Johnston public meetings in 2023
12 substantive meetings from 2023, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Town Council Meeting
The Town Council will discuss several petitions for zone changes and review various business operating licenses. The agenda also includes a resolution for surveying services at Woodlake Park and an update on ARPA fund expenditures.
- Zone change petition for 198 Shun Pike from R-40 to Planned District
- Restaurant license for Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers at 1386 Atwood Avenue
- Resolution 2023-54 regarding surveying services for Woodlake Park baseball fields expansion
- Ordinance 2023-17 to regulate the size of commercial buildings
- Update on ARPA Fund expenditures and DiPrete Engineering Study at Memorial Park
Special Town Council Meeting
The Johnston Town Council is holding a special meeting to discuss a grant application for park renovations. The body will also consider a change order for a storage building project.
- Public hearing on Green Space Recreation Development and Acquisition Grant for Johnston War Memorial Park walking trail/path renovations
- Resolution 2023-52: Authorizing grant application for walking path renovations using 20% matching funds
- Resolution 2023-53: Authorizing a change order to add a water and sewer system to the Department of Planning and Public Services Storage Building project
Town Council Meeting
The Town Council will hold public hearings on ordinances regarding cannabis retail sales and drive-through business standards. The body is also reviewing multiple business licenses, liquor license renewals, and infrastructure repair agreements.
- Ordinance 2023-16: Retail sales of Cannabis and standards for drive-through businesses
- Resolution 2023-48: Agreement for repair of Shun Pike roadway
- Resolution 2023-51: Bid for improvements to Johnston War Memorial Park playground
- Resolution 2023-49: Change order for engineering services for Pocasset Pond Dam repair
- Licenses for Raising Cane’s (1386 Atwood Avenue) and Bar Lino (1395 Atwood Avenue)
Town Council Meeting
The Town Council granted several business and liquor licenses and approved the purchase of three network servers for the town's IT network. The body also discussed safety issues regarding the Market Basket truck entrance and referred several zoning petitions to the Planning Board.
- Resolution 2023-45: Awarded bid for the purchase of 3 Network Servers for the Town’s IT Network
- Liquor licenses granted to The Punjab (1565 Plainfield Pike) and A Taste of Italy (1302 Atwood Avenue)
- Business operating licenses granted to CA Risk Consultants, DPM Construction, The Financial Coach, and DKRI Graphics
- Petition 2023-CP-160: Referred to Planning Board for zone change of Plat 5, Lots 213, 232, 234, 238, 262 & 263 from R-20 to Industrial-I-L
- Petition 2023-CP-158: Referred to Police, Fire and Public Works for a speed bump on Sweet Hill Drive
Special Town Council Meeting
The Johnston Town Council held a special meeting on October 4, 2023, to hear findings from PFM Group Consulting, LLC on a financial and operational assessment of the Johnston School Department. Areas of concern and recommendations were discussed, and the School Department has begun working with an intermediary consultant. The meeting adjourned at 8:06 p.m.
- PFM Group Consulting, LLC presented findings of a financial and operational analysis of the Johnston School Department
- Areas of concern were highlighted and recommendations were reviewed
- School Department has begun working with an intermediary consultant
- Council and audience asked questions after the presentation
- Meeting adjourned by motion, vote 5-0
Town Council Meeting
The Johnston Town Council held a special meeting to enter executive session. The session focused on collective bargaining negotiations between the Town of Johnston and the Rhode Island Council 94, AFSCME, AFL-CIO for Local Union 1491.
- Executive session regarding collective bargaining with Johnston Town Employees Local Union 1491
- Vote to seal the minutes of the September 11, 2023 Executive Session
Special Town Council Meeting
The Johnston Town Council voted 3-0 to read Ordinance 2023-16, which would amend zoning to allow retail cannabis sales and set standards for drive-through businesses, and referred it to the Planning Board for an advisory opinion. The Council also adopted a new union contract with Town Employees Local Union 1491, including a base pay bump and summer hours. A zone change petition for 198 Shun Pike remains pending Planning Board review.
