At its most recent meeting, the Bristol Town Council took a small step toward creating a new taxing structure to help longtime residents remain in Bristol, approved salary increases for the next town administrator, moved money to help rebuild a downtown boat ramp, and moved toward lowering the minimum age for police officers from 21 to 18. Following is a roundup of many of the issues discussed during the public meeting.

All-stars honored

The Bristol Town Council meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 18, started on a high note, celebrating a victorious Bristol Warren all-star baseball team. Players, including Ben Campbell, Brandon Correia, Kaden McLaughlin, Cameron Salisbury, Gavin Lavallita, Jackson Adams, Jackson Case, Jaden Larissa, Jude Francis, Logan Sheedy, Lucas Botelho and Preston DeSouza led the Pledge of Allegiance at the start of the meeting and were presented citations from the General Assembly delegation, including Rep. June Speakman and Sens. Linda Ujifusa and Wally Felag.

Money for candy

The council renewed its $1,000 sponsorship of the Bristol Police Department’s Trunk-or-Treat. The community outreach effort began in 2020, when the pandemic cancelled the Bristol Merchants’ (BMA) annual downtown Trick-or-Treat event. It was so successful, the police department continued to hold the event, now in conjunction with the merchants group. The money, from the council’s contingency fund, will buy a good amount of candy for officers to distribute at the event, scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 27.

“This is one of many reasons why the Bristol Police Department is so well thought of, not only in the town, but in the state,” said council Chairman Nathan Calouro. “It’s an outstanding police department, and this is just one example of why it is so. Thank you for your efforts.”

A new tax structure

The Council took another step toward enacting changes to property tax classifications, with the first reading of a proposed ordinance to amend the classification system. The spirit of this proposal is to help make it easier for longtime residents to stay in their homes by setting different rates for commercial, owner-occupied residential, and non-resident-owned investment properties. While specifics remain to be seen, this first step was unanimously approved.

“I think it’s fantastic that we’re taking the next steps on these taxation classification changes,” said Councilor Tim Sweeney.

“This puts in the vehicle to get it done, and then the next step is the conversation about what it actually looks like,” said Calouro. There was some further discussion about the process to re-certify a property owner’s status as a resident, but those are details that will be revisited as the ordinance takes shape.

From 18 to 21

The Council approved the first reading of a proposed ordinance to lower the age of candidates for appointment as probationary patrol officers to 18, from 21. The new ordinance will also remove the gendered pronoun “he”, replacing it with “the candidate.”

“My goal really is to keep pace with other law enforcement organizations. As you all know, recruiting police officers is one of the largest challenges that we have as police executives,” said Chief Kevin Lynch. “The Rhode Island State Police are taking the lead — some of the candidates in their last class were certainly under 21.”

A license for golf

The Bristol Golf Course passed its three-month review of the town’s only Class C liquor license with flying colors.

Christmas Festival moving

David Scarpino, chairman of the Bristol Christmas Festival Committee, appeared before the council proposing to relocate the festival, scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 7, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 8, from noon to 6 p.m., to Unity Park. Held in years past in and adjacent to the Burnside Building, there were some concerns with that location, and organizers hoped to move the festival and its entertainment, food, and craft vendors to the lesser-trafficked Town Common and adjacent churches. That plan failed to materialize, but Unity Park has offered to provide the space.

Scarpino noted that in an effort to keep downtown businesses benefitting from the significant crowd drawn by this event, they would be hiring trolleys to transport people between downtown and Unity Park. The councilors expressed gratitude to Scarpino and his committee for their efforts, and as there was no vote to be taken, they received and filed the proposal.

A land acknowledgement

At the last Council meeting, resident Tony Morettini presented a proposal to adopt a land acknowledgment statement and establish usage guidelines, providing letters of support from organizations including the Bristol Historical & Preservation Society, Save Bristol Harbor, the Bristol Warren Regional School District, the Middle Passage Port Marker Project, and the Sowams Heritage Area Project. Citing his concern at the time that the language could be problematic, Councilor Tony Teixeira suggested it should be sent to the town’s attorney for review, which was done.

The solicitor struck one word from the third sentence, which originally read, “As the place of Metacom’s Seat, at the base of Potumtuk (Mount Hope), let this acknowledgement serve as a reminder of our ongoing responsibility to recognize, honor, reconcile and partner with the Pokanoket Tribal people for the benefit of the lands and water of Sowams.”

Now, the word “reconcile” is omitted.

The amended language was approved by four councilors, with Teixeira opposing. “The fact that there is always unintended consequences … I don’t want to see that happen and pass it on to the children.”

Maintenance for Port Marker

Another matter that was sent to the Solicitor for review at the August meeting was a request by resident and Port Marker Project Board Secretary Steven O’Neill that the town adopt a resolution stating that they will be maintaining the Port Marker site. The maintenance has already been agreed upon, in writing, in the Independence Park Management Agreement — but the group needs the piece of paper to present to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation before they can get final approval for the site.

With clarity from Solicitor Andy Teitz that the Town will not be responsible for the  installation, repair, replacement, or removal of the marker itself, the necessary resolution was presented to the Council.

Resident Peter Hewitt objected. “Back some time ago, when the marker first came up, I was opposed to it because I personally did not feel a need for healing for what happened back in the early 1800s,” he said. “When the decision was made to place the marker in Independence Park, I objected because I thought that at some point in time the town of Bristol was going to be mandated to incur, at taxpayer expense, to maintain this marker.

“And it’s come, the chickens have come home to roost.”

After Hewitt was done speaking, the council passed the resolution unanimously.

Raise for the administrator

Next up, what Calouro characterized as an “always uncomfortable conversation” — was discussing Town Administrator Steve Contente’s salary in front of him and, well, everyone. “It is my hope that we can adjust the salary again for the upcoming year,” said Calouro, proposing a raise to $100,000 for the 2025-26 fiscal year, and to $105,000 for 2026-27. Armed with salaries of other executives of comparably-sized towns, the other councilors supported Calouro’s proposal.

Rebuilding the boat ramp

Lastly, Contente requested the council reallocate the funds from the now-defunct band stage project to the Independence Park Boat Ramp and Stormwater Improvement project. Though bids were initially about a half-million-dollars more than the town has allocated, a combination of value-engineering and the band stage funds can close that gap. Contente wants to see the project move forward in the off-season so that boaters are greeted by a new ramp next summer. “It desperately needs a facelift,” agreed Councilor Tim Sweeney. The request was approved.