PORTSMOUTH — A public hearing has been scheduled for Monday, March 9, on CJ’s Pub’s request to permanently expand its service area at 568 Park Ave., which would allow patrons …
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PORTSMOUTH — A public hearing has been scheduled for Monday, March 9, on CJ’s Pub’s request to permanently expand its service area at 568 Park Ave., which would allow patrons to enjoy food and alcohol outside.
The Town Council, sitting as the Board of License Commissioners, voted unanimously Monday night to schedule the hearing.
The restaurant and bar wants to expand its service area to allow alcohol and food service in two outdoor areas:
• the patio area, which is currently fenced in with a galvanized chain link fence and newly aded arborvitae trees. In a letter to the council, Allen Mason, president of CJ’s Pub, said in the spring, the current fence will be replaced with a new, seven-foot-high cedar fence that will be about 100 feet long and encompass the back private road of Blue Bill Way. Mr. Mason proposed that the patio be open year around on weekdays until 10 p.m., and on weekends and holidays until 11 p.m.
• the deck area overlooking Park Avenue. CJ’s is asking that this deck be open from March 15 to Dec. 15 (weather permitting), on weekdays until 9 p.m. and on weekends and holidays until 10 p.m.
Restaurant approved
The licensing board also unanimously approved a victualler license to Dawn Galuszka, doing business as Ellanna’s Kitchen, to operate a restaurant at the Montaup Country Club, 500 Anthony Road.
Stone wall project
Town Administrator Richard Rainer, Jr. announced that Portsmouth has been selected to participate in the Aquidneck Stone Wall Initiative to repair stone walls along Linden Lane at Glen Farm.
The town is partnering with Preserve Rhode Island, the Preservation Society of Newport County and the Portsmouth Historical Society on the project.
Volunteers to help out on the repair job will be recruited in March, and they will be trained in May, Mr. Rainer said. Work will begin in June.
The Aquidneck Stone Wall Initiative, using seed funding from the van Beuren Charitable Foundation, has worked on two sites so far: Simmons Farm and the Norman Bird Sanctuary, both in Middletown. More than 200 feet of stone wall were restored at each site.
Waiting on GOP
The council is giving the Portsmouth Republican Town Committee one last chance to provide a list of five names to be considered for appointment to the Board of Canvassers.
According to council member Leonard Katzman, the canvassing board is short one Republican member and one Republican alternate member. Mr. Katzman, a Democrat, said to his knowledge, the party chairperson never responded to a request made a year ago for a legally required list of five names for consideration.
“As we get into the election season, I think it’s important to have a fully staffed board again,” he said.
Under the law, if the chairperson of either party town committee fails or refuses to send a list, the Town Council president “shall nominate any party voter of the political party entitled to the appointment.” Kevin Aguiar, a Democrat, is the council president.
Board of Canvassers members serve six-year terms beginning on the first Monday of March. That means the council must appoint someone prior to March 2, Mr. Katzman said.
The council voted unanimously to notify the Republican Town Committee chairperson one last time to provide a list of five names for consideration, so the council can make an appointment on Feb. 10. Otherwise, it will be up to Mr. Aguiar to nominate a Republican to the board.
There will also soon be a vacancy among the Democrats on the canvassing board, as the term of E. Richard Carpender, its chairman, expires March 17. Although Mr. Carpender informed the council he is seeking reappointment in a Jan. 15 letter, Mr. Katzman said the Democrats will need to go through the same nominating process as the GOP.
Sexual harassment policy
The council unanimously accepted a request by Lisa Puglia, director of human resources, to update the town’s sexual harassment policy.
The old policy was last updated in December 1996 and the procedure for investigation was last updated in October 1990, she said.
“Upon inspection of the policy, it was noted the policy contained obsolete wording and further, not compliant with Rhode Island state guidelines and legal requirements,” Ms. Puglia stated in a letter to the council.
The revised policy can be viewed here.
Appointments
The council unanimously appointed Marybeth Clark to the Dog Park Committee, and re-appointed Evin St. Laurent to the Economic Development Committee.
Future meetings
The council will meet again at Town Hall on the following dates (all Mondays):
• Feb. 10 (6 p.m. to discuss future capital improvements, 7 p,m. for regular meeting)
• Feb. 24 at 7 p.m.
• March 9 at 7 p.m.