skate

Council refers skate area back to IP (update)

In an occasionally heated two-hour discussion Monday night, the Portsmouth Town Council heard from supporters and opponents of a skating area in the Island Park playground and referred the matter back to the community for further work. At issue are plans to add a dedicated skateboarding area to the park, which currently includes baseball and soccer fields, a basketball court, and a play area for young children. A prior effort by an ad-hoc committee tasked by the Council with developing a solution fell apart over the past month.

Full disclosure: I am a member of the leadership team of the group supporting the skate park.

"You're a neighborhood," said Councilor Jim Seveney. "Go back and talk to each other." He also noted that the Council was being put in a position where any decision would anger one side, and urged both sides to compromise. "The real losers here are the children."

"I don't want neighbors to be upset," said Councilor Jeff Plumb. "A compromise is what we're looking for. Let's come up with a square footage."

Lori Rinkel and Cheryl Augistine, representing the supporters of the skate area, sought clarification from the Council on their prior votes. Town Solicitor Andre D'Andrea advised the Council that their vote in February granting approval to apply for a Community Development Block Grant could be "interpreted as a vote to support" the building of the park, and that nothing changed in subsequent meetings.

While this appeared to settle question of the Council's historical approval, several Councilors indicated they might change their minds in light of new evidence. At least three — Karen Gleason, Huck Little, and Peter McIntyre — expressed some skepticism about the location.

Island Park resident Brian Whittier spoke against the proposed facility, arguing that abuttors were opposed, and that there was already an "infiltration of people from outside the neighborhood," given that the police had "seen new faces" there.

Trying to get a sense of the scope for compromise, Plumb asked, "Would you be opposed to [a skate area the size of] 100 square feet?"

"Yes," Whittier replied.

Portsmouth Police Chief Lance Hebert rose to clarify his position. "I am not to be put in the middle," he said. He reported that the Island Park area had seen increased calls to the police, "due to the conflicting sides. Obviously, a serious problem." He said that any large skate park should not be located in a residential area, and reiterated that his original approval had been for an area "small enough for the kids of Island Park."

Without pointing a finger at either side, Councilor Plumb expressed concern that the police were being called without good reason. "Please stop doing that," he said.

IP resident Bev Kelly showed the Council a Newport Daily News article on the playground dating from its opening in 1996 which she said mentioned a skate park as a future enhancement. She also told the Council that during the ad-hoc committee meetings, a compromise had been proposed comprising a flat concrete slab half the size of the basketball court and removable equipment subject to a probationary period. "If problems arose," said Kelly, the equipment could be removed and, "the kids can play hopscotch."

Gleason pressed on the location and the earmarking of donations raised to fund the skate area. "Are you willing to consider using [the money raised] elsewhere in the community?"

Rinkel said that she would rather go back and ask donors, and stressed that the money had been raised for a specific purpose. "The kids in Island Park were promised a skate park back in February," she said.

"Go below 800 square feet," said Gleason. "Then come back with a real plan."

Opponents were not happy with the evident lack of progress. "It appears that we're back to square zero," Whittier said.

"The amount [of people] against is obvious," said resident Gary Hahn. "They were never really informed."

Lisa Whittier, an officer of the Island Park Crime Watch Committee, spoke to the Council about the funds raised for the park, currently in the Crime Watch bank account. She questioned why the Council should ask about the money given that they were, "a private committee."

Seveney noted that the grants were applied for "under the auspices of the town." Turning over the money for the town to hold in escrow, he said, was "the right thing to do."

"It's up to the committee," Lisa Whittier replied. "It's the committee's money." She said they would need to put it to a vote at their January 25th meeting.

Asked for his legal opinion, Town Solicitor D'Andrea said, "There's already one lawyer involved." He noted that the expense of resolving the question might well be more than the $7K at issue and said, "Only a court would be able to intervene."

Chief Hebert urged the Council to separate the Crime Watch committee from responsibility for the playground, and that the two had been mingled as a historical accident. "The crime watch group doesn't need any money," said Hebert.

The council asked representatives from the two groups to schedule a meeting and involve the whole community.

At this point, Andrew Kelly and I rose to suggest to the Council the formation of an official Island Park recreation committee. However, while there seemed to be some interest in considering for a Town-wide committee addressing recreation, there was no support for the approach at this time.

