Call this meeting to order at this time, and I ask the clerk to please call the roll.

Consul McGraziano, present.

Conservative.

Present.

Present.

Consulman Vaziri, present.

Present.

Here.

Um, at this time I'm gonna request that the young men from Boy Scout Troop Sixty Six come on up here in the front so they can lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance this evening.

And I ask everybody in the audience to please rise for Pledge of Allegiance.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic States.

Thank you, gentlemen.

Our first item of business this evening um would be acknowledgments, commendations, and citations, and our first citation will be a congratulation citation.

And I'm gonna step down here.

I'm gonna ask the turn attorney uh Marcel to excuse me a second.

Uh thank you, Council President, members of the council, Nick Lima, registrar director of elections for the board of canvassers.

So we're honoring here uh tonight uh the council's honoring an issue a citation to uh four uh students, I think three three could make it tonight, um, who are being honored for their civics engagement service to our city through something that has never been done before in Rhode Island, but is done in nearly every other state in the country.

Um this is one of the few areas, I think in elections administration where we've been behind the eight ball on, and that is the creation of I voted stickers uh that celebrate the city of Cranston and also involve our our local students.

So we partnered with Cranston Public Schools about a year ago in order to start a I voted sticker contest in which art students uh in the schools would have the opportunity to design stickers that celebrate civics engagement in Cranston.

So we won't have the same old I vote sticker from the state every single year.

We'll still have that sticker by the way.

But for the first time ever in any Rhode Island city or town in the 2026 elections, we're going to have these new stickers.

Uh some of the contest roles were they couldn't be AI generated.

They couldn't have uh any businesses or anything on there.

So sorry, Dells Lemonade, there's no Dell's Lemonade I vote a sticker.

Um they had to celebrate uh the something about the city of Cranston.

Uh so we have amazing our work, amazing designs.

There were ten finalists, the board of camisters considered, and these uh four students uh were all selected for their designs that are going to be honored here.

And uh, Council President, I just want to thank you and the council for taking a few moments out of your agenda to recognize them.

Thank you, Mr.

Lima.

Those of you who know me know I'm a teacher in my other life, and one of the subjects I do teach is law and government and civics.

So I can emphasize probably hopefully as well as Mr.

Lima's eloquently, the importance of civics education, important of people be involved in their in their government and the proceedings.

So not to belabor the point, the resolution uh reads as follows the Cranston City Council.

Let it be known that the Cranston City Council hereby issues.

And this is signed uh by all the members of the city council.

Um just congratulations to you.

And the first citation would go to uh Julia Ragar.

Okay.

Uh Ray Pedagog.

Yeah, we're gonna uh Lex Lexi Montebon.

And uh Samantha De Cesre.

And perhaps I could ask the members of the school committee to come up with that education.

So I can do it at once.

We have one that we actually have more citations.

That's okay.

So the mayor also has citations for the same students to read.

This is to certify and make known unto all whom these present shall come that Mayor Kenneth J.

Hopkins hereby issues a citation too, and all the students that were just presented will get one in honor of your exceptional creativity, artistic talent, and dedication to civic engagement demonstrated through your design of the new i voted sticker selected by the board of canvassers for use in the city of Cranston's 2026 elections.

This achievement represents a historic first for the state of Rhode Island as your design becomes the inaugural I voted sticker created by a local student, setting a remarkable example for your peers and leaving a lasting legacy in our community.

The City of Cranston extends its sincerest congratulations and very best wishes to you going forward.

And there's a citation for each of these students as well.

Thank you.

Okay, thank you.

The next citation would be a citation congratulating Steve Piscopello uh on his selection as the 2026 recipient of the John Jack Cronin Award by the Rhode Island Recreational Parks and Recreation Association.

This is a distinguished honor that reflects your exceptional leadership and steadfast dedication to advancing the parks and recreation throughout the city of Cranston.

And I believe uh Director Renzulli is going to present and also Councilman Campo Biano.

So good evening, everyone.

On behalf of Mayor Hopkins and the City of Cranston, I want to congratulate Stephen Piscapello on being named the 2026 recipient of the John Jack Cronin Award.

This is one of the most respected honors in Rhode Island Parks and Recreation, and it reflects Director Piscapello's decades of experience, strong leadership, and deep commitment to the community he serves.

