If you went down (to Glen Park) on a Monday morning and you saw nice clean bathrooms, that’s because Grace was there before you.”

Town Council President Keith Hamilton

PORTSMOUTH — Grace Kinnunen’s been paying off a debt for a long, long time.

Ms. Kinnunen said when she was a teenager and it was time for her to attend high school, Portsmouth’s school system didn’t have one.

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So, her mother encouraged her to enroll at a private girls’ school run by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart. The Sisters moved their Elmhurst school from Providence to the waterfront at the Glen in Portsmouth in 1961. 

The school closed in 1972 and the property was purchased by the Town of Portsmouth on a bond issue. (Elmhurst School, one of the town’s elementary schools for many years, was demolished in 2014.)

Since the Portsmouth school system was obligated to cover her tuition, Mrs. Kinnunen decided to pay the town back by volunteering at Glen Park for four years.

“I think I’ve paid back my tuition,” the longtime chairwoman of the Glen Park Working Committee joked to the Town Council Monday night.

For all her dedication and hard work over the years, the council honored Mrs. Kinnunen with its annual Portsmouth Award, which was started three years ago by John Klimm, the previous town administrator. The award, which is chosen by the council president, School Committee chairperson, school superintendent and town administrator, honors those residents who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in making their community a better place.

Council President Keith Hamilton said local residents should be grateful to Mrs. Kinnunen for keeping Glen Park looking so good.

“If you went down there on a Monday morning and you saw nice clean bathrooms, that’s because Grace was there before you,” he said.

Mr. Hamilton noted that Mrs. Kinnunen is also a member of the Melville Park Committee.

“So she has parks in her heart,” he said.

Thanks to ‘Peg’ Brady

The late Margaret “Peg” Brady was also honored by the council Monday night. Family members and friends were on hand as Mr. Hamilton read a proclamation of appreciation for Mrs. Brady’s years of dedicated public service as a member of the Glen Manor House Authority.

Ms. Brady held the positions of secretary and treasurer on the board. She volunteered many hours of work in coordinating fund-raising events, promotion and public relations, all of which contributed to the overall success, preservation and restoration of the Manor House, the council said.

Mrs. Brady, a former teacher who was a founding member of St. Barnabas Church along with her husband, John, died in April at the age of 87.

“Unfortunately, Peg Brady passed away before we could give this to her,” said Mr. Hamilton.

Mr. Brady thanked the council and members of the Glen Manor House Authority, of which his wife was a member for more than 25 years.

“I’m very honored for Peg, especially since tonight is a good night for it. Tomorrow we will have been married 64 years,” Mr. Brady said.

Resignations imminent

Town Administrator Richard Rainer informed the council that Building Inspector Lawrence G. Desormier, Jr. is leaving the job on July 15. 

Mr. Desormier hasn’t been in his position long; he succeeded George Medeiros, who retired in January. Mr. Rainer said Mr. Desormier was happy in the job but must leave due to personal reasons. 

Animal Control Officer Ariel Fisher is also leaving her job, effective Sept. 30, Mr. Rainer said.

The administrator said the town will begin soliciting applicants for both positions and hopefully fill the jobs before they’re vacated.

Appointments

The council made the following appointments:

• Walter H. Coelho and Carlton R. Johnson to the Veterans Honor Roll Committee

• Dylan Young to the Economic Development Committee

• Bradford Coyle to the Harbor Commission

• Andrew V. Kelly to the Glen Manor House Authority

• Col. John Vickers to the Wastewater Appeals Board

Film on polo fields

The council, sitting as a Board of License Commissioners, approved an entertainment license to newportFILM to host an outdoor screening from 6-10 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 25, on the grounds of Newport International Polo at Glen Farms.

newportFILM will screen the documentary “Being AP,” a look at AP McCoy, a former champion horse racing jockey. An estimated 600 people are expected to attend the movie, which is suitable for all ages. There will be acoustic music before the movie and food, but not alcohol, will be sold.

Tree City USA

The town received word that it had been named one of the 12 Rhode Island communities that received a 2015 Tree City USA recognition from the Arbor Day Foundation.

The program recognizes communities that have met the standards for tree care and protection.

Future meetings

The council’s next meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, July 11, when it will hold a public hearing on a proposed amendment to the noise ordinance.

The council will make its annual visit to Prudence Island for a meeting at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 30, at Union Church. Council members will be brought to the island aboard the new police boat, which Police Chief Thomas Lee said is being painted blue.

The council will also meet at 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 22, at Town Hall.