The Council unanimously gave first passage Monday to an ordinance introduced by Ward 3 Councilman Tim Howe to ban Warwick Planning Board or Zoning Board meetings from taking place on the same day as City Council meetings.

“This ordinance is very direct, I know it's highly unlikely and it rarely happens but unfortunately concerning a development in my Ward it happened three months in a row,” Howe said. 

He was referring to two “special meetings” for the Zoning Board regarding the Sand Pond storage facility proposed project. Howe said those meetings were scheduled “per  request of the developers legal council on the same night at City Council.”

Howe explained that at first he requested that the rules would apply for all board and commission meetings. However, after speaking with the Administration further it was determined that it would be best to just stick with the Planning and Zoning Boards. 

He explained that because when those boards meet they discuss developments and possible actions that impact the neighborhoods they represent and they should be able to attend those meetings. 

And for community members they shouldn’t have to make a tough decision of what meetings are the most important to attend, Howe said. 

“The citizens shouldn’t have to choose one over the other,” Howe said. 

Councilman Jeremy Rix, who is a member of the Ordinance Committee said that he was in full support of it. 

“These are certainly situations that should be avoided in the future so we can have better public participation,” Rix said. 

Councilman Ed Ladouceur said that he thinks that it would be unfortunate if a City Councilman wasn’t able to attend a planning board or zoning board meeting if it was something affecting their ward and they wanted to attend because they have a city council meeting. Because of this he wanted to be added as a co-sponsor for the ordinance. 

“I do think that it's a good idea that we as the elected people in our individual wards have an opportunity to attend those meetings from time to time when we feel the need,” he said. 

Howe said that while he didn’t ask for their permission before introducing the ordinance he said that he spoke to chairs of both boards  and they didn’t have any objections because they still have plenty of other days in the month to meet. The City Council currently meets on the first and third Mondays of each month. 

The Council is expected to take a final vote on the ordinance at their Nov. 15 meeting.