In subsequent e-mail exchanges among the leaders of the two groups and members of the Council, the community session was scheduled for January 27, 7pm at Town Hall.

Editorial note: This is story 3 of 4 on Monday night's meeting. Coming up: The Portsmouth Economic Development Committee's annual report.

Update: Sakonnet Times coverage. Check out the "Support the Island Park Skate Park" page on Facebook.

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Localblogging, 02871, Town Council, skate

Island Park skate update and meta-commentary

There was a meeting last night of about 30 Portsmouth citizens to form an organization called the Island Park Crime Watch Committee, and according to multiple sources who were present, a slate of officers was elected and bylaws were approved.

Full disclosure up front: Members of this group have been involved in the ongoing discussions about a skateboard area in the Island Park playground, a process in which I have been a participant.

This is a very delicate position for me as a citizen journalist, one which gets to the heart of the conflicts that can arise when engaged citizens report on their communities. There will be times when such reporters are part of the story. This is one of them. And so, at the risk of excessive navel gazing, I want to be very clear about my approach.

I have committed in the past not to discuss what went on at the meetings among members of the group, and I have no reason to revisit that decision. I will not disclose the contents of e-mail or verbal conversations I initiate unless I explicitly tell people that I am seeking information as a journalist. If people *send* me things, going forward, unless they tell me to treat the material as off the record, I am assuming they understand that I may run them.

This is essentially the same set of ground rules I use whenever I talk to someone at Town Hall; there are times I'm asking something as a resident, and times I'm asking as a reporter, and I try to be very clear which hat I'm wearing. Sometimes it's implied, and sometimes I will put in the first line of the e-mail, "I'm asking this as a reporter."

So, going forward I will try to cover this the way I would any other Portsmouth process, asserting that those in leadership roles in any organization attempting to influence a public decision are necessarily public figures.

I will be upfront about my participation and my point of view. And let me be absolutely clear what that is: I support a skating area in the Island Park playground. As a parent, I have an interest in having what I regard as safe, appropriate recreation facilities in my neighborhood. If you take that to be a bias, that is my bias.

My other option is to recuse myself, to voluntarily *not* cover this at all. And while I have seriously considered that — indeed, I have been thinking about it the entire time this process has been ongoing — I feel that the benefit of more information for the public outweighs the risk of perceived bias.

Because I have been sick for the past several days, I was unable to attend the meeting, but last night I sent the following e-mail to the Town Council, our Rep. Jay Edwards, Police Chief Lance Hebert, and Town Administrator Bob Driscoll:

To the Town Council and Rep. Jay Edwards:
There is a meeting taking place this evening during which officers are scheduled to be elected and bylaws approved for an entity called the Island Park Crime Watch Committee.

Town Administrator Bob Driscoll and Chief Hebert can verify that I attempted to work with members of this group in good faith to resolve differences around the proposed skating area in Island Park. I hereby rescind my support for the report that Mr. Driscoll made to the Council.

This organization never had bylaws, and yet according to the attached e-mail, residents of Island Park are being excluded from voting based on what is asserted to be a list of registered members. The proposed bylaws, in my opinion, limit membership and restrict voting in a way I find unacceptable for a civic group in any way sanctioned -- even in an advisory capacity -- by the Town or its Police Department.

Because I have the flu, I will not be able to attend the meeting this evening to voice my concerns in person (and since I am not a "registered member" I would have no vote anyway.) But should you be contacted by this organization, I ask our elected representatives to look at these bylaws, and this process, and make your own judgements about whether this entity represents the people of Island Park. I certainly feel it does not represent my family.

Best Regards.
-John G. McDaid

Island Park Crime Watch Committee By Laws.doc (right-click to download)

Editorial note: While I received the by-laws in an e-mail sent to me in my capacity as a member of the committee, they were discussed last evening in a meeting open to the public. Also, since I am, in effect, reporting on the content of an e-mail sent to the Town Council, the attachment is necessarily a public document now.

