To call a special finance meeting to order on Tuesday, January twentieth at six oh seven p.m.

Clerk, can you please take a roll?

Pastor Ritz.

Present.

Pastor Trafficante.

Councilman Baziri.

Present.

Council Vice President Haroyan.

Present.

That's President Wall.

Here.

At this time I am I am opening up public comment.

Is there anyone in the audience that would like to speak on docketed items only?

Seeing none.

Technical clerk, is there anyone online that would like to speak on items?

There is no public comment online.

At this time, I'd like to close public comment.

We're moving on to committee business matters carried over.

Uh moving on to ordinance twelve dash twenty-five dash oh two s ordinance authorizing the established the establishment of a revolving loan fund for school building improvements, sponsored by Mayor Hopkins.

I believe there are some amendments.

But due to that fact, we're going to substitute this uh ordinance in place of what was uh posted.

We're asking the committee to vote this audit committee, we're going to uh advertise it for two weeks, and then we can probably vote on it at a full council meeting uh in February.

Thank you.

So I'm pretty sure everybody has us.

So may entertain a motion to approve the amended um document that's in front of us.

Second.

Is there any discussion?

Just to be clear, we're gonna um table the original and we're gonna substitute this ordinance for the one that was on the docket tonight.

Yes, correct.

So we're voting on the amended one.

Correct.

Okay.

No discussion.

Any any further discussion?

So since we're in the discussion, my understanding is we are voting on the amended version, and it will be posted online, and we'll be voting on it at our council meeting in February.

So they'll give the public enough time to view.

We clarified some issues about bonded interest.

We added the mayor uh to the administrator of the fund.

We also gave uh uh the the city council authority to approve any expenditure above 50,000.

So there's a check that's already you know built into this that the the uh the city council will have a 50,000 dollar uh threshold in which they would have to approve these projects, and we make sure that these projects are that are eligible for reimbursement, are all approved by Ride.

Well, the purpose of this fund is that the and just so purpose of this is in a lot of cities and towns have done this.

You submit a uh of there's a school building committee that's established by state statute.

They go out and they uh they come up with a uh a schedule of things that they want their schools to be approved with.

Right, then has to approve those projects.

If Ryan approves the approves those projects and they're eligible for reimbursement, um say for instance it gets uh a new roof needs a hundred thousand dollars, right?

Will approve that hundred thousand dollars.

Now, I don't know what Cranston's reimbursement rate is, but I'm assuming it's like sixty-six percent, maybe less 35%, maybe all right.

So we'll let's take a round number.

I'm not good at math.

Say your reimbursement rate is 50 percent.

So the city will expend 100,000, you'll get 50 percent back over a period of time.

I think right has up to five years to reimburse you.

The 50,000 will come back into this fund, which then replenishes it, and then you can use then the the top of the city or the mayor can then reappropriate that 50,000 dollars for another capital project.

It cannot be used for ordinary expenses, it must be used for capital expenses.

So it's roof, anything that's more than a year, so it can't be used for salaries or anything like that, but these are capital improvement expenses for the schools, and that's a revolving fund.

So the the fund keeps on replenishing itself as you get the reimbursements.

Thank you for that.

Is there any further discussion?

Traffic Andy.

Just for clarification, clarification.

So when the money comes back, the reimbursement will go back to the entity that donated.

No, goes back to this fund, goes back to this fund.

I'm a little confused.

So my understanding, councilman, is that there's going to be a special account created for this, correct?

Yes, a restricted account.

If you like to maybe take it from uh from the counting end, we're creating a vehicle that there's the outside entity will say, then in order for the money um to get dispersed has to be given to the city of Cranston.

This fund the city of Cranston will pay the bills, then the city will receive reimbursement and use an example of being ride, would reimburse the city for those expenses, and then at that the percent that is is in in effect, and then the city will return that money in terms of a loan back to the entity that provided the loan.

Any further discussion?

Councilman Bonano.

Yes, uh, thank you.

I think this is a fantastic idea.

Frankly, I'm surprised we haven't done this long time ago.

