Cranston City Council Meeting - February 17, 2026: Actions on Chiswick Road, Audit Deficit, and Appointments
Cranston City Council Meeting - February 17, 2026
The Cranston City Council held a regular meeting on February 17, 2026, preceded by a Safety and License Committee meeting. The council approved numerous resolutions, including honoring retiring Athletic Director Michael Trafficante, supporting Black History Month and Dominican Republic independence, and passing a local traffic-only ordinance for Chiswick Road. A significant discussion centered on the City's FY2025 audit deficit of $6.5 million and the school district's $3.9 million deficit, with a special council meeting scheduled for February 23 to review the audit. Several appointments and committee reports were also approved.
Consent Calendar
- Minutes Approval: Minutes from the January 2026 regular council meeting were approved unanimously.
- Finance Committee Reports: Approved real estate and tangible tax abatements, tax interest waiver approvals, and denials (for 26 Investments LLC) as recommended.
- Ordinance Committee Reports: Approved ordinance 12-2502 (zoning for Dunkin Donuts) and ordinance 12-2601 (Chiswick Road local traffic only).
- Resolutions: Celebrating Black History Month, commemorating Dominican Republic independence (182nd anniversary), honoring the life of Dolores Melillo, and supporting state bill S2280 for emergency school access were all passed unanimously.
- Resolutions from committee: Resolution requesting General Assembly to change September 2026 primary date was approved.
- Appointments and Reappointments: Reappointed Daniel Connors and Anthony Richie to the Audit Committee, appointed Alvin Candelario, reappointed Justin McCarthy to the Zoning Board of Review, and reappointed Richard Santa Maria, Doris Blanchard, and Anne Marie Mancarone to the Board of Contract and Purchases. All approved.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Chiswick Road Ordinance: Kevin Essington of 60 Chiswick Road spoke in favor of the local traffic-only ordinance, citing extreme traffic volumes (nearly 1100 cars per day), dangerous speeds (up to 40 mph), and safety concerns for 20 families, including eight school-aged children and nine residents over 65. He described a blind spot at the Broad Street intersection and noted navigation apps directing drivers down the street.
- Online Comment: Adam Crowley, a Chiswick Road resident, spoke in support, recounting a near-miss incident caused by cut-through traffic on his first day living there.
- State Primary Resolution: Nick Clemer, Cranston Registrar, explained that the resolution supports moving the statewide primary from Tuesday to Wednesday due to costs and logistical issues with Labor Day. He noted the bill had passed the House and was moving in the Senate.
Discussion Items
- Safety and License Committee (Pre-Meeting): The committee considered a Class B liquor license transfer for Ginger Asian Bistro (736 Park Avenue). The applicant (transferee, Loving Table 88 Corp.) submitted a tax status letter, but the committee required a certificate of good standing from the transferor (Genza). After a recess, Solicitor Videcki confirmed state law (3-7-24) requires the transferor to provide a certificate of good standing. The committee voted to continue the matter to the March 2, 2026 safety service meeting.
- Chiswick Road Ordinance (12-2601): Councilwoman Graziano presented the ordinance, noting the traffic engineer's revised letter (dated February 9, 2026) supported local traffic-only designation over physical measures. Director Renzulli reported that Google Maps had removed Chiswick Road from navigation, and she had requested Waze to mark it as a private road. Concerns were raised about potential impacts on adjacent streets and the need for additional no-through trucking signs. The ordinance passed unanimously.
- Auditor General Letter and City Deficits: Council President Wall discussed a February 5, 2026 letter from the Auditor General regarding FY2025 deficits—$6.5 million in the city's general fund and $3.9 million in the school's unrestricted fund. The letter noted the city and school had not submitted required monthly reports to the state during FY2025, though monthly reports were posted online and shared with the council. Director Moretti and Controller Igo clarified that reporting had resumed in FY2026 and that a February 23 special council meeting with the auditor is planned. The mayor's administration stated a corrective plan is being developed, acknowledging the finance director lost focus during contract negotiations. Council members emphasized transparency and cooperation to address the deficit.
