Westerly meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Westerly boards weigh water rates, data center moratorium, bus garage advisory

Westerly's town boards met over the past two weeks on agenda items that could affect water bills, business fees, and the future of a bus garage. None of the meetings produced final decisions — minutes have not yet been published, and all items were listed as agenda items for discussion or potential action. The most consequential items are on the Town Council's agenda, including a proposed water rate schedule and a one-year moratorium on data centers.

Town Council: water rates, data center moratorium, business fees

The Town Council met Aug. 17 and will consider an emergency ordinance that would impose penalties for willful wasting of water, along with a proposed ordinance setting water rate schedules for the 2026–2027 fiscal year, which includes a Water Quality Protection Charge. The council also has before it a proposed ordinance amending business registration fees and procedures (Chapter 94A) and a proposed one-year moratorium on all data centers. In addition, the council will consider a resolution requesting that the General Assembly amend RIGL §45-26-14 to change term-limit rules for Westerly Housing Authority commissioners. All items are listed as agenda items; no votes have been reported.

Zoning Board: two variance requests

The Zoning Board met Aug. 12 to hear two variance applications. Margaret Leffert, at 42 Governor Avenue, seeks a 13.5-foot front yard setback variance for a covered front porch, a 14.9-foot variance for porch stairs, and a 3.1-foot variance for a two-story garage addition (Plat 142, Lot 34, Zone HDR-10). The BRENDA WINIARSKI 2015 FAMILY TRUST, at 8 Manatuck Avenue, requests a 25.8-foot north side yard, 15.1-foot east side yard, and 4.6-foot height variances to renovate an accessory structure, expand the roof for a second-floor living area, and reduce bedrooms to one (Plat 180, Lot 26, Zone LDR-43). The board also approved minutes from the June 10 meeting.

Licensing Board: extended hours for Post Road businesses

The Licensing Board met Aug. 13 and held public hearings on extended operating hours for two Post Road businesses: Bid L’s Baked LLC (dba Honey Dew) at 240 Post Rd, seeking hours from 2:00 am to 6:00 am, and Apres Management Company (dba Dunkin Donuts) at 227 Post Rd. The board also reviewed one-time event permits for Tunes on the Dunes Summer Concerts at 365 Atlantic Ave (with a fee waiver request) and the Smokey Bear Parade at 1 Langworthy Rd, plus Class F and F-1 liquor licenses for the Westerly Land Trust Farm Dinner and American Cheese & Spirits tasting.

Planning Board: bus garage advisory

The Planning Board held a special meeting Aug. 18 to review administrative reports, with the primary item being an advisory to the Town Council regarding alternative sites for a bus garage. No other substantive items were listed.

School Committee: financial report and travel policy

The School Committee met Aug. 19 to discuss and potentially vote on a financial report, and conducted a first reading of a revision to the Field Trip-Student Travel Policy 6170. The agenda also included home school approvals and a Senior Project presentation.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days. Residents should check the town’s official meeting calendar for any newly scheduled sessions.

Westerly officials weigh water restrictions, data center moratorium, and bus garage sites

Westerly's Town Council, School Committee, and Planning Board all convened over the past two weeks, but official minutes have not yet been published for any of the sessions. Based on the agendas, the most consequential items on the table involve emergency water restrictions, a proposed one-year moratorium on data centers, and updated water rate schedules for the 2026–2027 fiscal year. Because minutes are not yet available, outcomes and vote tallies cannot be confirmed.

Town Council: Water, data centers, and business fees

The Regular Town Council Meeting on July 13 included an emergency hearing on an ordinance that would impose penalties for the willful wasting of water. The same agenda listed a proposed one-year moratorium on all data centers, proposed amendments to water rate schedules for the 2026–2027 fiscal year, and proposed amendments to business registration fees and procedures. A resolution regarding term limits for Westerly Housing Authority Commissioners was also scheduled.

The Council has a follow-up Regular Town Council Meeting scheduled for today, July 27, where several of these items reappear. The agenda lists an emergency ordinance imposing a penalty for willful wasting of water with water consumption restrictions, a proposed ordinance setting water rate schedules for the 2026–2027 fiscal year (Water Quality Protection Charge), a proposed ordinance amending business registration fees and procedures under Chapter 94A, and a proposed ordinance imposing a one-year moratorium on all data centers. A resolution requesting delegation to the General Assembly to amend RIGL §45-26-4 for Housing Authority commissioner term limits is also on the agenda.

