Split Council Votes to Investigate Miller

The Narragansett Town Council asks solicitor Mark McSally to investigate whether Town Manager Grady Miller violated town bylaws or state law in shifting budget monies.

By a 3-2 vote and against the general comments of residents, and with Town Manager Grady Miller absent because of a family emergency, the Narragansett Town Council approved a motion at Monday night’s meeting to have the solicitor investigate whether Miller broke town budget regulations. Councilors Glenna Hagopian, David Crook and Alisa Trainor Fleet voted in favor of the motion. Councilors Christopher Wilkens and Susan Cicilline-Buonanno voted against it. Miller was unable to speak in his defense at Monday night’s meeting because of a family emergency. The council met at 6 p.m., prior to the regularly scheduled 7:30 p.m. meeting, for a work session on a study of the town’s fire department. At about 6:25 p.m., a family member of Miller …

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Last Week in Rhode Island

READER ROUNDUP: Undermine at Any Cost

Check out what people are talking about, and add to the conversation in the comments section.

Narragansett-South Kingstown: "The iceberg in Town Hall is a lot smaller now that there has been a managerial change, but some will not be satisfied until Mr. Miller is gone. They will try to undermine him at any cost. This episode is just the latest attempt." — I'm Tired of the Games, commenting on Town Delays Action on Proposed Town Manager Probe Coventry: "What's the hurry? It's only been 2 years? ... No, lets stand around like a bunch of overpaid idiots, and look at plans for a couple of months, bone the state taxpayers massive cost over runs, and still have a crappy bridge that might last 20 years. It's no wonder why theres no money, sickening." — Dale B., commenting on RIDOT Released Laurel Avenue Bridge Construction Update Cranston…

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Town Delays Action on Proposed Town Manager Probe

After additional information comes to light during Monday’s meeting, the Narragansett Town Council decides to wait before taking any action.

The fate of any sort of investigation into Narragansett Town Manager Grady Miller’s actions will have to wait at least two weeks, as the town council voted on Monday night to continue the matter to its April 2 meeting. At issue is whether Miller acted inappropriately in shifting $3,000 for the Narrow River Preservation Association from the special appropriations budget to the wastewater budget for the 2011-12 budget. Council president Glenna Hagopian put the matter on the agenda for Monday’s meeting, asking the town solicitor for a review of the budget shift. She also made the most critical remarks of Miller at the meeting, and in several memos she authored before the meeting. “I found this troubling and confusing,” she said. “The …

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Five Things

5 THINGS: Mr. Rogers, Article Scheduling and Fun Events

Now that the drudgery of Monday is behind us, we can get back to more usual tasks, like counting down to Friday and the weekend.

Here are the (more than) Five Things for Tuesday, March 20, 2012: Town manager’s job is safe, at least for now. The Narragansett Town Council took no formal action on the job of Town Manager at Monday night’s meeting. Although council president Glenna Hagopian brought up what she believed to be budget irregularities, both Grady Miller and fellow councilor Christopher Wilkens fought back against her claims. We will have several stories from Monday’s meeting posted on the site today and tomorrow, so keep your eyes peeled for their posting. Spring into Spring at the Guild! That is literally the event’s name today, so I felt the need to make no further additional pithy comments. For $11 (residents) or $14 (non-residents), you and your child …

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Five Things

5 THINGS: Serious Bidness Afoot…

In today’s Five Things, government matters matter.

Here are the (more than) Five Things for Monday, March 19, 2012: Want to be e-mailed when there is a new Five Things posted? Click the “keep me posted!” button below.

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Argument Erupts Before Town Manager Job Review

Tempers flare between resident Julie Campisani, and councilors David Crook and Glenna Hagopian.

An orderly charter review meeting exploded into an argument between a resident and a pair of town councilors on Monday night, before a scheduled review of Town Manager Grady Miller’s job performance. The fireworks came at the conclusion of a meeting between the charter review committee and the town council. The temperature flared in the small boardroom at town hall, where the meeting was held. Julie Campisani, of 48A Narragansett Avenue, angrily accused councilors Glenna Hagopian, David Crook and Alisa Trainor Fleet of colluding to call the performance review to fire Miller. “Town council members meet independently and make decisions that impact this town,” Campisani said. “It’s not permitted to allow Mr. Crook to hold full meetings with …

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Kitchen Not Approved for Town Hall; Vehicles Approved for Police, Fire Departments

Responding to what one councilor termed “one of the most controversial things I’ve heard,” the Narragansett Town Council rejects a request for a kitchen and break room for the town hall.

It was a mixed bag for spending requests at Monday’s Narragansett Town Council meeting, as two requests from the police and fire departments were approved, while others by the town administrator and public works department were rejected. One of those proposals – $29,980 for a kitchen and break room improvements at the town hall – drew harsh criticism from the council. Councilor David Crook called it “one of the most controversial things I’ve heard,” based on e-mails from constituents and talks with staff. “Surprisingly, [the criticism has] been from people who could use this,” he said. Clarifying the request, Town Administrator Grady Miller said that the town hall had never had an actual kitchen. He viewed it as a way to improve and …

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Council Roundup: New Generator In The Works

A resident asks the council to “contain this beast” of a generator.

Responding to the comments of a resident and concerns after Hurricane Irene, Narragansett Town Manager Grady Miller said the town had begun researching the cost of a new generator. A resident prompted the discussion during open forum, at the start of the council’s meeting Tuesday night. Camilla Wiener, a resident of Central Street, thanked town employees “working all last week under adverse conditions” but wanted something done about the noise from the current generator. “It far exceeded the noise level that the town founders found acceptable,” she said. “Every Thursday at 1 p.m., this generator roars to life … I suggest that if you combine my tax money, and my neighbor’s tax money, we could find some way to contain this beast.” Miller …

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Come On Irene – Hurricane Coverage, Day Two

Piggybacking on to yesterday’s coverage, here’s what we now know today.

10:30 p.m. – I’ve had a couple people offer suggestions for ways to stay entertained, or how to entertain little kids, during Hurricane Irene. A columnist for Johnston Patch has 12 tips here, none of which involved the landfill. Looking for some other perspectives on Hurricane Irene? Here are some other outlets I like to check for information: 5:40 p.m. – Patrick Luce was there for the 5 p.m. press conference with RIEMA. He said there wasn’t anything substantially new, but passed along these notes: Pat will be back at the EMA headquarters on Saturday morning for the latest update. 4:10 p.m. – According to Narragansett Town Manager Grady Miller, they want residents to be prepared and not panicked for when Irene hits on Sunday night. “We’re …

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Stephen Greenwell

5:16 pm on Friday, August 26, 2011

@ Rachel - The parking lot and traffic near Stop and Shop was pretty packed for 2 p.m. on a Friday when I was there earlier. @ Mel - That's good about the bread. I'm going to try to sneak into Stop and Shop tonight for whatever I can find, after the crowds are gone.   more ›