Um, and uh, if um if there's no objection, I'd like to be added as a sponsor uh from the council when it goes to full council, please.

Thank you.

Any further discussion?

I'd like to be added to a sponsor, also councilman Ritz, Councilwoman Horoyan.

Anybody else?

Councilwoman Vizier, Council President Wall would like to be added, councilman Traffic Anti will be added.

And if you could add myself as well.

So it if there's no further discussion, Clerk, can you please take a roll for a vote?

Just to clarify, is the motion a motion to amend the ordinance?

We are yeah, we're going to the uh amended ordinance.

Yes.

Yes, councilman Vazieri, yes.

Council Vice President Horyan, yes, Consuha?

Yes, Council President Wall.

Yes, okay.

Motion carries moving on to ordinance 122504 ordinance and amendment of title three, chapter 20, section 10 of the code of the city of Cranston entitled Exemptions from Real Property Taxation for those age 65 and older authority of the tax assessor to grant.

I am withdrawing that.

I'd like to thank everybody that participated, but we are withdrawing that at this point.

Moving on to 122505 s ordinance and amendment of title three, chapter 40, section 10 of the code of the city of Cranston entitled authority of tax assessor to grant.

This will this is the veterans one, and at this point, I am withdrawing that.

Good evening.

And welcome to the January 20th ready city coun regular city council meeting.

At this time I'd like to call the meeting to order, and I ask the clerk to please call a roll.

Present.

Present.

Council Trafficante.

Councilman Vazierri.

Present.

Council Camp Piano.

Present.

Consul Banano.

Here.

Consul Vice President Heroyan.

Present.

Council President Wall.

Here.

This time I ask everyone if you would please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

I believe the flag of the United States of America.

And to the Republic, which is one nation under the business.

This evening on the docket, there was going to be a citation congratulating uh athletic director Michael Trafficante for his retirement.

However, unfortunately, uh Athletic Director Traffic Cante could not be here this evening.

So we are going to continue this and have that citation presented to him at the February meeting.

Next item of business is going to be the approval of minutes.

If there are no objections, I'd like to entertain a motion to approve the minutes as a block.

So moved.

Second.

Second.

Any discussion.

There being none.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Yes.

Conspect Ritz?

Yes.

Yes.

Conspect Piano.

Yes.

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

All right.

Next item in business is going to be public hearing.

Um if anyone would like to make public comment on docketed items only, please step up to the podium.

State your name and your address for the record.

You'll have four minutes to speak.

Seeing none.

Is there anyone on light online who would like to make public comment?

I see no public comment online.

Thank you, Tom.

We're going to move on and close public comment.

Next item of business is report of committees.

The first report will be given by uh councilwoman Vazeri is chair of the claims committee.

Councilwoman, the floor is yours.

From the meeting held on January 5th, 2026.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

Moving right along, uh, we're gonna next hear from the chair of the safety services committee, council vice president Heroy.

I wasn't present that night, but I was watching online, Councilman Andehauer did run my committee for May, and we app the committee approved the Class B V liquor license subject to um a letter of good standing, uh certificate of insurance, certificate of occupation for brood awakening, Oakland Ave, LLC located at 1234.

And I'm gonna ask tonight for a motion to approve this, subject to those three things.

Is there a motion to approve?

So move.

Second.

All right, any discussion.

Councilman Endehouse.

Just want to say that the meeting was very fast that day, so it was quick.

Thank you, Councilman Endear.

Any other comments?

There being none, Clerk, please call a roll.

Yes.

Yes.

Conspect Piano?

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Moving right along.

Next we're gonna hear from Councilman Andehar reporting as the chairman of the finance committee.

Councilman, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

The finance committee did meet on January 5th.

We had a few um resolutions and an ordinance.

Um the first one would be resolution authorizing real estate tax abatements, which everybody had in their packet then.

I urge passage.

Is there motion to approve?

Motion to approve.

Second.

Any discussion.

There being none.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Casminando har yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilman Vazieri.

Yes.

Council Camp Piano.

Yes.

Council Banano?

Yes.