Since coming to Cranston, he has already made a visible impact through improvements to our athletic fields, playgrounds, and recreational spaces across the city.

We are proud to see his work recognized on a statewide level and even prouder to have him serving the residents of Cranston.

Mayor Hopkins has already presented Director Piscapello, a citation from the city at his award ceremony.

But we just wanted to say congratulations again.

We appreciate all your hard work.

Thank you.

I mean, the school committee.

I mean, I'm done.

The city council.

I have this citation here in recognition of his selection as the 2026 recipient of the Jack Growing Award by the Rhode Island Recreation and Parks Association.

This distinguished award reflects your exceptional leadership and steadfast dedication to advancing parks and recreation throughout the city of Cranston.

The City Council commends your contributions, celebrates this as well, earned achievement, and extend this warmest congratulations.

I like to go off script and speak from the heart for a minute.

And before the director was even a director of parks and rects in the city, I witnessed his undying love for parks recreation for the children and for what they do out there.

The grass is always impeccable.

It's perpet perfect.

It's just amazing.

We have baseball teams that come from all over New England to play their world championships there at that field.

And we are extremely proud to call you uh parks and rec director.

You do a wonderful job throughout the city.

Thank you again for all you do on behalf of the city council.

Okay, the next citation is a citation recognizing uh the Department of Public Works for its critical contributions during this historic blizzard of 2026.

I believe uh Council um Bernano and uh directory is going to come up and make that presentation.

You are a gentleman, sir.

Good evening again, everyone.

On behalf of Mayor Hopkins and the city of Cranston, I um want to honor our public's works team tonight.

Um, I want to speak from the heart as we recognize the department whose work is often behind the scenes, but whose impact is felt by every single resident of our city, especially during the toughest moments.

During the 2026 blizzard, when our community was facing one of the most severe storms in decades, the men and women of the Department of Public Works showed what true public service looks like.

While most people were sheltering at home, DPW crews were out on the roads in the yards and in our garages, working around the clock to keep the city moving and to keep our residents safe.

And I want to say this clearly I saw it firsthand.

I spent much of that week in the DPW offices and out on the roads with crews.

I set up shop alongside the mayor right there in the building, not because I had to, but because I wanted to be present to support the team and to understand exactly what they were facing.

What we witnessed was extraordinary.

We saw people who were exhausted but determined.

We saw teamwork, problem solving, and pride in serving this community, and I did my best to help in any way I could with my own skill set.

The dedication, the professionalism, the resilience was all on full display.

These crews cleared roads to emergency vehicles could get through.

They kept access open for medical needs.

They made sure essential services stayed operational.

Their work protected lives and allowed our city to recover far more quickly than I could have expected.

So tonight, on behalf of the entire city of Cranston, it is my honor to present a citation to the Department of Public Works in recognition of their critical contributions during the 2026 blizzard.

And additionally, I have a citation from Governor McKee recognizing the same.

To every DPW employee, thank you.

I saw your work up close, and I will never forget it.

And neither will this city.

We have with us here tonight to take the the uh citation, director of DPW, Frank Carrero, and highway superintendent John Corso.

That's it's very tough to follow.

Um, Director Rinzuli is always very thorough.

Um, but I want to uh go on record as uh as saying that I know how thankless of a job it is to plow snow.

I've done it for about 21 years, and there's a reason why if you ask a snowplow driver um about their overtime in plowing snow, they will say, quote unquote, it's blood money.

It is one of the toughest jobs to do.

You're not only contending with poor visibility, you're not contending with pushing stuff that doesn't really want to be pushed, you're contending with uh fatigue, and you're contending with a city that wants everything done as quickly as it can be done, and they should.

Um, I can tell you that obviously this was a historic snowstorm, more snow than we've ever gotten in anybody's life.

The most recorded snow on record in Rhode Island history.

And the men and the women of the uh Department of Public Works and the Highway Department did everything they could, and they succeeded in getting Cranston back to work safely and quickly.

Um to the point where, excuse me, to the point where we were actually ahead of many of our pure cities and towns.

Um, I want to read the citation on behalf of my colleagues on the city council and also on behalf of a grateful city of Cranston to the Department of Public Works in recognition of its outstanding service during the 2026 blizzard.

In the face of record snowfall and dangerous conditions, DPW crews worked around the clock to clear roads, keep emergency routes open, and support essential city operations.

