---WELCOME AND GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS---

●This will be the last coalition meeting in the current format, because many subcommittee members felt that the current format does not allow enough time for the individual groups to accomplish their goals.  It was decided that the Steering Committee would convene at 7:00 for future meetings.  Subcommittees could choose to either meet before the Steering Committee or on a separate night.

---SUBCOMMITTEE MEETINGS---

The following subcommittees met from 6:45-7:30pm:

Common Ground (Chair:  Nancy Devaney)

Realtors/Neighborhood Association (Co-Chairs:  Eileen Desforges and Joe Robenhymer)

Programming (Chair:  Kristin Pedicone)

Communications (Chair:  Tom Dougan)

---SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS AND STEERING COMMITTEE MEETINGS---

Communication Committee

●Chief Smith reiterated that a main focus of the Communications Committee is to dispel myths by providing factual information.  The group identified the Cigar and the Providence Journal as two places where factual information could be provided.   The Communications Committee would like to encourage students to bring other concerned students to the meetings.

●URI attempted to obtain local addresses by having students put this information in before they were able to log onto university computers.  Unfortunately, the program that was supposed to force students to provide this information didn’t work.  Tom Dougan is working on new ways to obtain local address information. 

●Judge Patricia Moore has had obligations out of state, but will be able to participate in the coalition from this point forward.  Bob Raider, a south county native, a judge, and a URI graduate will also be coming in and speaking to the group

●Chief Smith also discussed an editorial piece that was recently in the Cigar that called for sobriety checkpoints instead of party patrols. Chief Smith said that sobriety checkpoints are not lawful in the state of RI.

Realtor/Neighborhood Association Committee

●The Realtor/Neighborhood Association Committee reported that the building inspector’s office has hired a full time person to keep track of rentals and to conduct citations for trash. 

●Other activities of the Realtor/Neighborhood Association Committee include:

• Updating the model lease
• Condensing the ordinances to make posting easier.
• Asking Judge DeCubellis to speak with them. 

●The group also plans to set up a forum for new renters, new homeowners, police, and judges.  Information regarding the dates and times of these forums will be placed on the email listserv.

Common Ground

●On October 26^th at 6:30 in the Narragansett Town Hall, Dr. Robert Saltz will be coming to educate committee members on Responsible Beverage Service.  Dr. Saltz is a nationally recognized researcher studying responsible service practices. Following this discussion, subcommittee members will be able to provide information to Narragansett Town Council on best practices for training tavern employees.

●Nancy Devaney provided the steering committee with all recently passed alcohol consumption laws. 

Programming Committee

●The Programming Committee is currently looking for ideas on events that would appeal to students and Neighborhood Association members.

●The Committee reported that fraternity and sorority groups have expressed an interest in doing community service in the Narragansett area (e.g., shoveling snow, assisting the elderly, etc.).

●The Programming Committee will also be trying to get the SONAR program up and running. Currently, there are no SONARS but the university has recently hired someone to plan and recruit for the program. 

Additional comments/concerns raised during the steering committee meeting

●Coalition members commended the Narragansett Police Department for the marked increase in patrols over the weekend.  Others commented that there is a misperception that renters are arrested after a second call.  The Chief commented that arrests will not be made without sufficient evidence.  The Chief has asked that specific concerns about specific situations be brought forth privately, so as to respect other people’s time.

●Kristin Pedicone said that calls to the coalition hotline should be responded to during the next business day.

●Coalition members called for Dr. Carothers to attend a Coalition meeting.  They have requested that he be added to a future agenda.

●Common Ground has hired a web developer, who will be updating the Coalition website.  The website will be linked to the town’s homepage.

●The Narragansett Police reported that 16 houses have been added to the party house list.

●Tom Dougan said that he would like the steering committee to update the goals listed on the handout:  “URI-Narragansett Town-Gown Coalition, Building a Community of Mutual Respect:  Progress to date, Spring ‘00 – Spring ’04” at an upcoming meeting.

---FINAL NOTES---

●The next Narragansett Coalition Steering Committee Meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 12, 2004 at 7:00.

●The subcommittees will be meeting on the following dates/times:

Common Ground, the Programming Committee, and the Realtor/Neighborhood Association Committee will be meeting on Tuesday, October 12^th, at 6:00 in the Narragansett Town Hall.  The Communications Committee will meet on the same night (October 12^th) in the Narragansett Town Hall, but will convene at 6:30.