Editorial: Out-of-towners on town boards, Warren's new brewpub

Posted 2/21/20

Out-of-towners serving

Warren Town Planner Bob Rulli was right to rescind his application to serve on the Bristol County Water Authority’s board of directors, after it was determined that …

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Editorial: Out-of-towners on town boards, Warren's new brewpub

Posted

Out-of-towners serving

Warren Town Planner Bob Rulli was right to rescind his application to serve on the Bristol County Water Authority’s board of directors, after it was determined that as a Middletown resident he cannot serve (story, page 1). Still, his take that having town staff on the nine-member board holds merit isn’t far off.

The board, which determines the rates you pay, where you will get your water, how it will be delivered and many other factors, is one of the busiest and important in the East Bay. With a myriad of multi-million-dollar water projects in place or coming down the pike, it could be argued that town officials, more versed in municipal affairs than the average resident, could be a valuable asset.

While volunteer voting positions should rightly go to those who live here, it may not be a bad idea to add a non-voting member to the board — either one per town or just one overall — who would be able to provide valuable input on the town’s position during board meetings.

Warren’s brewpub

Reaction this past week to news that a brewpub will soon be built in the American Tourister property (story, page 2) ran the gamut. There were cheers of approval from folks excited about a new watering hole, and those who were more cautious and critical that yet another restaurant is coming to town.

Every business deserves a chance to succeed. And given the run the Guild has had in Pawtucket, there’s no reason to think it won’t be an asset here too. North Warren is growing, and the influx of money coming in from the hundreds renting apartments in the Tourister Mill is good for Warren. So too is an upscale brewpub that will create more buzz, no pun intended, along trendy Water Street.

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Jim McGaw

A lifelong Portsmouth resident, Jim graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1982 and earned a journalism degree from the University of Rhode Island in 1986. He's worked two different stints at East Bay Newspapers, for a total of 18 years with the company so far. When not running all over town bringing you the news from Portsmouth, Jim listens to lots and lots and lots of music, watches obscure silent films from the '20s and usually has three books going at once. He also loves to cook crazy New Orleans dishes for his wife of 25 years, Michelle, and their two sons, Jake and Max.