Good evening and welcome to the claims committee meeting on Monday, February second, twenty twenty six.

I would like to call this meeting to order.

Clerk, can you please take the roll?

Council Rice President Horrien.

Consider Andrew Har.

Present.

Casper Ritz.

Present.

Casmant Trafficante.

Consorma Vazieri.

Present.

Conservan Wall.

Here.

Is there anyone in the chambers who would like to make public comment on agenda matters only?

Hi, folks.

My name is Ronald Richie.

Is it on?

I'm a little short.

Okay.

Folks, on uh December 19th on a Friday night around ten thirty was raining out, and I hit a pod hole on I thought it was PACAV.

Outside of fifty-nine Phoenix isn't is the uh business near thirty-nine west.

It's at the corner of green and park.

That night, uh, because it was raining, I pulled in the parking lot at the dentistry.

The next morning, Saturday morning, I went and I put the space saver tire on.

Then on Monday, I had the tire repaired.

I emailed pictures and uh performed that I filled out for you folks for today.

And then today I went by and I took more pictures, and the potholes still hasn't been filled.

I just figured I'd let you as folks know that it's still there.

And I'm you can have these pictures to go along with the today's pictures to go along with ones I already sent in.

Any questions?

So moved.

Second the ones that are from today I wrote today, the one from February twentieth is time stamped, so you could see the difference.

They're all time stamped.

There's a cap underneath this uh one second.

That's an accepting the pictures into the record.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

You can continue.

It's been uh addressed over the years.

You can see the different color tar with the you know, the city's trying to repair this pot hole.

But it just seems because it seems to be some type of a almost like a water cap.

It must shake and cause the the tar to come loose, which caused the punction of the mic.

We're gonna do it.

We don't do that.

All right, thank you.

Is there anyone online who would like to make public comments?

There is no public comment online.

Second any comments.

Yes.

I would like to make a motion to return to open session.

Second.

Any discussion?

Clerk.

Oh, there we go.

We gotta get keep the schedule.

Can you please call the role?

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

I want to state for the record that the motions were made in executive session.

I would also like to make a motion to seal the executive session minutes.

So any discussion.

Safety services and licenses.

Clerk, could you please call roll call?

Councilwoman Graziano?

Present.

Cosmo Roots.

Present.

Consider Trafficanti.

Consulwoman Vaziri.

Present.

Present.

Council Vice President Heroyan?

Present.

Here.

I'm looking for to check.

Could I please have a motion to approve the minutes?

Second.

Any discussion.

Consulma Graziano?

Yes.

Consultraficante?

Yes.

Yes.

Consulwoman Vaziri.

Yes.

Cosman Andrew Hart?

Yes.

Consulate Vice President Horyan.

Yes.

Yes.

Public comment.

Um public comments limited to only those mat as a parent on the docket tonight.

Is there anyone from the public that would like to come forward and speak tonight?

You state your name and your address clearly.

Raymond Grant Meyer, 418.

Raymond Grant Meyer.

418 Larle Hill Avenue, Cranston, Rhode Island.

I'm here to talk about the restaurant.

And they also have an open patio.

That's probably 150 feet from my residence.

And even up to eight or nine at night, we hear the talking gets louder when it's quieter at night.

And I can't see that being to 11 o'clock in the residential area.

So that's why I'm here because of that.

And uh, like I said, they serve like a this times there's cars outside with their radios blasting when they leave.

So I think eight or nine is sufficient.

Thank you.

I am we most of us are very the area, and Councilman Anderhouse is very hands-on.

Thank you for coming tonight and speaking.

Got a question, Mr.

Chair.

Sir.

Sir.

Ray.

Could you come back up, Councilman Chat?

Is that at the intersection of Farmiton Avenue and Laurel Avenue?

What is that?

Is that at the intersection of Farmington and Larry?

Yes.

Okay.

I'm sorry, could you restate your address too?

I missed.

416 Laurel Hill.

Okay, next we're gonna go on to public hearing.

Um class B V liquor license transfer.

And it's from JMM.

Oh, is there anyone on for public comment?

There is no public comment online.

Okay.

That's okay.

Thank you.

Okay.

Anyone here from J M M H Co-op doing business as Ganza Asian Bistro, located at 736 Park Avenue?

Yes, how are you?

Yes.

Okay.

Yes.

Uh my name is G-U-O-I-A-N-G.

Last name is P-A-N.

I just uh have a jeans on and then because I'm sick.

I should joke, so I have a two sale of my restaurant as a new owner here.

Question right here.

It says I need a letter of good standing from the state of Rhode Island and a certificate of liability insurance.

I got it.

Today I just uh upload.

Okay.

Already upload.

Um are you hoping for the sale to happen of your business to the new owner?

Uh no, just she just applied because I just a sikh.

I can't I can't work anymore.

So I have a two sale.

Do you have a closing date?

Uh yes.

Uh for uh March 1st.

I'm gonna ask for this to be continued until the next meeting next month because we need the letter of good standing and the certificate of liability insurance before I can transfer um the liquor license.

Uh it's already it's already upload.

Did you upload it already?

Yeah, already today today this morning.

Solicitor.

It's not selling but we don't have the standing.

I understand Brittany was not in today.

Um pretty important pieces of document.

They are.

I mean, obviously, this is in your discretion, but I would recommend that you do continue this for several reasons.

One, let's see if the closing does take place, even though we don't necessarily have to do that, but it seems that factor coupled with the other two.

Um, plus the fact that the license is good through this December.

There really isn't a rush on this.

So I would I would advise the committee to continue it one month.

I can bring it, just give me that 15 minutes.

I bring that for you.

Because I upload.

I cannot accept it as the council chairperson.

Um we're gonna postpone this till next month.

It'll be the beginning of the month, safety services.

Your liquor license is good until December 1st, 2026.

So it's not like there won't be a valid one, and then we can have those documents uploaded.

So I'm gonna ask from councilman and sir.

Um, real simple.

The sale.

Can the sale take place tomorrow or can the sale place sale take place next month?

When is the sale actually gonna happen where you transfer?

Yeah, because I need a uh I need a legal license learn.

I can gather the I can uh he can gather the business license must be legal licensed first.

Yeah, I have all the document, but uh today I just update today this morning.

But if you want, I can bring the original documents, papers come here, just to give me the 10 15 minutes, madam chair.

Can I ask him another question?

Of course you can.

Okay, so can you wait one month till everything comes in and the sale happens?

I can't wait because I have a I have a leave and I have a to the hospital.

I've joked, so I have yes as possible quick if I can gather the license.

So, madam chair, do you understand what's going on?

Okay, I do 100%.

Uh council president.

I I defer the uh the solicitor in this situation.

Hold on.

You you're asking me a question.

Yes, I'd like to know if I could do special safety services before our next full council meeting so he did it, doesn't have to wait till next month.

Before our next council meeting.

Our next full council meeting.

We can yeah, we can do that at six on the 20th 6:30.

Yeah.

We could do 6 30 and yeah.

We have the regular meeting at 7.

We can do it at 6 30 then.

Yeah, and that would only be two weeks away.

Councilman Andah.

Um, Mr.

Solicitor, can we approve pending?

And then it just automatically happens that way we don't have to have a special meeting.

We haven't had very good um results with approving pending.

Um, this is why I've been chasing people for the last two months.