Previous coverage:
School Committee approves Tech Plan
Disclosure and explanation
Portsmouth Town Councilor makes skater hide "profanity" shirt to speak
Council tells community to work out skate park
Support skate park at Council tomorrow
Reminder: Today is PIZZA DAY

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Localblogging, 02871, skate

Council hears dollar woes, PI fire concerns

pedc_092809_slide.jpg
Click chart to embiggen.

The Portsmouth Economic Development Committee (PEDC) delivered an update to the Town Council at their meeting last night, and the while there was significant progress to report on the group's planning work, the economic picture facing the town is challenging, with a projected budget gap growing to nearly $20M by 2020 unless additional revenue streams are identified.

"A revenue shortfall is 'business as usual,'" said John Palmieri, co-chair of the Strategic Planning subcommittee, as he showed a chart of projected expenditures and revenues for the town. "Rhode Island is near the bottom of the country in business-friendliness. Portsmouth doesn't need to sit down there with the rest of the state. We can be better by being more friendly and lowering the cost of doing business in the town."

Palmieri updated the Council on the strategic planning work over the past year to develop "revenue positive initiatives," an inclusive process which included two workshops (see here and here) with a third scheduled to follow in November. The entire presentation from last night will be posted on the Town Web site, and the PEDC will deliver a full report to the Council in January.

As if to underscore the financial challenges, the Council dealt with an agenda item to transfer $186K out of the fund balance to cover lower than expected revenues and overspent expenditures at the transfer station. While this was not entirely unexpected — there were concerns voiced when the Council voted on the sticker fee back in May — the additional hit to the fund balance was clearly not welcome news. The vote was 5-1, with Karen Gleason the lone dissenter (Council President Peter McIntyre was absent; VP Huck Little chaired the session). A full report on transfer station operations was promised to the Council in October.

The Council also discussed a letter of resignation from Prudence Island Fire Chief Thomas Gempp, with Councilor Dennis Canario expressing "serious concerns" about the basis for his departure, which Canario characterized as a response to the experience level of personnel being promoted to specific positions.

Driscoll noted the Council's limited authority. "The Prudence Island Volunteer Fire Department is an independent organization; they can elect whoever they want."

Portsmouth Fire Department Chief Jeff Lynch echoed this point. "I don't have any jurisdiction," said Lynch, adding, "I have gone over there twice to do some basic training. If it sounds like it's going to be a serious call, we respond to the Island."

Citing a need to discuss the issue further with Chief Gempp, the Council moved the item to their next meeting.

There was a report by Town Administrator Bob Driscoll on the results from the working group convened to consider the question of an Island Park skateboard area. "We had three very good meetings," said Driscoll, "And came up with points everyone agreed on. The group did approach the School Committee, and is now working to review school properties that might be available." When questions came from the Council about the originally proposed Island Park site, members of the group responded.

"It is two completely separate issues," said Lori Rinkel, "We do still want to have the small venue, but we understand the problems that the neighbors think would happen. I'm more than happy to continue working in our ad hoc group."

"The bottom line, we felt that a decision from the Council would drive a large wedge between the two opposing sides of the community," said Brian Whittier. "That's pretty much the way it was left. We felt it was better to sit back for a little bit."

In other business, a proposed wildlife feeding ordinance aimed at curbing coyote populations was approved for advertising and a future hearing will be scheduled.

The next meeting is scheduled for tomorrow night, when an attorney from the RI Ethics Commission will present to the Council and other Town committees and boards.

Full disclosure: I am a member of the ad-hoc skatepark committee.

Tags: 
Localblogging, 02871, Town Council, Strategic planning, skate

School Committee approves Tech Plan [update]

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Tech Integration Specialist Gail Darmody, IT Director Rose Muller present to committee

The Portsmouth School Committee last night approved unanimously the state-mandated district technology plan for the next 3 years. The document, which goes to the RI Department of Education (RIDE) deals with everything from infrastructure to professional development.

District IT Director Rose Muller and Technology Integration Specialist Gail Darmody gave the committee a presentation that was partly a review of the plan, developed over the past year with broad district participation and public input, and partly illustrations of how the goals identified in the plan were underway at the schools.

For the first time this year, Darmody said, "We have a new employee tech handbook, and have provided training for every single new district employee to provide a base level of knowledge with all the systems in district."

