East Providence City Council 10/20/26
0:00 Providence City Council meeting of October 20th, 2026.0:07 Please uh stand for the pledge.0:34 Thank you. Uh, Madame Clerk, if you could call the role of the council.0:38 Councilman Fogerty.0:40 Councilman Lawson, here.0:42 Council Vice President Rio, here.0:44 Councilwoman Souza here.0:46 Council President Rogers here. We have a a quorum. Uh the record show uh Councilman Fogerty spoke with me um a little bit later this afternoon.0:58 He's unable to make it tonight. Uh there is a uh neighborhood um gathering to uh ra a cancer survivor raising fund get together and I told him that certainly was a priority for him and uh no worries. So that's why he could not make it tonight. Madame clerk, could you start the reading of the agenda?1:25 Number three, executive session. The city council of East Province may meet in executive session pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws 42-46-5 A2 related to collective bargainings with EPMAS local 3223 memorandum of agreement related to stipens discussion and possible vote.1:55 There is that one item uh on the agenda for executive session. So we will um I will entertain a motion to go into the session and it should be brief.2:06 I make a motion to go into executive session.2:08 Motion by councilwoman Soua to go into executive session for this one item. Is there a second?2:17 Second by council vice president Rio.2:20 All in favor?2:21 I. Any oppose? We will recess. uh for executive session.14:23 Is there a motion to return and then seal the minutes and conceal?14:29 Motion by Councilman Lawson, seconded by Councilwoman Souza. All in favor? I. Any opposed?14:35 The eyes have it.14:36 Um, Mr. Solicitor, do you want to report out at this point on the executive's vote?14:43 Executive session, we did um discuss and vote on the memorandum agreement with the local 3223 related to uh different stipens for licenses. It was approved unanimously people excuse me by the council tonight. Thank you.15:01 Thank you for that. Uh madame clerk, we want to uh continue with the docket.15:08 Consent calendar for discussion and possible vote. Council journals regular meeting minutes September 29th, 2026.15:16 October 6, 2026. October 13, 2026.15:20 Letters new address 194 through 196 Juniper Street, East Proidence, Rhode Island, 02914, Map 106, Block 34, parcel 012.0.15:34 Motion to approve. Motion Councilman Lawson and Councilwoman Souza. Seconded by second council. Okay. The second then would be Councilwoman Soua. All in favor? I I. Any opposed?15:47 The eyes have it. Thank you. Next.15:51 Licensings for discussion and possible vote.15:54 Non-public hearing. Special evented one-day entertainment license. Dance and music.16:01 Velia Putrius.16:04 Business name. Ocean State Ballet Ballet Foundation October 25th 400 pm to 6 pm 1-day entertainment license New England Mom's Collective Trunk or Treat Danielle Monroe October 30th 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. One day Alcohol License Monica Anderson St. Mary's Academy, Bay View, October 16th, 2026, 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Type of business, a new dance entertainment, Hana Kain at Lot 4 LLC,16:36 33350 Pucket Avenue, East Providence, Rhode Island.16:40 Motion to bundle.16:42 Second. Motion, Council Vice President Rigo, to bundle them together. Seconded by Councilman Lawson. All in favor?16:49 I. Any oppose? The eyes have it. Is there a motion? Motion to approve.16:53 Second. Same motion by both uh council members to approve. All in favor? I I. Any opposed?17:03 The eyes have it. One through four.17:05 Thank you.17:07 Next item.17:16 Public comment.17:20 Oh, congrats. Were you here for your lessons?17:23 Congratulations. Thank you.17:24 Yes.17:26 Seth Michael Grant Leferia Z Grant Rudy.17:42 Sure.17:42 Come forward just uh right to the microphone over there and17:59 you so much.18:31 Are you speaking or okay? Just uh name and that's okay. Just relax. Name and address for the record and welcome.18:45 That's okay. Y thank you. Good evening everyone. I live in W and I'm here tonight to oppose expanding traffic.18:57 Using traffic tickets to pay off our long-term debt just isn't a good idea or a stable plan. Think about it.19:07 Sorry.19:11 Start over.19:15 Good evening everyone. I live in Ward One and I'm here tonight to ask Oh, sorry. I'm here tonight to oppose uh expanding traffic enforcement cameras.19:25 Using traffic tickets to pay off our long-term debt just isn't a good or stable plan. Think about it. If these traffic cameras actually work and get people to slow down, the ticket money dries up. Then we're right back where we started, facing a massive funding deficit on our school bond. Plus, a huge chunk