Scituate public meetings in 2023
16 substantive meetings from 2023, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Regular Town Council Meeting
The Scituate Town Council will hold a regular meeting on December 14, 2023, at the High School Auditorium. The agenda includes a public hearing on proposed zoning ordinance amendments, a resolution regarding a water project contract for public schools, and several other business items. The council will also consider appointments, license renewals, and various administrative actions.
- Public hearing on second reading of zoning ordinance amendments (Appendix A, Articles I, II, IV & IX) to comply with state land use changes
- Resolution regarding contracts for a water project at Scituate Public Schools
- Renewal of junk/second-hand sales licenses for 8 businesses (Glitz, Chopmist Hill Marketplace, Scituate Trading Post, etc.)
- Payment of town bills: Early Town Expenses $317,002.90, School GO Bond $223,722.85, Regular Town Expenses $71,471.43
- Discussion on use of National Opioid Settlement funds
School Committee Meeting
The Scituate School Committee is holding a special meeting on December 12, 2023, at Scituate High School. The only substantive item is a motion to enter executive session to discuss a report on Caito Field under state arbitration law. No other business is listed, and the meeting is expected to adjourn after reconvening to open session.
- Executive session on Caito Field report (arbitration)
- Special meeting at Scituate High School, 94 Trimtown Road, North Scituate
- Public invited to attend in person; live video and Zoom participation available
School Committee Meeting
The Scituate School Committee is meeting to handle routine business and several policy votes. Notable actions include votes to eliminate policies on sexual harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation, first readings of new anti-discrimination and fundraising policies, and approval of school trips to Washington DC and Anaheim. The committee will also approve bills totaling over $1 million and discuss the FY25 budget timeline.
- Vote to eliminate Policy #9060 Sexual Harassment
- Vote to eliminate Policy #9070 Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation
- First Reading of Policy #7085 Fundraising Policy and Policy #9065 Anti-Discrimination or Harassment and Grievance
- Approval of General Fund bills totaling $921,410.48
- Vote on High School AP Government trip to Washington DC, March 2025
Regular Town Council Meeting
The Scituate Town Council will hold a regular meeting on November 9, 2023, at 6:30 PM. The agenda includes public hearings on liquor license renewals, a first reading of zoning ordinance amendments, and several town business items, including a police hire, a bid award for a roof replacement, and a park use agreement. The council will also consider consent items such as bill payments and appointments.
- Public hearing on 8 liquor license renewals (Class A, BVL, BV) for businesses like Scituate Liquor Shoppe, Cindy's Diner, Rufino's Pizzeria, and others
- First reading of zoning ordinance amendments (Appendix A, Articles I, II, IV & IX) to comply with state land use law changes
- Bid award for Clayville Schoolhouse Roof Replacement at 479 Field Hill Road: Plan B Construction ($70,000) vs. NAPCO ($76,850)
- Approval of 30-year Park Use Agreement with RI DEM for Esek Hopkins Park management
- Payment of town bills totaling over $670,000, including school bond payment of $54,000
Regular Town Council Meeting
The Scituate Town Council will hold a regular meeting with public hearings, including a liquor license transfer for Granite Farm Restaurant. They will also discuss and potentially vote on several town business items, such as road improvements, equipment purchases, and contract awards. The agenda includes executive session discussions on employee matters and collective bargaining.
- Transfer of Class BV liquor license from ALES INC. to GLA Merola LLC for Merola's Granite Farm Restaurant at 50 Danielson Pike
- Request to pave Huntinghouse Lane
- Reimbursement of $12,573 each to Hope Jackson and Potterville Fire Departments for rescue boats
- Expend $21,000 for deployable Broadband WiFi equipment
- Award bid for Clayville Schoolhouse painting ($48,000) and epoxy floor at Chopmist Hill Fire Station ($23,338.31)
Regular Town Council Meeting
The Scituate Town Council is meeting to consider a second reading of a zoning amendment that would allow wineries, distilleries, and farm wineries in town. They will also vote on awarding a survey and design contract for a new parking lot, and discuss a request to waive credit requirements for a septic system loan.
