Cranston City Council Regular Monthly Meeting - August 25, 2025

The Cranston City Council held its regularly scheduled monthly meeting on August 25, 2025. The council approved minutes, honored the Cranston East Little League 13-14U state champions, passed several ordinances and resolutions, made appointments to city boards, and heard public comments on traffic issues and the delayed Budlong pool project.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: Unanimously approved the minutes of the July 28, 2025 regular council meeting.
• Real Estate Tax Abatements: Unanimously approved a resolution authorizing real estate tax abatements requested by the tax assessor.
• Tangible Tax Abatements: Unanimously approved a resolution authorizing tangible tax abatements requested by the tax assessor.
• School Bus Driver Contract: Unanimously approved Ordinance 07-25-03 ratifying the school committee's collective bargaining agreement with Rhode Island Labor's District Council 1322 bus driver unit.
• VFW Parking Lot Lease: Unanimously approved Ordinance 07-25-07 ratifying a parking lot lease between the City and VFW Post 2396 (Tabor Frankie Post).
• No Parking of Commercial Vehicles: Unanimously approved Ordinance 07-25-04 amending Title 10, Chapter 32, Section 2225 (no parking of commercial vehicles), with the traffic engineer having no objection.
• No Parking on Certain Streets: Unanimously approved Ordinance 07-25-05 amending Title 10, Chapter 32, Section 040 (no parking on certain streets), with a note that a conflicting two-hour parking restriction on the westerly side will need to be addressed by a future amendment.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Pauline De Rosa (97 Cypress Drive, founder of Garden City Alliance) raised concerns about the traffic situation at the intersection of Saconasset Crossroad and Hillside Road in Garden City Center. She noted that a 2019 public works official stated the issue could only be resolved after all Saconasset corridor construction is complete. She also questioned the long vacancy of the Citizens Call Center (Daval building) and a large pile of fill behind Top Golf.
• Robert Ferry (2426 Cranston Street, former councilmember) expressed disappointment that the Budlong pool project was not on the agenda. He asked whether the city would lose federal ARPA money if the pool is not built by the end of the year and criticized the mayor for delays. He urged the council to investigate the funding deadline and project status.

Discussion Items

• Legal Expense Analysis: Council President Marino noted that no legal expense report for the period July 1 to August 25, 2025 was attached to the agenda. Solicitor Millet, who had briefly left the room, returned and stated that no new law firms had been hired. He agreed to have his assistant provide the report via email as soon as possible.
• Community Meeting for Splash Pad: Council President Marino announced a community meeting on September 10, 2025 at 6:00 PM at Cranston East High School Auditorium to solicit public suggestions on the location of a new municipal splash pad. Director Moretti confirmed the administration would lead the presentation.

Key Outcomes

• Appointments:
  • Carol Cooney was appointed as member #3 to the Tax Assessment Board of Review for the unexpired term ending January 5, 2026 (unanimous).
  • Justin McCarthy was appointed as alternate #1 to the Tax Assessment Board of Review, replacing Cooney, for the unexpired term ending January 28, 2026 (unanimous).
  • Dean Rodakakis was reappointed to the Zoning Board of Review as representative from Ward 4 or 6 for the term October 5, 2025 to October 5, 2030 (8-1 vote; Councilman Anduhar voted no).
• New Business: Introduced as a block and referred to respective committees (unanimous).
• Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned.