TOWN OF CHARLESTOWN

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

July 7, 2026 at 7:00 p.m.

Charlestown Elementary School, Cafeteria/Gymnasium

363 Carolina Back Rd, Charlestown, RI  02813

 

Pursuant to the provisions of the Home Rule Charter for the Town of Charlestown, notice is hereby given of the following proposed ballot question to be discussed at the Public Hearing to be held on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. This meeting will be held in person at the Charlestown Elementary School in the Cafeteria/Gymnasium. Comments from the Public will be accepted in person only. Written comments can be submitted to the Town Clerk at arweinreich@charlestownri.gov prior to the public hearing. A live stream of the Hearing will be available at: https://charlestownri.webex.com/charlestownri/j.php?MTID=m96a628051b936682ef5db0d305ac12de. The all-day Special Financial Town Referendum will be held on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Charlestown Town Hall in the Council Chambers. Pursuant to Article XXVI §C-86 et seq., the electors of the town, qualified to vote, shall receive and discuss the proposed ballot questions from the Council in advance of the August 4, 2026, Special Financial Town Referendum. Plans and proposals can be viewed at charlestownri.gov/publichearingnotices. 

 

Referendum Question

Pursuant to § C-14 and § C-16 of the Town Charter, shall the Town Council of the Town of Charlestown be authorized to act by resolution or ordinance to enter into a long‑term ground lease with the Chariho Regional School District for the construction, financing, and operation of an elementary school serving the Towns of Charlestown, Richmond and Hopkinton consisting of one or more buildings on a single campus on the site of the former Charlestown Elementary School, with the Chariho Regional School District responsible for demolishing the existing Charlestown Elementary School building and enter into a license agreement with the Chariho Regional School District for school use of Wicklund Field, a Town‑owned recreation area acquired or improved with Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grants, while the Town retains ownership and Wicklund Field remains dedicated to public outdoor recreation in compliance with LWCF requirements and in connection therewith, authorize the Town Council to adopt an ordinance providing for such ground lease and license arrangements?

Yes ☐  No ☐

 

Explanatory Note
(For voter information or voter guide use; not part of the “Yes/No” question itself.)

Approval of this question will:

Authorize the Town Council to enter a long‑term ground lease under which the Chariho Regional School District will demolish the existing Charlestown Elementary School building and construct, finance, and operate a new elementary consisting of one or more buildings on a single campus school serving the Towns of Charlestown, Richmond and Hopkinton on that site;

Authorize the Town Council to enter into a license agreement allowing the Chariho Regional School District to use Wicklund Field for school programs, while the Town keeps ownership and Wicklund Field continues to function as public outdoor recreation consistent with LWCF rules; and

Authorize the Town Council to adopt any ordinance necessary to provide for and implement the ground lease and Wicklund Field license arrangement described above.

 

Amy Rose Weinreich, CMC

Town Clerk

To be Advertised in the Westerly Sun: June 16, 23, and 30, 2026

To be posted to SOS and Town website: June 16, 2026