The city council extends its heartfelt thanks for their exceptional efforts during this historic storm.

Uh and we set our hands, all nine of us here in the Cranston City Council on this 20th day of April 2026.

I do want to ask um Director Corso and Director Correra to come back up.

And um, while they are here and they are second to none, uh, this is not only for them, but it's also for the men, and I'm sure they'll tell you.

It's also for the men and women that report to them that are out there doing the work every day.

So please, to your crew, tell them how grateful we are here in this chamber.

Thank you very much, okay.

Next item of business will be the approval of minutes.

If there are no objections, I'm going to take the approval of minutes as a block.

Seeing none, is there a motion to approve the minutes?

So moved.

Second.

All right.

Any discussion?

There being none, clerk, please call a roll.

Yes.

Yes.

Council Trafficanti.

Yes.

Councilman Vaziri.

Yes.

Councilman Campiano.

Yes.

Council Banano?

Yes.

Consul Vice President Heroyan.

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

Thank you.

Moving right on.

The next item of business will be public hearing on docketed matters only.

If there is anyone in the chambers this evening who would like to speak on docketed matters, please step up to the podium, state your name and your address for the record.

You will be given four minutes.

Seeing none, Mr.

Lima, is there anyone online who'd like to make public comment on docketed matters only?

The account name is Andy Andahar.

Councilman, is that you?

Yes, that is.

Okay.

Now I am a regular citizen human being, and uh I just want to uh apologize to you, Mr.

President, to the members of my colleagues on the council for not being there tonight.

Um I just want to let I want to congratulate all the awardees today for the citations.

And I also want to let the residents of Ward 3 know that I was not in support of that citation for DPW, as I know they put them in harm, but my name appears on the citation anyways.

But I also want to let the public know that um we are working diligently to solve this financial crisis in the city.

And apart from that, I wish you all good luck tonight, and I'll be watching.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman.

Is anyone else who'd like to make public comment and let me reiterate on Docketed Matters only?

I see no other public comment online.

Okay, I am going to close public comment at this time.

We're gonna move on to resolutions.

The first resolution will be a resolution proclaiming April 2026 as uh genocide awareness and prevention month.

This is sponsored by Mayor Hopkins, Council Vice President Heroyan and myself.

I'm gonna turn the floor over to Council Vice President Heroyan.

The floor is yours.

I'd just like to say a few words tonight.

Um I rise tonight to ask for your support in the resolution recognizing and commemorate in the Armenian genocide from 1915, 1923.

Between 1915 and 2019, 1.5 million Armenian men, women, and children were deported, masculine, marched to the deaths to the Ottoman Empire.

Hundreds of thousands were displaced, their churches and cultural heritages were destroyed.

This was the first genocide of the 20th century.

And the term genocide itself was coined by Raphael Limkin in the direct response to the Holocaust that followed it.

Rhode Island is the home of the oldest and most vibrant Armenian community in the country.

Many of those families settlers here in the state after fleeing their dissentants and we're our neighbors, small business owners, teachers, veterans, civic leaders here in Cranston today.

Recognizing this history, honors the residents and contributions to our city.

As a council, we do not set foreign policy, but we do set the morrow and standard for our community.

We do recognize the genocide.

We affirm that Cranston is a city that tells the truth, stands against hatred of all forms, teaches our children that this will never happen again, and we cannot allow this to happen again.

Must be something of denial, the final stage of a genocide.

As we reject that tonight and don't allow it again.

By passing this resolution, Cranston joins the state of Rhode Island, the U.S.

Congress, and 33 other states acknowledging this historical fact.

We remember the victims.

We stand with the survivors, we stand with their families that are here with us tonight.

We commit ourselves to human rights and dignity for all people.

I respectfully ask for your support tonight.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

Is there a motion to approve?

So move, Mr.

President.

Second.

Okay, motion is second.

Any further discussion?

I see Councilman Campiano.

Thank you, Council President.

Uh thank you very much.

Uh Council Vice President for putting this in.

Uh my grandchildren also have Armenian blood in them.

My grandmy daughter-in-law is half Armenian.

Uh, I would like to be added as a co-sponsor.

Fine.

Excellent.

Very good.

Any other yes, councilwoman?

I would also like to be added as a co-sponsor.

So well done.

