HANDRIGAN

NARRAGANSETT — The first meeting of the new Town Council lasted only an hour and 20 minutes, but that was more than enough time to name a new president and touch on a key issue that could be front and center in the coming months.

For much of the fall, the previous council had been talking about a homestead tax exemption, voting to endorse the concept and the idea of establishing a nine-member committee to study the issue.

Naming committee members was left to the new council that was sworn in last night, and it didn’t take long for a discussion of when to interview applicants to spark a heated debate.

Council members were discussing possible dates to interview the 19 applicants when former Councilman David Crook, one of two residents who spearheaded the homestead tax exemption drive, approached the microphone and urged council members who have “real estate interests” in town to abstain from voting on the appointments.

The comments prompted a response from Councilman James Durkin, owner of Durkin Cottage Realty and dozens of rental properties in town. Durkin said he has asked the state Ethics Commission for an opinion on whether he should participate in the homestead discussions and votes, and hopes to have the opinion in the coming weeks.

When Crook asked Durkin not to vote on the interview dates being set last night, Durkin argued there was no reason to abstain.

“We’re not appointing tonight,” said Durkin, who has said he supports a homestead tax exemption.

“I haven’t been an obstructionist to the process,” he added.

Crook responded that “The public perception is that you would be doing something to benefit yourself,” but Durkin disagreed, saying Crook’s argument could be taken to mean that no one on the council should vote on the town budget or school budget because it affects them.

Crook disagreed, saying the difference is that the homestead tax could affect Durkin’s livelihood.

Durkin finally said that he will recuse himself “if the Ethics Commission tells” him to. He also said he will not vote on appointments to the homestead committee, which is to have nine members, until he has a ruling from the Ethics Commission.

All five council members ultimately voted to schedule interviews next Monday and Tuesday, starting at 6:30 p.m.

In other matters, there was no surprise on the naming of a new council president. T. Brian Handrigan, a Democrat who finished third in the council election on Nov. 7 but has the most experience, was named president on a 5-to-0 vote. This is the fifth time that Handrigan, entering his sixth term, has been named president.

The president pro tempore post went to Durkin, a Democrat, also on a 5-to-0 vote. He was the election’s second highest vote getter.

The appointments on what is technically a nonpartisan board bypassed top vote getter Krista Garrett, one of two Republicans, who expressed interest last week in a leadership role. Garrett, entering her second term, said after the meeting that she is fine with the appointments.

Durkin, entering his third term, said he is excited to be president pro tempore for the first time, while Handrigan said he felt a little rusty after two years out of the president’s seat.

“It seemed a little unfamiliar even though I kept an eye on it when I sat down here,” he said, referring to the left end of the council dais.

The new council received warm applause from residents after being sworn in, and it also received a gift – a Cricket wall clock, complete with a double A battery – from frequent meeting attendee Joan Garceau.

Garceau urged the council to hang the clock in front of residents at the meetings so they don’t have to turn to look at the wall clock at the back of the room.