PORTSMOUTH — A volunteer committee tasked with advising the town by developing strategies and making recommendations for the use of property on Portsmouth’s west side will expand by four members.

The Town Council Monday night voted 4-3 to increase membership of the West Side Development Advisory Committee from seven to 11 people. 

The panel acts in an advisory capacity regarding the waterfront district and land to be disposed by the U.S. Navy, including the former tank farms. (The panel was formerly known as the Tank Farm Development Advisory Committee before its role was expanded.)

The property that falls under the committee’s scope is bound on the north by the Mt. Hope Bridge, on the east by Bristol Ferry and West Main roads, on the south by the Middletown town line and on the west by the Narragansett Bay shoreline.

The amendment to increase the committee’s membership came after some residents said a larger group would offer a greater diversity of opinion. 

“I think some fresh blood in there will get some new ideas,” said David Reise, a member of several town committees as well as the Restoration Advisory Board, established by Naval Station Newport to create an open forum regarding the tank farm properties. He said the West Side panel has had the “same cast of characters” for years.

Local resident Tom Grieb proposed expanding membership to up to 15 people to ensure better representation from the town. The average membership on the town’s advisory committees is 16, he noted.

“With 15 members, the quorum is eight and a minimum of five members can make a decision,” he said. “With seven, there’s a problem.”

Mr. Grieb also pointed out that five of the seven current committee members don’t reside on the west side, but rather east of East Main Road. “That’s on the opposite side of town,” he said.

John Vitkevich, a member of the west side panel, replied it was “disingenuous” to suggest he didn’t know enough about the property in question because he lives at the Hummocks.

He also said the west side panel, which counts Rep. Terri Cortvriend as a member, has never had problems with a quorum — a claim refuted by Mr. Grieb.

“The seven of us are all firing on eight cylinders rather nicely,” Mr. Vitkevich said. “We’re good watchdogs on what’s going on down there.”

'More than manageable'

Council member Andrew Kelly, who made the motion to amend the committee’s bylaws to increase membership to 11, said the Glen Manor House Authority has had 24 members and the Charter Review Committee, 37. 

“I think 11 is more than manageable,” he said.

Mr. Kelly, Council President Kevin Aguiar and members Keith Hamilton and Leonard Katzman voted to increase membership to 11, while Council Vice President Linda Ujifusa and council members Daniela Abbott and J. Mark Ryan cast dissenting votes.

The council unanimously approved the committee’ bylaws, with some minor changes, and charged the panel with making an annual report to the council in the third quarter of every calendar year.

Mr. Katzman, who serves as the council’s liaison to the committee, briefly addressed concerns that the advisory panel could end up proposing uses for the property that go against the wishes of most residents.

“I don’t think any member of this council will simply rubber-stamp the decision of any committee,” he said.