Yeah, you could do it, but I would advise against it.

I mean, if he says he uploaded everything, I mean, I'm pretty sure we could take it for his word, he could go get it right now.

But I mean, I understand you don't want to take copies and we don't accept them, but I mean to hold this up for a month and go through the whole special meeting situation.

We could just approve it pending that everything's uploaded.

I mean, it's not his fault that we didn't have a worker that was absent today.

It's well uh again it that's what's legal is one thing.

Is it legal to do it that way?

Yes, but is do I recommend it?

I really don't recommend it, but uh it's really in the discretion of the committee.

That's beyond my purview.

It's up to you people on the committee.

I would like a motion to continue 17th, and we'll have a special meet.

So if someone could just explain to this gentleman what we're doing, okay.

We have another council meeting on the 17th of this month.

I'm gonna do a special safety service meeting for you at 6:30.

Okay, and if everything's in the portal and everything's good, we could pass it and then it could go to the full council.

Okay.

Last week, I already take the insurance and uh good standing, but I don't know how to use the computer.

So I bring that to the city hall, city house that you might you must have been updated from the computer.

So why it's so late.

Okay, I said so 17, 6 30.

Yeah, right.

Okay, thanks.

Clerk, could I ever vote on the continuing council graziano?

Yes, perhaps councilman Vazeri.

Yes.

Councilman Andrew Hart.

Yes.

Council Vice President Heroyan.

Yeah.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

The next item on the agenda is expansion of hours.

Las homies LLC doing business as La Ascanina 411 Laurel Hill.

Um, this is their lictor and the victory license.

Okay.

Um, could you please state your name and your address?

Sure.

Thank you very much.

My name is Nicholas Matwalk, M-A-T-L-A-C-H address of 123, North Main Street in Providence, Rhode Island.

Uh, I'm at the council of record for glasses.

Um, so right now they have had the current hours Sunday through Thursday, 11 30 a.m.

to 9, Saturday and Sunday, um, 11 30 a.m.

to 10.

There has been a lot of concern when this business opened.

There was a lot of concern.

It's in a very residential area, as you heard the neighbor speak earlier.

Um, I have talked to councilman Anderhour about this.

Um, we don't think it's possible to allow this to be open that late at night.

Um, and it's just not feasible.

Um Sunday till nine.

I mean, Sunday night is work night also, and the neighbors want to get some rest.

Monday through Thursday, 11 30 to 9.

Friday and Saturday till 10 p.m.

Um I think we're comfortable, if I understood correct, till 8 p.m.

If the patio could be shut down every night of the week, and we're looking at nine o'clock or 10 o'clock, Councilman Andah.

Thank you, madam chair.

So as you know, I represent the area and I've talked to many neighbors, and you have you know two that are in the back that live, you know, under 200 feet from the business.

Um, what I've noticed over the months, and you guys have been very well excellent.

Um neighbors to the neighbors there, and you know, you guys been having been running a very good business, but the lighting in the front is an issue, especially after hours.

Um, so there's gotta be some way you could either dim those lights or maybe put a cover over.

I don't know what you're gonna do, but those lights are really really bright.

Um, the patio is an issue, and you know, my I've been focused on quality of life, and they don't have it.

I mean, at night, especially in the summertime, you could hear the music, you could hear the people talking.

Um, I just stopped by there last night.

There was a truck on the other side.

I spoke to the owner, made him made him find out who the patron was.

It's a really small place, it only fits like 10, 12 people, but we made him move the truck from the right side of the street over to the left.

They do have parking, but due to the snow, everything's congested over there.

So after speaking to some of the neighbors, um, you know, we came up with they're inagreeable to let the patio stay open until 8 p.m.

And the inside, as long as the music's not uh you know allowed, which it hasn't been, and we haven't had any complaints and we haven't had any police issues.

Um, we're willing to go 10 p.m.

inside with no issues, but I just want to be clear, but we do want a 90-day review.

So you will be coming back here every 90 days, and every 90 days, I want to hear from all the neighbors, and I will be knocking on the doors to make sure you guys are abiding by the law.

So that's what I recommend.

Um, it's up to the board and the rest of the members, but I recommend that the patio be closed at 8 and they can stay open till 10 p.m.

And with reviews every 90 days.

So the requesting hours is till nine on Sunday, Monday through Thursday.

They're asking for Friday and Saturday to be open till 10 p.m.

And you feel that would be okay.

Talking to the neighbors, um, representative Lima and a few other people that live there.

Um, I we're comfortable with 10 p.m.

as long as the patio outside is closed by 8 p.m.

Council.

Okay, I'm looking for an emotion to approve.

Hold on a second.

Madam Chair, I just want to be clear.

Is that all right?

All right, if I'm not mistaken, we're looking at the the first one, Los Homies, right?

Um, they're requesting 9 a.m.

to 11.

Councilman Ander has spoken with the neighbors, they're willing to compromise on 10 p.m.

That would be every night, correct?

Just the weekend, sir.

Just the weekend, just the weekend still on the weekend and keep the current hours during the weekdays.

Patio hours, is that a weekend thing, or is that every night?

Um eight o'clock, I believe.

I don't see the patio on here.

I don't see that we have expansion of hours, but I just want to make it for the record that we're in agreement that if they do anything out on the patio, because I believe it's state law that everybody could eat outside, 8 p.m.

All right.

So I'm gonna as this goes forward, I'm certainly going to support the ward councilman's recommendations.

He's been in touch with the neighbors, he seems to have a good touch, and I think it's a fair compromise.

So I'll be in support of your your your amendment to this.

Okay.

Um I'm just gonna speak out.

I from the corner of my eye, I saw the residents over there saying they don't agree, but did you talk to them?

Um, yes, I did speak to them.

Um, and the main issue was the outside patio.

Right.

So and the outside patio, we cut it back from nine to eight.

The inside, I'm giving them an hour compromising, giving them an hour, but I'm also reviewing them every 90 days.

Okay.

So if they fall out of line, we yank it back.

Yeah, and I would say, like, I think I would assume the most concern is during the nicer days, like the you know, May to October.

Councilman Budano.

Yeah, I um thank you, madam chair.

I had a question.

There's no entertainment license at this location, is that right?

So I could add out today.

Right.

None.

Okay.

So to our knowledge, I guess there's no entertainment license.

That was my that was my question.

And this the I want to just echo what Councilman Andah and Councilman Wall, um, Council President Wall said.

Uh, I grew up on Laura Hill Avenue.

Uh, matter of fact, my bus stop when I went to Bain was in front of this building, and it was never open after six o'clock.

Um, for as long as I lived in the neighborhood, which was until about eight years ago.

Uh, it was like uh, and I think Councilman Campo Piano and I were sort of talking about this reminiscent a little bit um off the record before the meeting started.

It was like a bread and milk store, then it was a sandwich shop, and then it was like a little deli where you could buy like an Italian grinder or something, and then uh after that it's changed hands a whole bunch of times in a very short period of time, and I lost track.

So it always was a um earlier in the day business.

So I think you know, to be honest and and frank, I think the fact that the council here is giving as much as we are is a big gift.

Um, and I and I don't I mean uh you know I haven't heard any issues about your location.

I drive by there frequently, and you know, nobody seems to have huge complaints.

Obviously, there are some complaints that people have you know some valid issues.

Um, but yeah, I think, and you know, you know what's around you.

