The Public’s Radio — Westerly Town Council president resigns amid turmoil in town government

Edward Morrone and Kevin Lowther, who replaces Morrone as acting council president, are pictured at a Westerly Town Council meeting earlier this year. Alex Nunes - The Public’s Radio

August 8, 2023

By Alex Nunes — Council President Edward Morrone had been under scrutiny for his ties to private interests in the Watch Hill community as disputes over shoreline access became a focal point for the Westerly Town Council.

Westerly Town Council President Edward Morrone has submitted a letter of resignation, saying he is stepping down entirely from the council about eight months after taking office, according to multiple council members and a copy of the letter forwarded to The Public’s Radio.

The decision to leave office comes as the town is embroiled in several closely-watched legal battles related to shoreline access in the coastal town. Morrone had also been under scrutiny for an aggressive outburst at a recent town council meeting and past work he did for a shoreline fire district that critics said presented a conflict of interest in an ongoing lawsuit.

In his letter announcing his resignation, Morrone said discord over shoreline access in Westerly had influenced his decision.

He cited a July 31 vote on the future of the Watch Hill Lighthouse in which Morrone was the only council member to vote against the town requesting that the federal government give the lighthouse land to the town instead of the private non-profit Watch Hill Lighthouse Keepers Association.

Morrone said he took issue with the vote coming in a special meeting called because of the impending transfer to the Lighthouse Keepers instead of a regular meeting where representatives of the organization could make their case.

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