of this money doesn't even stay in East Providence. From 2022 to 2025, a private company out of state called19:52 Census Gatso USA incorporated took over 3.6 million away from our local community through hardware leases and ticket cuts. That's millions of dollars leaving Rhode Island entirely. We don't need to find our neighbors or cause traffic headaches on roads like Pucket Avenue or Six Corners just to balance the budget. We can fix our budget gaps by running our city smarter without costing taxpayers anything.20:20 Instead of cameras, we should focus on an internal innovation plan. We can use modern software to look over city vendor agreements and catch duplicate fees.20:32 This can save an estimated 1 million a year starting in just 30 to 60 days.20:38 Our new high school is already an award-winning green campus. We can take those same smart climate and lighting controls and use them across older city buildings to save 750,000 a year on electric and heating bills. We can bring in over a million a year by renting the high school gym to regional sports leagues on weekends or through voluntary community fitness passes. Best of all, these tech solutions work in the21:05 background. They require no new hiring, won't raise city payroll, and fully protect our local union worker contracts and hours. I've also included a few other suggestions in the packets that you guys have. And combined, these can meet our school debt service needs with a 6.7 with a $6.7 million protective cushion.21:31 Thank you. Well, well thought out. I thousand% agree with you and I voted accordingly and I think it's awesome when people get involved. You obviously spend some time on this. That's what we need in the city. People that step up, bring the ideas forward. So, thank you.21:51 Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And I only have two comments. Um, one, uh, I appreciate this. And, uh, you you mentioned, uh, being against, um, expanding. There is no plan, just so you know, to expand what we have. Um, maybe down the road someone might suggest it, but, right now, we're at status quo. So, there is no plan to expand as far as I I know. Um, and then you mentioned the22:21 idea of renting out the high school gym.22:23 Well, I can tell you that that is done already quite often. Um, of course, our high school teams have first preference and they do have weekend games. U, but it is, uh, very often rented out. As I drove here tonight, the lights were on outside and there are youth groups using one of the fields in the front of the school. It must be a soccer. It wouldn't be softball or baseball. So, uh, believe22:50 me, the schools, all of them, uh, rented the the auditoriums. Um, many, in fact, over the past couple of days, there was a group renting one of the schools, and they called me because there there are some fees, you know, custodial fees and a couple of fees, and they were asking to get the fee waved. So you know it's a two-way two-edged sword at times but uh those are good suggestions and some of them23:17 which you know we we are doing but stay in touch. Thank you.23:21 I want to commend you for this as well.23:25 Um a lot of the ideas that you talked about here tonight I just had some dental work done. Uh we t we've talked about that about naming rights and it be it is something that I'm very happy that you brought forward and it's it took a lot of time.23:51 Um the solar roof we have a project going on with the with the police station that's being delayed.23:59 So um hopefully we with with you put together here, we can move this forward. But a lot of like the corporate names, I've been saying this all along, we get some partners like iiggus and other companies that we need to get them more involved with the individual schools. I mean, that's the way to go. That's the way colleges are doing it. And we can transcend that down to the local level,24:26 it would be good. But I thank you for your time, Kelly. I just wanted to add um agree with my colleagues. I think uh you and it looks like someone else in the audience also worked collaboratively and maybe some others to put this together and I commend you for coming up here. I know you said it was your first time.24:46 So, thank you for doing that. I would love to connect with you and go over and discuss some of this too in more detail because I feel like you have a lot more um thoughts that I would love to hear about.24:57 Thank you. I'll be sure to Thank you. I appreciate that.25:02 Thanks again. Next, Nancy Hail,25:14 Nancy, welcome.25:16 Thank you. Um, my topic tonight is gratitude and government.25:22 I will say um I studied biology in college and I spent um a lot of time in a in my little fish room watching paradise fish