This email was sent out to our local representatives, the RIDEM, the State Properties Committee, the Governor, and the major news reporting agencies such as the Providence Journal, the Boston Globe, Channel 10 and 12.
Dear Honorable Town Council Members, Town Manager, Jim Tierney, and Town Planner Mike Deluca:
I found it deeply troubling that RIDEM reached out to all those who recently submitted a proposal for the land lease deal in Galilee and gave them to the end of this month to bring forth information that would require more details to the original plans submitted with respect to funding sources and additional clarification on the plans submitted. The RIDEM must have recognized the Town of Narragansett's plan is a work in progress with respect that it was purposely designed to create a mixed-use development, and the Town's plan which is the most viable for the area would require the most amount of research regarding securing funding sources. The Procaccianti Proposal that is primarily a parking lot for phase 1 will not require much research for funding sources, and the Quonset Aqua Processing Plant can secure fundings through its corporation. However, the RIDEM should be held accountable for gross neglect if it fails to accept the Town of Narragansett's Proposal on the condition that all funding sources may not be determined by the end of this month. The alternative proposals will do irreparable harm to Galilee, its residents, its business, its fishing industry, and to all those who visit Galilee. I hope and pray my paper below will make Acting Director Terry Gray and Legal Counsel Mary Kay think twice in doing any further action that will jeopardize the Town of Narragansett's Proposal from becoming selected for our Gem of a Village: Galilee.
An overwhelming majority of people in Narragansett support the Narragansett Town Proposal. When I travel around Narragansett there are people who I don’t know who thank me for my advocacy of the Town of Narragansett Proposal. It reminds me of my support for the Narragansett state-of-the-art library. We all elected the members on the Narragansett Town Council as we wanted you to represent the will of the residents in the Town of Narragansett. It would be deeply upsetting to me and others if there is any dissension on this important matter. We hope and pray this town council will be different from the last where the former town council failed to listen to the will of the people. Now, because of the delays for the library, the library is costing us much more monetarily. If the Town of Narragansett fails to respond back to the RIDEM collectively, then this will even be a greater failure than the delay we had for our library.
As a result of the short notice by the RIDEM, I recommend the Town of Narragansett puts forth a statement stating the Town of Narragansett was not given enough time to find funding sources, but the Town of Narragansett will use due diligence on obtaining funding sources. I would add if the RIDEM fails to choose the Town of Narragansett’s Proposal because it notes the Town failed to find adequate funding sources, then the Town will seek out legal counsel against the RIDEM for the RIDEM failing to give the Town of Narragansett adequate time to obtain funding sources. In addition, if either of the alternative proposals are selected, the Town will seek out legal counsel to show that the RIDEM has acted recklessly in its actions.
Here are some ideas I would suggest you all consider in corresponding to the RIDEM:
Let us not stop now on our fight to have the Town of Narragansett’s Proposal Approved for Galilee.
In a Boston Globe Article dated December 21st, 2021, titled R.I. Dept. of Environmental Management wants more details about developing the Lighthouse Inn property, it notes the RIDEM wants to decide on the proposals submitted for Galilee by December 31st, 2021.
In the above article it notes:
“The Port of Galilee is managed by the Department of Environmental Management for the benefit of the fishing industry. DEM said any proposal would have to serve and support the state’s commercial fishing industry. The Port of Galilee is one of the East Coast’s busiest fishing ports.”
In the above article it notes, “the RIDEM which is picking a winner along with a developer, said it needs more details on how the projects will be funded, their economic impact, the experience the teams have, the proposed timeline, and on public amenities.”
In review of the above and the proposals submitted my justification for selecting the Town of Narragansett’s Proposal is as follows:
1. The 5 acre-area of land is zone GB – Galilee Business. The town designated this zoning to promote business related activities for the town not industrial activities. Therefore, the fish processing plant should not even be considered. In none of the previous development plans created by the Town of Narragansett nor research in that area was a fish processing plant or a street level parking lot recommended. The majority of the Town of Narragansett Residents do not want a commercial industrial fish processing plant in the heart of Galilee, nor do we want a massive street level parking lot with a small strip mall.
