· WE SUPPORT Balanced Economic Development
We will support
Charlestown’s small businesses to help them survive and prosper. We will work
to attract new business consistent with the vision set out in Charlestown’s
Comprehensive Plan. In particular, this includes agriculture, aquaculture,
tourism support, arts and culture, and green technology businesses. We support
consulting with town businesses and interested citizens before adopting
ordinances and policies that place unfunded mandates on local business.
·
WE SUPPORT Affordable Housing Opportunities
We support meeting our
obligations under Rhode Island law to provide affordable housing opportunities
consistent with our rural character, especially much-needed year-round rentals
for the elderly and low- and moderate-income families. We support achieving
this goal in a manner consistent with Charlestown’s Comprehensive Plan in
partnership with nonprofit housing organizations.
·
WE SUPPORT Open and Civil Government
We believe that reasonable compromise is the
essence of good government, and we pledge to broaden and deepen outreach to
people holding differing points of view. We pledge to work hard to end
Charlestown’s chronic violations of the state’s Open Meetings Act and improve
the town’s performance under the Access to Public Records Act. We support
training and staff support to all town commissions and committees to assist
volunteers in knowing their duties under state open meetings, open records and
ethics laws.
·
WE SUPPORT Environmental Protection
We support a broad policy to protect and
enhance Charlestown’s environment. That includes the strategic acquisition and
use of open space, and a vigorous town program to increase the level of
recycling and reuse and reduce waste. We support greatly expanded green energy
in Charlestown, including the use of renewable energy sources and
environmentally-sound and energy-efficient construction. We believe homeowners
should have a greater choice of affordable on-site wastewater treatment
options. We support a review of the condition of the town’s several hazardous
waste sites to determine how much threat they pose to the water supply and
people’s health. We support action to fully prepare Charlestown for the effects
of climate change. We support working with the state to get better access to
public transportation.
·
WE SUPPORT Tax Fairness
We propose the prompt formation of an ad hoc
committee to review Charlestown’s tax policies to restore fairness in property
taxes, taking into account the disproportionate tax increase middle-income
families suffered in the 2011 town reassessment. We support creative thinking
about how Charlestown property tax policies may help the town achieve its
goals, and to provide relief from mandates created by new ordinances, while
maintaining the town’s financial health and low tax rate.
·
WE OPPOSE any casino or gaming establishment in
Charlestown