Summary of Meeting with Neighbors Rhode Island Army ... - STATES

Summary of Meeting with Neighbors
Rhode Island Army National Guard
23 June 2010
Submitted by Michael Di Stefano, CFMO
Meeting started at approx. 3:35pm in CRC/EMA Cafeteria
In attendance: Mike & Mary English, Quentin & Jim Turtle, Chris & Whitney Sampson, Marie
Delibero, Thomas Masse, Kevin & Vito Antonucci, Robert & Gloria Messerlian, City
Councilman Mario Aceto, State Rep. Nicholas Mattiello, Mayor Allan Fung.
Lt Col. Bruce Fletcher NG Public Affairs Rep.: opens meeting by welcoming the attendees and
introducing Col. Martin Lafferty as Project Director.
Col. Martin Lafferty (NG Project Director): Informs attendants that this meeting is to supply
information and answer questions about the impending project to relocate the perimeter fence of
the CRC/EMA HQ property.
The RING’s intentions are to be open and transparent with its proposed project.
The reason for the proposed project is the Federal Anti-Terrorism Force Protection (AT/FP)
regulations for ‘stand-off’ distance for buildings.
RING has been working over the past years to update and upgrade existing facilities to meet
these AF/TP regulations, example given was Camp Fogarty fence line.
A new fence around the front CRC/EMA was installed recently as a result of AF/TP.
A survey of property line for installation of front fence showed more land at back of CRC/EMA.
We are ready to perform a topographic survey to update and upgrade back property and fence.
RING contacted the legal department before proceeding with project.
The new fence line will be offset approx. 5’ on RING side of property line and will not be a
chain link type of fence. We need to meet the AF/TP requirement but will use a more pleasing
architectural style black metal fence like that which was installed alone the front property line.
State Rep. Nicholas Mattiello: What is the minimum set-back? Is a variance possible from
Federal Government?
Mr. & Mrs. English: We have lived there for 18 years with a drainage problem in backyard from
NG parking lot rain run-off.
Col. Lafferty response: RING had no knowledge of run-off causing problems for neighbors. We
will work to eliminate this problem in our future plans.
Unidentified Neighbor: Concerned about new parking up to property line and trucks and
dumpster empting noise.
Col. Lafferty response: dumpster can be relocated and visual softening effects can be pursued.
Mayor Allan Fung: There will be major effects on neighbor’s backyards and there will not be
100% compliance with AT/FP regulations so why do anything at all.
Col. Lafferty response: It will be more compliant than it is currently.
State Rep. Nicholas Mattiello: There will be intense use being imposed on neighbor’s backyards.
Paving in extended area is a cost beyond AT/FP requirements.
City Councilman Mario Aceto: Can’t extra parking and shuttles be provided from across the
street (Howard Complex).

Col. Lafferty response: We currently do that during high demand time like state emergencies.
Unidentified Neighbor: I’ve lived here since 1948. What about parking lot run-off contaminates?
Truck noise and dumpsters being emptied 3-4am?
Col. Lafferty response: We adhere to all EPA, DEM, Wetland, etc. requirements for our projects.
Unidentified Neighbor: Neighbors have landscaping and maintained it over the past years. Why
would we believe you are going to maintain in the future? Can we get compensation?
State Legal Council: Informs that neighbors have or had no legal right to use State property for
their backyards.
State Rep. Nicholas Mattiello: Thought the legal councils tone was inappropriate and rude.
Unidentified Neighbor: We have been spending money to maintain their backyards. We want
guarantees of maintenance by State/NG for the future.
Mr. & Mrs. English: Let it be known that they have spent money on french drains to solve
drainage problem.
City Councilman Mario Aceto: What is the distance for AT/FP compliance and what will be the
distance for proposed fence? What will be the degree of compliance?
Unidentified Neighbor: Can the grass area on side of Schofield Armory and Garden Hill
Parkway be used for future expansion of parking?
Col. Lafferty response: there is a drainage swale in that area and it would also be a safety issue
with RIDOT traffic patterns.
Col. Lafferty: There are future phases of re-design to meet AT/FP such as moving guard shack to
driveway entrance, re-design existing parking areas along with future expansion of parking.
Mr. & Mrs. English: Will moving guard shack choke traffic and cause back-ups and what about
the curve of the road?
Col. Lafferty response: Traffic studies will be performed for volume and sight distance.
Unidentified Neighbor: We were told in 1940’s that land was for security, now it seems all about
extra parking.
Mr. Antonucci: Since neighbors backyards are State property who is going to pay for the
maintenance between now and the fence line project?
Col. Lafferty response: We would think that the neighbors would continue to maintain since the
State has no access to their backyards.
Col. Martin Lafferty & Lt Col. Bruce Fletcher NG Public Affairs Rep.: Informs neighbors all
comments and concerns would be taken under advisement and consideration and Mr. Tinkham
ensured that another meeting will be held prior to finial project decision to present multiple
conceptual designs for more input and questions.
Meeting was then closed at approx. 4:45pm