Council Roundup

Highlights of the decisions made, and items discussed, at the Johnston Town Council Meeting held on Tuesday, October 9. Councilman Robert Civetti was not in attendance.
 
STATUS ON PUBLIC HEARINGS
 
A petition submitted by Zisis Arsoniadis to purchase a portion of Old Pippin Orchard Road abutting 2338 Plainfield Pike was held pending a Planning Board advisory opinion.
A petition for the abandonment of a portion of Garner Avenue submitted by Richard Zambrano Jr. was held pending an advisory opinion by the Planning Board.
Also held pending an opinion from the Planning Board was a petition submitted by Attorney Carol Ricker, Esq. on behalf of Norman Diamante to rerecord an easement of record for 65 Downing Drive.
 
ORDINANCES TO BE READ
 
The following ordinance was introduced by the council, and will be voted on during November’s council meeting, during which time the public may pose questions.
 Ordinance 2018-16 seeks to amend chapter 272 of the town’s Code of Ordinances entitled “Sales, Casual” and amends the regulations for yard sales and flea markets.
According to the Town Solicitor Dylan Conley, the ordinance limits and closes permit loopholes in how the town permits yard sales and flea markets, limiting them to two times per year per location, and that they can last for three days long. Conley stated that the ordinance mirrors one in effect in Smithfield and other communities.
The ordinance was introduced by Councilman David Santilli, who said that there were parties in his district holding yard sales every weekend, and that neighbors had been complaining for two or three years. Permits are required to hold yard sales in town.
 
BUSINESS LICENSES
 
A business operating license was approved for Lash Queens Beauty Boutique, LLC, located at 187 George Waterman Avenue, for sales of eyelash extensions.
 Gather Farm, doing business as Gather at Dimeo Farm, located at 396 Greenville Avenue, was granted a hawker peddler license for the sale of produce.
A transfer of a business operating license for a nail salon was granted to Nail Max located at 1561 Plainfield Pike.
A business operating license was approved for Crystal M. Faria, doing business as Crystalash, located at 1200 Hartford Avenue Suite 4a for the sale of eyelash extensions and personal service.
Located at 239 Putnam Pike, Organic Grow Hut was granted a business operating license for the sale of garden supplies.
Eden’s Bowls, located at 57 Lyman Avenue, Apt. 2, a home based catering and personal chef for meals prepared at a customer’s home or at Ocean State Commissary Kitchen, was approved for a business operating license for telephone calls only.
Road Runners Cleaning, a residential cleaning company located at 7 Beacon Street, was permitted a phone calls only business operating license.
 Doing business as Quality Cars and Credit Auto Sales, Vargas Corp. Inc. located at 146 Putnam Pike was approved for a used car sales license, including holiday sales.
A 45 day review, continued from the August council meeting regarding noise complaints against Strings Bar and Grill located at 183 George Waterman Road, was postponed as Solicitor Conley requested more time to conduct additional research. He stated that a more prolonged discussion may be necessary than a standard business license review. He requested a special meeting be held at a time that was convenient to the council. No date was provided for the hearing. 
 
CONSTITUENT REQUESTS
 
District 1 Councilman Richard DelFino III thanked the Police Department and the Department of Public Works for a number of requests that he presented to them that were handled expeditiously.
Councilman Anthony Verardo asked the Town Clerk that a letter be sent to the garbage haulers servicing the condominiums at 47 Morgan Avenue regarding poorly maintained trash receptacles that are contributing to a rat problem in the area. Complaints have been made to the council and Verardo asked that the situation be fixed as soon as possible.
 
NEW BUSINESS
 
A petition from National Grid and Verizon for the relocation of an existing, jointly owned pole located on Peck Hill Road was granted. Additional petitions for the installation of new poles on Memory Lane and Reservoir Avenue were also approved.
A resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into escrow agreements between the town and Southern Sky Renewable Energy was ratified. According to Solicitor Conley, the resolution completed an earlier resolution and finalized the agreements which had previously been agreed to between the council and the private party.
 
CLAIMS
Five claims, submitted by Artin Colonian, Esq. and Daniel Calabro, Jr. Esq. on behalf of Sandra Golden, Heather Argenti, Teri Lynn Deraimo, Lisa Czerwien, and Alisha Kingston, respectively, for damages, injuries, and lost wages, were referred to the town solicitors office.