Likewise, Councilman.

Chairman.

Traffic Kenny, you want to be anybody is everybody wants to be added?

Would I assume that?

Okay.

All right.

Um, if I could just before I make my point, I could not elaborate further on or council vice president Heroyan said, but it is very important to remember the Armenian genocide in the Armenian community.

And just to remember, if I'm not mistaken, is it 6:30 on 6 p.m.

Friday night.

6 p.m.

Friday night.

We're having the Armenian flag raising in behalf.

Okay.

If there's nothing further, we are going to ask for a vote.

Clerk, could you please take a roll?

Councilman McGraziano.

Councilman.

Yes.

Council Trapicante.

Councilwoman Vaziri.

Yes.

Casper Campano.

Yes.

Council Banano?

Yes.

Council Vice President Haroyan?

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

Thank you.

Moving on to a resolution to support the full funding of state aid, fully funding state aid to libraries, um, to the full 25% for the General Assembly.

I'm going to ask Director Garsha perhaps to step up to the microphone and elucidate as he did so much work on this.

Thank you, Council President, members of city council.

If I could, I just wanted to start by by thanking my my colleagues in public works and highway and parks and rec for the amazing job they did during the storm uh cleaning out our libraries and get our libraries back open.

They have always consistently done an amazing job uh in their work when there's storms.

I want to publicly thank them for that.

Um so as I mentioned in our uh budget hearing on Saturday, the governor has level funded state aid to libraries in his FY27 budget, which means that it is level funded at a 24.1% uh rate instead of the prescribed 25% by law.

And what that does for the Cranston Public Library is actually a very small decrease in our state of 9,500.

So small numbers that we're talking when we're talking about the overall city budget.

So small numbers that we're talking when we're talking about the overall city budget, but knowing the financial issues that the city has, any little bit of money um helps.

And if this were fully funded, um it would bring another 23,000 dollars in revenue for the library.

Um I've worked to get res uh to get uh bills introduced in both the house and the Senate in the General Assembly, and um I ask that the uh city council consider passing this resolution to ask the General Assembly to fully fund state aid of libraries.

Thank you, thank you, Director.

I'm certainly gonna be in for as a sponsor fully uh fully in support of this.

I know how important our public libraries are to educate our students and have a chance just for people to go and read and study and how important it was in my life and the life of my children.

So I certainly agree with you wholeheartedly.

Um first I'm gonna take a motion to approve.

Is there a motion to approve?

Some second, and then I'm gonna open the floor for discussion.

You see, Councilwoman Heroyan's hand up first.

I would like to ask to be a sponsor on this also.

Yes, likewise, Mr.

Chairman.

Any other sponsors?

All right, noted that I think everybody in the chambers is a sponsor.

You already are a sponsor, I believe.

And I see uh councilman Bonano's hand up.

So there's a couple things that I'm really passionate about.

Um, and I especially when it comes to uh what we do here on the council.

Um is our education, and the other is our libraries.

And I just wanna say, I know there's probably a lot more people that pay attention to the main meetings and do our committee meetings.

So if I repeat myself to my colleagues, I apologize.

But um uh we have one of the best, if not the best, library director in the state.

And I think we should we should all um publicly acknowledge uh Director Garcia and the job that he does for our public libraries.

Um he mentioned, and uh we all get as a council people, we get uh an update every year from the libraries.

Our central library and our Cranston Public Libraries are the busiest and the most used public libraries in the state of Rhode Island.

And that's a tribute to the commitment that we have as a city and the commitment that Director Garcia has.

Um personally, I I visit the library with my my daughters probably twice a week.

I always have a book with me in case this gets boring.

I have something to do.

Um I doubt it will tonight, but just in case you never know.

Um I always have a book with me, and um reading is one of the most important things we can do, not only for our children, but as we become adults, keep our minds sharp.

Um Garrison Killier said a book is a gift you can open again and again.

And um Margaret Fuller said, today a reader, tomorrow a leader.

Reading is one of the most important things we can do for our kids, and like I said, to keep our mind sharp.

I did have a question for Director Garcia.

How many books can you buy with $9,500?

Just to put it in perspective.

$9,500, we could probably buy uh several hundred bucks.

So the next time, if we if this doesn't go through at the state level, the next time you have to wait for that bestseller three or four weeks before you can read it.

