Park maintenance, the speed of village traffic, raking of the beach, dead trees and the red tape it takes to open a new business were all questions Mayor Frank Picozzi fielded when addressing the Conimicut Village Association last Tuesday. Having seen many of the questions prior to the meeting at the Woodbury Union Presbyterian Church, the mayor was prepared with answers albeit it ones that didn’t make everyone happy all the time such as his response to when would the city cut down the 38 dead pines that scar Conimicut Point Beach Park.

The mayor said the project is planned for the fall when the park is less used and the process taking several days could be completed without displacing or endangering the public. That wasn’t entirely satisfactory to some members of the audience, numbering about 50, who sat in pews and hoped to have the trees removed before the summer season is in full swing. Some also questioned safety, pointing out that dead branches are falling and pose a hazard.

“It appears to us that it is not a priority,” said William Derrig.

The park has undergone a facelift with the repaving of the internal road system and parking lot, which Picozzi made a priority at the start of the summer season. Picozzi told of how Conimicut Light has deteriorated and plans to rehabilitate it with a $775,000 earmark obtained by former Congressman James Langevin. Three requests for qualifications (RFQs) have been received from potential contractors for the job. One provided an estimate that is “roughly twice what we thought it would be,” the mayor said.

He didn’t say what would be the next course of action, but in response to a question on how it might be used – leasing of the light to a firm that would run a bed and breakfast and for educational purposes have been suggested – Picozzi said ensuring the integrity of the light is the first step.

Likewise, there was no easy answer to the boat launch area at the end of Shawomet Avenue. It was suggested the sandy stretch used to launch kayaks, fishing boats and fire rescue boats could be developed like the ramp at Oakland Beach. Members of the audience and Community Police Captain Robert Hart pointed out the launch had once included a concrete ramp, portions of which they said are buried under sand. Picozzi pointed out shifting sands resulting from storms is a problem at the Oakland Beach ramp and he imagined the same would be true at Conimicut.

Regardless of sand, Picozzi said gaining approval from Coastal Resources Management Council could be problematic.

“There’s a lot of red tape with that agency,” he said.

Red tape was also of concern to businesses looking to open in the village. A check off list was suggested giving businesses a clear picture of what’s required for them to meet regulations and open. Picozzi said the city has sought to streamline the process, giving new businesses a “one stop shopping list.” Yet, he added, “like is said, we don’t always get it right.”

As for regulating speed in the village center, the mayor was asked if the speed limit could be painted on the road. He didn’t know of that being done elsewhere in the city but said as it is a state road he would ask state DOT Director Peter Alviti. He also suggested Rep. Joseph Solomon Jr. be contacted since it is a state road.

The use of illegal fireworks was also on the minds of residents. They noted the pyrotechnics are ignited randomly throughout the year and while calls are made to police, response is slow and nothing seems to get done. Captain Hart explained police need to catch people igniting the fireworks.

“It’s a citywide problem and not a priority issue,” he said.

Association president Ginny Barham solicited questions from members in advance to the meeting. She noted the CVA is pleased to have the police substation, which was closed because of collapsed flooring in the utility room, reopen. The question was, however, how frequently would it be open? Hart said the station computer is up and running and “things are in progress” for it to be open more frequently. “We will use it a lot in the summer,” he said.

Concerns over development and the construction of houses on undersized lots, raised by a resident who said he moved here within the last six years had some neighbors nodding their heads in agreement. Picozzi said he doesn’t interfere with the work of the planning board and makes appointments based on their expertise, not politics. That didn’t mollify the questioner who claimed zoning and building codes aren’t being enforced.

What really set the mayor off was when another resident said she was told by a city building official that the reason so many zoning variances were granted was because the administration was looking for added tax revenues.

“That’s not true,” said the mayor adding more housing demands more of city services from schools to trash collections.

The discussion transitioned to city finances, city budget, number of municipal employees and whether the city is on the verge of bankruptcy.

Picozzi told the audience not to listen “to self proclaimed financial experts.”

“The city is not in financial trouble,” he said. In response to the number of municipal employees and negotiated raises, Picozzi said they are needed to provide services. “If we cut them, the city is going to go to pot.”

“We’re not even close to bankruptcy,” he said.