Having everyone trained up on the systems is key to the plan's educational goals, which include technology literacy and internet safety curricula across the district. With the addition of a second technology literacy specialist — someone who works side-by-side with teachers, "teaching them to fish," as Darmody put it — the district is now aiming to have kids ready by 7th grade to deal with technology integrated into the curriculum. There will be a heavy emphasis on skill building during 6th grade, said Darmody.

Asst. Supt. Colleen Jermain noted the success of the work already being done at the elementary schools. "We've had great positive reports from the 6th grade instructor who shared out the skills, awareness, and use [of technology] of the students who entered building."

Some of the goals may be aspirational due to budget constraints — the aim to add another tech literacy specialist to work with teachers and a five-year replacement cycle for hardware were noted by Muller. The IT staff of just 6 (and two community college interns) maintains an infrastructure of 1,200 computers serving 3,800 users, while dealing with over 400 tech requests a month, Muller said. An important long-range goal, Muller said, was to ensure appropriate funding for technology, either by making the current warrants more stable (i.e., not subject to a review process in every budget cycle) or by moving this $350K into the operating budget.

In other business, the committee voted to approve a change to the PSAA and Council 94 contracts to reverse the elimination of step increases. School Committee Chair Dick Carpender urged support for the change, saying "These are 5 individuals who ended up with zero-dollar increases," adding that the budget impact for this year was only $7K. Committee member Marge Levesque also supported the measure, noting that these are "the lowest-paid of employees." The motion passed 4-3 with Angela Volpicelli, Marilyn King, and Cynthia Perrotti in the minority.

The Committee also unanimously passed a resolution opposing any state law requiring binding arbitration for teacher contracts. While there is currently no bill being considered, Supt. Susan Lusi said that "drafts are circulating," and Carpender urged the committee to take action to oppose a measure that would "take away our ability to control our budget and put it in the hands of a negotiator." Portsmouth Concerned Citizens (PCC) President Larry Fitzmorris said, "I find myself in complete agreement with the committee. On behalf of the PCC and Rhode Island Shoreline Coalition, we would fully support this resolution."

The School Committee also tacitly approved, without formal vote, the request of the ad-hoc skatepark committee to work with the administration to evaluate possible locations for a town skate park on school property. Items identified for further consideration include ensuring liability coverage and ensuring that the school department is not responsible for maintenance and supervision.

In other business, the normally pro-forma approval of minutes from previous meetings ground to a halt when committee member Cynthia Perrotti requested the inclusion of several specific items — mention of the still-to-be-identified cuts to the FY2010 budget, the flexibility of sub-line items which arose in a discussion of custodial supplies, and Perrotti's assertion that the request to RIDE for a clarification of tenure law should have been discussed at the June 23 meeting. Before the custodial discussion, said Perrotti, she was unaware that "adjusted budgets changed like the wind," and she moved to amend the minutes to reflect her statements.

"The administration never said that the budget changed like the wind," replied Supt. Lusi, who also noted that the past practice and advice to the administration had been to avoid verbatim minutes. The motion to amend failed 4-3 with Perrotti, Volpicelli, and King in the minority.

Larry Fitzmorris argued to the committee that minutes should either be verbatim or noted otherwise. "If a citizen reads the minutes with a view to finding out what happened," said Fitzmorris, "and there's clearly large parts of the procedings that are missing, that should be noted as a matter of public information."

He went on to say in particular about minutes posted on the Secretary of State web site, "The purpose of postings on the Secretary of State web site are informational. [They are] for citizens to read. Apparently there's not a legal record anyway because it's not complete. Suggest very strongly that you mark them as not being complete."

The position taken by the school committee and the Superintendent was that the minutes are legally complete because all actions taken by the committee are recorded.

Roberts Rules (section 48 in the Newly Revised, or section 60 online) does not seem to require the requested level of detail, but I'm not sure if it is superseded by state requirements. I have asked Secretary of State Ralph Mollis for clarification, and his office has promised a response later this week.

Don't forget — tonight is the joint school committee/town council meeting to hear the RIPEC presentation on regionalization.

Update: Received a response from the Secretary of State's office pointing to RIGL 42-46-7, and noting that as an "Open Meetings' issue, any specific guidance would come from the RI Attorney General. After consulting their web site it would appear that any request for official clarification in the form of an advisory opinion needs to come from a "public body."