Blame blame this if it doesn't pass.

I will.

I'm in full support of this, and I'm happy to be a sponsor.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman.

Any other comments?

I'm seeing none, so I'm gonna ask.

Oh, I'm sorry, Councilman Traffic Kanti.

Yeah.

Since I'm the senior member of this particular organization, uh, I go back many years with several directors of the Cranston Public Libraries, and uh they have not only been superb for the city Cranston for the children of our city, but most important, they've been self-sustaining with very small appropriations from city government.

And so kudos for them.

So I want to take my hats off for them for the operation of the Cranston Public Libraries.

Uh, not for the operation in terms of the delivery of books and periodicals and et cetera, but but being so self-sustaining and not depending upon city dollars to maintain our great libraries.

Thank you, councilman.

Any further comments?

Um seeing none at this time, so I'm gonna ask the clerk to please call a roll.

Councilman McGraziano, yes, Councilman Traffic Canti.

Yes, councilwoman Vaziri, yes, Conspiano, yes, Constant Banana, yes, Consul Vice President Heroyan, yes, President Willow.

Yes.

Okay.

Our next resolution um will be honoring one of our own in the chamber this evening.

And I promise not to be Moshe or sentimental, and I'm gonna keep with that.

Um is uh resolution honoring uh Rizal Brazani for her years of service and her um dedication to the city of Cranston.

And um, as I said, she has been a giant asset to the city.

Um if you could say someone was irreplaceable, I I see that uh all her years in the service of the city and just the institutional knowledge that will be missing.

So a great uh thank you to Rosalba on this evening.

So we have a resolution for you just to honor it and honor you.

Um it was signed by all the members of the council.

One of the few times I didn't have to ask anybody to be a sponsor, they all wanted to be a sponsor.

And uh it reads as follows.

Um resolution of the city of Cranston, uh honoring Rosal Bazani for her years of service and her dedication to the city of Cranston.

Whereas Resolver has been employed by the City of Cranston since July 23rd, 1984, and whereas Rosalba Zani has been an exemplary employee of the city of Cranston for nearly 42 years, whereas Resolver has served as assistant city clerk um and clerk of the committee since 1999 and has been a vital and integral part of the city clerk's department during that time.

Whereas in 2016, Rosalba was awarded the Town Clerk of the Year award presented by the Rhode Island Society of Professional Land Surveyors, and whereas Rosalba has been an active and important volunteer in the Cranston community, helping both the Cranston Fall Harvest Fest and the Cranston Senior Games on numerous occasions.

Whereas Rosalba's knowledge and professionalism has been a tremendous asset to our city, and whereas Rosalba's warmth, her kindness, willingness to help and support her colleagues and her community will certainly be greatly missed.

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the city of Cranston, the Cranston City Council honors Rosalba Zani for her years of service and her dedication to the city of Cranston, and wishes her the best on her retirement and is signed and sponsored by every member of the city council.

Please say this.

Um, and I also like to thank my son, my daughter-in-law, my grandkids, my sister, my mom who could be here today for all their love and support over the last few years.

That's all.

Thank you so much.

Would there be a motion to approve?

Motion to approve.

Second.

Second.

I think you give Rose a little time.

I'm sure there's probably a comment or two.

Any comments or discussion.

Councilman Trafficandy.

Council President, members of the council.

Um, there's not a person in this work in this room that was around 41 years ago.

I know that for a fact.

I had the honor and the privilege when I was mayor of the city of Cranson to appoint Rosalba.

It's quite obvious I made a great choice.

So I want to repeat the words of Robert Browning, because they're appropriate tonight.

Robert Browning wrote that people are never honored for what they gain or receive in life.

People are honored for what they've given themselves to life and to their fellow men.

It is quite obvious to all of us here tonight, especially the city council members, that Rosalba has emulated those very words over the years.

She's going to be Ms.

Dealy.

And I'm so honored that I had the honor to appoint her some 41 years ago.

And I love her dealing.

I don't miss her.

Any other comments?

I see Councilman Campa Biano.

Thank you, Council President.

Like I says, uh, I feel like I'm losing a friend.

Uh you've always been there for us.

Uh, I just want to wish you the best with your family and especially with your grandchildren your time off.

Please enjoy it.

And don't be a stranger.

Council, Council Vice President Horrion.

