The first meeting of the new session for the just-constituted Warren Town Council held Tuesday night, Dec. 10, in the Town Hall Chamber as always included a host of ceremonial and administrative tasks, such as the formal swearing in of recently elected members and designating the body's latest leadership tandem.

Louis Rego, a former member who sat on the council in the late 1990s-early 2000s, and Derrik Trombley, who won his first race for elected office, took their oaths of office administered by Rhode Island Family Court Associate Justice Shilpa Naik. Naik is the wife of Warren Town Manager Brian Sullivan.

Of note as well, the two Councilors whom they replaced — Steve Calenda and Brandt Heckert — were given one final salute by their former peers in the form of a plaque denoting their service on the body.

As to the administrative business, upon submission and quick show of support, Joseph DePasquale was selected the new council president. He succeeds John Hanley in the role. Keri Cronin was next chosen as the Council's new vice president.

For DePasquale, it's a return to the post he held previously for six years from 2012-18. Cronin was next to receive the title when DePasquale stepped away from the body to make what proved an unsuccessful bid for a House General Assembly seat. Hanley then was tabbed for the position after the 2020 election.

Upon last Tuesday's vote, Hanley quipped as he handed over the gavel to his colleague, "Congratulations Joe. That was all in favor. He (DePasquale) just asked me if I was opposed. No, it was five in the affirmative."

DePasquale took the reins for the VP vote, at the conclusion of which he said, "We have new officers...I want to thank the Council. And I look forward to working with this new team. And we're going to get right to work."

New appointees
Among the items on what was a rather hefty docket were the appointments and re-appointments to several individual positions as well as those on boards, commissions and committees.

The new appointees included town native, Warren High School grad and United States Coast Guard Captain Joseph Silva to the position of harbormaster.

Silva, a long-time member of the town's Harbor Patrol staff and owner of the local company Mako Electric, replaces the retiring Ed Cabral in the vital post safeguarding Warren's waters.

Explaining his decision of whom to recommend among the applicants for the position, Town Manager Sullivan said, "The interview panel came up with two very well qualified candidates for this position. Sometimes that doesn't happen often when you have two very well qualified candidates. I interviewed both of them and one candidate was a little bit ahead of the second candidate."

Sullivan continued about Silva, specifically, "He's well versed in what takes place here. He can hit the ground running. And I think that he would be an asset to the staff here in the Town of Warren."

Silva, who graduated with both Councilors Hanley and Rego from WHS in the Class of 1979 and was DePasquale's wrestling youth coach made brief remarks upon his approval to the job. "Thanks for the opportunity," he said.

Woody Kemp, a member of the Warren Harbor Management Commission who was also on the harbormaster interview committee said, "We did come up with two great candidates. Joe is doing the job right now. He's doing a great job right now, and we're really happy he's staying on board."

In addition, the council appointed three new members to the following positions: Budget Committee (1 position available, 3 members) Amy Galinelli; Economic Development Board (2 positions available, 9 members and 2 alternates)
Ana Margarita Cabrera (formerly an alternate on the board); and Warren Housing Authority (1 position available 5 members), Claire Martins, who previously served on the body for 28 years and as chair for 12.

Besides appointments, the council accepted resignations from another trio of officials, including one of their own, Councilor Rego, from the Warren Housing Authority, Jim Leffers from the Planning Board and Associate Municipal Court Judge Brett V. Beaubien.

Re-appointments
All of the reappointments on the agenda passed as presented except for two.

At the objection of just-seated Councilor Trombley, Natalie Thompson was not reaffirmed to the Economic Development Board.

Trombley, who himself previously served on the body, cited Thompson's lack of regular attendance to its meetings as the main reasons. His new colleagues concurred and Thompson's position became vacant.

Second, and a move more procedural in nature, new Council President DePasquale took over the position on the Bristol Warren Regional Joint Finance Committee held by his immediate predecessor, Hanley. As well, Councilor Cronin asked to be replaced on the body by Town Manager Sullivan. Her request was granted. DePasqualre and Sullivan join Sheila Raposa as Warren's representatives on the committee.

In addition, the Council voted to re-advertise board positions that had no suitors: Juvenile Hearing Board, 1 alternate position available; Recreation Board, 1 position available; RI 250th Commission, 3 positions available; and Tax Board of Assessment Review, 1 position available.

The reappointments composed the bulk of the seats approved by the Council. They were as follows:

• Arts and Cultural Commission (1-year term): Erin DeThomas, Sally V. Turner, Elizabeth Anne O’Connell, Darby Pontes, James C. Goff, Chris Lynn Matos, Linda Megathlin and Susan Rotblat-Walker
• Associate Housing Court Judge (1-year term): Alden C. Harrington
• Bristol Warren Regional Joint Finance Committee: Joseph DePasquale, Brian Sullivan and Sheila M. Raposa
• Building Official/Inspector - Alternate (1-year term): William A. Hanley
• Conservation Commission (3-year term, 7 members): Jane Harrison
• Economic Development Board (3-year term, 10 members and 2 alternates): Andrew Arruda, Dan Shedd, Paul Thomas Gordon - Alternate
• Electrical Inspector (1-year term): Nicholas T. Massed; Electrical Inspector, Alternate (1-year term): Frederick Souza
• Harbor Management Commission (3-year term, 7 members): Jeremy McVay, James Barber, William J. Hunt Jr. - Alternate
• Holiday Festival (1-year term, 1 member): Elwood Donnelly
• Juvenile Hearing Board (3-year term, 5 members and 2 alternates): Kenneth J. McPhillips, Geoffrey Keegan, Maria Ursini - Alternate
• Library Trustee (1-year term, 2 members): Carol A. Gafford, John S. Chaney
• Municipal Court Judge (1-year term): John J. Rego
• Planning Board (3-year term, 7 members and 2 alternates): E. Jenny K. Flanagan, Michael Gerhardt
• Plumbing/Mechanical Inspector (1-year term): Peter J. Withers; Plumbing/Mechanical Inspector, Alternate (1-year term): Gordon Meiggs
• Recreation Board (3-year term, 5 members): Jennifer Rainone
• Town Sergeant (1-year term): Arthur M. Franco
• Voluntary Historic District Committee (4-year term, 5 members and 2 alternates): Eileen S. Collins, Margaret Back, Scott F. Lial - Alternate
• Warren Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board of Directors (3-year term, 6 members): Sheila M. Raposa, Ric Wild
• Warren Housing Authority (5-year term, 5 Members): Frank J. Alfano
• Zoning Board of Review (5-year term, 5 members and 2 alternates): Charles A. Thibaudeau, Michael Anthony Alves - Alternate, David J. Francis - Alternate

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