and I avoided some nasty conversations at dinner with my college roommate and her friend who were actually taking a class um with Sarah Wington. Washington who fought for Roie Wade. Anyway, government is not my thing.26:00 If my college roommate, who majored in government and eventually became an attorney, knew that I was doing this, she would roll her eyes and say "Oh no."26:14 Before 2016, I thought, "My vote really won't matter. I mean, I I live in a Democratic state. The Democrats always win. I'm only one vote. I don't feel like going out. That was before 2016.26:29 Now, it might be true that one little vote doesn't matter in the big picture all the time, but participation matters.26:37 So, I have a lot of gratitude for all of you and each of you. Um Rick for you having the community meetings that was an eyeopener for me. It allows me from my little neighborhood to understand what the saving point neighborhood was going through with the sewer situation.26:57 I mean like whatever like you learn like wow you know okay maybe that is more important than something else. and I've come to understand the amount of time and energy that each of you put into this um uh being council members and I know I've given a few small gifts on occasion but the gifts that you have given me that is um Rick you know take care of what you have like infrastructure and um27:32 Frank Frank you know knowing that it's never going to be completely 100% perfect, you know, in when you're managing an entire city that's going through what this city has been through in the past whatever four, five, six years.27:47 I I thank you for that and I'm glad you said that. But we try to make it 100% and that's what we've done here for the four years.27:56 Correct.27:56 I appreciate that comment.27:57 And I got that from the police department and I don't like to name names, but one of the detectives said, "You know what? Even though it's hard to make it perfect, we keep on trying. And you guys are good role models for that, Bob. Patience. You gave me the gift of patience. I now understand how complicated it is to get something done in government with bureaucracy, rules, laws, different department heads, and28:23 problems that require multiple departments to to like manage. Um Anna, your uh training as a nurse and your experience as a nurse, I believe it has given you a great capacity to listen to a lot of different perspectives and even fighting and come up with sort of a balanced um assessment and kind of summary and like where do we go after all that? Um, I guess that's enough um for now and I want to wish all28:57 of you good luck in the upcoming election.28:59 How about Mike, our lawyer?29:01 Well, well, lawyers don't don't contribute anything good. You know, no, that's not true. That's not true. I have some gifts, but I'm going to give them to you at the end of the meeting cuz probably my three minutes is up and I've been told that I talk too much.29:16 Well, we we always have patience with you. We let you go. Thank you though.29:20 Thank you so much. And um good luck to all of you.29:22 You Nancy, we appreciate you and all the things that you say at every meeting.29:29 Is there anyone else next?29:32 No, that was okay. Thank you all who came forward tonight. Uh next item, please.29:38 Councilman Lawson, did you want to speak on this or do you want No, no, I didn't ask for this, but if we want to pull up the resolution regarding note if or if you just want it's up to you if you want to do it now or wait or you want to just keep in order. Just keep it in order.29:56 Stay in order. It's easier for the record keeping. Okay. Uh ne next item.30:01 New business, Mayor Communications, Director of Policy and Constituent Services, Andre Herrera.30:13 Good evening, council president, members of the city council. Welcome.30:21 Currently, we have no appointments or reappointments requiring council confirmation.30:27 Item number two, appointment reappointment not requiring council confirmation. We have none. And uh just want one item for discussion or announcement.30:38 We are welcoming everyone to our Veterans Day ceremony on November 11th at 10:00 a.m. at the Garden of Flags.30:47 So hope to see you all there.30:50 It's all the updates I have. Thank you.30:52 Thank you. It's always very special moment.30:56 Thank you. Next item.30:59 Councilman Lawson, do you have anything for the school committee?31:04 D resolutions for discussion and possible vote. Number one, resolution authorizing the granting of an easement to the near electric company to install a distribution system at the Wolf School introduced by Council President Rodri.31:19 This is a continuation of what we have been uh approving with the Wolf School uh the