I want to say I've had the honor to get to know Rose Alba as we get through safety services.

Um, she was not planning to retire, but as a result of the final situation situation the city is in, she decided she had to.

Um, I'm not losing a friend because I don't plan on not staying in contact with her.

Every one of us, you have become part of our extended family.

We wish you lots of luck on your retirement and know that you are always loved from us.

Any other comments?

Councilwoman Graziano.

We wish you well moving forward and wish you the best.

And this is great for you.

Thank you.

Any other comments?

Councilman Bonano.

I'm just gonna say you better not change your phone number.

We're gonna need you.

Salute.

Thank you, Councilman.

Any other comments?

There being none, I'm going to ask Rosalba to please take the roll.

Yes.

Consperitz.

Yes.

Council Trafficanti.

Yes.

Councilwoman Vazeri.

Yes.

Councilman Campiano?

Yes.

Council Banana?

Yes.

Council Vice President Heroyan?

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

Thank you.

Okay.

We're going to move on to committee reports.

Uh, the first committee is going to be the claims committee.

Reporting out will be Councilwoman Bazeri.

The floor is yours, Councilwoman.

Thank you, Council President.

Um, the claims committee met on April 6, 2026.

There were numerous claims that were paid that you can find in your packet, and I have nothing further to report.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

Moving on to a report from the chair of the Safety Services and License Committee, Council Vice President Heroyan.

Okay.

Safety services licenses held its last meeting on April 6, 2026.

We discussed lots of safety mission issues.

Sorry, I'm a little emotional right now.

Um action or no votes tonight.

Thank you.

Thank you, Council of Council Vice President.

Moving on to the report of the chair.

Councilwoman Andah is not here for the finance committee.

I said I would take it.

Um that meeting was held on April the 6th, 2026.

Um, several things were considered.

The first thing we're going to consider is 3-2601, an ordinance ratifying the school committee's collective bargaining agreement with Rhode Island Labor's uh district council 1322.

These are the tradespeople and mechanics unit.

This was passed through the uh finance committee, and all the information is in there.

Is there a motion to approve?

So move, Mr.

Chairman.

Second.

Okay, motion is made in second.

Is there any discussion?

I see Councilman Campbiano.

Thank you, Council President.

Um if there was ever a poster child for bad timing, it's this.

Um I don't know if it's possible to delay this or tap the brakes but um there's a lot of uncertainty in the uh in the city right now.

And uh I for one I don't know if I can support it without knowing what's going forward.

Uh it's nothing against them, they do a wonderful job.

Uh but I just don't know where we stand.

So uh I'm I'm asking if it's possible to put it off.

If not, I I'm not gonna be able to support it.

So you'd like a motion to table is what you're saying?

Mr.

Chairman.

Yes, I would.

Okay, so we'll consider that.

He's been uh Councilman Campo Piano has made a motion to table.

Is there a second?

About that second, the motion can't go on.

So there has also been a motion already, a motion to approve, and there was a second, and we're in discussion now, but thank you.

Council uh councilman Traffican.

Mr.

Chairman, I I have to recuse myself from voting tonight.

Uh I'm a member of the New England Labor Union.

I was also a former member of local 1322.

So I have to recuse myself.

I think all of us would be a probably a bit remiss if we didn't recognize the terrible financial situation we're in.

And uh certainly when this came before committee, I did mention it when it when it came up that although there are small raises within this collective bargaining unit, ultimately these are mechanics and trades people who save the school department money.

Um so I was in favor of it.

Generally, those of you heard me speak at the you know the uh budget hearings.

Um I'm usually against any any increases at this point, um, just because of the dire fit financial situation we're in.

But in this expenditure is is like sounds like an oxymoron, and this expenditure we ask actually save because if we had to go on the open market for the skill set that the members of this collective bargaining unit possess, it would cost us exponentially more.

So that's why I will I will support it this evening.

I do see uh Mr.

Crudale and any information you could perhaps be you know put forth on the value of these police people because you and I have sat in the same place and discussed uh yes, council president uh Michael Crudale, Chief Human Resources Officer Clinton Public Schools, uh 35 Rock would have grants.

Uh I would just echo what Council President Wall uh just said.

I can tell you the amount that is um in the fiscal impact included in your packet.

It doesn't even come close to what it would cost us if we had to contract this work.

