Council approves routine appointments, authorizes septic loan mortgage and accepts cybersecurity grant

After the public hearings and lengthy school deficit discussion, the council moved through routine business.

Appointments and consent items: The council approved town minutes and several consent items, appointed Jessica Haley to the parade committee and Bernardet MacArthur to the Glocester Housing Authority, and appointed Tabitha Hopkins as an ad hoc non-voting parade committee member. Several other appointments were tabled for later review.

Community septic loan fund: The council authorized the finance department to begin mortgage processing to secure additional infrastructure bank funds so residents can continue to apply for low-interest loans for septic repairs and replacements.

Holiday schedule and meetings: Council ratified holding a single council meeting in July (canceling the July 2 meeting) and voted to observe the Fourth of July holiday on July 3, 2026 for town-employee scheduling.

Grant acceptance: The council authorized acceptance of a $81,250 FY2023 State and Local Cyber Security Grant (RIMA) to replace firewalls and purchase a centralized log aggregation system; the IT director was authorized as the point of contact to sign grant documents (Grant #136A-2023 SLCGP).

What’s next: Appointments tabled will be returned to the agenda; finance will pursue mortgage documentation for the septic program and report back; grant paperwork will be completed by IT per grant conditions.