- Second reading of zoning amendment to allow wineries, distilleries, and farm wineries
- Award bid for North Road Parking Lot survey/design to Crossman Engineering for $7,750
- Request to waive credit requirements for $30,000 Community Septic System Loan at 1% for 10 years for 20 Elisha Mathewson Road
- Possible executive session on potential litigation
Regular Town Council Meeting
The Scituate Town Council will decide whether and how to fill the vacancy created by the death of Councilman David A. D'Agostino, after the Board of Elections deferred the decision. The council will also hold a public hearing on a proposed zoning amendment to allow wineries, distilleries, and farm wineries, and consider several appointments, consent items, and requests including septic loan waivers and event permits.
- Public hearing on zoning amendment to allow wineries, distilleries, and farm wineries
- Consideration of filling Town Council vacancy left by David A. D'Agostino
- Request to waive CSSLP eligibility for septic loan at 476 Central Pike (Lot 23, Plat 45)
- Request to allow septic loan application at 20 Elisha Mathewson Road (Lot 45, Plat 17)
- Approval of early town expenses totaling $475,846.98
Regular Town Council Meeting
The Scituate Town Council will hold a regular meeting on August 10, 2023, at the High School Auditorium. The agenda includes public hearings on proposed ordinance amendments, appointments, consent items, and several town business items. A notable item is the possible determination of whether to fill the Town Council vacancy created by the death of David A. D'Agostino, and if so, the process for doing so.
- Second reading of ordinance amendment on soil erosion, stormwater control, and illicit discharge
- First reading of Public Event Ordinance amendment for entertainment standards
- Ratify purchase of 2021 Ford Escape AWD for Building Official for $27,624
- Request to go out to bid for Statistical Revaluation required by Dec 31, 2024
- Possible determination on filling Town Council vacancy due to death of David A. D'Agostino
School Committee Meeting
The Scituate School Committee is holding a special meeting to discuss and potentially vote on the Technology Department Plan. The meeting also includes a closed executive session to evaluate the superintendent and set performance goals. Public comment is scheduled.
- Discussion/Action/Vote on Technology Department Plan
- Executive session for Superintendent's Evaluation and Performance Goals
- Public comment period
Regular Town Council Meeting
The Scituate Town Council will hold public hearings on a zoning map amendment for 1010 Danielson Pike and a stormwater ordinance update, then vote on several items including ARPA fund reservations for Town Hall, Clayville School House, Hope Library HVAC, and a dog park. The council will also consider salary adjustments for non-union employees and a request to create burial plots at 20 Danielson Pike.
- Second reading of zoning change for Lots 32 & 33, Plat 35 at 1010 Danielson Pike from RR120 to BG
- First reading of ordinance amendment on soil erosion, stormwater control, and illicit discharge
- Reserve $1,000,000 ARPA funds for Town Hall renovation
- Reserve $100,000 ARPA for Clayville School House, $115,000 for Hope Library HVAC, $50,000 for dog park
- Payment of town bills: $406,239.18 early expenses, $591,085.14 regular expenses
Regular Town Council Meeting
The Scituate Town Council will consider several ARPA fund requests, including a $2.25 million replacement of the North Scituate Fire Station and a possible reservation for Town Hall renovation. It will also vote on police equipment purchases, a retiree vacation payout policy, and routine appointments and licenses.
- North Scituate Fire Department: $2,250,000 for new fire station from ARPA funds
- Possible ARPA fund reservation for Town Hall renovation
- Police: 2 new cruisers, up to $119,000 from capital funds
- Police: copier lease, $221/month for 60 months
- Hope Jackson Fire Department: $20,000 for restoration at 116 Main Street
Regular Town Council Meeting
The Scituate Town Council will hold a regular meeting on June 8, 2023, with several action items. They will consider police promotions, a zoning map amendment, appointments, a septic system loan program resolution, and various town business items including ARPA-funded purchases and a grant writer contract. The agenda also includes a possible executive session on collective bargaining.