small uh additional work they're doing in the back of the school and the electric uh company narans electric has to do some work but before they can enter that property they need our permission so we through the wolf school so it's kind of a housekeeping thing I I don't have anything else to add. Does anybody want to31:50 make a motion to approve?31:51 Motion by Councilwoman Souza to approve.31:53 Seconded by Councilman Lawson. All in favor?31:56 I. Any opposed? The eyes have it. Next item.32:03 Resolution requesting elimination of registration fees for certain vehicles introduced by council president Rodri.32:11 So this is nonbinding obviously and I after conversations with a couple of uh residents recently more more than a couple um it it seems like uh one of the things the state has done regarding uh vehicle registration. So for years they've been urging we in the public to conserve fuel and to be more environmentally friendly and to purchase electric cars if possible or electric vehicles and some people have been doing32:50 that. Uh it may have caused a little less money coming into the state from gasoline taxes. So, the state uh legislature changed a law and basically have added some registration fees to try to make up some of this loss. So, I listed them on this resolution. I I won't um read them all, but for instance, uh battery electric vehicle annual fee of $200. So, a two-year total of $400. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle33:30 annual would go to 100. And most of these are paid in two-year intervals.33:36 So, you you see the totals. Um, I mentioned that Rhode Island drivers were asked to help the environment and economy by purchasing less gas only vehicles. Now, these same motorists are being penalized for taking government advice to conserve energy and drive more ecologically friendly vehicles.33:58 So, they there seems to be a little bit of hypocrisy there. And the people that have contacted me have said it just doesn't seem fair. So, we go out and buy these expensive vehicles and now we we we still have to register them. This is an additional registration fee. So, this isn't going to change anything. I'm just asking that we could pass this um recommendation and send it along to um34:26 as I say here that now therefore be it resolved that our clerk would transmit a copy of this resolution to the members of the East Providence delegation to the Rhode Island General Assembly, Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, and the Governor. Where it goes from there, who knows? But uh on behalf of our residents, I'd like to try to help out a little.34:49 Motion to approve.34:51 Motion by Councilman Lawson to approve, seconded by Council Vice President Rigo.34:56 So, if I may.34:57 Yes, please. Councilwoman Souza.34:59 I think this is uh obviously very good to help uh the residents um just not even in East Province, but across the state. Um but I am also aware that I think all registrations are looking to be um increased um in the coming years because the state needs to find ways to make money for the budget. Um so I hope that they consider all vehicles and all registrations and licenses across the35:25 board um not just the electric or hybrid. So I I do support that.35:31 Thank you. All in favor? I. Any oppose?35:35 Nice have it. Thank you all.35:37 I think just for the general um public the um though this will be sent up the assembly is not in session. It won't be until after the new year once they start committee meetings and then you know we can advocate.35:50 Sure. It'll take a while.35:51 Yeah.35:52 And if there are hearings or anything if it people can attend develops we'll let everyone know and I I would certainly try to attend if I'm here.36:00 Okay. Thank you again. Next item number three, resolution requesting the Department of Public Works conduct an assessment of the Old Ham School introduced by Councilman Lawson.36:11 Councilman, this is I brought this up what, six, eight months ago. I was asked to hold off because they put an RFP out. RFP was for housing. Um, so I'm just bring this back. Old Ham's a city-owned building.36:26 We should be taking care of our property. We asked the residents to take care of their property. We should do it.36:34 And that assessment, that 200,000 was wasted because it didn't focus on the building. It was about a housing project. That's why all of a sudden we were seeing plans for eight apartment buildings on there. So, this is just asking that public works go in the building. They said we can't put a roof on. It's going to be multi-millions. It was 600,000. So, we just want an honest assessment. We know the mayor is against37:00 this building. He wants to give it away for housing, but we've