There isn't a business around you for like a lot.

You know, the closest business is probably down on Dyer Avenue.

So um, I think that you know this this is is is what we're proposing here, is gonna be pretty generous.

Um, and I just wanted to go on record saying that, and I think uh I totally agree with uh reviewing every so often.

So make sure that the neighbors are uh satisfied.

Thank you.

Yes, sir.

Francis Sanchez, Efren.

R Ian.

Yes, and I totally understand everything you're saying.

Um, I'm not trying to run a bar.

I'm trying to run a like a family establishment where people come and they leave their time.

I'm 45 years old.

I want to be home early too.

I manager that's running the place too.

He's got a new set of twins.

He wants to be home too.

We just want to give people a little chance that they can come in and have a drink with their meal.

I don't not just serve meal uh drinks to like I want people to have the food too.

If they come in don't and order one drink, second one.

If they don't order food, I tell them no, because I respect the community, I respect everybody's around us, and that we're we're we want to be there for a long time.

Many places have left their, but we want to stay there for a while, and we want to be in a place.

Also, we do not have speakers outside to make that clear.

Um that you can check.

I didn't take them off right now or anything.

Um, but other than that, we will comply with everything you say.

The 90 days is perfect, and anything you say, we're here to listen and obey.

Councilman Andah.

No, and I want to thank you for coming and saying that.

Um, like I said, it's a really small establishment.

It fits maybe 15 people.

Every time I've been in there, people have had food with their with their beverage of choice.

So you are running a well business and you are part of the business community, but you're also in a residential neighborhood.

So I think by giving you this extra hour on the weekends for you for a test phase for a trial period, it'll demonstrate to the neighbors that you are your practice and what you're preaching.

So thank you for coming today.

Thank you for um acknowledging us and and being able to work with us.

But the people that you really need to talk to are the people back there because they're the ones that call me every day.

They're the ones that actually live next to you.

So if they hear anything, they're gonna call me and then they're gonna call the police.

And I don't wanna get that phone call.

So please be a good neighbor.

And um, you know where they live, knock on their door, say, hey, how are you doing?

Any complaints?

Be uh be a business person and just be a part of the community.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, I'm gonna ask for the motion Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m.

to 8 p.m., Friday through Sunday, 9 a.m.

to 10 p.m.

with coming back in 90 days for a review and the patio closing at 8 p.m.

So move.

Second.

Any discussion.

Clerk may have a roll call vote.

Consul McGraziano?

Yes.

Consmer Ritz?

Yes.

Trafficante?

Yes.

Councilwoman Vazieri.

Yes.

Councilman Anduhar?

Yes.

Council Vice President Harwyan?

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

Thank you.

Next on the agenda is LSF Cranston, LLC doing business as legal seafood.

175 Hillside Avenue.

Is anyone here from Legal Seafood?

Come right up to the podium.

State your name and your address.

My name is Donna Cruz.

You got a cruise.

Um what the address of the establishment?

175 Hillside Road.

Quiet, please in the back, quiet, please.

175 Hillside Road.

And Donna, it looks like you're just asking to open earlier.

Yeah, we'd like to serve brunch.

So that's why we want to open at 10 instead of 11.

Yeah, so they're requesting Sunday, 10 a.m.

to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m.

to 9 p.m.

Friday, 11:30 a.m.

to 10 p.m.

And Saturday, 10 a.m.

to 10 p.m.

I'm gonna ask for a motion to approve.

Motion to approve.

Second.

Any discussion.

Right here, council.

Councilman Well.

Um, seeing Garden City is in my ward, and I said that hour earlier.

I don't think it's gonna affect any of my residents.

I certainly will be in support of this change.

Thank you.

May I please have Councilman McGraziano?

Yes.

Yes.

Trafficante?

Yes.

Councilman Vazieri?

Yes.

Councilman Induha?

Yes.

Vice President Heroyan.

Yes.

Yes.

Thank you very much for coming tonight.

Okay.

Next on the show cause Class B V liquor license solicitor.

They had um submitted it.

And everything is in order.

Nobody.

Yeah, I I had spoken to uh Miss Richards regarding this matter.

She had asked me, this is like a month ago, how to handle this, because at the time I think she had not received evidence that um there was an insurance policy in effect.

I suggested that she put it on for show cause just so we could uh maintain uh control over it.

And my understanding is that it has there was a reinstatement presented.

I think maybe a couple of weeks ago, it looks like January 15th.

So uh at this time, I think the show course can just pass.

There's there's no action that needs to be taken if unless the committee wants to take some action, but okay.

You don't even need a motion, just uh for the record, for the record that um the show cause hearing may just pass from the calendar.

For the record, show cause may pass for the record.

Business carried over.

It says 39 West.

Renewal was denied.

I'm gonna ask for a motion to reconsider that.

So move.

Second.

Second.

If I if I may, Madam Chair, if the if there's no discussion, I just wanted to give the committee uh some information as to the events that that led up to tonight with uh regard to this particular establishment.

So this particular establishment was one of many that did not renew back in December.

And there were several.

And over the course of the last two months, as you know, I've reported this before.

I worked in tandem with the clerk's office as well as the Cranston Police Department uh through enforcement action.

And as of tonight, just about every liquor establishment in the city now is is compliant.

Okay.

However, having said that, this and I don't want to make I don't want this to look like I'm singling out any particular business, but the circumstances here were slightly different.

Um this committee did take a vote back at the beginning of January to deny the renewal of of this license.

That was not done with uh many of the other businesses.

And this is after multiple, multiple, multiple attempts to get uh these owners to comply with our requirements.

It took, as I said, the efforts of the clerk's office, myself, and the Cranston Police Department at expense to the taxpayers of Cranston to force compliance uh from this business.

And the fact that they're not here tonight to me is uh a little upsetting as well.

Um it is it was not and it should not be taken as a granted that this committee was going to vote to to reinstate them.

Uh I recall getting a phone call from the Cranston police when they went down there uh in mid-January, with the owner saying at that time, well, I I don't understand why you're here.

I'm in compliance, so on and so forth.

Well, that may have been true at that time.

However, he did it at his leisure, he did it at the last moment.

He did it after he was already in a non-renewal phase, and yet he continued to serve alcohol anyway.

Be that as it may, we're here tonight to reconsider denial of that renewal.

All I'm saying on behalf of the administration and myself is that again, um I I don't think that this should just be approved lightly.

Uh by that I mean, okay, so now you're in compliance, it took you eight weeks, it took several efforts and it took uh the expense uh uh incurred by the city of Cranston to get you to comply.

I think there should be some penalty here, if you want to call it that.

So if the committee is going to take a vote on this, I suggest that as a condition of the renewal that they pay $500, which is extremely low.

We could have fined them $500 as an ongoing violation.

They could be looking at thousands of dollars.

I don't think that's unreasonable.

I just don't think in this situation that they should get off lightly here.

They really put the city through a lot in the attitude, frankly, um was lacking.

Um it it just doesn't seem like they're taking any of this seriously to me.

That's what it seems like.

So I would suggest if you're going to reconsider, first take that vote, you reconsider.

If you're going to approve this, approve it subject to my request would be the payment of $500 within 14 days.

And if the payment is not made, there will be another show cause hearing on the license.

Solicitor, who would issue the fine to them and who would collect it?