- Ordinance 2023-16: allows retail cannabis sales and drive-through business standards, referred to Planning Board
- Resolution 2023-42: ratified agreement with RI Council 94 AFSCME Local 1491, including base pay increase and summer hours
- Resolution 2023-44: authorized extended engineering services for Johnston War Memorial Park improvements
- Petition 2023-CP-149: zone change for Sunn Builders (Plat 42, Lots 31, 104, 105) from R-40 to Planned District, referred to Planning Board
- Ordinance 2023-15: adopted no parking on southbound side of Trieste Street
Special Town Council Meeting
The Johnston Town Council met to vote on several appointments and administrative resolutions. The council approved an amendment to the purchase and sales agreement for the Calef School with Tri-County Community Action Agency.
- Resolution 2023-41: Approved amendment to the sale of Calef School to Tri-County Community Action Agency
- Appointment of Steven Mandarelli to the Johnston Smithfield Juvenile Hearing Board
- Annual renewal of Town Bingo Licenses for 2023-2024
- Appointment of Karen Clark to the District 5 Charter Review Commission
- Appointment of Jacqueline Grasso to the District 5 Senior Citizens Advisory Board
Town Council Meeting
The Town Council adopted a resolution asking the RI General Assembly to authorize tax credits for resident-owners aged 65 and older. The body also approved several business licenses, road improvements, and a zoning change for a senior housing development.
- Resolution 2023-36: Request for state legislation to authorize real property tax credits for residents 65+
- Ordinance 2023-13: Zone change from R-20 to R-7 for 1725 Plainfield Pike for a 55+ community (max 30 units)
- Resolution 2023-35: Agreement for pavement and sidewalk improvements on Hartford Avenue from Killingly Street to Atwood Avenue
- Resolution 2023-37: Agreement with RI Infrastructure Bank for low interest septic system/cesspool repair loans
- Ordinance 2023-14: Abandonment of portions of Stella St, Maria St, Middleton St, and Celia St
Town Council Meeting with School Comm.
The Town Council will consider resolutions authorizing third-party administrative services for police and firefighter on-duty injuries, and hold public hearings on ordinances clarifying pothole/sprinkler damage claims and setting property tax rates. Several zone-change petitions remain pending Planning Board review.
- Resolution 2023-31: third-party admin services for injured police officers
- Resolution 2023-32: third-party admin services for injured firefighters
- Ordinance 2023-8: amends claims rules for pothole and sprinkler damage
- Ordinance 2023-10: orders property tax assessment and collection
- Appointments to Charter Review Commission for Districts 1-3, 5, and at-large
Special Town Council Meeting with School Comm.
The Johnston Town Council held a special budget hearing to review and adopt the town's governmental budget, personnel classification, and tax levy. The council also addressed property tax assessments and school department oversight.
- Adopted Ordinance 2023-9 appropriating $129,081,852 for the Town Governmental Budget
- Read Ordinance 2023-10 regarding property tax and excise tax assessment and collection
- Read Ordinance 2023-11 amending tax classifications to comply with state law
- Adopted Resolution 2023-30 authorizing interim mayoral oversight of Johnston School Department financial and business operations
Town Council Meeting with School Comm.
The Johnston Town Council will review several infrastructure resolutions, including dam repairs and a new financial management system. The body will also process numerous business and liquor license applications and hold public hearings on zoning and development ordinances.
- Resolutions for engineering design services to repair Oak Swamp Dam and Pocasset Pond Dam
- Resolution to purchase 3 Automatic License Plate Recognition Cameras
- Resolution to install a splash pad at Johnston War Memorial Park
- Public hearing for Ordinance 2023-5 to change zoning from R-40 to I-Industrial for Plat 33, Lots 27 & 84
- Petition for the abandonment of portions of Stella St, Maria St, Middleton St, and Celia St