Council President Heroyan?

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

Next up, we had a resolution authorizing tangible tax abatements.

It was in everybody's package.

I urge passage.

Is there a motion?

So moved.

Second.

That's a motion to approve.

Councilman Traficandy.

Okay.

And there was a second.

Any discussion?

There being none.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Consponiendo hard yes.

Council Trafficante?

Yes.

Councilwoman Vaziri.

Yes.

Yes.

Consultant Banano.

Yes.

President Heroyan.

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

Next up we had ordinance 122506S ordinance amending the city of Cranston 20 2025 through 2026 municipal budget for rescue five full time.

I urge passage.

Motion to approve.

Hold on one second.

It's not that one.

I just want to make sure we're clear.

The ordinance amending.

That's what I forgot.

I didn't say amending.

That's not excuse me.

One second.

Um I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, I was wrong.

I was just checking on something.

Um, so there was a motion made, a second.

Any discussion.

Councilman Andreha.

I'd like to thank the mayor for bringing this.

Um, it's gonna serve ward three.

So I really would like to thank the administration for moving this forward.

Any other discussion?

I see none.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Yes.

Consider Ritz.

Yes.

Consultraficante?

Yes.

Consulman Vazieri, yes.

Conspected Camp Piano?

Yes.

Consul Banano?

Yes.

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

Moving right along.

Uh to I believe Council Councilwoman Graziano is not here to public works committee.

I believe Council Vice President will be reporting.

I did speak to Councilwoman Graziano, and she said there's nothing to report out.

Thank you, Council Vice President.

Moving along, we're going to go back to Councilman Anderhar reporting out as the chairman of the ordinance committee.

Councilman Anderhar, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh the ordinance committee did meet on January 7th.

And it was we started with ordinance 122501, ordinance amendment of chapter 17 of the code of the city of Cranston as amended entitled zoning.

Um I urge passage, but um I'd like to thank Councilman Ritz for bringing this up and sponsoring this.

Okay, is there a motion to approve?

Motion to approve.

Is there a second?

Second, is there any discussion?

I'll just echo councilman Ritz.

The same comments, uh Councilman Andor really led the charges.

I appreciate and let me be involved in it.

I think it's some uh much needed and welcome changes to the zoning.

So I appreciate all his hard work on it.

Um if it's okay with the sponsors, I'd like to be added as a co-sponsor.

Okay, any other discussion?

Seeing none, clerk please call roll.

Casminandohar, yes, Casper Ritz, Castle Traficante, yes, Consulman Vazieri, yes, Casper Camp Piano, yes, Casper Benano, yes, Conservice President Heroyan, yes, Consul President Wall.

Yes, next up we have ordinance 122503 ordinance authorizing the sale of city-owned property located at Cardinal Road.

I believe our attorney Chris Millet has something to say about this thank you, Chairman.

Uh, we're gonna we just do have one line of language that we have to add, so I'm gonna ask that uh we'll make the amendment, we'll post it and we'll make it available at the uh next council meeting for proper notice.

It's just simply uh one line of language dealing with uh another ordinance.

So motion to approve the amended.

What do you what do you want it to change?

I'm sorry, I could do it.

Yeah, so what what we need to do is have a motion to uh amend the ordinance, add the language, we'll post it on a vote, and then we can uh we can vote on the proper uh ordinance at the next council meeting.

Yep, hold on.

Before we go on, should the amendment be stated?

I I don't know what I'm making a motion for.

Um let me get the emotion to be amended.

I'm gonna take take somebody else.

Just for the record, we're going to add uh a section three.

Section uh three would then become section four, obviously.

Section three will simply read that this ordinance shall not be affected by the provisions of ordinance three-08-040 subsection F.

So I'm gonna look for a motion to approve the amendment stated by the solicitor.

Motion to approve the amendment with the statement provided by the solicitor.

There is second.

Second.

Um, I'm gonna take Councilman Benano.

Thank you.

Umistics question for attorneys.

Uh Malay, Marcelo, would this necessitate uh this ordinance to go back to committee to be reapproved and come back?