2. The Town of Narragansett Proposal will work with the local fishing related industry to incorporate their needs into the plan. A maritime museum/research and educational center are possible options. It should be stressed that a Maritime Museum/Research Center will help preserve the fishing industry whereas the benefits of a fish processing plant can fail to help our local fishermen. A fish processing plant is not going to help our fishermen sell more fish off their boats. The cost for the Maritime Museum may not cost the town any money as the South County Museum may pick up the cost. I would add, Procaccianti’s plans do absolutely nothing to improve the fishing industry, therefore it should be ruled out for not meeting the objectives of the RFP they supposedly jointly developed with the RIDEM.
3. The Town of Narragansett Proposal benefits local businesses and our Town as it attracts tourism and visitors in this area. The more people who visit Galilee, the better it is for our economy. In addition, the more foot traffic in Galilee, the more potential people will buy seafood off the boats or from the area fish markets. Our season is a short season for our area businesses, so the fewer tourists and visitors in the area the more difficult it will be for small businesses to survive. Do we want to put small businesses in Galilee out of business due to a decrease in people visiting because of a fish processing plant or a massive street level parking lot that will be used to send people off to Block Island? Procaccianti may be putting up signs on his leased land parking lot stating, On your trip to Block Island, make sure your stop at Champlin’s Marina and Resort – we have fine dining, entertainment, a day cruise, an Ocean Excursion of your choice such as snorkeling, parasailing, or rent out a boat for your own excursion with one of our tour guides. He can add, we will give you a discount where you can have free parking for your entire stay with us in this lot if you book a hotel room at our resort. Imagine what Procaccianti can do to promote his business in Block Island if he is given a lease of that 5-acre parcel for any length of time at the detriment of Galilee.
4. A parking garage as outlined in the Narragansett Proposal will be regulated, and its proceeds will help the Town of Narragansett buildout on the other developments planned for the site. The alternative proposals are a street level parking lot that is a cash business, and its regulation can be much more difficult. Many say cash is king for a reason, and the accountability of income from cash can be problematic.
5. The fishing industry in Galilee is of great importance. In its heyday, the fishing industry in Galilee was much bigger than it is today. If the 5-acre parcel of leased area was allowed to be used as a hotel in the past when the fishing industry in Galilee was even greater than today, then why is the RIDEM thinking about taking away the wishes of the Town of Narragansett and its residents to make Galilee primary an industrial park. If the Dutch Inn/Lighthouse Inn was maintained and updated, no one would be saying let’s knock it down and put up a fish processing plant.
6. From what I heard, the town of Quonset already rejected the proposal by ICellAqua, therefore, if Quonset is rejecting the proposal it should set up a red flag to the Town of Narragansett and the RIDEM. Let us not forget when RI welcomed Studio 38 into our State when all other states said no. The State of RI (our taxpayers) had to pay for the failed bonds issued by Studio 38. Let our governmental agencies and those in authority not cost us more financial hardship both to our taxpayers and our businesses in Narragansett.
7. If a fish processing plant is to be built in that area, it would have to be elevated as it is in a flood zone. A fish processing plant elevated 10-12 feet high can be very problematic.
8. We have already witnessed the true colors of Procaccianti and Paolino. They have created an eyesore in Galilee. In my eyes and many others, they are modern day Mr. Potters. As I supported our soon to be built library for its benefits to our Town of Narragansett, I am now fighting for us to support Galilee with the Town of Narragansett’s proposal. I can see my dad, Albert Alba, Sr. now giving testimony on why we cannot allow the RIDEM, PRI X, and ICellAqua from taking this once in a lifetime opportunity to save Galilee away from our Gem of a Village: Galilee. My dad was a supporter of bringing in tourism and supporting our local businesses. The Town of Narragansett’s mixed-use development proposal will be the best for Narragansett, its residents, and its local businesses.
Procaccianti purchased the Champlin’s Marina and Resort that the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office determined was illegally expanded upon just prior to the purchase. In addition, the Hummel Report and the Providence Journal noted 2 CRMC Members had to resign as they approved the illegal behind the scenes negotiation. In Narragansett, our previous Town Council did a behind the scenes negotiation for the potential sale of a portion of the library building to the adjacent liquor store without transparency. In addition, there was a behind the scenes deal to get a Connecticut Businessman to buy the Town of Narragansett’s recently purchased building for our library to put up a food court. The entire town was upset due to the lack of transparency. In addition, our former Narragansett’s Town Solicitor was removed from office as many felt he did not intervene and offer proper counsel to the tell the former Narragansett Town Council a behind the scenes deal was unethical. The expansion of Champlin’s Marina and Resort was opposed by the people and sage researchers and residents in Block Island because the expansion of about 140 additional boats on the Marina will have devastating effects on The Great Salt Pond. In Narragansett, we are going to stop using plastic bags because of our concern for the environment. The RIDEM is supposed to protect the environment and not support those that do harm. Procaccianti is aware of the outcry regarding the illegally expanded Champlin’s Marina he purchased, yet he and his company has not said anything to willfully return the Marina to its original size. Procaccianti made the area of leased land an eyesore in Galilee as he failed to maintain the property and the land. Therefore, based on Procaccianti’s malfeasance it shows his total disregard to the fragile ecosystem of The Great Salt Pond and his breach of his previous lease with the RIDEM as he failed to maintain the property in Galilee. The RIDEM will be in gross error if it does not severe its ties with Procaccianti regardless of how much cash he comes up with for his proposal. The Golden Rule should not be he who owns the most Gold Rules.