I will I will I will issue the letter explaining that they've got if the committee uh approves and adopts this, obviously, I'll send the letter out.

Informing them, they got 14 days.

I'll stay in touch with the clerk's office.

We have great communication.

Brittany will let me know if it's not paid.

We can revisit it with a show cause.

That's my suggestion.

President Wall.

Thank you.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Um, I don't think your statement is unreasonable.

I know that the effort it took to get a number of businesses, including this business, in to come into compliance.

It is certainly concerning to myself as well that after this time and this effort, they didn't show this evening, even though they were delivered on another letter.

Um, so I'd be in support of, you know, would it be approval subject to um payment of a $500 fine?

Is that what the figure we were looking at?

I would suggest that the motion be yes, the uh grant or the positive vote in favor of renewal be subject to the payment of a $500 fine within 14 days.

14 days if it's not paid, I'm suggesting 14 days.

If you want to give them less or more, that that's up to you.

I just want to split the difference between now and 30 days, basically.

Um but yeah, and if not, um I suggest, well, I'd not suggest, I will ask for a show cause hearing immediately at next month's meeting and be done with uh this particular business because as I said, they went beyond the pale um to compare to other businesses.

Um compared to other businesses.

To finish my statements, I I'd be concur with that.

I I think that's fair.

I think we're we're for the first time we're sending kind of a message is that you know our laws and ordinances mean something.

So I'd agree.

This is my water.

I'm not gonna argue about the $500 fine.

As long as we set a precedence that if we run across other businesses in the simple situations, we're gonna do the exact same thing.

Yeah.

Yes, and and Councilman Trafficanti, to your point, that's why I prefaced my remarks, as you may recall.

Um, I don't want it to look like we're singling out any particular business, but the facts of this particular case are very, very unique.

That's the reason I'm suggesting it.

There's a lot I can't even discuss here in the open that went uh on behind the scenes.

The only reason I bring it up is because we have a number of businesses that have not renewed their licenses and are still operating.

I'm gonna get into that a little bit later because we we have the uh the list that's gonna be coming up later on, but we've made a lot of progress with that, a lot of progress.

I'll go after councilwoman Graziano.

Thank you.

Um through the chair to the solicitor.

So can you just clarify?

Um they have uh applied for a new license.

No, what happened here was they were up for renewal, okay, as of December.

They did not renew on January 5th.

They, along with a host of other businesses, were on the calendar, okay.

Um for consideration then.

I mean, it gets complex because we're going retroactively back to December 1st.

So all the businesses should have done this by December 1st.

They didn't.

The soonest we could get them on a calendar after they complied was the month later because we meet every 30 days.

So on January 5th, many of the businesses came into compliance and the committee approved those renewals.

This one did not.

So the committee voted at that time not to renew.

So what I advise the clerk's office to do, and you know, to the uh the the chairwoman or the president, whoever sets the agenda.

I suggested, well, I think they were already on the agenda um for this month, but I did tell the clerk's office that we would have to consider this as a is a motion to reconsider.

Um, because they were denied.

So as of January 5th, they had no license to operate.

And between January 5th and now they came into compliance, okay.

But the fact remains, even though they came into compliance, they were not renewed.

Oh, so they so okay.

So that's the that's the piece I need to know.

So basically from the date of denial, you they were notified by the city of what happened, then they reapplied for their license, and they're asking for us to reconsider the denial.

Just so we're clear, they didn't reapply.

What they did was they came into compliance with they owed the fee, they owed the certificate of good standing, they came into compliance.

Wasn't a new application.

So the renewal was kind of in uh you know, this this no man's land from January 5th up to now.

But technically, today they're in compliance and you're just asking for reconsideration with a fine.

Um, I do have one other question.

I I will say I want on the record that I am not happy that they have showed up zero times before this committee.

I think it's disrespectful, and I am not happy about it.

Um, and especially not even coming with an apology this evening.

Um the only reason I'm willing to reconsider it is because you are gonna um you have recommended the fine and they are in compliance, but um I would like somehow it be known.

I don't know how that is, or if we can do that, that next time they have to show up at a meeting.

I will take I will um I'm gonna send the letter out.

I'll leave it at that.

Madam Chair, um I've been frequently driving by that place, and I don't really see a lot of people there.

So I do feel for the business.

I don't think that they're making a ton of money.

Instead of the $500 fine, I would like to basically ask for a hundred dollar fine a day until they come in.

So if they want to send stay 14 days without coming in and paying the fine, then they owe 1400.

I rather imply 100 a day penalty starting today.

So tomorrow they're they're already at 100.

And if they come in by Friday, then what are they going to pay?

Three, four hundred dollars.

That's what I recommend.

We could compromise, do the $500 and then $100 a day after the two weeks.

I think that's too low, Madam Chair.

I think we're gonna do $500 today.

They have to come in by Friday.

Totally in the discretion of the committee.

I don't even know what if they're away on vacation or something.

We gotta get then the business should be shut down.

All right.

It's your now let's vote now on the reconsideration.

Clerk, could I have a roll call on the recommit?

Then we have to go to the motion to the next one.

We have to council president.

Was there a motion made?

I'm sorry, I lost track.

There was no motion made.

So we need a motion to reconsider in a second.

If motion to reconsider motion to retons or second.

Yeah, because we're in discussion.

Yes.

Yes.

Cost traffic anti?

Yes.

Consulom Vazeri.

Yes.

Considering Andrew Hara.

Yes.

Consider Vice President Rowan.

Yes.

Yes.

Now there would be a motion to approve the renewal.

The renewal.

Renewal.

Subject to the conditions that we've discussed.

Um payment of a $500 fine within 14 days.

Council President.

If that's what you want to do, I'm not telling you what to do.

We're kind of in between and certainly I see Councilman Andrew High's point that perhaps we're our fine is too low.

But I think we do need a kind of a finite period of time.

We had a 14-day period is finite.

I would be willing to compromise if we think that's too much of a time time frame to go to maybe $500 within the next seven days.

That way it comes closer to what you're saying, but you have a definite time frame.

Seven days from the from this this evening.

I I would say in fairness, well, you know, they didn't show up.

Uh maybe I'll get this letter out tomorrow.

Okay.

When they'll receive it, I I don't know.

So they may get it the day before and they've got one day to pay.

I'm not overly sympathetic to them.

I gotta be honest because they didn't even show up here tonight and they'd have notice of it.

Yeah, I could have a police officer even deliver it.

Um I would prefer that through the chair.

Okay.

Councilman Anderhauer, it looked like you wanted to say something else.

No, I would just say that we could have a police officer go to the property address, the owner's address on record and um site and post at the business.

So they'll get the message.

Seven days after I think so, madam chair.

I mean, we have to send the message.

They are operating with with liquor, so god forbid something happens, but um we we need to start growing teeth.

I think I've said that in other things we're trying to create too.

So um through the chair to the solicitor, um it's after the 14 days if they don't pay the fines.

We immediately show cause them.

I would probably I have to think about this a little.

I might even send the police department back down and seize the liquor.

So okay, so the question that I'm asking is so if they don't do anything, don't pay the fines by the 14 days posted in the letter, either delivered by a police officer and sent certified mail return receipt, then after 14 days, their liquor license is no longer valid.

Correct.

Okay.

Let me just council.

Let me make sure I'm clear as well.

So after that seven-day period.

Well, wait a minute.

