14:55Welcome everyone to the Cranson City Councils regularly scheduled monthly meeting.
15:00This evening is Monday, August 25th at this time, and ask the clerk to take the role.
15:05Councilman Campopiano.
15:09Councilwoman Graziano.
15:11Councilwoman Heroyan.
15:15Councilman Trafficanti.
15:17Council Vice President Wall.
15:20Council President Marino.
15:21At this time, please join us in the Pledge of Allegiance.
15:43Next, we have approval of minutes.
15:46We have the approval of the minutes of the July twenty-eighth, twenty twenty-five regular council meeting.
15:50Do I have a motion to approve?
15:55Clerk, please take the role.
15:56Councilman Campopiano.
15:59Councilwoman Graziano.
16:00Councilwoman Heroyan.
16:04Councilman Trappicanti.
16:06Councilvice President Wall.
16:08Council President Marino.
16:19Next we have citations this evening.
16:22I would ask Councilwoman Graziano to join me here.
16:31This evening we, the Cranson City Council have the honor of honoring the boys state champions for Cranston East Little League, 13 to 14-year-olds.
16:40And uh this evening we do have with us some of the players.
16:44What I'm going to ask is for the manager and coaches to join us here up front, and then we will call the players one by one and we will hold applause until the end.
17:01Coach Brian Harpin and President Andy Barron.
17:07And at this time gonna ask Councilwoman Graziano to give a few words.
17:15Thank you, Council President, and thank you, members of the city council.
17:19Tonight I have the great privilege of recognizing a truly outstanding group of young athletes who represented Cranston with pride, passion and perseverance.
17:31Our thirteen and fourteen all-star team, a unified squad from Cranston East and Cranston West Little League delivered a summer of baseball that brought our city together and reminded us just how special youth sports can be.
17:46The team captured the district championship and went on to win the state title.
17:50And then proudly represented Rhode Island at the Eastern Regional Tournament in Pennsylvania, where they finished an incredible third place in the entire region.
18:00Under the leadership of Dan Dempsey and coaches John Croak and Brian Harpin.
18:09Game after game, they gave it everything they had, even battling through injuries, illness in later rounds.
18:16As Andrew Barron, co-president of Cranston East Little League said, if it weren't for a couple of key injuries, illnesses late in the tournament, we might have been talking about a world series contenders.
18:27That's how competitive and talented this group was.
20:58And if families want to take a picture, feel free.
22:23While you're welcome to stay, you know you do not have to stay for the remainder of the meeting.
22:28So just giving you the heads up.
23:02Next on the agenda, we have public hearings, public comment on docketed matters only.
23:07If there's anyone in chambers or on Zoom who wishes to be heard on any docketed matters, please state your name and address for the record, and please keep your comments limited to four minutes.
23:16Right now we will start with in chambers if there's anyone who wishes to be heard.
23:23There is no one in chambers wishes to be heard on docketed matters.
23:26Tom, is there anyone on Zoom?
23:29There is no public comment online.
23:33Public comment on docketed matters is now closed.
23:36Moving on to reports of committees.
23:38We do have a claims committee, Council Vice President Wall.
23:42Thank you, Madam President.
23:44The uh claims committee did in fact meet on August the fourth.
23:47The uh claims committee report was included in the members of the council's uh folders, and I have nothing further to report on that matter.
23:56And I understand you will also be presenting Council Vice President Wall from Safety Services and Licenses Committee since Councilwoman Heroyan was out at that meeting.
24:05Thank you, Madam President.
24:06Once again, um the Safety Service and Licensing Committee didn't meet on August 4th.
24:13Um there is nothing to report this evening and you're up again for finance.
24:20I actually have a little bit to say at this point.
24:22Um, the finance committee met on August fourth.
24:26Um, they did consider a number of items.
24:28First, for our consideration is a resolution authorizing real estate tax abatement.
24:34They were requested by the tax assessor and the finance committee did recommend this for approval.
24:39I would recommend passage.
24:41Do I have a motion to approve?
24:43Second, any discussion?