Uh we have 23 buildings.

Uh we have two uh three plumbers, two electricians, two carpenters, and two HVAC people that handle all 23 buildings.

Uh it's a huge task.

Um, they do it flawlessly uh on numerous occasions.

They've all been also been asked by the city to work for Pox and Rec.

They've put up safety lighting at a couple of the facilities.

Um, you know, as members of the school department bargaining unit, but still assisting the city in in a couple of areas uh that needed some safety lighting at at some of our park and rec facilities.

So um again, these these uh this group is is uh works tirelessly.

We also have four mechanics in in this group as well, who are working constantly on our fleet of buses, which is around 85 buses handled by four mechanics.

So um if we were to go out and contract this work, it wouldn't even come close uh to what you see in this fiscal impact.

It would actually uh I can't even put a number to what it would cost us if we had to go out and bargain and and go on the open market and contract all of this work.

I might also add not to mention and as sitting on the school committee for a lengthy amount of time.

How can I say this in the most polite way?

Our fleet of buses are not exactly the newest models and require uh perhaps more service than we would like.

And and having these people on hand as opposed to going outside, it makes it makes it in a difficult job much less difficult.

Extremely councilman campiano.

Thank you, Council President.

I just want to reiterate.

I I'm not faulting them.

I'm not saying they don't do a good job.

I they do a wonderful job.

They do say, but at this present time, I I just would feel more comfortable if it was just delayed.

So we have to face our constituents, and we all are getting the calls over and over again.

It just would be easier to defend if it was just after we knew what was going on and everything was is settled and revisited it.

I'm sure it would be no problem whatsoever.

But like I said, if there was a poster child for bad timing, it would be this.

So I completely understand.

I'm a taxpayer myself.

Totally understand.

Um I just fear that the deficit we're looking at would be that much greater if we contract it outside.

And we lost these men.

I would tend to agree.

Any other comment?

I see, Councilman Ritz.

Uh just out a few comments.

I I did when I first see the share, Councilman Campo's first thought of geez, the the timing on this is tough, but having been a former school committee member, I know this is a small group and it's a skilled group.

So to lose them without this somewhat small increase here, I I think is a tougher loss to the city.

And I I know the expense that the the buses and those pieces have of it too.

So I I definitely see your point here.

I just think like it's been said, it it saves us more money than having to not only send this work out, but then retrain new people into this is the balance here.

And just to clarify it's uh the bargaining unit members is 13.

There's 13 members in the unit.

There's 13 members.

In the financial impact, just so I don't have to look it up approximately for this year was uh for 2627, it's um 11263 and all my glasses.

So approximately 112,000 dollars.

Yeah, that's what I recall.

Okay, for 13 members.

I think we're getting a bargain here myself.

Um and that's not and trust me, I I want to say this again.

It's not to throw shade at uh councilman campbiano, because I I certainly see it.

It's yeah, I'm torn as well.

Um council vice president Heroin.

I think we're all a little uneasy with this, like councilman Campo Piano said, but having the experience of being a school committee member, realizing that this is 13 people, um, these men especially trained, all women, and we're dealing with school bus.

And I know every one of us is concerned when we put kids on a school bus.

Um, the safety, and these people, if they weren't to work in the private sector, would probably make double what we're paying.

Right now we're in yes, financial trouble is an understatement, but um I'll be supporting this tonight.

Thank you, Council Vice President.

Any other comments?

Let me make sure everybody got one, and I'll give it to you again.

How's that?

Any other comments?

Okay, the floor is yours, cancel councilman campaign.

I promise, council president, this is my last time.

Uh, I just want to say again, I'm not saying no, I'm just saying table.

That's all I was saying.

Just up next meeting.

That's all I was saying.

So I just want to have that for the record.

Thank you, Councilman.

Okay, there being no further comments at this time.

Uh there has been a motion made, and there has been a second uh to uh pass this.

Um clerk, please call a roll.

Consultant Brasiano, yes.

Cons perits, yes, yes.

Yes, council vice president royan, yes.

Yes, a motion passes.

Um the next will be a consideration of interest, uh tax interest waivers.

Um is there a motion to approve so moved, second.

Is there any discussion?

Okay, clerk please call a roll.

Yes, canteen, councilman, yes, but piano, yes, councilman banano, yes, president, president.