Full disclosure: I am a parent/community participant in the school technology committee and a member of the ad-hoc skatepark committee.

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Localblogging, 02871, School Committee, skate

A disclosure and explanation RE: IP skate park

The Portsmouth Town Council, at the July 27 meeting, asked residents of Island Park to discuss the proposal for a skate park in the playground; although the group met this evening, I will not be reporting on it, and wanted to explain why.

This was not a public meeting, and I was there as a participant, not as a journalist. In my opinion, no public interest would be served by reporting on the discussion. Future meetings are planned, and when the group reports back to the Town Council, of course, I will cover that.

In the meantime, I will say that Daisy Broudy volunteered her time as moderator, and I do not believe I would be out of line in thanking her on behalf of the folks in the room.

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Localblogging, 02871, skate

Portsmouth Town Councilor makes skater hide "profanity" shirt to speak [update]

Portsmouth, RI, 07/27/09. During a Portsmouth Town Council session debating a proposed skateboard park in the Island Park section of town, Pro skateboarder Aquiel Brathwaite was interrupted by Councilor Karen Gleason who prevented him from speaking because of a T-shirt graphic containing an image of figure with raised middle finger. He was not permitted to speak until he hid the image. Full transcript after the jump.

NOTE: Transcript is a best-effort approximation based on the video captured from Channel 18 Public Access; audio quality made it difficult at times to decipher the words.

AQUIEL BRATHWAITE
Good evening (inaudible)

COUNCIL PRESIDENT PETER McINTYRE
Will you give your name?

BRATHWAITE
Aquiel Brathwaite (inadible)

McINTYRE
Could you speak into the... (crosstalk) speak into the microphone, tell us why you're here, because at the beginning of this you were introduced as a professional skateboarder, and what I'd like you to do here tonight is, if we have a park, and we haven't made any decisions, this Council but if it's [age] 8 to 11 I want to know if you would come down and skate at that skate park.

BRATHWAITE
First and foremost, one thing that's really sad about...

COUNCILOR KAREN GLEASON
Excuse me... I'm really sorry to interrupt you, however. I apologize. But if you could, take a minute, go out to the men's room, and put that t-shirt inside out, I would have... (crosstalk from meeting attendees)

BRATHWAITE
(to attendees, signaling for quiet) Wait, wait, wait.

McIntyre (gaveling for order)
Please, please

GLEASON
I would appreciate you doing that

BRATHWAITE
I 100-percent respect where you're coming from. Me being a professional athlete with endorsements, I get all types of clothes to wear. I respect where you're coming from, I know that all of you have...

McINTYRE
(as several attendees walk out)
Everyone, please...

BRATHWAITE
(to attendees)
Hey, guys, this is not respectful.

McINTYRE
Geez, I can't believe this.

BRATHWAITE
(to Council) I'm personally sorry for what just happened

McINTYRE
That's all right. What I would like you to do...

BRATHWAITE
Want me to turn my shirt around?

McINTYRE
Sure you may, why don't you step out into the...

BRATHWAITE
Just take 30 seconds (rotates shirt with graphic to back)

GLEASON
I think you should put it inside out

McINTYRE
Oh, Karen...Gleason. Alright, now, you're all set, now take your time. Tell us, like you said, you're a professional skateboarder, explain to the Council here and the public that's sitting here, if you would go into a skate park that is for 8-year-olds to 11-year-olds.

BRATHWAITE
Personally?