24:45There being none, Clerk, please take the roll.
24:48Councilman Campopiano.
24:51Councilwoman Graziano, yes.
24:53Councilwoman Heroyan.
24:57Councilman Trapaconte.
24:58Council Vice President Wall?
25:00Council President Marino.
25:03Next, we have a resolution authorizing tangible tax abatements requested by the tax assessor.
25:09It was recommended appropriate for approval by the finance committee.
25:12I'd recommend passage.
25:14Do I have a motion to approve?
25:19There being none, Clerk, please take the roll.
25:22Councilman Campopiano.
25:25Councilwoman Graziano.
25:27Councilwoman Heroyan.
25:29Councilman Yanduhar.
25:31Councilman Traficante.
25:33Council Vice President Wall.
25:35Council President Marino.
25:38Next we have ordinance 07-25-03 ratifying the school committee's collective bargain and agreement with the Rhode Island Labor's District Council 1322 bus driver's unit.
25:54It was introduced pursuant to section 110201.
25:59It was recommended for approval by the finance committee.
26:02I would recommend passage this evening.
26:04Do I have a motion to approve?
26:06Any discussion from council members at this time.
26:11Clerk, please take the roll.
26:13Councilman Campopiano.
26:16Councilwoman Graziano.
26:18Councilwoman Heroyan.
26:19Councilman Yanduhar.
26:22Councilman Trafficanti.
26:24Council Vice President Wall.
26:25Council President Marino.
26:28And lastly, we have ordinance 072507 ratifying a parking lot lease between the City of Cranston and VFW Post 2396.
26:39DBA, Tabor Frankie Post.
26:41This was sponsored by Mayor Hopkins and recommended for approval by the Finance Committee on August 4th.
26:47I'd recommend passage this evening.
26:49Do I have a motion to approve?
26:54There being none, Clerk, please take the roll.
26:56Councilman Campopiano.
27:00Councilwoman Graziano.
27:01Councilwoman Harayan.
27:06Councilman Trafficanti.
27:07Council Vice President Wall?
27:09Council President Marino.
27:12Thank you, Council Vice President Wall.
27:14Next, we have Councilwoman Graziano as chair of public works committee.
27:17Thank you, Council President.
27:19At the Public Works Committee meeting of August 14th, 2025.
27:24We have nothing to report.
27:27And next we have Councilman Anderhar reporting out as chair of ordinance committee.
27:32Thank you, Madam President.
27:35I have really nothing to report for the meeting on August 4th, 14th.
27:42No, there are two matters, Councilman Andor.
27:47I wasn't reading right.
27:49Um yes, madam president.
27:50Um August 14th, we had two ordinances.
27:53072504, amendment of Title 10, Chapter 32, Section 2225 of the City of Cranston Code of Ordinances entitled No Parking of Commercial Vehicles, sponsored by Councilwoman Graziano.
28:06Uh it was recommended for approval by the ordinance committee, and I recommend passage.
28:16I did I had something I wanted to say.
28:18Um we did hear from the traffic engineer.
28:20He did not have any objection subsequent to that meeting as as um I had requested in the email with Councilwoman Graziano was on.
28:26So just represent that to the for the record.
28:29Any other discussion?
28:30There being none, Clerk.
28:32Um, well, we have a motion to approve already, right?
28:35So clerk, please take the roll.
28:37Councilman Campo Piano.
28:40Councilwoman Graziano.
28:42Councilwoman Heroyan.
28:46Councilman Traficante.
28:48Council Vice President Wall.
28:50Council President Marino.
28:53Thank you, Madam President.
28:54Uh, we also had 0725-05 ordinance in the amendment of Title 10, Chapter 32, Section 040 of the City of Cranston Code of Ordinances 2005 entitled No Parking on Certain Streets.
29:08Sponsored by Councilwoman Graziano, co-sponsored by Councilman Campabuano and Council President Marino.
29:15It was recommended by the ordinance committee for passage, and uh I recommend passage for this motion to approve.
29:22Second, any discussion?