Just get on the record so we know we're doing it.

I spoke to the solicitor, we're just gonna advertise it uh for 14 days and it'll be back on the council agenda for final passage.

Thank you.

And just so you understand what the uh ordinance, the amendment does.

There's currently an ordinance on the books that says that anytime there's a sale of city owned property, that money from the proceeds have to go into a capital fund.

Um, in this case, this money is going to pay salaries of like I believe rescue in individuals.

That's what it's earmarked for.

So we basically accept you know, accepting this ordinance only from that provision that requires the funds to be paid through capital funds.

One time one time change that only applies to this ordinance.

Okay.

So any other discussion on the amendment.

I see councilman traffic cany stand.

Does this delay in the purchase uh impact the uh insertion of the rescue on board three?

Uh director Maretti Rose.

I'll take his answer.

Yeah, mayor.

The um the fire department is in the process with administratively, the mayor gave the okay to begin the recruitment process for those candidates.

This will just that that process can't go on because there's no cost to the city in essence, so no material cost.

Uh, but we'll need this passed before the actual hiring is performed.

Any other discussion?

Seeing none, I'm gonna ask the clerk to please call a roll.

Yes, Casma Ritz, Casper Trafficante?

Yes, Consulwoman Vaseri, yes.

Yes, Panano?

Yes, council vice president royan, yes.

President Wool.

Yes.

All right, uh thank you very much, uh Councilman.

All right, we're gonna move right on to public comment on undocuted matters.

Um, if anyone is in the chambers this evening and would like to make comment on undocuted matters, please step up to the podium once again, state your name and address for the record, and you will have four minutes.

Hi, Marsha Fowler, 35 Melton Avenue.

Um, I'd like to thank Councilwoman Graziana who's not here and Councilman Campabiano for their quick actions and help with a neighborhood health concern was very much appreciated.

And I appreciate um council president Wall and Councilman Campobiana's dedication to keeping tabs on the city's finances along with other concerns by requesting a date change of the primary elections.

Um my concern tonight is also with the city finances and the fact that there is not yet a stated amount for how much a proposed new housing court will cost us.

I've emailed all of emailed or contacted all of you with this question.

Have heard back from only a few, but as of now, no one has an answer to how much a housing cost will cost us, and only one shares my concerns.

Um I urge all of you to please put more put more research into this proposed court.

Um I ask what have you been doing in the meantime to address these housing concerns that are serious enough to ask at the state level for approval to start a new housing court?

Have you addressed our current inspections department to see if they need more resources?

Have you made a list of houses and businesses that need addressing?

And if so, have you approached these property owners to discuss health and safety concerns and why they're not making the repairs?

Um, as I stated back in November, I fully agree that there are businesses and homes that need addressing.

However, I'm concerned that a housing court will become a line item in the city budget, but none of us know how much that's going to be.

All right, thank you.

Thank you.

Is anyone else in chambers who'd like to make public comment on undocuted matters?

Seeing none.

Is there anyone online who'd like to make public comment on undocunted matters?

There is no public comment online.

Thank you.

So I'm going to close public comment once again.

Okay, there are no reports from city officers under executive communications.

All of you have the legal expense report in your packet.

If there's something that didn't affect litigation, we can certainly ask those questions.

Excuse me one moment.

We're going to go back a second before I go to that one because I did miss appointments.

We're going to start off with I'm going to look for a motion to approve of the appointment of Jessica Marcel to the juvenile hearing board as alternate number three for the term ending December 1st, 2026.

This was requested by Councilman Graziano and Council Vice President Heroyan.

Is there a motion to approve?

So move.

Second.

Okay.

Before I take discussion, Councilwoman Graziano took the liberty.

She couldn't be here with us this evening, but she asked me to read this into the record.

And if I read it poorly, I have a copy of it.

Introduction to Jessica of Jessica Marsell.

Good evening.

I'm pleased to introduce Jessica Marcel, who is being considered to serve as an alternate member on the uh of the City Council of Cranston juvenile hearing board.