McINTYRE
Yes

BRATHWAITE
No, sir, I'm a professional, I skate on a whole (inadible). I travel the country to skate, I make a living off skateboarding, I mean six figures a year. These people sitting here (gestures at audience) if they laugh, they giggle, they really don't know what skateboarding is. Do you realize that Rhode Island has the highest drug and alcohol underage use of any state? Per caipta? Do you realize that kids need an outlet, they need something to get away. America has the highest obesity rate of any country because kids do not go outside. Building a skate park in the neighborhood. Yes, we are noisy people. Granted. Yes, we are. But at the end of the day, we are still humans. You can talk to us. You can up up and be like, 'the park's closed.' Is there lights at that place? If there are, they need to be turned off when the sun goes down. Kids can't skate after dark. There are so many solutions to this that there shouldn't be people that are instantly like 'this is a bad thing, this is bad.' Skateboarding saved my life. I'm from a family of 13, I grew up with nothing, now I have a 6-thousand square foot home. Do you realize that without skateboarding, especially living in Rhode Island, I wouldn't have become nothing. There's kids that need this. There's a next generation of kids that, what else do they know, besides skating. Once they can't skate, what do you think they're going to turn to. You guys have to look at this as, this is not just building a skate park, this is paving the future for a lot of the kids from the whole of Aquidneck Island. This is not just building a skate park, you guys are looking at it the wrong way. This is an outlet for kids. You'd rather have kids running around your neighborhood, breaking into your homes, stealing, breaking stuff, or would you rather have a pack of kids in the skate park. Granted, a lot of skateboarders do have foul mouths. That is true. I respect that 100%. A lot of skateboarders are, foul, you know, but to instantly stereotype a person like that, it's a bad trait that humans have. But with that being said, a skate park that's built for the younger kids is a great, great, great outlet for them. It's a great way for them to disperse their energy. When kids are in the house, running around constantly, what do they have to do? Videogames and sweets. Oh, I'm going to bring my 9-year-old son down to the skate park, let him skate around for a little bit, he's going to have a blast, we go home and read a book, go right to sleep.

McINTYRE
Thank you.

BRATHWAITE
I don't think you guys should instantly oppose this thing. It's something that needs to be thought about. There's pros and there's cons, it's like building a basketball court, building a baseball court. Someone said that police and ambulances... all you guys pay taxes here, right, I do. All of our tax dollars are already going to these resources.

McINTYRE
Thank you very much. Dennis?

COUNCILOR DENNIS CANARIO
Just wanted to get your name?

BRATHWAITE
Aquiel Brathwaite, B-R-A-T-H-W-A-I-T-E

CANARIO
You're a very intelligent young man, thank you very much

BRATHWAITE
Just trying to show you that not all of us are ignorant people. I'm sorry that I didn't take my shirt off (inaudible) but I still have to hold my ground somewhat.

GLEASON
I have a question, Mr. McIntyre. I don't mind your shirt, your whole shirt. I mind the fact that you're throwing the finger on that shirt and...hold on a minute, I'm speaking, and then you're going to have a turn. Because what we have are some issues that have come up. And some concerns. And you are role modeling for our youngsters that are going to be at this park, alright, 8-year-olds, 9-year-olds, 10-year-olds, okay? Now, hm. Now what I would ask you, and your friends out in the hall, who kinda got offended with me because I asked you to turn your shirt around or inside out...listen, I'm not interested in the money, okay, what I'm interested in is, we need to come up with some kind of an agreement that everyone in the neighborhood is going to be satisfied and is going to accept. We can't have a war here. We got people sitting on one side of the room and people sitting on the other side of the room, and, it's you folks that are going to make this or break this. Because if you don't make it, they're going to be back before us three months from now, you spent fifty-thousand dollars and we have to take everything apart. [6:18] So I'm going to ask you folks, are you going to show up not wearing profanity shirts? Are you going to use, allow profanity on the playground when there's other kids younger than you there, because if you are, I'm going to personally come down there myself and say look this is not acceptable. And, number three, are you going to set up a little committee that's going to have littering, and by the way we do recycle in this town, you going to have a recycling bin for us?

BRATHWAITE
First and foremost, we should already have things set up that deal with the trash, that deal with the...

GLEASON
Are you folks going to do this?

BRATHWAITE
If I have to move back to Rhode Island, to ensure that the kids of Rhode Island have a park to skate? I will. I just flew 3,000 miles to talk with you.

GLEASON
And they have an issue with swearing, profanity. How are you going to handle that?

BRATHWAITE
Once again, you can't...Freedom of Speech. (inadudible) I personally will voice my opinions to the person, I have no problem doing that.

GLEASON
What about your friends behind there?

BRATHWAITE
My friends, behind me, first and foremost what they did...

COUNCILOR JEFF PLUMB
Mr. President, I'd like to move the question. I think we've debated this long enough.

GLEASON
Well, wait a minute now...we need to settle this. We can't just have people walking out without an agreement.