- Legal Complaint against Delaw Community Charter School: Council President Wall updated on a lawsuit filed with Pawtucket against RIDE and the charter school, arguing the school was improperly classified as a network charter without required city council approvals. The city seeks to avoid an estimated $2 million annual cost. The case is awaiting a summons.
- DOT Projects Update: Councilman Bonano requested DOT present updates on highway projects (Route 37, Route 10, Power Road). Director Moretti reported DOT policy prevents them from attending council meetings but they can provide a presentation to the administration and council members at city hall. A future date will be arranged.
Key Outcomes
- Chiswick Road Ordinance: Approved unanimously (8-0), designating the street as local traffic only. The city will install signage and work with navigation apps.
- Liquor License Transfer: Continued to March 2, 2026 Safety and License Committee meeting pending receipt of transferor's certificate of good standing.
- Audit Deficit Discussion: A special council meeting was set for February 23, 2026 at 6:30 PM for the auditor to present findings. The administration is developing a corrective plan to address the deficit within the next budget cycle.
- Appointments: All appointments and reappointments were approved unanimously.
- State Primary Resolution: Approved unanimously; the council supports changing the 2026 primary date due to Labor Day conflicts.
- Referrals: New business items were referred to the appropriate committees (Ordinance, Claims) on March 2 and March 4, 2026.
Meeting Transcript
Safety and license committee to order tonight Tuesday, February seventeenth. Clerk, could you please councilwoman Graziano? President Cosby Ritz. Cosmetraficante. Council Vice President Heroyan. Present. Here. Yeah, John's here somewhere. Um I'd like to call for a motion to approve the minutes from the last meeting on February second, two thousand twenty six. There are no minutes. Okay. Is there anyone here tonight for public comment on docket items only? There is no public comment online. I'd like to close public comment now. Under public hearings, we don't have anything. Under show cause tonight, we don't have any. Sorry, my God. Committee business matters carried. Um tonight's gonna be the class B V liquor license transfer. Um is there anyone here from Ginger Asian Bistro at seven thirty-six Park Avenue that would like to come up and speak to us? So when we get into discussion, I'm gonna try to defend them the most I can. Second. So usually when you go to file for your letter of good standing, they give you different boxes. And the main box is to see if you owe taxes to the division of taxation. So of course, I've done it in the past before you click tax status because that's what they want to see that you don't know taxes, so you could open. So I'm asking for a motion to continue. I've already made that motion. For the chair, councilman to second time. Yes, madam chair. Um, I would just like to ask the clerk if this is what was uploaded or nothing was uploaded. And then the second part of the question, you know that there's a language barrier here. So I just want to make that on the record that there is a language barrier and that we have probably nobody that could speak their language to make it clear. So just want to put that on the record. I don't know how you would have paperwork and the I would not as chairwoman or the oh so uh she would know it because this is what would have probably been uploaded that day when he said he was gonna upload it. Through the chair. So I think the confusion is we do have what's uploaded on the portal is what councilman Andrew Hart has, which is the tax status for the transferee. What we require is a tax certificate good standing from the transfer, which is Ginza, and we could explain that to the transfer and the transferee. So this that that tax status letter that you have that is uploaded on the portal is for the transferee. What we need is a certificate of good standing from the transfer showing that they owe no taxes, which is Genza. So Matt, through the chair, if I could well, I'll let the president. Well, just I want to make sure I'm clear as well. So the trans the the party that is transferring their license to the transferee hasn't the letter of good standard would indicate that they had paid their state taxes. Is that correct? And yeah, perhaps the the solicitor Videcki would be best to answer that. I don't want to put it all on the clerk at this time. Well, uh assuming that's the issue with the letter of good standing, if it's taxes owed, you're correct. Um letter of good standing would simply mean that they don't owe any state taxes. You're talking about the transferore. Yes, and the transferees. So we're getting a little confused.
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