Opinion/Letters: Block Island backroom deal ; no need for a special election The Providence Journal
Repulsed by Block Island mediation case
More recent events in our “fair” state make one feel like the character out of the 1976 film “Network” who shouted, “I am mad as hell and I am not going to take it anymore!” No wonder folks are of little faith when they witness inside deals becoming commonplace.
Hospital board members going to the head of the vaccine line under the pretext they are front-line soldiers in the COVID campaign. Unfortunately, this “I Gotta Guy” mini-series is topped most recently by the travel of the Great Salt Pond/ Champlin s Marina “mediation session saga” reported by Jim Hummel in the Sunday Journal ( Backroom deal riles opponents of Block Island marina expansion, News, Feb. 7).
and dry leaves –a sound you would not believe
unless you’ve held your breath and heard it.’’ From “Snow,’’ by Elizabeth Tibbetts, a nurse and a Maine poet
“If from infancy you treat children as gods, they are liable in adulthood to act as devils.’’ P.D. James (1920-2014), English detective novelist famous for her acute knowledge of human behavior and motivation and her sense of place.
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While driving on Route 95 early on Feb. 9, I was struck by the grayness of the sky and the salted road, the off-white of the snow on the roadsides and the lack of primary colors, except for some cars. February would be the year’s nadir except that it’s close to early spring. I wonder if St. Valentine’s Day is so popular because it features the primary color red, offsetting for a day the grim gray.
The council did not respond when asked to comment on Fugate s statement.
In her February 2020 decision, Rodgers ruled that the council acted appropriately and rationally in rejecting the marina’s expansion in Great Salt Pond in 2011, and again in 2013 when it was forced to revisit the proposal amid allegations that it had treated Champlin’s unfairly.
“Champlin’s rights have not been prejudiced by any constitutional violations, error of law, or arbitrary or capricious conduct on the part of CRMC,” Rodgers wrote.
At the time, opponents of the hotly disputed project celebrated the decision as the end to a saga that by then had dragged on for 17 years and involved questions about navigational safety, use of public trust waters for private enterprise and environmental harm from expanded development.
PROVIDENCE - Senate leaders have canceled a confirmation vote for three of Governor Gina Raimondo s re-appointees to the Coastal Resources Management Council, mid-controversy - and mid-investigation - of a behind-the-scenes Block Island marina-expansion deal.
In his email to colleagues explaining why he was pulling the three names from Wednesday s Senate calendar, Ruggerio wrote: The Attorney General raised concerns regarding a closed-door mediation between the CRMC and Champlin s that would allow for a marina expansion. He asserted that the settlement agreement recently presented to the Court for approval was formed outside of the public regulatory process and does not account for the factual findings that formed the basis for the CRMC s 2011 decision denying Champlin s application to expand.
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The New Shoreham Town Council will consider amendments to the Zoning Ordinance related to Solar Energy Systems, as follows. Deletions appear crossed out and additions are underlined. The proposed language may be altered or amended prior to the close of the public hearing without further advertising, as a result of further study or because of the views expressed at the public hearing. Any alteration or amendment must be presented for comment in the course of the hearing.
Section 517 – Solar Energy Systems (SES)
A. Purpose: This section is intended to provide for and encourage the installation of solar energy systems on Block Island. Such systems shall include both solar thermal, to heat water, and photovoltaic systems, to create electricity. Photovoltaic systems may either provide power to be consumed on site, or be connected to the electrical production and distribution system with credit given by the utility for excess power produced.