29:24I'll just mention for this ordinance as well, the traffic engineers um subsequent to the last meeting with the email, which Councilwoman Graziano was included on.
29:33He did respond that he did not have any um objection to this ordinance.
29:37Okay, at this time, clerk, please.
29:38Oh, director Moretti.
29:41Thank you, Council President.
29:43May I just add to that, please?
29:44Um, I believe he did uh also indicate that he did not have a problem with this ordinance, except for one thing, saying that he recommended that prior to approval.
30:00Um, there currently is a two-hour uh parking restriction on both sides of the street so as to avoid a conflict that uh that um uh uh ordinance uh be amended uh so not have conflicting ordinances.
30:10So um probably not the biggest deal, but maybe the next meeting you may want to introduce an ordinance to uh uh eliminate the two hours, at least on the westerly side where this ordinance pertains.
30:25Thank you, Director Moretti.
30:27Um, yes, we can just do an amendment um by having a deletion to that ordinance to rectify the problem next month's meeting.
30:36Any other discussion at this time?
30:38Okay, if the clerk can please take the roll.
30:42Councilman Campopiano.
30:43Yes, Councilman Bonano.
30:45Yes, Councilwoman Graziano, yes, councilwoman Horrian.
30:48Yes, Councilman Anduhar.
30:49Yes, Councilman Ritz, yes, Councilman Trafficanti.
30:52Yes, Council Vice President Wall.
30:54Yes, Council President Marino.
30:57Next, we have public comment for undocketed matters.
31:00If there's anyone in chambers or on Zoom who wishes to be heard on any undocuted matters, please state your name and address for the record, and please keep your comments limited to four minutes.
31:11We'll begin first with in chambers.
31:16My name is Pauline De Rosa, 97 Cypress Drive, and founder of the Garden City Alliance.
31:24Uh good evening, Council President and members of the council.
31:28For the past seven years.
31:36For the past seven years, I have attended council meetings at which I have discussed the traffic debacle at the intersection of Saconasset Crossroad, a state-owned road and Hillside Road.
31:51Hillside Road is the interior perimeter driveway within the Garden City Center.
31:58This road carries traffic to all points within the center.
32:03The center has four ingress egress points.
32:07Hillside Road, two, I'm sorry, Hillside Road, two on Midway Road, and one at Citizens Bank, which has a Garden City Drive address.
32:20During peak hours, the bulk of travel traffic traveling east on Sark and then heading north into the shopping center will use Hillside Road.
32:31The additional traffic traveling east and west on Sark and Asset is forced.
32:56The additional traffic traveling east and west on Sakanasset is forced to stop at that intersection to allow for traffic traveling north and south across Sarkinasset at Hillside Road.
33:11This causes significant frustration among drivers, and is the result of major traffic obstacles at that particular intersection.
33:23I was told in 2019 by a member of the public works department that the only opportunity to address this traffic dilemma is when all construction is complete on the Sarchinas corridor.
33:38Furthermore, the Citizens Call Center building, some will know it as the Daval building on Sarkinas.
33:45It remains vacant with the main entrance boarded up.
33:49In 2016, the Capianado group had plans for a six-story building at that site.
33:56I don't believe the city will see that type of construction anytime soon.
34:01The question remains as to how long the building will stay vacant.
34:06Lastly, there remains a very large pile of fill behind the Top Gow facility.
34:12In March of 2016, I was told by an admin of the copianato group.
34:35We are hoping some of these long-time issues can be resolved, or at the very least, addressed by the city of Cranston.
34:43Thank you for your time.
34:48Is anyone else in chambers which should be heard on any undocated matters?
35:01My name is Robert Ferry.
35:02I live at 2426 Cranston Street.
35:07Good evening, and thank you for letting me speak tonight.
35:11I know that there have been many distractions within the city lately.
35:16And sometimes distractions draw more attention than they deserve.
35:22But that's not why I'm here to speak tonight.
35:25I'm here to speak tonight for the hundreds of children in Cranston that don't have the luxury of owning a swimming pool.