Jessica is a Cranston resident with an experience in child what the child welfare profession with more than 20 years experience of direct work in forced to care and youth behavioral health.

She currently serves as the lead foster parent recruiter for the North American Family Institute, where she leads recruitment strategy, community partnerships, and outreach efforts to expand and strengthen foster care placements across the state.

Prior to this role, Jessica spent many years as forced as a foster care parent recruiter, licensed coordinator, and therapeutic foster care manager.

In these roles, she worked hands-on with youth and families, conducted home studies, supported foster parents through complex placements, coordinated with DCYF and community providers, and helped ensure that children were matched with families in a thoughtful and needs-informed way.

Jessica's background reflects a deep understanding of trauma-informed care, restorative approaches, and the importances of importance of balancing accountability with compassion.

She has an extensive experience working collaboratively with families, schools, mental health providers, and state agencies, and brings a calm, steady presence to challenging situations involving youth and families.

Jessica has expressed a strong interest in supporting alternatives through traditional juvenile justice involvement.

And I believe that her professional experience, judgment, and commitment to the youth advocacy make her well suited to serve on the juvenile hearing board as an alternate member.

I'm grateful for her willingness to step forward and serve the city of Cranston in this capacity.

And if I could ask for a motion to add this letter into the record.

Second.

Second, any discussion?

Clerk, please call the roll.

And I'll get you.

Yes.

Consider Ritz?

Yes.

House Trafficanti?

Yes.

Councilwoman Vazier.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Banano?

Yes.

Council Basident Haroyan?

House President Wall.

Yes.

Rose, can I give this to you?

Since you have the copy.

All right.

Any other discussion?

I see Council Vice President Heroyan's hand up.

I would just like to thank Jessica for coming here tonight.

Um, I've gotten to know her through councilwing Aziano.

I believe she's going to be a great fit for the juvenile hearing board.

Thank you.

Any other discussion?

I'm seeing none, so I'm going to ask the clerk to please call the roll.

Considering Duhar.

Yes.

Casper Ritz.

Yes.

House of Trafficanti.

Yes.

Councilwoman Vazieri.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Vice President Haroyan?

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

Congratulations.

Welcome.

Next item of business is the reappointment of Anthony.

I always say it incorrectly.

It's Master Antonio.

I think I got it right this time.

Of the Board of Contracts and Purchases by the Minority Leader, Councilman Campebiano for the term of January 5th, 2026 to January 4th, 2027.

There is no vote necessary.

This is just a statement.

Next also is the reappointment of Brian Moretti to the Board of Contract and Purchasing by Minority Leader, Councilman Campa Biano, once again for the term of January 5th, 2026 through January 4th, 2027.

And once again, that's just from information.

There is no vote necessary.

Now I'm gonna move on to executive communications and the legal expense report.

As I stated earlier, the legal expense report has been included in the council members' packets.

If you do have some questions that don't involve any litigation, the solicitor is available to answer.

Are there any questions?

I see uh councilman and high's hand.

Yes, um, Mr.

Solicitor.

So a few months ago, I guess um one of your attorneys came up to Stephen Marcella and basically said that there's not that much action at housing court, but yet he's still submitting a $32,000 line item.

So I'm just trying to figure this out.

Is he busy over there or not?

Oh, sorry, Mr.

Solita.

So uh a few meetings ago, one of your solicitors, Marcella came up and he basically said that there's nothing going on at Housing Court, it's slow, but yet we have a $32,000 line item.

There is uh depends as you know, Councilman Anduha, there are there is some flexibility with the budget being self-insured within the city.

So I've been doing my best since I started this job five years ago to stay within the budget.

Sometimes the budget kind of gets close to where we're at in years past, it's gone over what's been budgeted by the council right now on projected under, but that could change tomorrow.

You know, um, but um if the housing court becomes uh comes to fruition, I'm sure that I'd be able to work with um work with with yourself and the members of the council to try and and and figure out how to best budget that, if that's your question.

No, thank you.

Um I just wanted to make sure you're you're just watching the line item.

That's all.

Yes, okay.

Thank you.

I have a question.