- Police promotions: Mathew King to Detective Sergeant, Timothy Brady to Sergeant
- Zoning map amendment for Lots 32 & 33, Plat 35, 1010 Danielson Pike, from RR120 to BG
- Resolution authorizing up to $300,000 in septic system loans (CSSLP)
- ARPA-funded purchases: town hall design ($60,000), tractor ($75,000), road plainer ($24,000)
- Grant writer bid award to Rosewood Consulting at $5,000/month
Regular Town Council Meeting
The Scituate Town Council will hold a regular meeting with public hearings, including a kennel license renewal for Perfect Puppy, Inc. and a second reading of an ordinance regulating alcohol and other regulated products on public property. The council will also consider a police promotion, appointments, and various consent items, and may enter executive session for personnel and litigation matters.
- Police promotion of Det. Sgt. Ian P. Noonan to Lieutenant at $1,591.79/week
- Kennel license renewal for Scott Bergantino D/B/A Perfect Puppy, Inc. at 1265 Chopmist Hill Road
- Second reading of ordinance on regulated products on public property (alcohol, parks)
- Grant writer RFP responses: Rosewood Consulting $5,000/month; GZA hourly rates $80-$250
- Payment of town bills totaling over $1.2 million
Regular Town Council Meeting
The Scituate Town Council will hold public hearings on kennel license renewals and a first reading of an ordinance regulating alcohol and other regulated products on town property. The council will also consider resolutions to authorize up to $5 million in tax anticipation notes and a $1 million bond for a water project at the public schools, both subject to voter approval at the April 2023 Financial Town Meeting. Other business includes approving the FY 2023/2024 budget, awarding an audit contract, and filling police vacancies.
- Public hearing on kennel license renewals for six applicants, including Wanda Monroe, Donna Rosciti, John Washburn, Anne Hubbard, PV Farmstand Inc., and Scott Bergantino d/b/a Perfect Puppy, Inc.
- First reading of ordinance to regulate use, consumption, and possession of regulated products on public property, amending multiple sections of the Scituate Code of Ordinances.
- Resolution to authorize up to $5,000,000 in Tax Anticipation Notes for FY 2023-2024, subject to voter approval.
- Resolution to authorize issuance of $1,000,000 in bonds for a water project at Scituate Public Schools, subject to voter and state approval.
- Approval of FY 2023/2024 budget as recommended by the Budget Commission.
Regular Town Council Meeting
The Scituate Town Council will consider hiring Dina Elhelw on a part-time, as-needed basis as interim Director of Senior Services after her resignation takes effect, and will review ARPA fund allocations and new funding requests. The council may also enter executive session to discuss school and town building security.
- Consider employing Dina Elhelw part-time at $32.14/hour, max 19.5 hours/week, no benefits, starting Jan 30, 2023
- Ratify posting of Director of Senior Services position
- Update on ARPA funds appropriated and distributed to date
- Update on outstanding ARPA fund requests and possible approval at next meeting
- Consider new requests for ARPA funds
Regular Town Council Meeting
The Scituate Town Council will reorganize with newly elected members, hear a presentation on a pavement management program, and consider dedicating up to $500,000 of ARPA funds to it. They will also vote on liaison assignments, consent items, and several town business items including a T-Mobile lease amendment, a Verizon tower survey, and a police radio purchase.
- Dedicate up to $500,000 ARPA funds to pavement management program
- First Amendment to T-Mobile lease for cellular tower at 116 Main Street, North Scituate; rent $2,700/month with 3% annual escalation from Nov 2026
- Verizon/SAI Communications to survey Town-owned property on North Rd across from Baldwin Drive (Plat 7/Lot 25) for new cellular tower
- Purchase police/fire/EMS dispatch console and radios: $133,420.68 (Cyber Communications), $169,442.20 (Motorola), $200,408.32 (Motorola), $38,189.10 (Motorola)
- Raise fingerprinting background check fee from $10 to $45