Let me just figure I I got that part.

But after the seven-day period, is that the sunset of our agreement here?

Where they do not get will they have to come in and show cause.

That deal deals off the table.

Make them come back in.

No, that's not it.

You could still have that deal, but the way I'm approaching it is this.

If they don't comply after seven days, as far as I'm concerned, this renewal has not taken effect, which means what they're operating without a license, which means in turn, I can send the police department, as I did several times, to go down there and say, you've got till the end of the day to remove all the liquor from your establishment, or we will seize it.

And then we can have a show cause hearing as to whether or not you want to revoke them permanently.

So the show cause would still um be relevant, even if we you know stop them at that point.

Which I think that's you you're really showing you you you do have some teeth.

We're enforcing it.

We're not just saying it, we're going to enforce it.

Yes.

Yes.

It's I think it's a bit I think it's a a good distinction.

So I'd be in favor of that.

I'm gonna ask for a motion to approve this subject to a $500 fine that is due seven days from tomorrow.

And if it's not paid, then they liquor license is not valid, and then we will show cause them.

Do you want me to add the $100 a day uh after the $500?

Yes.

And the $100 a day after the $500 not being paid in one week from tomorrow.

So moved.

Second.

Second.

Clerk, may I please have a roll call vote?

Councilman Graziano?

Yes.

Council Ritz.

Council Trafficanti.

Councilwoman Vaziri, yes.

Councilman?

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Thank you, everyone.

Class B vehicle liquor license renewal.

Um Mexican City tacos and tequila, LLC located at 1177, Reservoir Ave.

I'm gonna ask for a motion to approve.

Everything is in order.

Motion to approve.

Second.

Any discussion?

Clerk, could I have a roll call vote?

Councilwoman Graziano?

Yes.

Yes.

Council Trafficante?

Yes.

Councilwoman Viziri.

Yes.

Consul Vice President.

Yes.

Yes.

Okay.

Um Victorian license is new.

DMM pizza and food located at 41 Warwick Avenue.

Nobody is here from that, right?

They don't have their department of health.

I'm gonna ask for a motion to continue.

Motion to continue.

Second.

Yes.

Constable Ritz?

Yes.

Consul Trafficanti?

Yes.

Councilwoman Vaziri.

Yes.

Consular?

Yes.

Consul Vice President Heroyan?

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

Okay.

Next one's loving table doing business at least 88.

That was the same.

Madam Chair, I I believe that is the transferee of the um transfer liquor request.

So many of the I mean I they don't have a department of health license in any event.

So you want a motion to continue the special till the special meeting, which will be held on the 17th of February.

Any discussion?

Clerk, could I have a vote?

Consul McGraziano?

Yes.

Yes.

Consult trafficanti.

Yes.

Consulma Vaziri.

Yes.

Consider?

Yes.

Yes.

House President Wall.

Yes.

License renewals before the committee up.

Um victor and license bank.

So they're all different, so I can't bundle, correct?

Well, I mean you could, but I there's there aren't many here.

I would go A B.

Uh I I would just go A B C and D.

When you get to E, you can bundle those.

Okay.

Thank you.

Additional hours, Victorian license.

Um Sapphire Enterprise doing business as mutual Ma 397 Dyer Avenue.

Everything's in order.

Could I please have a motion to approve?

Motion to approve.

Second.

Any discussion?

No.

Clerk, could I have a roll call vote?

Consulwoman Graziano?

Yes.

Casper Ritz?

Yes.

Consult Trafficante.

Consulwoman Vaziri.

Yes.

Consumer Andrew Har?

Yes.

President Heroyan?

Yes.

Yes.

Okay.

Next gravel bank license.

Everything's in order.

Um, could I please have a motion to approve?

Motion to approve.

Second.

Councilman Kim Pilpiano.

Do you have a yes?

I do have a question.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Um I see the hours uh Monday to Friday, seven to five, but I know they work way past that.

I drive by there all the time, and they're open past six and they're open on Saturday.

So I don't know why the hours are seven to five.

So solicitor, what would you suggest?

I can't police the gravel bet.

Uh well, that just so I understand what um uh councilman Campbell Biano is saying.

So you're saying that they're operating outside of the hours that that are already set.

Absolutely.

I see trucks drive there on Saturday morning and well past five every day.

Then I suggest I would suggest you continue it and ask them to come in and have them explain it to make you more comfortable.

Council President Yeah, that yeah, the solicitor said basically what I was gonna say, except I probably would.

I mean their their past license was what seven to five.

This is no change, but what the councilman is saying is they operate much later.

So I mean, they're not right now, they're not even in compliance with their their own hours.

So I have no problem with that.

I would have just said bring them in after we've approved it, but either way works for me.

License is good now till 3-1.

So could I please have a motion to last motion?

Uh Mr.

Solicitor, what I know they're in a certain zone.

What is their maximum hours of operation?

Yeah, I'd have to look that up.

That I believe that's probably an industrial area.

There is an ordinance that uh set for maximum hours for uh gravel.

So I'm looking at I wanted to say uh section section five point three six point three oh between the hours of five p.m.

and seven a.m.

no person will operate any storm crusher, gravel bank, gravel pit, new nomadic drill or storm quarry within the city or suffer or allow any dynamic sandblasting or any other build uh bus to be done between such hours between the hours of 8 p.m.

and 7 a.m.

no person will operate any Oshval plant that so sorry that was so 5 p.m.

to 7 a.m.

is the um restrictions by ordinance, madam chair between those hours you can't operate.

So operating meaning the gate can't open and the trucks can go in and out.

Oh, it says no person shall operate any stone crusher gravel bank, gravel pit pneumatic drill or stone quarry within.

So you can't operate the machinery, right?

But whether that's doesn't really say trucking, but yeah, I mean uh in my opinion, I think that would mean on-site operations.

That's how I would interpret that.

I mean, think about it.

If uh the office manager wanted to come in at six o'clock and went through the gate, is that operating uh I I wouldn't think that's the intent of the ordinance.

I think 5 p.m.

was the cutoff time because of the noisiness, obviously, of that machinery, that heavy machinery there.

So that's that's why it's all more important to get them in here and have them uh you know explain what the operation is.

All right, I didn't make a motion.

I uh I just I was just speculating saying I probably would have said approve it with with these hours because that's the that's the hours in the past that we thought were were were fine with the community, and then pull them in to make sure that they they're following those those hours.

The other the what you could do is this if you wanted to approve this subject to these hours as outlined in the ordinance, you can approve it, but at the same time we could show cause them for next month and ask them to explain.

You could do that only because we're not gonna have that their their license period.

Oh, it's the 20, it's a 27.

So we could we could continue it and have them come in.

I was thinking it was next month.

Yeah, yeah.

Well, it's okay.

All right, yeah, that's that's why yeah.

Well, it should have to have at the special meeting.

I'm not gonna we're not gonna do that in the special meeting.

Yeah, so madam chair.

I would recommend just to approve it.

And I mean, if if one of us, I mean, we're under oath.

If we go by there and we see them operating something at seven o'clock, then we bring them in.

I mean, this is a big business, they are you know, been in business for a long time.

So I don't see why we should hold them up.

So I would I would recommend just to approve it, and then we supervise them us, and if we see something out of ordinary, then we just follow them in.

They have responded in the past, they do appear.

Council President Well, I would just question, and I I would defer to uh councilman campbiano.