[VOICE]
He's not part of our group

GLEASON
I know, but he's going to be a role model...

PLUMB
Move the question

McINTYRE
We've heard both sides here now tonight, what I'm going to tell you is what I think, and then the Council will decide what they're going to do. I don't know why the two sides can't get together here, cuz is looks like you have a side here that has worked since 1996, Mr. Dennis Canario here was a detective at that time, so what I'd like to see you do is both sides get together and come up with a workable system. What I'm hearing here tonight is that this is not going to be a large skate park, it's going to be for younger children. [voices]

GLEASON
Don't leave...

McINTYRE
Karen, please

GLEASON
They're having a problem back there, they're saying that it's not true

McINTYRE
Just...please...Karen... We've heard your side, we've heard both sides, I'd like to hear the Council what they have to say.

Full disclosure: I am a resident of Island Park and a member of the group supporting the skate park.

Cross-posted at RI Future.

Update: Correction to Aquiel Brathwaite's first name. The sound system wasn't working in the chamber on Monday, but that's really no excuse. Just missed this one. Sorry.

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Localblogging, 02871, Town Council, skate

Council tells community to work out skate park [update]

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Skate park supporters Beverly Kelly, Cheryl Augustine, and Lori Rinkel address Council.

In an occasionally heated meeting of the Portsmouth Town Council this evening, about 40 citizens supporting and opposing a 2,400 square foot skating area in the Island Park (IP) playground brought their perspectives to the Council.

Rhonda Riley and Brian Whittier spoke for the anti-skate-park group, and presented a list of issues of concern to them as abuttors and close neighbors. Acknowledging that there is a "makeshift" skate area in the basketball court, Whittier handed out photos to the Council purporting to show the increase of trash. He also raised concerns about parking, alleging that the people who would use the facility are not IP residents. He argued that there had been an increase in bad language and vandalism, and an "incident of a dummy left holding a beer can." Expressing doubts about the size, he said "$50K? Does this sound like a small park?" He went on to say "The majority of the surrounding community is in agreement with these concerns."

I rose to speak and told the council that, yes, on occasions where I visit with my 10-year-old, that I have heard language. Kids are teenagers. You're going to hear some language. But giving them a place to learn a skill, develop mastery and positive self worth, well, that to me outweighs the negative concerns. And I urged the Council not to take the petition from those opposed as monolithic sense of where IP stood, since they had not even come to my house.

Kathy St. Laurent, a member of the IP crime watch, had originally supported the proposal, she said, but "the findings have changed our minds." The IP playground she said was not an appropriate place for the park. "We would not want it to be outside our bedroom window."

Madeline Pencak, a member of the original IP playground committee, said that the group "had met 34 times and there was never any mention of a skateboard park." She said, "No one was ever informed. We were never approached. It only came to light recently."

Lori Rinkel spoke for the skate park, and reminded everyone that the initial petition had been circulated at the 2008 block party. And that in just the last few days, since a letter to the paper on Saturday, the group had come up with a counterpetition with 160 names. She minimized the risk of people traveling to IP to skate this park, which is explicitly designed for 8-16 year olds.

Beverly Kelly read a letter from two abutters who couldn't be there. One, from Robin Pacheco, acknowledges "there may be occasional noise, but the joy and community building far outweighs the negative," and goes on to say, "The kids have already turned part of the basketball court into skate park. The children are already using skateboards. It's already here folks, it's just not engineered safely."

Cheryl Augustine expressed the wish "that group opposing would have met with us." "I personally met with Rhoda Riley after her letter in newspaper," said Augustine, "but nobody else from group even called us." And Augustine did offer one correction on the timeline: "Planning for this playground started in 1996. This was not just made up yesterday; this [a skate park] has always been in the plan."

Cheryl went on: "I'm one of the original members who created this playground. It was years in the process. I didn't give up because I believed that kids needed a safe place to play. I believe we are advocates for the kids. We are willing to work with the opposing group, talk about fences, add shrubs to berm the noise."

The pro-skate group had brought a professional skater, Aquiel Brathwaite, who said, "There's a next generation of kids, if they can't skate, what are they going to turn to. This is not just building a skate park, this is an outlet for kids."

