Council advances juvenile hearing board ordinance first reading with amendment to allow up to three alternates

The West Warwick Town Council voted during a March 10 special meeting to approve the first reading of revisions to Chapter 14, Article 3, updating rules for the town’s juvenile hearing board and amending the ordinance to permit the council to appoint up to three alternate members.

A town staff member who prepared the draft told the council the revisions followed consultations with the juvenile prosecutor, the police department and the solicitor and addressed several items flagged as constitutionality or practice concerns. "I prepared this with some recommendations that would address those items that we identified as problematic or not consistent with the way things operate or should operate," the staff member said.

A council member moved to amend section 14-70 to change the language so the council "shall appoint up to 3 instead of 2 alternates." The mover argued the change would allow the town to appoint qualified alternates without forcing unqualified appointments; another council member said alternates actively participate in hearings though only regular members vote. The amendment and first reading carried on a roll-call vote; the council then asked staff to email the juvenile sergeant with the amendment and to share the revised language prior to the second reading.

Council members also discussed an historical restriction excluding attorneys from the panel and said they had checked state guidance; one member noted some jurisdictions allow attorneys on similar boards. The staff presenter said the 1970s-era language prompted the review and that the draft seeks to align practice with current operations.

Action and next steps: the council completed a first reading with the amendment to allow up to three alternates; the item will return for a second reading where further changes can be made. Councilors asked staff to notify the juvenile sergeant (identified in discussion as Roberto Andrade) and to distribute the amended draft ahead of the next meeting.