Is this are you seeing them operating beyond these hours?

You maybe we have someone right in our midst right now who sees it happening now.

I'm not sure if he said there's trucks going in or they're operating that heavy machinery during that time.

That's what to that point.

Um, I drive by there on a Saturday morning and I see the the gravel coming over that conveyor belt, whether that's a crusher or not.

I see gravel coming over that conveyor belt uh every Saturday morning.

So maybe they need to explain.

Well, that's not rushing, it is crushing, but I see I see trucks coming out and I see gravel being moved around.

So I'm assuming that's a crusher that through so through the I mean I'll watch this Saturday when I go by and the chief back as we sit.

You'd like him to come in.

I would okay.

I I we did receive in uh I see former councilwoman um over there that Nicole that we are we had had many complaints about that area and the noise and that's going on to our councilman.

I I apologize.

I only heard you say trucks in and out, so I didn't hear the gravel part.

I apologize.

Let's call them in.

I'm gonna ask for a motion to approve this so that they don't operate without a license, but could we put them on the show course just to come in and say we've had some complaints about uh different hours?

Put the show cars on, yeah, for the next safety services meeting, so it's right after the uh new licenses to take effect so motion to approve.

Do I have to state about the show calls as well?

Just motion to approve.

That's just we just schedule.

So motion to approve second, please.

Second, any discussion?

Clerk roll call vote councilman Graziano?

Yes, perits, yes, conspiracy trafficanti, yes, councilman Vazieri, yes, Classman Indujar, yes, concept by president Heroyan, yeah, concept present wall.

Yes, okay, leasing of motor vehicles, American performance auto rental at 1006 Cranson Street.

I'd like a motion to approve.

Motion to approve, second, second just for the record.

This is uh a great business that great people in the community.

So I support this 100%.

Thank you.

Clerk could have a roll call vote.

Consul McGraziano, yes, Consperts, yes, Consultraficante, Consul Vaziri, yes, Consider.

Yes, Heroyan.

Yes, yes, ultra bodicar incorporated doing business as Brian's auto rental at 1085 Cranson Street.

Could I please have a motion to approve?

Motion to approve, second.

Any discussion could we have a roll call vote?

Consul McGraziano?

Yes, Consperitz?

Yes, Cons Traficante?

Yes, Consulma Vaziri, yes.

Yes, Consulvice President Heroyan, yes.

Yes, massage therapy license, number one face and body by Diane Crawley, located at 960 Reservoir Avenue.

Could I please have a motion to approve?

Motion to approve, second.

Any discussion?

Clerk, could we please have a roll call vote?

Graziano, yes, peritz?

Yes, council traffic, yes, councilwoman Vazieri, yes, Consuhar, yes, Consul Vice President Heroyan, yes, and wall, yes.

Next is KML therapy, Kristen Charles Charleson, located at 681 PACAV suite 22.

Could I please have a motion to approve?

So second.

Any discussion?

Could I please have councilwoman graziano?

Yes, yes, council traffic, yes, conspiracy.

Yes, present haronian, yes, present wall.

Yes.

Okay, next Sunday.

Can everyone just take a quick look at them?

One through seven, everything is in order.

And I'd like a motion to take them as a bundle.

Without objection.

Without objection.

So moved.

Second.

Okay.

Hearing no objection now, you're gonna just move to approve it.

Could I have a motion to approve?

Motion to approve.

Any discussion?

Nope.

Clerk can have a roll call vote.

Consul McGraziano?

Yes.

Cons perits?

Yes.

Consul trafficante?

Yes.

Consuhar?

Yes.

Present wall.

Next mobile.

Hold on one second.

Thank you.

Next under F.

Did everyone have a chance to look at that?

There is no actions for informational purposes only.

Okay.

Monthly schedules.

Everyone have a chance to look at the monthly schedules.

All right.

Can we please just can I have a motion to take a vote on these schedules and accept them into the record?

Motion to accept them into the record.

Any discussion?

Clark, could I have a roll call vote?

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

And the communications, we have nothing listed.

Next licenses approved, subject to not yet issued.

So listen, did you want to speak under this?

Yes, just very briefly, just to bring the committee um up to date with the latest.

So I'm happy to announce that with regard to the V Likor license holders that just about the entire city, every business is in compliance.

So that basically leaves one frontera.

And they again, for the committee's uh edification, I have obtained a restraining order from the Superior Court.

They're going to be served with that by the Cranston Police either tomorrow or Wednesday, they will have a court date on February ninth, which means as soon as they serve with that restraining order, the Superior Court judge has ordered them to cease and desist all operations.

Okay.

So just wait for the president to give us thirty seconds.

Good evening, everybody.

I'd like to call the finance committee meeting to order.

Monday, February twentieth, twenty twenty-six at seven eleven PM.

Clerk, please take a roll.

Present Casper Bitz.

Present.

Present.

Present.

Council President Wall.

Here.

Motion to approve.

Second.

Any discussion.

Clerk, please take a roll.

Councilman Graziano?

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilwoman Vazieri?

Yes.

Pass the Vice President Heroyan?

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

May I understand a motion to approve the minutes of the January twenty twenty twenty-six special meeting.

So moved.

Any discussion.

See none, Clerk, please take a roll.

Yes.

Yes.

Councilwoman Vazari.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Seeing that there are no committee businesses matters carried over, no correspondence.

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

Please step up to the podium.

Please say your name and address.

Currently, according to the tax assessor, there are about 1,500 people who use this uh exemption at a cost of 277,000 a year.

And the proposal uh as I see it, uh, have worked it out, would cost about $600,000 more over the three-year period that's outlined in the ordinance proposed ordinance.

That would be 100,000 the first year, 200 the second year, and the full uh 300 the third year.

And this money, I think could be much better used, funding our schools, or if you uh are not a fan of funding schools.

The city's police and fire pension fund is 27% funded.

So there's a big uh cloud hanging over the city's finances, and if there's extra money around, it should I think some of it should go there.

Uh the other uh thing that I want to point out is that I think this ordinance, this proposal uh violates the city charter in two ways.

One is uh there's no fiscal note, and reading from section 3.13 of the city charter says no ordinance whose passage will obligate or cause the city of Cranston to expend funds shall be reported out of committee or placed on the docket of the Cranston City Council for consideration without a fiscal note attached to said proposed ordinance.

Said note shall be supplied by the Department of Finance and shall indicate the approximate costs that the city will incur or be obligated to pay or guarantee if the proposed ordinance is passed.

And then skipping to the bottom of the paragraph, any ordinance which requires a fiscal note which is passed without a fiscal note attached there to thereof shall be deemed null and void.

That's one section.

One minute, one minute.

Um the second section has to do uh is section six seventeen.

Six seventeen six seventeen, and because my time is about to run out.

I would just point you to that, which says any expenditure by the city additional expenditure by the city has to be proposed by the mayor.

The council cannot initiate an ex an extra expenditure.

That's six seventeen.

Uh so I would urge you to vote against this.

Number one, because it's a poor, a poor expenditure of money in difficult times, and number two, because it violates the city charter in two sections.

Thank you.

Is anyone else in the chamber though to speak on document items only?

Please come up to the podium, say your name address, we have four minutes.

Good evening, Robert Murray.

20 uh 75 Debbie Drive Crans, Rhode Island.