Hold on, hold on.

Let me I'll make the call.

See, he's gotten used to being chairman.

I'm so sorry.

Councilwoman Haron.

Uh attorney uh solicitor Marcella.

Um, these don't look like they're housing court issues, are they?

This is not necessarily the housing court.

I I can answer that one.

This is the legal expense report.

So some of them may have to do with housing or various other things, and we're going to be careful because we do have an executive session later to discuss things that might be of a sensitive nature in litigation.

Yeah, miss the Marcella handles um other matters.

He handles the municipal court, he handles housing court, he handles uh zoning matters at night.

Um, a dip the planning board.

So he does a lot of the land use, and so a lot of his bills are intermixed.

He submits them on an hourly basis to the city.

He's uh he works out of my office, he's not one of the on staff.

Yes, yes.

Council vice president, you set you all set?

Yes, okay.

I see councilman uh Campa Biano.

Thank you, Council President.

I just want to clarify.

I do have a couple of questions, but I think it requires the executive session.

We will be going to be going to executive session.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Any other questions?

Okay.

If they're not, I guess some of those will hold until we get to the executive session.

Um, the next item of business would be a request for the continuation in service for one year from October 16, 2025 to October 15, 2026 of assistant chief Richard Mancini on the Cranston Fire Department.

I see I was gonna ask the directory, he's very prompt in getting up there.

Yeah, the reason for being very prompt in getting up is uh Chief Mancini has has been an incredibly valuable incredibly valuable asset to the city of Cranston, uh a man of impeccable service, impeccable dedication.

Uh he's a tremendous firefighter and just a powerful administrator in the department.

He's requesting to stay on another year, at least we hope, and certainly the mayor endorses that and requests your approval uh to uh have the uh the the uh assistant chief uh be employed with the city at least for another year or so, and again, we cannot speak any higher of a firefighter than Chief Mancini.

Thank you, director.

Any any discussion?

So moved.

We need to vote for this, right?

So I'd like to make motion to approve.

Okay, I take that motion to approve.

Second.

Is there a second?

Second.

Okay, there's a second.

Now I'll ask once again.

Is there any discussion?

I see councilwoman Horon.

This tonight as Chief Mancini is a great asset to the Cranston Fire Department.

He has held every position over the years he's been on.

I concur.

Any other discussion?

Uh Councilman Andrew.

I just want to thank uh Chief Mancini for his service and his continued service as he's a great asset to the city.

Any other discussion?

Here any other discussion.

There being none, clerk, please call a roll on the uh approval of Chief Man Sini as assistant uh fire chief continuation for one year for Cranston Fire Department.

Consuming to Har?

Yes, Catherine Ritz, yes, Castro Trafficante, yes, Councilman Vazieri, yes, Piano, yes, Constant Panano, yes, Vice President Heroyan, yes, concept present role.

Yes.

All right.

Moving on.

So this the next item would, I guess, be my communications.

Um, perhaps some of you might have read it in the Herald.

Um about a week ago, I sent a letter regarding the De La Comunidad Charter School to Ride.

And although it's not necessary for me to read the whole letter, the substance of it was this comunidad did not get the required resolution or ordinance approving of their charter school to be ascending city.

So I wrote, or maybe I will read the letter to if I can find it on my paper.

So the following letter was drafted and sent to Ride and the members of the Department of Education.

I did send all this out to the members of the council.

And it said, My name is Daniel Wall.

I'm the president of the Cranston City Council.

I'm writing this email to bring a potential violation of Rhode Island General Law 1677 5.1 to the council's attention.

On Monday, January 5th, the council voted to approve of an application of the Day La Communidad Charter School.

This application was submitted and approved without requesting or receiving the support of the Cranston City Council.

The aforementioned law clearly states that a proposed network charter school must have written support in the form of, and I quote the law, a resolution or ordinance granted by the town or city council.

Because the De La Cruz uh De La Communidad Charter School is a network charter school, and it did not receive the required support of the Cranston City Council.

I respectfully request that the council reconsiders its approval and at very least remove Cranston as an approved sending city.

