the Aquidneck Island Christian Academy, hoping that they will remain the good tenants that they have been, while providing a unique “Classical” education. 

We approved an agreement for a new tenant at the Glen Farms barn complex with the hopes that they will succeed in their equestrian business while making repairs to our neglected property while paying the town in a profitable manner similar to Melville Campgrounds.  

We also approved $300K for a conservation easement with the Aquidneck Land Trust providing for additional public accessible open space at the Spruce Acres property. These were unanimous 7-0 decisions, requiring research and thought, but were “easy” for me.

The toughest decision I made last night was approving $36K for the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission. While I do not feel completely comfortable with AIPC based on issues from the past, whether real or perceived, I voted to approve this funding. 

My sole reason for this was that as a member of the previous council, we had obligated this funding to them if they completed an audit as requested. Was this the right audit, one year versus going back over a five-year time period, I am not sure? We did not specify any parameters and as such the right thing to do was to complete our promise to them. That was what I voted for.

I have to be hopeful, as I am with the other three decisions, that I have made the right choice for Portsmouth. It does not necessarily mean that I will vote for next year’s $18K request. I am pleased that they have obligated themselves to three years of audits after having never completing a single audit since inception in 1985. 

I will continue to monitor their efforts for Portsmouth and see that, among things, they support the chosen Melville Bike Path, and that the EPA grant for detecting illicit storm drain tie-ins is used properly so that we maintain our understanding with RIDEM that we will not have sewers in Portsmouth.

David M. Gleason

Portsmouth Town Council

63 Massasoit Ave.

Portsmouth