I'm here tonight to speak on ordinance one-26-02.

Some are some may recall I was here in January and expressed concern in the drafting and legal basis of the prior ordinance number 12-2505S.

I appreciate that this revision may be an alternative, but I still wish to point out a few things for your consideration.

I did not see this actual draft until last Friday.

Earlier in the month, I did share some thoughts on this topic with your counsel in the solicitor's office.

Specifically, I raised the issue of state preemption in the area of taxes.

It seems clear that the proponents of this ordinance desire to provide for an increase in the tax exemption being offered to some class of veterans in our city.

Certainly a laudable goal.

As drafted tonight, I'm not sure it accomplishes what you want in its reliance on Rhode Island General Law 44-3-24 is misplaced.

That statute allows the tax assessor to make a tax adjustment for all persons in the city, not just veterans.

However, the power given only applies during years following a citywide property revaluation.

The intent being to ensure that tax bills reflect the same monetary savings for an exemption from one's property tax bill as it did prior to the revaluation.

So I must question your ability to rely on this statute as you do in the ordinance.

Finally, I know there's near unanimous support for this ordinance given the list of sponsors.

At the extreme risk of being blasphemous, may I touch upon one more issue?

Last month there was a debate about naming the senior tax exemption after the mayor.

Frankly, I disagreed with that and such suggestion, and it did not pass on a Thai vote.

Tonight, this ordinance proposes to be named in honor of my dear friend and former mayor, counseling Traffic Henry.

As a Korean war veteran, his service to our nation should always be remembered and acknowledged.

He is certainly worthy of any accolade he receives, but can I say his contribution to country and community are worth far more than a tagline in some flyer in the assessor's office?

A veteran, a teacher, an administrator, coach, decades of civic and community involvement, a councilman, a mayor, a school committee member, and now our return to this council uh on behalf of Ward 5 is a distinguished resume worth more than a snipe on some tax exempt list.

His love of this city and his historic engagement to better all our lives mandates more than a line in this ordinance.

If I had a vote, I would be thinking much bigger, and may I be bold to suggest the naming of the AES Charter School on Sharp Drive could be a lasting monument to this gentleman.

I hope someone might pursue that with the school committee.

Finally, this would be a worthy tribute reflecting not just his service as a veteran, but as a community superstar.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else in the ordinance that would like to speak on document items only?

See in none time.

Is there anyone online?

There is no public comment online.

At this point, my entertainment motion to take a five-minute recess.

So move.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any nays?

We are in recess for five minutes.

Okay.

Moving on.

New matters before the committee.

Ordinance 12602 orders and amendment of Title Three.

Revenue and Finance of the City of Cranston, Court of Ordinances, 2025, and Title Chapter 3.12.

It means a lot to our veterans.

I thank you for everything you've done for this city.

And as someone here said that a school should be named after you.

But the school chair shot it down.

So anything I could do to embrace your legacy and move your legacy on, whether it's even if it's on a paper clip, I am going to try to do it.

So with that said, um, we do have some errors that we found.

So we are going to regroup, but um, before I make a motion to continue this, I want um everybody to, if they have any questions or any comments to be able to say it now before I make a motion to continue.

So the floor is open if anybody wants to say anything.

Mr.

President, floor is yours.

Uh thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

I may have a couple of questions.

Probably uh I I'm gonna ask the the auditor and the solicitor.

Um there was a question brought up, and I think it's important to I do the chairman chairman's right, listen, and he said, you know what, we could we could it's a good idea to continue it.

Let's get all our dots across.

Uh uh, you know, I's and t's in the right places.

Um the first thing I'd ask, uh asked solicitor uh Vedecia.

Um there is seems to be some confusion over the years whether we can pass something out of committee in accordance with the charter, um, and then have the financial note as we go before the full council.

I think I know there's this that there's a little discussion on that matter.

If you could provide some clarification on that, yeah, the the charter and and the code, um the the charter is much more detailed than than the code.

The code doesn't say that it can't come out of committee, it says it just can't be considered by the council without the fiscal note.

However, the charter um does say, as uh Mr.

Steikos um had said that it can't even be reported out of committee without the fiscal note.

So I would have to agree that the charter would require a fiscal note before it can even be passed out of committee for consideration by the council.

So, but that there is a little bit of uh inconsistency between the charter and the code, but the charter is going to trump the code.

Okay.

Well, thank you for that clarification because over the years, and I know uh there's there has been some discussion whether that was the right procedure going forward.

We'll make sure that goes correctly.

I'm certainly appreciate uh and formal councilman Steichos's uh and and just uh for the record, one of the problems, one of the the question that always came up was well, who requests the fiscal note and who's responsible for getting it done.

And basically the way the code reads, uh, and I believe the charter is that the committee in the first instance requests the fiscal note.

So there was always we would always come to meetings, and everyone would be, well, who asks for the note, was it done, this and that.

I suggested at the time that when the fiscal note is required, that you put it on the record that the committee is requesting a fiscal note, so that removes any um confusion with regard to who's requesting it and when it was requested, more importantly, the timing of it.

So the chair, however, that wouldn't work now that we've re-looked at the charter because it can't even come before us until we have this fiscal note.

So but when you put it on the agenda, but I think you have to request I Mike may disagree.

I think they're two separate issues.

I think you can simply request, you could say we need a fiscal note, okay, but it stays in committee.

It and you can't vote on it until you get the fiscal note back.

I mean, that's the way I see it, or else you could never put anything on the agenda because you would have to come in with fiscal note in hand attached to the um proposed ordinance.

Maybe Mike, you think that's the way it should be done.

I I don't know, but then that creates the question.

Well, then how does that process get started and accomplished?

Who was the one that would make the request and so on and so forth?

Again, I think you guys have a little different procedure, but I I would think that if you're the sponsor of the ordinance, before it even gets on the agenda according to the charter, it can't even be on the agenda without a fiscal note.

So the sponsor that once it's drafted by the solicitor's office or my office, wherever drafts it, would then I guess tell the sponsor that we need to get this to the finance to get a direct fiscal note.

It's clear that it's finite, it's the finance department who prepares the fiscal note, right?

On behalf of the administration.

So that needs to happen.

But I think that according to the charter that was just read, you can't even get on the agenda um until you get that fiscal note.

Otherwise, it would be ridiculous.

You get the you got the ordinance on an agenda, then you have another hearing when you get the fiscal note, then you have another hearing with the ordinance with the fiscal note, you pass it on a committee, and then you go to the full council.

I mean that makes no sense.

That's why I say so that the code is a little bit contradictory um to the charter because the the code almost says the opposite.

The code says that it has to emanate from the committee, the request.

That's how the code reads.

So there's obviously some tension between the code and and the charter.

It would almost appear that we would have to put it on committee.

The two sessions, once with the fiscal note, and I that can't be the intention, but that's the way it sounds here.

That we'd have to put it on committee, request the fiscal note, go back to committee with the fiscal note, then take a vote on it, see if it gets out of committee and then put it before the council.

That's what it sounds like.

Um, it can't be right.

It sounds like a more efficient procedure that if I'm the sponsor of said ordinance, I I call I asked the uh finance director to have a fiscal note prepare.

Let me just say from experience, and this is I Mike makes a great um presentation, and he's probably right, but I'm speaking from experience, having appeared before this council in these various committees over the last several years.

And I can tell you this much.