35:33I was disappointed that the Budlong pool was not on the agenda for the council meeting tonight.
35:41It is almost September, and it seems like it's a forgotten issue.
35:46Summer is coming to an end.
35:48The temperatures are a little cooler, and school will be starting soon.
35:54However, I have always been under the impression, even when I was on the council, that if we didn't build that pool by the end of the year, we would lose the opera money.
36:09That if we don't build a pool by the end of the year, will we lose the opera money?
36:13And my second question is why?
36:16If so, what pressure, if any, is being put on the administration to get this project completed.
36:24Will we lose the opera money and the federal grant?
36:28The mayor was given 4.75 million dollars almost three years ago to build a pool.
36:39And he wouldn't listen to the people and do what they wanted.
36:43If he had done his due diligence, he would have avoided the problems he's running into now at the site.
36:50And here we are, nearly three years later, with no pool and a deadline to be met.
36:57And there wasn't even a discussion on the agenda tonight, to say the least.
37:01I'm very disappointed.
37:03Can you please find out what the story is with finishing the pool and what's going to happen to the money if we don't finish it by the end of the year?
37:11Thank you very much.
37:16Anyone else in chambers wishes to be heard on any undocuted matters?
37:22Hey, Tom, is there anyone on Zoom?
37:26There's no public comment online.
37:28Public comment on undocketed matters is now closed.
37:32Next, we move on to election appointment of city officials.
37:36We have first up the appointment of Carol Cooney, currently serving as the first alternate to the tax assessment board of review as member number three for the unexpired term ending January 5, 2026.
37:48Do I have a motion to approve that appointment?
37:51Motion to approve the appointment.
37:55There being none, Clerk, please take the roll.
37:58Councilman Campopiano.
38:01Councilwoman Graziano.
38:03Councilwoman Heroyan.
38:07Councilman Trappaconte.
38:09Council Vice President Wall?
38:10Council President Marino.
38:13Next, we have the appointment of Justin McCarthy to the tax assessment board of review as alternate number one, replacing Ms.
38:20Cooney for the unexpired term ending January 28, 2026.
38:24Do I have a motion to approve that appointment?
38:29There being none, Clerk, please take the roll.
38:31Councilman Campopiano.
38:34Councilwoman Graziano.
38:36Councilwoman Heroyan.
38:41Councilman Trafficanti.
38:42Council Vice President Wall.
38:44Council President Marino.
38:47Next, we have the reappointment of Dean Rodakakis to the zoning board of review as representative from Ward 4 or Ward 6 for the term October 5 of this year to October 5, 2030.
38:59Do I have a motion to approve that reappointment?
39:02Motion to approve the reappointment.
39:05Any discussion from council members?
39:07Councilman Chris Bonano.
39:09Thank you, Madam President.
39:10I just want to um also, as you probably surmised by my requesting it along with Councilwoman Royan, offer my endorsement of Mr.
39:19I had the pleasure of serving on the zoning board before being elected to this body.
39:24And um sometimes I wish I could go back, uh, but I'm here for the long haul.
39:32Petacakis does a wonderful job.
39:34He was uh vice chair when I was chair, and he took over as chair when I came here.
39:37And I just want to say that I think he's doing a fantastic job at the zoning board.
39:41He's keeping things moving, and um, he's an asset to our community and that board, and I uh I would urge my colleagues to vote in his favor.
39:51Any other council members?
39:55The clerk can please take the roll.
39:57Councilman Campompiano.
40:00Yes, Councilwoman Graziano, yes, Councilwoman Harayan.
40:03Yes, Councilman Yanduhar.
40:07Councilman Trafficanti.
40:09Council Vice President Wall?
40:11Council President Marino.
40:13I just want to thank all of um Ms.
40:18Perdocakis for their service to the city in those capacities and volunteering that time.
40:22We appreciate that very much.
40:24Next, moving on to executive communications.
40:27We have the legal expense analysis for the period July 125 to August 25, 2025.
40:35Um there is no legal expense report attached.