9. A research / educational center can provide needed research to protect our oceans and our fragile ecosystem that will preserve and sustain our fish. The University of Rhode Island may provide funding. The Maritime Museum can attract students and visitors year-round.
10. The Town of Narragansett can put out bids for a Boutique hotel. A Boutique hotel can have a multi-use banquet / conference center, so it can be rented out for multiple venues. If the town does not get enough bids for a Boutique hotel or if the Town determines a Boutique Hotel may not be the best fit for that location, the town can scale down its proposal to potentially a smaller building such as a shopping center / housing such as condominiums, or a smaller rendition of a hotel. I do feel a multi-use function room where people can rent out for special occasions, educational, and business-related conferences would be ideal.
11. The recreational area proposed can be created with funding from the Narragansett Parks and Recreation.
12. There is land in Galilee that is zoned GFi - Galilee Fishing Industrial. That area of land is where parking lots have been placed. If RIDEM is so adamant on creating structures that help the fishermen exclusively, then the RIDEM may want to consider closing those parking lots that do nothing to help the fishing industry and create something that will support the fishing industry at those sites.
13. I would consult with our Town Solicitor too, so the Town can sue the RIDEM for recklessly mismanaging that land if the Town of Narragansett's Proposal is not accepted.
14. Time is of the essence, so the Town of Narragansett must work quickly to be able to pursue legal action in the future.
15. The Narragansett Town Proposal has been endorsed by the Friends of Galilee and the Narragansett Pier Residents’ Association. It also has been supported by research completed by the University of Rhode Island. Landscape Architects and at least one professor in marine affairs has supported a mixed-use development for the 5-acre parcel. No one who has studied the area for years has recommended primarily a massive street level parking lot or a fish processing plant for that area. If the RIDEM fails to listen to the will of the Town, its residents, and the endorsements of the Friends of Galilee and the Narragansett Pier Residents’ Association, research studies as completed by the University of Rhode Island, as well as over 2400 people who provided their signature on Change.Org that show support of the Town of Narragansett’s Proposal it will show the RIDEM has failed and its leaders will be forever remembered as being reckless in their actions.
16. If the RIDEM does approve either the fish processing plant proposal or Procaccianti’s Proposal, there needs to be a motion filed against the Acting Director Terry Gray and Legal Counsel Mary Kay for gross mismanagement of the RIDEM. In addition, the Attorney General’s Office will need to do a complete investigation on the RIDEM for its failure to uphold the zoning ordinances in Narragansett if it approves the fish processing plant in Galilee. If the RIDEM approves Procaccianti’s Proposal the RIDEM should be charged for dereliction of duties by doing business with a company that has shown total disregard to the environment in Galilee and for the RIDEM continuing the engage with a company that purchased Champlin’s Marina and Resort that was illegally expanded just prior to its purchase as determined by the Rhode Island Attorney General. It would be very ironic for the RIDEM that is a state agency that is supposed to care about our oceans and our environment to support Procaccianti as his recently purchased Marina and Resort has been illegally expanded and it will cause great harm to The Great Salt Pond and the fish. Setting up an area of land and property in Galilee to be an abandoned building and an unkept parking lot can also not be good for the environment. We also will need to appeal to the State Properties Committee if the RIDEM selects the PRIX or Quonset Aqua Processing Plant Proposal, so the State Properties Committee will fail to approve PRIX or the Quonset Aqua Processing Plant Proposal for the reasons noted above if the Town of Narragansett’s Proposal is not accepted.
Thank you all in advance for your support of the Town of Narragansett's Proposal,
Al Alba, PhD.