Sincerely, Daniel Wall, president of the city council.

I did get a response a number of days later, and basically their attorney said that the law didn't apply.

And they didn't apply because de la comunidad is not looking to have more than one school.

Um it does say in the law that a charter school that does encompass and encompass an elementary and a secondary school would be considered um a network charter school.

So it seems to be a bit of gamesmanship for semantics, as they said it wasn't plural.

If you in my view, and some of the attorneys in uh have said, um a K through 12 school act absolutely encompasses an elementary and a secondary school.

Um the other sending cities were Pawtucket and Providence.

They've also sent letters subsequently, and I will keep you posted as uh as to what happens.

Um but as of right now, we're in touch with our own school committee and some of the attorneys here.

I've also been in touch with um Senator Hannah Gallo, who is the author of the law.

And she concurs as I'll say it plainly that it seems like the De La Comunidad Charter School is trying to circumvent the law in this respect.

I also would just make my own public commentary that why would a school that seeks who claims to be so in tune with helping the citizens of the city of Cranston not even considering getting the consent of its elected officials.

When I say that, I mean the city council, the school committee, the mayor, the superintendent who was appointed by the by the school committee, and also if I might as well throw in the president of uh of our teachers' union.

They didn't get the support, they didn't ask for the support of one of those people.

One of the one of those those bodies.

And to me, it seems like something's wrong.

So myself, I'll keep you keep you posted on this matter.

Um, but I did want to put it on communication because it happened between the meetings.

That's about all I have on communications.

I'll answer any questions that I have.

I see Councilman Traffic Candy.

Uh Mr.

Chairman, Mr.

Chairman, uh I agree with everything you've said.

Uh as you know, I'm chairman of the charter school in Cranston, the apprenticeship exploratory school.

Uh and before we got our charter, we had to get permission of the city council.

We had to get commission of those school committee, and on top of that, we became the uh basically a subset of the Cranston School Department.

The Cranston School Department holds what they call the LEA, the learning education agency for the charter school in Cranston.

So they did none of that.

So I agree with you totally.

Thank you, Councilman Traffic Candy.

I see Councilman Ritzhan, just along the same lines.

Uh, I appreciate you sending the letter.

I I share the same concerns there.

You know, it has an impact on school funding, classroom resources, and and every seat, you know, per pupil.

We need to fully understand that and the consequences.

So thank you for sending that letter.

Thank you, Councilman Ritz.

I see Councilman Banano's hand was up.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I also uh I want to thank you for sending that letter.

I know that I did read it on social media and I did read it in Cranston Herald, and I commented on social media that says, you know, we're pretty much at least in this room, all on the same page on this issue.

And um, I know you know many of us were there at the meeting, uh at the hearing that took place at uh Cranston Public Library.

And for those of us who were there, um, the elected officials in the room, um, had a lot of questions to put it to put it lightly.

Even and even the ones like I spoke against it, quite frankly, and I don't think this um should be drawing students from Cranston.

But at the very best, you know, that was sort of the worst.

At the very best, there were some people who just said, is this a good idea?

You know, so uh there definitely was not a ringing positive endorsement from any of our elected officials.

So I just want to say thank you for for speaking for us.

Um your words do speak for me.

And you know, I have tremendous amount of faith uh in our public schools.

Like Councilman Ritz, I have well, he's got more, but I have two kids in the system.

Um, my wife is a teacher in our system, my mother's a retired teacher from our system.

Uh, I've said this many times, so I'm sure we all know it here, but um, Cranston Public Schools is second to none, and I have tremendous faith in the school committee, our superintendent, um, to give the education that Cranston needs.

Um, frankly, uh, I I have more faith in them than anyone else.

So um, thank you for saying that.

And uh, I hope that the the leaders of the school committee will confer with their legal counsel and uh and perhaps um you know take it a step further uh based on the interpretations of the law that that you've heard.

So again, thank you, and um we appreciate it.

Uh thank you, Councilman Bonano.

Any other discussion?

I see council vice president.

Um thank you for doing council president.