40:39I did see the solicitor just walk out of this room about 60 seconds ago.
40:43I don't know if he's still in the building.
40:45I did have a question relative to it, but I see uh assistant solicitor Bedecchia's present.
40:50Does anybody know Mr.
40:51Millet's whereabouts?
41:02So we don't know of Solicitor Millet's whereabouts, though he was just in this room 60 seconds ago.
41:10Do we know if he's returning?
41:14Direct is director Moretti here.
41:20I'm gonna ask at this time for a motion to take the agenda out of order, and then I'll go back to it in the event that he is returning.
41:27And uh, and even if he's not, I'll go back to it and then make my remarks at that time.
41:31So moved, madam president.
41:34Okay, any discussion on taking the agenda out of order or so moved?
41:37Clerk, please take the roll.
41:39Councilman Campalpiano.
41:41Yes, Councilman Banano.
41:42Yes, Councilwoman Graziano.
41:44Yes, Councilwoman Horayan.
41:46Councilman Yanduhar.
41:48Councilman Traficante.
41:50Council Vice President Wall?
41:52Council President Marino.
41:55Next we have Council President Communications.
41:58We've got the discussion of the community meeting to be held on September 10th at 6 o'clock at Cranston East High School Auditorium for the purpose of soliciting suggestions from Cranston residents as to the location of a new municipal splash pad.
42:12This agenda is on uh here this evening because there was talk within committee uh committee meetings with the administration with director Moretti about the desire to have this meeting because it would be beneficial in terms of discussing the splash pad and its location.
42:29Um Director Moretti, is this time and date work with the administration since you and your uh staff will be leading in that presentation?
42:39Yes, yes, and thank you for scheduling that or proposing that, yes.
42:44Any other discussion with council members relative to that topic?
42:49No, okay, all right.
42:51Moving on to we have the introduction of new business.
42:56I'd ask that we take the new business matters as a block.
42:59Do I have a motion to take the new business?
43:00Motion to take new business as a block.
43:02Second any discussion?
43:05There being none, clerk, please take the roll.
43:07Councilman Campalpiano.
43:09Yes, Councilman Banano.
43:10Yes, Councilwoman Graziano, yes, councilwoman Horayan, yes, councilman Yanduhar.
43:15Yes, Councilman Ritz, yes, Councilman Traficante, yes, Council Vice President Wall, yes, Council President Marino.
43:24Next, I'll entertain and ask for a motion to uh move the block, the matters in the block to their respective committees.
43:33So moved second second.
43:37There being none, Clerk, please take the roll.
43:40Councilman Campolpiano.
43:43Councilwoman Graziano.
43:45Councilwoman Haryan.
43:47Councilman Yanduhar.
43:50Councilman Trafficanti.
43:52Council Vice President Wall.
43:54Council President Marino.
43:57Next, we'll go back to the one remaining agenda item.
44:01We have on page four under executive communications, the legal expense analysis for the period of July 1 of this year through August 25 this year.
44:11I see Solicitor Millet, you have returned.
44:14I do have some questions for you relative to this.
44:17I see that there is no expense report attached to this agenda this month.
44:22Can you advise us as to why that is Council President Marino?
44:47And relative to that legal expense report, do you know if there are any new um firms that are being hired by the city for this new fiscal year?
44:58I am unaware of any new firms.
45:03And whether or not you have any letters of engagement for those firms?
45:08Nothing new as of uh to report right now.
45:13Um you said that she has returned.
45:16When do you anticipate that that report would be completed?
45:19I'd be happy to speak with my administrative assistant.
45:23She's in a couple days a week.
45:25Uh I can speak with her tomorrow and be happy to get back to you.
45:29I think it would be uh prudent if the council could receive that report as soon as possible.
45:35And um that could be in the form of an email with a do not reply all since it wasn't provided this evening.
45:41I'll have her do that.
45:44Any council members have any questions relative to that topic?
45:51Uh at this time, I took a motion to adjourn.
45:58Any discussion there being none.
45:59All those in favor say aye.
46:03Have a good evening.