made it clear and this is just us reinforcing that we'd like to hold on to this property. It's got so many uses for the community.37:12 Indoor recreation. We could lease space for businesses so they can learn how to build their business incubator if you want. Um could be utilized as an art center. It could be utilized the grounds for community gardens, farmers markets.37:27 so much added value to the community and it's been a non-stop fight for four years to try to get it. So, this is just asking, let's go to the next step. We know that there's some mold in there.37:38 So, what are the steps to remediate it?37:41 Um, there may be some other things.37:42 Let's check the HVAC, the plumbing and stuff. Get an up to date, the electrical. We just want a firm, okay, this is what's needed and then we can go step by step. I know there's going to be money involved. we had opera funded, you know, we could have utilized that. Now we have over a million and unallocated.38:02 So I think it's appropriate that we allocate some of that funding towards this building. So this resolution is just asking for uh DPW just tell us if they want to start with the mold remediation so we can at least get in the building. There's a lot of residents that are more than willing to roll up their sleeves and put in the elbow work to get that building open.38:22 Sure. and I'm okay with um your your resolution. Let's let's move it forward and but I I do think they need to work too with this SAGE report which you see um has has been done and I think working together uh this was an independent survey but now it's time to let's let's see what we're going to do. I let it be known we're not giving it up.38:43 And I want to reiterate because again the past couple of weeks I know there's been confusion with people that I've talked to. I'm not speaking for the council. I'll speak for myself. I do not support a project that would bring housing there. I I I think the ideas you mentioned uh are the ideas we should talk about. May not be able asking for a museum there with the carousel in the39:07 area and other museum things in the city. Um but let's let DPW and look at this report too and tell us what I would say the mold remediation would be the top priority.39:19 Yeah. no matter what happens, right?39:21 They we've got to deal with if there's mold or anything. Councilwoman, thank you. So, just to to be clear, out of the million, 600,000 was used for the roof repair and the four remaining 100,000 was then absorbed into other projects. Am I assuming fair to say?39:39 Even though I allocated it for the roof, doors, and windows or do we know um potentially it's still available?39:49 No. So, it was absorbed into something else. Um, okay.39:52 Right. Well, that's unfortunate why I'm coming, especially since we have this from 2025.39:57 Did you get a this before tonight? Were you made aware of this report before?40:01 Yeah, but that report was all report in 25. We presented to his uh Right. We've all had this in a city council meeting in April or May of 2025.40:11 Yeah.40:12 So, is that a motion? Council make a motion to seconded by councilwoman Soua. All in favor? I I. Any opposed? The eyes have it. Thank you. Thank you, Councilman. Next item, introduction of ordinances for discussion and possible vote. An ordinance authorizing the director of finance to borrow funds in anticipation of TANS for fiscal year 2027.40:38 Again, this is normal uh housekeeping following a budget adoption. Uh do you have anything to add, Mr. Solicitor?40:45 This isn't the public. We already did the public last week.40:49 Yes. So this this is the just passages.40:52 So So this is the first or second?40:54 First.40:55 Gotcha. Okay.40:56 Motion to approve.40:57 Motion. Councilwoman Soua. Second.40:59 Seconded by Councilman Lawson. All in favor? I. Any opposed?41:03 The eyes have it. That's the first passage. Thank you. Next item.41:10 Number two, ordinance of the council of the city of East Proidence ordering the assessment and collection of property tax on the readable real estate and tangible personal property for fiscal year 2027.41:21 Motion to approve.41:22 Second.41:23 Motion Councilman Lawson to approve.41:25 Second, Councilwoman Souza. All in favor? I I. Any opposed?41:30 Motion to.41:31 Before we have the motion to adjourn, um I don't see many people here. Did anyone have anything that you needed to ask us?41:39 I know there wasn't time to you may have gotten here too late to sign up uh to speak. We want to be flexible and let everyone approach and speak. Uh seeing none, the motion to adjourn by Council Regal, seconded by Councilman Lawson.41:56 All in favor?41:56 I I. Any opposed?
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