hard deadlines

Empty basketball court in Island Park

All the homemade skate rails and ramps have been removed from the basketball court in the Island Park playground. Today, there is only a smooth, empty asphalt surface.

But the process did not go without a hitch. According to Portsmouth Police Chief Lance Hebert, folks who had built the gear were advised by the town that it had to be removed due to liability concerns. As the ramps were being removed last night, Hebert said "officers responded for a disturbance."

One witness told me that a group of youths were congregating on Highland Avenue expressing their dissatisfaction at this turn of events. Hebert said, "A complaint was filed by a person who lives adjacent to the park which is being investigated by police at this time."

"Our main goal as a Police Department is to keep the peace in that area as best we can," Hebert said.

I join Chief Hebert in urging that all sides to keep this process peaceful and respectful of our neighbors and our community. There is a political process underway, and if people want to speak out, I would urge them to continue to put pressure on the Town Council.

For my part, I agree that liability concerns need to be addressed. However, this turn of events makes me question whether a long-term solution — like a promised facility in the old Town Dump — represents a complete answer, since it would be years off. That doesn't meet the needs of our kids right now.

The agenda for Monday night's Portsmouth Town Council meeting features an old business item asking the Council for a decision on the skate area in Island Park -- please be there, or if you can't make it, let the Council know how you feel.

Old business item three, requested by "B. Whittier" is "Request for a Decision on the Placement of a Skate Park in Island Park/Formation of a Portsmouth Skate Park Committee." Looks like the the Council is going to be forced to take a position. Here's what I hope they will consider.

At the community meeting requested by the Council last week, there was no agreement to be found. Despite the best efforts of several elected officials, the same stalemate prevailed: opponents of the skate park refused to budge.

I have struggled with reporting on last week's meeting. It was not, in a very real sense, an official public meeting, and so reporting on the intemperate characterizations and angry rhetoric would serve no purpose. They are my neighbors, and although they said things which I consider to be hurtful and misinformed, the expectation of public dissemination implied by an "open meeting" does not attach.

What I think the community *should* know is that there was no compromise. All the concessions have come from the supporters of the skating area. In the course of several negotiating sessions, we abandoned the original design, changed the location within the park, and scaled the footprint way back.

The kids of Island Park have already created a makeshift skate area on the basketball court in the playground with home-built rails and ramps. The proposal on the table is to move them onto a same-sized area with safer equipment. The skate area will be subject to a probationary period for evaluation, and the equipment can be removed if there are issues.

The essence of compromise is that *both* sides are expected to be a little unhappy. I would expect that the Council, in seeking a fair resolution to this issue, ensure that both sides give a little. I hope you'll consider attending the meeting Monday to help the Council make their decision.

Can't be there? You can reach the Town Council at these e-mail addresses (hlittle@portsmouthri.com, dcanario@portsmouthri.com, kgleason@portsmouthri.com, khamilton@portsmouthri.com, jplumb@portsmouthri.com, jseveney@portsmouthri.com) and their phone numbers available on the Portsmouth Web site.

If you're on Facebook, check out the "Support the IP Skate Park" group.

Full disclosure: I am a member of the leadership team of the IPRA and (pretty obviously) a supporter of the skate park.

Residents of Portsmouth's Island Park neighborhood will meet at Town Hall tonight at 7pm to discuss a proposed skating area in the local playground. Elected officials will be on hand, but the meeting is community-driven, and the goal is to gauge support for the project in order to report back to the Town Council.

Andrew Kelly, provisional president of the recently formed Island Park Recreation Association (IPRA) sent an e-mail to members and supporters this morning:

As you are all aware, we have been trying to raise the funds ($7,522.18 to date) to put a small skate park (about the size of the basketball court) in the playground here in Island Park. Now that there has been opposition to this recreational area, the Town Council at their Dec. 14th meeting asked ALL residents of Island Park to get together to discuss the options available that would work for everyone. We have worked diligently trying to compromise with those opposed and are hopeful, with your support, that we can put this small area in, thereby giving the basketball players back their court!

Our children are counting on you. Please don't think it doesn't matter if you aren't there. IT DOES!!
— via e-mail from Andrew Kelly

As Kelly's e-mail notes, the kids of Island Park have already created a makeshift skate area on the basketball court in the playground with home-built rails and ramps. The proposal on the table is to move them onto a same-sized area with safer equipment. The skate area will be subject to a probationary period for evaluation, and the equipment can be removed if there are issues.

Can't make the meeting? You can reach the Town Council at these e-mail addresses (hlittle@portsmouthri.com, dcanario@portsmouthri.com, kgleason@portsmouthri.com, khamilton@portsmouthri.com, jplumb@portsmouthri.com, jseveney@portsmouthri.com) and their phone numbers available on the Portsmouth Web site.

If you're on Facebook, you can follow the skate group here, or Island Park residents may wish to join the free, open forum hosted on Ning.com.

Full disclosure: I am a member of the leadership team of the IPRA and (pretty obviously) a supporter of the skate park.

On Wednesday, Jan 27 at 7pm in the Portsmouth Town Hall, all interested Island Park residents (and friends) will meet to discuss the proposed skate area in the IP playground. This is the meeting requested by the Town Council in December (see prior coverage here.)

If you want our local kids to have a safe place to skate, please show up and support this project.

The supporters of the skate park have tried to negotiate in good faith. We scaled back the proposed size (now no larger than the existing basketball court), abandoned any multiple levels for a flat asphalt or concrete surface, and proposed mounting small pieces of equipment so that they can be removed, if necessary, after a probationary period. We have been very willing to talk about position within the IP playground to minimize noise.

Lori Rinkel and her team raised over $7,000 from the community for this project. During last year, which was a damned tough time to raise money. Our community voted with their dollars.

Now, please, let's finish the job next Wednesday. There will be members of the Town Council on hand, and we need to show our support.

Can't make the meeting? You can reach the Town Council at these e-mail addresses (hlittle@portsmouthri.com, dcanario@portsmouthri.com, kgleason@portsmouthri.com, khamilton@portsmouthri.com, jplumb@portsmouthri.com, jseveney@portsmouthri.com) and their phone numbers available on the Portsmouth Web site.

If you're on Facebook, you can follow the skate group here, or Island Park residents may wish to join the free, open forum hosted on Ning.com.

Full disclosure: I am a supporter of the skate project and a member of the pro-skatepark group. I was a member of the ad-hoc committee tasked by the Council to seek a mediated solution, and I'm very sad that we were unable to find common ground.

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.

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.

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

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.