PORTSMOUTH — The town is getting closer to seeing its broken wind turbine at Portsmouth High School replaced.

“Our wind turbine is in transit. The building permit and police detail fees have been paid,” Town Administrator Richard Rainer told the Town Council Wednesday night.

Voters approved building the turbine with a $3 million bond issue in 2007. The windmill was built in 2009 but has been idle since 2012 due to a faulty gearbox supplied by a company that has since gone bankrupt.

In November 2014 the council voted to enter into a contract with Wind Energy Development (WED) of North Kingstown that would allow the town to pay off the remaining debt that’s left on the turbine. Under the agreement, WED is to pay a lump sum of $1.45 million to the town. In exchange, the town would buy energy generated from the new 1.5-megawatt turbine over a 25-year period at a rate of 15.5 cents per kilowatt hour.

Mr. Rainer said the town closed on the deal April 22 and the lump-sum payment to the town has been arranged. WED has received an incentive payment from the town of $67,500 for completing a portion of the project early, but that money will be turned back over to the town to be used “for a public project, such as a playground,” said Mr. Rainer.

Beach opens May 21

Mr. Rainer gave the council an update on town-owned Sandy Point Beach, which he said will be cleaned May 7 to 14 in anticipation of its opening on May 21.

The beach will be open on weekends until June 24, when it begins daily operations through Labor Day.

“Residents will notice this year that we’re rebuilding the roof on the bathhouse and widening the wooden walkway that leads to the beach,” Mr. Rainer said.

Green Economy Bond

The council voted 4-2 in favor of a resolution to support the $35 million Green Economy Bond referendum that will go before voters on the November ballot. 

The bond would fund various programs in support of historic state park development, land acquisition, recreation development, open space, bikeway development, stormwater pollution prevention and brownfield remediation and economic development. 

Expressing concerns about the state’s indebtedness, council members Elizabeth Pedro and Joseph Robicheau voted against the resolution. Council member Michael Buddemeyer was absent from the meeting.

Block grants

The council also voted 4-2 to approve a list of federal Community Development Block Grants for Portsmouth totaling $150,000. 

Of that amount, $79,620 would go toward a 15,000-gallon cistern to enhance water supply for firefighting on Prudence Island. Another $40,380 would go toward making repairs to windows, bathrooms and the driveway at Child & Family Services’ group home for foster children, located on Bristol Ferry Road.

Ms. Pedro and Mr. Robicheau voted against submitting the requests. 

Post-prom party

The council voted 5-0 to donate $1,000 from its contingency fund to the Class of 2016 at Portsmouth High School to support its 19th annual post-prom party at the BOP Elks Lodge in Newport.

Council President Keith Hamilton recused himself from the vote because his daughter is a member of the senior class. 

Appointments/resignations

The council approved the following appointments: Michael A. Minese, of 284 Corys Lane, to the Dog Park Planning Committee; Carolan D. Brown, 224 Fischer Circle, to the Glen Manor House Authority; Edward Dowski, 85 Taylor Road, and Frederick T. Marano, of 200 Lepes Road, to the Portsmouth Citizens Interested in the Comprehensive Community Planning Process; and Nancy Howard, of 16 Dianne Ave., and Ann M. Fiore, of 290 Frank Coelho Drive, to the Economic Development Committee.

The council accepted with regret the resignation of Jim DeCosta from the Lower Glen Farm Preservation Committee.

Coffee at polo

The council, sitting as the Board of License Commissioners, unanimously approved a peddler license to Jessica Case of Warwick to operate a Presto Strange O Coffee Truck at Newport International Polo. 

Next meeting

The council will next meet at 7 p.m. on Monday, May 9, when it will adopt the provisional municipal budget for the next fiscal year beginning July 1. A public hearing will be held on the budget at Portsmouth Middle School in June before the council formally approves the spending plan.