Every time the issue of a fiscal note came up, there was mass confusion as to who's supposed to request it, who did request it, when did they request it, to whom did they direct it to?

So that prop that procedure is all well and good.

All I'm saying to everyone here is that if you're the sponsor, make sure you document, preferably in email or in writing, that you're requesting the fiscal note to be attached to your ordinance to whom you're directing it, because I guarantee you that that issue will come up because it's come up.

I I can't tell you how many times it's come up.

Yeah, in my while while I served in this capacity.

So uh thank you, solicitor.

Um, I'm not sure how to address your title.

Def is it assistant director.

No, no, I have to do it properly.

Communications director in Zulli.

But you you were going to add something to this.

Well, bring the chair.

So the chair, when it's um introduced as new business at the council meeting before, that's what you could request it then, and then it would be on the record.

That would be logical.

And if you assuming that would be enough time for the director to produce the fiscal note, if you wanted to tell him before that, you could also do that, but there is no time limit as far as I understand, attached to the fiscal note.

Like you need 60 days for a traffic study.

I remember asking this question if there was time on a fiscal note, and there is not.

So that sounds like a practical uh solution.

So that would be my suggestion.

I think it's a good suggestion.

Um, the other person through the chair, I I'd asked um auditor de mayo if he could just speak in.

We did have some questions regarding the fiscal note.

Um, given we don't have accurate, we we won't have accurate figures, how do we provide an accurate fiscal note matter like this?

Referring to what was submitted tonight, the ordinance that was proposed to be voted on.

Um, just to give you a quick calculation, based on roughly 1,520 veterans that are here, give or take a few at our current tax rate of 1388 over the three-year window, it'd be roughly 105,488 per year in reduced tax revenue over the three years, it'd be roughly about 316,000 and the culmination of the 15,000 credit in the current be roughly about 596,000 of revenue reduction.

So, but again, that's based on this tax current tax levy now, and based on how it was represented.

We have about 1,520, be about a $5,000 increase in the period.

Um, and by the rate, it comes out to about 105 give or take.

I mean, I don't have exact numbers.

I mean, councilman Sychos was correct, about 1500 when we did the calculation, it it kind of fluctuates over the course of it.

So, but again, we really don't know what the reduction is going to be because we don't know what the tax rate's going to be over the next three years.

This is just kind of a snapshot in time.

So you really can't hang your hat on this number.

So if I'm if I'm hearing you correctly, through the chair, um any fiscal note prepared by the finance director, um checked off by uh by the uh city city council auditor, will be a rough estimate.

Yeah, not an exact so there'll be a rough estimate, and it it it will be subject to change depending on the change in the levy because we don't know going forward it's going to be.

And we're do we're we're supposed to be putting this in, not this year, over several years.

Correct.

So it would be a very rough estimate.

And and there's one other variable that comes into play with this would be based on valuations because if valuation goes up, then again, even though they'll be at an exemption, you'll still have more tax revenue because the valuation of the property is increased.

So there's multiple variables uh moving forward on an ordinance like this.

Okay, no, I have no further questions.

That's crystal clear to me now.

Uh thank you, thank you, Mr.

Chairman.

There are any other questions from members of the council.

Um, let's go with uh councilwoman Graziano.

Thank you.

I just I I can't remember if this question was answered last time.

Um I'm looking to understand if we know how many uh veterans actually take the exemption today currently based on what the assessor gave me when this process started, it's around 1500.

I have 1520, but it's it's within that room right there.

Is there any I don't know if you're aware of this data because that um Mr.

Steikos brought up um the idea of like if somebody makes over a million dollars a year, I know you didn't specifically say that, but like X amount of dollars a year, maybe they wouldn't get the exemption.

Do we have any data if there's veterans in the city of Cranson?

I'm not asking about the monetary amount, but that don't take the exemption.

Do we have any data on that?

I'm unaware.

Um it's just basically based on the filing and the paperwork, that's where the number comes from.

Could there be more veterans?

Absolutely.

Anyone else?

Uh councilman Trevor King.

Uh councilman, thank you.

You were the catalyst of this particular ordinance, therefore, on behalf of all our veterans, we all thank you.

And then the city thanks you as well.

However, we got to comply with all the ordinances that were brought forth by Mr.

Maury and Mr.

Sycos, and I certainly agree with them that this has to be looked over and corrected.

And I do want to thank Mr.

Morray for the accolades he's bestowed upon me.

Uh I greatly appreciate it, and then I greatly appreciate his friendship over the years as well.

Any other one, anybody else?

Well, I want to thank um directors of Dellas.

I want to thank our our auditor, Mr.

DeMo for helping me out.

I mean, this circus has been going on for like I want to say the last four to five months.

So there's been fiscal audits for seniors, vets, housing court, so it's all over the place.

This is an ordinance that's been continued, I think three times.

So I want to thank everybody for their efforts in this matter and for giving us the time.

Um, so at this point, I would like to entertain a motion to continue and requesting a fiscal note for ordinance 126-02.

So move so second.

Any discussion?

Any further discussion?

Clerk, please take a roll.

Casper, yes, council traffic, yes, councilman Vazieri.

Yes.

Consulvice President Heroyan, yes, councilman, yes, President Wall.

Yes, yes, that will be that will be continued.

There are no resolutions.

I'm pretty sure everybody got the packet of the real estate tax abatements.

Are there any questions?

Seeing none.

May I entertain a motion to approve?

Motion to approve.

Second.

Any discussion?

Clerk, please take a roll.

Yes.

Council Trafficante, Councilman Vaziri.

Yes.

Constable Vice President Heroyan.

Yes.

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

Moving on, motor vehicle tax abatements.

I'm pretty sure everybody got it in their packet.

May entertain a motion to approve.

Second.

Any discussion?

There's nothing.

All right.

Uh tangible tax abatement.

That's what I meant to say.

I'm pretty sure everybody got that in the package.

May entertain a motion to approve.

Motion to approve.

Second.

Any discussion.

Clerk, please take a roll.

Consul McGraziano?

Yes.

Pasperitz.

Yeah.

Council Trafficanti.

Councilwoman Vaziri.

Yes.

Council Vice President Heroyan?

Yes.

Councilman Duha?

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

Uh tax and moving on to tax interest waiver approvals.

Pretty sure everybody got that in their packet.

I may entertain a motion to approve.

Motion to approve.

Second.

Any discussion?

Clerk, please take a rule.

Councilman McGraziano.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Traficante?

Yes.

Councilman Vaziri.

Yes.

Council Vice President Haryan?

Yes.

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

Tax interest waiver denials.

May entertain a motion to deny these waivers.

Motion to deny.

Second.

Second.

Any dismotion.

Let me rephrase the denial.

Motion to approve those denials.

Second.

Any discussion?

I said it right.

Clerk, please take a rule.

Consumer McGraziano.

Yes.

Conservatized.

Yes.

Castrafficante?

Yes.

Consulman Vaziri.

Yes.

Conservice President Haroyan.

Yes.

Consumer Duhar.

Yes.

Yes.

Moving on.

I'm pretty sure for informational purposes only, the tax assessment border review assessed from December 31st, 2023.

Everybody got that.

But there are no council member communications.

At this time, I would entertain a motion to adjourn.

Motion to adjourn.

Is there a second?

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Any nays?

Ayes have it.

We are adjourned.