What was actually decided at the July 13 meeting will be confirmed once minutes are published.

School Committee: Financial report and student travel policy

The Westerly School Committee met on July 15. The agenda included a financial report listed for discussion, action, and a potential vote. A first reading of a revision to Field Trip-Student Travel Policy 6170 was scheduled, along with home school approvals and a Senior Project presentation.

No vote tallies or outcomes are available yet because minutes have not been published.

Planning Board: Bus garage alternative sites

The Planning Board held a special meeting on July 21 to review administrative reports. The sole listed item was an advisory to the Town Council regarding alternative sites for a bus garage. The advisory nature of the discussion means the Planning Board was providing input to the Council rather than making a binding decision.

Minutes for this meeting have not yet been published.

Coming up

• **Regular Town Council Meeting** — July 27, 2026. The Council will consider the emergency water waste ordinance, the 2026–2027 water rate schedule, business registration fee amendments under Chapter 94A, the data center moratorium, and the Housing Authority term-limit resolution. Residents affected by water rates or business fees may want to attend.

Westerly roundup: Council weighs water rates, data center moratorium; Zoning Board cancels July session

The Westerly Town Council has scheduled discussion of an emergency ordinance on water waste penalties and a proposed water rate schedule for the 2026–2027 fiscal year, part of a packed agenda that also includes a one-year moratorium on new data centers. All recent meetings listed below are agenda-only; minutes have not yet been published, so no final votes or outcomes are confirmed.

Town Council — July 13

The Council agenda lists several proposed ordinances and one resolution:

• **Emergency Ordinance** imposing a penalty for willful wasting of water, with water consumption restrictions.
• **Proposed Ordinance** setting water rate schedules for the 2026–2027 fiscal year, including a Water Quality Protection Charge.
• **Proposed Ordinance** amending Business Registration fees and procedures under Chapter 94A.
• **Proposed Ordinance** imposing a one-year moratorium on all data centers.
• **Resolution** requesting delegation to the General Assembly to amend RIGL §45-26-4 regarding Housing Authority commissioner term limits.

Because minutes are not yet available, it is not confirmed which of these items were voted on or only discussed.

Zoning Board — July 8 (CANCELED)

The Zoning Board meeting scheduled for July 8, 2026 was canceled. No public hearings or decisions were taken. The agenda listed two variance applications declared complete and marked informational only:

• **Margaret Leffert**, 42 Governor Avenue, Plat '142' Lot '34', Zone HDR-10 — requests a 13.5′ front yard setback for a covered porch, 14.9′ front yard setback for porch stairs, and 3.1′ front yard setback for a two-story garage addition.
• **The Brenda Winia rski 2015 Family Trust**, 8 Manatuck Avenue, Plat '180' Lot '26', Zone LDR-43 — requests a 25.8′ north side-yard setback, 15.1′ east side-yard setback, and 4.6′ height variance to remodel an accessory structure and expand second-floor living area.

The next regular Zoning Board meeting is set for August 12, 2026.

Licensing Board — July 9

The Licensing Board agenda includes two public hearings on extended operating hours for Post Road businesses:

• **Bid L's Baked LLC (dba Honey Dew)**, 240 Post Rd — extended hours request of 2:00 am–6:00 am.
• **Apres Management Company (dba Dunkin Donuts)**, 227 Post Rd — extended hours hearing.

The agenda also lists one-time event permits for Tunes on the Dunes Summer Concerts at 365 Atlantic Ave, which requests a fee waiver, and the Smokey Bear Parade at 1 Langworthy Rd. Class F and F-1 liquor licenses are listed for a Westerly Land Trust Farm Dinner and an American Cheese & Spirits tasting. Outcomes are not yet confirmed.

School Committee — July 15

The School Committee agenda includes:

• **Financial Report** — listed for discussion, action, and a potential vote.
• **First Reading** of a revision to Field Trip-Student Travel Policy 6170.
• **Home School Approvals**.
• **Senior Project presentation**.

No vote tallies are available.

Coming up

• **Planning Board — July 21, 2026**: Special meeting to provide an advisory to the Town Council regarding alternative sites for a bus garage.
• **Zoning Board — August 12, 2026**: Next regular meeting.