I think we also need to know this has a big financial impact on the budget on the Cranston School Department, the city budget.

I'm not exactly sure the exact number.

I believe it's around 19,000 per student that the city loses in state funding per child that goes to a charter school, and that makes a big difference with 200 students.

You're talking hundreds of millions of dollars.

And um, we offer all these things in our public schools.

I do not have children, but the school department is very important to us.

People move to our city for the school department.

To your point, uh, thank you, councilwoman.

To your point, uh, just using the the application that the charter put out.

I used the figure of uh nine uh yeah, nine thousand uh dollars per student at that rate, and it came out to just about two million dollars annually when it came to fruition, and that's two million dollars every year going forward.

That's if it that's based on one third of the enrollment.

If we went more than one third, that number would be greater.

Those of us who are gonna be sitting in the room, this room scrutinizing over the budget know what what a difference two million dollars is going to make in our budget.

Like to point out that's one chatter school.

We still have achievement first, taking many of our public school students.

It's a pro schools.

Thank you, Councilman.

Um let me just make sure I got everybody's uh had a chance and now I'll go around a second time, Councilman Traffic.

Any other comments?

Councilman Traffic Candy.

Keep in mind that the the money follows the child.

Uh and it's not only charter schools that are drawing from the grassroots school apartment or any other school department.

You have what they call CTE programs, career technical education.

And we started off back in two thousand and two, there's only forty-three CTE programs.

And if a child wants to go to, for example, Carpentry or Ponagans, they can do so if the school crash the school department does not have that particular program.

So we're losing children in that direction as well.

Thank you, Councilman.

Any other discussion?

I see Councilman Andrew Hashand.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I am a strong believer in education.

And most of these kids that are probably gonna go to Lake Well de la comunidad are probably gonna come from Ward Three.

So I am totally always for education if they wanted to go, but I am not in agreement with them bypassing this body.

So I applaud you, Mr.

President, for sending that letter, and I hope you follow through with it and you have my support for them to come back here and even just uh ask.

So I thank you.

Thank you, Councilman.

Okay, if there's no further discussion, I'm gonna move on to let me see where I am.

Introduction of new business.

Let me see if I can get this right.

None.

There's no new bus all right.

So introduction of new business.

Um so I'm gonna say if there are no objections, I am going to entertain a motion to refer all of new uh to take all of new business as a block and refer them to their appropriate committees.

So moved.

Second.

Okay.

And there shouldn't be any discussion, correct?

All right.

Um Clerk, please call the role.

Yes.

Councilman Vaziri.

Yes.

Council of Banana?

Yes.

Yes, thank you.

Uh moving on.

Uh at this time, I will entertain a motion um to adjourn to executive session, purduent uh pursuant rather to Rhode Island General Laws four two four six five A two regarding litigation and the discussion of legal bills from the law department.

Is there a motion?

Second.

Second.

Any discussion.

There being none, Clerk, please call the roll.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Vice President Heroyan?

Council President Wall.

Uh yes.

We are in executive session.

We'll use the room back there, and we'll return when we're done.

Um time I'm gonna entertain a motion to return to the open session.

Is there a motion?

Second any discussion.

There being none, clerk, please call a roll.

Conspaniuhar.

Yes.

Consperitz.

Yes.

Casper trafficante.

Consulman Vaziri.

Yes.

Conspected Camp Piano.

Conservative.

Yes.

Consider Vice President Haroyan.

Yes.

Yes.

Uh let me just state for the record that there were no votes taken during the executive session.

This time I'm going to entertain a motion to seal the minutes from the executive session.

Second.

Discussion.

There being none, clerk, please call a roll.

Yes.

Yes.

Casper Camp Piano.

Yes.

Consul Banano.

Yes.

Consider Vice President Heroyan.

Yes.

President Wolf.

Yes.

There being no further business before the city council this evening.

At this time, I'm going to entertain a motion to adjourn.

So moved.

Second.

All in favor, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Opposed.

Signify by saying nay.

The ayes have it.

The motion carries.

This meeting is over.

Thank you and good night.