Council Roundup

The Council Roundup is a digest of hearings, ordinances, licenses, and other proceedings from the Johnston Town Council’s February 10 meeting. All members were present.

STATUS ON PUBLIC HEARINGS

Zone Map Changes:

Mohamad Yaser and Rhonda Sasa submitted a petition to rezone Assessor’s Plat 8, Lot 14 on Morgan Avenue from mixed R-20 and to R-7. This was held awaiting the Planning Board’s advisory opinion.

Bachar Sasa petitioned to rezone Assessor’s Plat 43, Lots 264 and 265 on Shun Pike Avenue from R-40 to Industrial. This was sent to the Planning Board for review.

Ordinance 2025-2, which amends the “Industrial Performance Standards” of the Town of Johnston Code of Ordinances and sets requirements to cover dirt mounds was also held awaiting the Planning Board’s advisory opinion.

ORDINANCES

The following ordinances were read and will be taken up again during a future Town Council meeting.

Ordinance 2025-4:
Seeks to amend Article IV, section 340-16 of Chapter 340 entitled “Industrial Performance Standards” of the Town of Johnston Code of Ordinances regarding noise. This was sent to the Planning Board for review.

LICENSE APPROVALS

The Town Council unanimously approved the following licenses:

Smart Cookie LLC: Doing business as Stitches Branded Apparel, based at 554 Killingly Street, John Flynn was granted for an embroidery and screen printing license.

Alliance Mobile, Inc: A business operating license for Neshwan Khami at 1450 Hartford Avenue, for sales of AT&T wireless, fiber plans, and related equipment.

Cara Burgess: At 1524 Atwood Avenue, Unit 41, offering therapeutic massage.

LIQUOR LICENSE COMMISSION

Casa Noble, LLC: Doing business as Casa Noble Restaurant located at 761 Hartford Avenue, was approved for a Class BV-full liquor license for a restaurant.

NEW BUSINESS

Petitions and Resolutions:

Resolution 2025-11 was approved, authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement for engineering, surveying, and permitting services for the recently acquired land near the Public Facilities building. Approval recommends awarding the agreement to Fuss & O’Neill in the amount of $83,400.

Resolution 2025-12 approved an additional increase of $80,000 between the Town of Johnston and DiPrete Engineering for identifying the town’s catch basins and comply with             the Rhode Island Clean Water Act.

Resolution 2025-13 was approved and authorized the mayor to enter an agreement with the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation for the acceptance of $250,000 for landscaping and beautification projects around town hall.       

Marie Michael petitioned to purchase a parcel of land from the town known as Assessor’s Plat 33, lot 23 was referred to the Planning Board.

Mary Neahring’s appointment to the Johnston Senior Citizens Advisory Board to fill a District 1 vacancy was granted.

Nyhart gave a presentation of The Town of Johnston actuarial valuation for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024. Segal also presented the Town of Johnston Police and Firefighters Pension System actuarial reports and schedules as of June 30, 2024.

PUBLIC HEARINGS ON ORDINANCES

Ordinance 2025-1 authorizing the borrowing of up to $300,000 for financing the planning of improvements to stormwater facilities and authorizing the issuance of general obligation notes or bonds for such purposes was approved.

A petition submitted by Valerie McGuire, Ordinance 2025-3, changing the zone map for Assessor’s Plat 157, lot 170 on Hartford Avenue from mixed B-2 and R-40 to B-2 was approved.

CLAIMS

Claims from Frank Orabona on behalf of Monica Arroyo and Kitanalee Adorno, and a claim from Jeffrey Sowa on behalf of Health Benefits Advisors were referred to the town solicitor.