It is somewhere in this exchange where Councilor Karen Gleason asked Brathwaite to step outside to change his shirt. He defused the situation by turning it backward. I had been standing next to him, and couldn't see what she found offensive. I promise to capture the clip and post it since it seemed such a bizarre moment to me — a public official telling someone they may not speak to a government body because of the clothes they are wearing?

And Gleason took this as indicative of how people would dress at a skate park. "Are you going to show up wearing profanity shirts?" asked Gleason.

Brathwaite took the high road. "I flew back here 3,000 miles just to talk." He responded. She's talking about shirts, he stayed on message. This round goes to the skater.

Plumb, quite sensibly, tried to move the question, and the council all seemed quite willing to let the neighborhood talk through this rather than make a snap decision that at least half would be clearly unhappy with.

"I'd like to see people talk this out, get some of these questions answered and come back to the Council," said Plumb "Hopefully this can be handled neighbor to neighbor."

"People are asking council to choose up sides," said Seveney. "What I suggest is the neighborhood get together and act like a neighborhood."

"What bothers me is what I saw here this evening," said Dennis Canario. "Divisive groups. That's not what Portsmouth is about. We're one in a million. we have a great bunch of people in IP and I know we're going to work through this."

Council President Peter McIntyre asked the groups to convene a workshop with Town Administrator Bob Driscoll in the next few weeks and come back with a proposal in September. Gleason specifically asked Andrew Kelly, who made the mistake of sitting in the front row, if he would participate, to represent teen agers.

Then the Council took a 5 minute recess, since it was already coming up on 10pm. I had to get up for work tomorrow, so I left. If there were any more fireworks, please leave 'em in the comments.

Update: Correction to Aquiel Brathwaite's first name.

Tags: 
Localblogging, 02871, Town Council, skate

Support skate park at Council tomorrow

Supporters of the proposed Island Park skate park will want to show up at the Portsmouth Town Council meeting tomorrow night to offer public comment on an agenda item: "Concerns regarding location of proposed skateboard park, R. Riley." According to sources, a group has been circulating a petition expressing concerns about the project and placed the item before the council.

Lori Rinkel, one of my neighbors, did the preliminary work on the skate park proposal and secured the approval of the Council last October to move forward with grant proposals, including participation in a Community Development Block Grant approved at a meeting in April.

At just 2,400 square feet, the proposed space is smaller than many Portsmouth backyards. "You don't get a lot for $50K," said Rinkel in an interview today. "In fact, even the guy who drew up the plans said people are going to drive right by this park and not want to skate it." Rinkel said she had not seen the petition.

I'm assuming this is the same R. Riley who last month had letters in the Sakonnet Times and Newport Daily News. Couldn't find Riley's letter to the editor on the Sakonnet Times site, but it was still available in Google's cache here.

I must confess, I don't find the arguments presented in this letter particularly compelling, and I'm hoping that folks will turn out tomorrow night to support this effort to give our kids a fun space to play.

Full disclosure: I live in Island Park and support the skate park.

Tags: 
Localblogging, 02871, Town Council, skate

Reminder: Today is PIZZA DAY!

Just a reminder that Portsmouth's awesome locally owned pizza shops have very generously offered 5% of what they take in today to support construction of a skate park at Island Park playground. Looking for lunch or dinner? Check out your options.

Carmella's 683-0880 Awesome salads too, and their four-cheese garlic bread is to die for.

North End 683-6633 Great grinders if you're looking for a lunch option. We've been devoted customers since back when they were next to the Cumby Farm.

Pizza Hollywood 682-9000 Quick delivery, especially if you're up here in the north end of town.

Steve's Famous 683-1505 Great option for lunch for anyone around Town Hall (hint, hint)

West Main Pizza 683-1498 The veggie special here is truly amazing. Good place to kick back for dinner.

Chase Pizza & Deli 683-5800 Great specialty pizzas and a very wide assortment of salads, grilled sandwiches and subs (including an excellent Portuguese Cacoula) as well as huge calzones.

Rocco's 682-1777 Great option for sit-down and those on the southern end of town. Why not try them for dinner.

Related links:
Sakonnet Times
Newport Daily News

Full disclosure: I live in Island Park and Jack would love to have a skate park.

Tags: 
Localblogging, 02871, skate