Cranston City Council Regular Meeting - December 15, 2025

The Cranston City Council held its regular meeting on December 15, 2025. The meeting included a public hearing, approval of multiple resolutions and ordinances, committee reports, and extensive discussion on a proposed housing court resolution. Votes were taken on several items, with the housing court resolution passing 8-1. Public comment addressed homelessness, transparency, and the need for a city action plan.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: Minutes from the November 17, 2025 regular meeting were approved unanimously.
• Resolution – DEM Grant for Bud Long Pool: A resolution supporting an application to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management for an outdoor recreational grant to fund Phase 3 of the Bud Long Pool project was approved unanimously.
• Finance Committee Reports: The following items were approved unanimously:
  • Resolution authorizing real estate tax abatements as requested by the tax assessor.
  • Resolution authorizing motor vehicle tax abatements as requested by the tax assessor.
  • Tax interest waiver approvals.
• Ordinance Committee Reports: The following ordinances were adopted unanimously:
  • Ordinance 92504 – Amendment of Title 10, Chapter 32, Section 180 (No Parking Weekdays).
  • Ordinance 102503 – Amendment of Title 2, Chapter 4, Section 60 (Advertising Special Meetings of the City Council).
  • Ordinance 112502 – Amendment of Title 10, Chapter 32, Section 40 (No Parking on Certain Streets Generally).
• Reappointment: Joseph Morocco was reappointed to the Juvenile Hearing Board for a term of December 1, 2025 to December 1, 2028, approved by roll call vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Public Hearing on Docketed Matters:
  • Joy Fox (411 Fair Street, Warwick) expressed support for the ordinance amending special advertising and newspaper transparency, noting the importance of public engagement.
  • Robert Murray (75 Debbie Drive, Cranston) opposed the resolution to request enabling legislation from the General Assembly to create a housing court. He argued that existing tools (municipal court, code enforcement) are sufficient and that the city should focus on staffing levels in the inspection department rather than creating a new court. He noted that Johnston, Warren, and Portsmouth have municipal courts, not housing courts, and that South Kingstown has a combined judge.
• Public Comment on Undocketed Matters:
  • Sue Kelly (199 Jordan Avenue, Cranston) urged the council to address homelessness and improve transparency. She called for a dashboard on the city website showing homeless numbers, locations, and services available, and warned that people could die in the cold.
  • Harrison Tuttle (131 Belmont Road, Cranston) reported that he runs two warming centers (Matthewson Street and Community Church of Providence) and requested a municipal plan for homelessness. He stated that existing shelter conditions at Harrington Hall are inadequate and that the city must take responsibility for providing shelter options.
  • Captain Justin Dutra (Cranston Police Department, 5 Garfield Avenue) described the police department’s approach to homeless encampments: a gentle approach with embedded clinicians from Brown Mental Health and CCAP offering services (housing, food, medical assistance). He noted that in three years, no homeless person has been trespassed or arrested solely for being homeless. Services are often refused or occupants relocate, making follow-up difficult.

Discussion Items

• Housing Court Resolution – Request for Enabling Legislation: The council debated a resolution to ask the Rhode Island General Assembly to authorize Cranston to establish a full jurisdiction housing court division within its municipal court.
  • Councilman Ritz supported the intent but noted concerns raised by subject matter experts (Mr. Murray, Mr. Peikel) and hoped those recommendations would be considered.
  • Council Vice President Heroyan supported the resolution, citing frustration with the difficulty of addressing abandoned properties and the lack of direct authority to summon inspectors or judges.
  • Councilman Campiano opposed, arguing that the city already has tools (e.g., receivership) and that adding judges would be costly. He noted that Providence (68,000 households) has only three housing court judges, while Cranston (34,000 households) would add six. He called for a workshop with inspectors and judges before making a decision.
  • Councilman Trafficante supported, recalling a tour of abandoned properties (one abandoned for 7 years, another for 15 years) and stating the court would provide needed tools.
  • Councilman Banano supported, stating that council members who disagree should propose alternatives, and that the resolution is a step toward improving the city.
  • Council President Wall supported, noting that the current system is not working and that the resolution is only a request for enabling legislation, not a final decision.
  • Councilman Anduhar (sponsor) clarified that the resolution is just to get enabling legislation; workshops can occur after it returns. The final version was not a new court but a way to strengthen existing inspectors.
  • Councilwoman Graziano supported.
• School Buildings Update: Marcus Stevenson, Chair of the School Buildings Committee, reported on three major projects:
  • Gladstone: final stage, completion estimated April 2026, occupied by 2026 academic year.
  • Eden Park: final stage, completion estimated July 2026.
  • AES Charter School: Phase 1 (demo and abatement) complete, roof starting in two weeks.
  • Councilman Trafficante clarified that AES Academy received $12.5 million of the $40 million bond and an additional $1 million from RIDE, and that a rumored $3 million came from the laborers’ union, not the city.
  • Discussion on reimbursement rates: Vice Chairman Melillo stated that all three projects are coupled under a 74% reimbursement rate from RIDE, confirmed in writing by Mario Carino. Councilman Campiano questioned the rate, but Melillo assured the council that Gladstone and Eden Park met all criteria to achieve 74%.
• Cranston Safe Action Plan: Planning Director Beth Ashman explained the plan, which analyzed crash data and identified 14 high-impact projects. Goals include reducing fatal and serious injuries by 50% by 2040 and achieving zero fatalities by 2050. Having the plan is a prerequisite for federal grants. The resolution adopting the plan was approved unanimously.
• Ordinance 122503 – Sale of City-Owned Property at Cardinal Ridge: Attorney Marcella noted a scrivener’s error in the plat number and a discrepancy in the body of the ordinance. A substitute was distributed. The ordinance was referred to the Ordinance Committee for the January 7, 2026 regular meeting. Councilwoman Graziano requested a map showing the property location and the rationale for selecting that parcel.

Key Outcomes

• Housing Court Resolution: Passed 8-1 (Councilman Campiano voted no). The resolution requests the General Assembly to authorize Cranston to establish a housing court division within its municipal court.
• All consent calendar items (minutes, tax abatements, interest waivers, ordinances): Approved unanimously by roll call votes.
• Reappointment of Joseph Morocco: Approved by roll call vote.
• Cranston Safe Action Plan: Approved unanimously.
• Ordinance 122503: Referred to the Ordinance Committee for the January 7, 2026 meeting, with a substitute to correct errors.
• Legal Expense Analysis: Noted; council agreed to schedule an executive session at a future regular meeting to discuss details.
• Meeting adjourned after final announcements.