Glen Farm traffic light, new coffee shop on agenda in Portsmouth

Town Council meets Monday at 7 p.m.

EastBayRI.com ·

PORTSMOUTH — Saying the increased number of vehicles going in and out of town-owned Glen Farm has caused “dangerous traffic conditions,” Police Chief Thomas F. Lee has asked the state to study the possibility of placing a traffic control light at the intersection of East Main Road and Linden Lane.

In addition, Chief Lee will ask the Town Council Monday, June 12, to send a letter of concurrence to Steven W. Pristawa, secretary of the State Traffic Commission. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at Town Hall.

“The town-owned fields at the Gardner Seveney Complex are used by thousands of residents on a weekly basis for soccer, baseball, lacrosse and other youth activities,” Chief Lee stated in a letter to Mr. Pristawa dated May 31. “In addition, professional sporting events such as Newport Polo and college rugby tournaments are held at the facility leading to an incredible amount of traffic volume in the area. Cars turning into the facility and attempting to exit are at risk of accident due to the lack of a traffic control light.”

The chief said his department provides detail officers at major events, “but there is simply no way we can supply officers at all times when they are needed. We appreciate the greatly increased use of our sports fields by the public but the dangerous traffic conditions are concerning.”

New coffee shop proposed

Also on the agenda Monday night, the council, sitting as the Board of License Commissioners, will hear a request to license a new coffee shop in Island Park.

Owner Kristen Kidd is seeking both a victualler and a holiday license for Thrive Coffee House, 706 Park Ave. 

Longtime Portsmouth residents may remember the site as the former location of an aquarium store. 

The application for the license states the coffee shop would be open from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

Other agenda items

In other business Monday night:

• The council will consider a request to extend the contract between the town and Glen Manor House resident managers Catherine and Donald Wilkinson from July 1, 2017 to Dec. 31, 2019. Under the contract, the couple would be paid an annual salary of $51,730, plus 12.5 percent of the net house rental receipts upon recommendation of the Glen Manor House Authority and with Town Council approval.

• Sitting as the Board of License Commissioners, the council will conduct a public hearing on a request by Food Works Restaurant, 2461 East Main Road, to expand its service area to include an outside deck on the west side of the building — the area closest to East Main Road — of about 750 square feet in area. 

• Also sitting as the Board of License Commissioners, the council will consider a request to advertise a public hearing to transfer a Class BV beverage license from Bracky Ltd., doing business as Island Tap, 568 Park Ave., to Bracky Ltd., doing business as CJ’s Pub.

• Council member Linda Ujifusa will seek action on her request that town committees provide more detailed information to the council about the work they do. Ms. Ujifusa wants the town administrator to collect information from all volunteer committees, such as the Conservation Commission or the Pension Investment Committee, and present a report to the council twice a year. If approved, the first report would be presented to the council by its July 24 meeting.

The full agenda for Monday's meeting can be viewed here.

Portsmouth Town Council, Glen Farm, Food Works,