Yes, that motion passes.

Um, councilman traffic and councilman Heroyan, would you like to bet vote on the uh interest tax interest waivers?

I would like to vote yes on those.

Councilman Trafficantiest waivers.

Tax interest waivers.

Yes, Mr.

Chairman.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

That's that has been noted.

Thank you.

All right.

Next item in business would be the advice and consent on Mayor Hopkins appointment of Robert Strom.

Um this did come through the finance committee and it did um pass through the finance committee.

Is there anyone?

I believe Director Rinzuli, you're going to speak at all on this matter.

I don't want to belabor the point.

We've all spoken about the qualifications of Robert Strom.

He served this city already for over a decade as its finance director.

He is acutely aware of the issues within the city and its budget, and he is the best person to help bring us forward.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, Director.

Um Mr.

Strom, would you like to say anything before uh I put this to a vote?

Thank you, Council President.

Uh I've been the finance director for about 22 years.

I was in one socket for nine years, 13 in the city of Cranston, 12 with uh Mayor Fong and one with uh Mayor Hopkins.

And I would definitely uh appreciate your support and confidence in me uh to come back and try to help us get through this difficult time as we all know.

Uh we have a lot of work to do, and hopefully we can get uh some resolution both for the uh administration council and more importantly, the taxpayers of the city of Cranston.

Thank you, Mr.

Strom.

And as I said, and I won't believe it.

Say, your experience, your knowledge, and the respect you have in the financial community around the state is uh speaks for itself.

I worked with you before when you were here, and uh I look forward to continuing.

Are there any other comments?

No comments, so at this time I'll ask um did I take a motion?

No, unless second, and no no other comments, no discussion.

All right, clerk, please call a roll.

Councilwoman Graziano, yes, Conspe Ritz, yes, Conspect Trafficanti, yes, Councilwoman Vaziri, yes, Conspect Piano, yes, Conspe Banano, yes, Council Vice President Heroyan, yes, President Wall.

Yes, that motion approves.

Next would be a report from, of course, once again, uh, unfortunately, Councilmanhart could not be here tonight.

Um, I'm sure he's with us in spirit.

Um, would you like to report on uh the ordinance committee?

You you're the vice president.

Are you the vice president of the vice committee?

I can't remember.

No, I was just next on them.

I thought you were ready to go.

So listen, there's nothing to report out, but I thought I had all right.

There's really nothing aside from there was a meeting held on the April the first, and there's nothing further to report.

All right.

So I'm good.

I did skip you.

I'm so sorry.

It was a mistake.

And I, you know, um, public works chair, councilwoman Graziano, the floor is yours and apologize for skipping over me without even getting the approval.

Thank you, President Wall.

Um, public works committee met on 4626, and there are no items to report to the council.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

Okay.

So we've taken care of them all the committees.

Next will be public comment on undocumented items.

If anyone is in the chamber this evening who would like to speak on undocated items, please step up to the podium, state your name and your address for the record, and I'll give you four minutes.

Hi, it's Marsha Fowler, 35 Milton Avenue.

And the timing of my concerns doesn't mean to be any show any disrespect to Mr.

Piscapello.

Um Cranston High School East, without a doubt, needs a new outdoor track.

But I'm concerned with the proposal with the proposed location for the possible track.

Cooney Field is a public field that's used by people of all ages and all physical abilities all year long.

Walkers, runners, families, uh teens strolling, parents pushing strollers, adults in electric wheelchairs with their staff, people using the pull-up bars, and best of all, the Cranston High School East Marching Band from August to November, all use the field and track.

Over the past nine years, I've seen our ball fields locked up and not reopened to the public.

I've seen the public fight to keep Doric Park as a public park.

Um I've seen the public fight to reopen the track at West so the public has a safe flat surface to walk on.

I've seen the public fight to keep the pool open, and there was a chance that a well-used basketball court was going to close and become a splash pad at Doric.

And recently a ball field was paved over.

What we need is not another park to close for the public, but more public parks to be developed.

We might hear that a new track at Cooney won't affect the use of public use, but historically, I don't believe that.

A new outdoor complex funded by a long-term fundraiser is something to be considered.

This would keep all fields open and also not cost the taxpayer any more money.

Um and it won't take away a public field, but it would give us an additional resource without using our money on a bond and paying interest on a bond.

Thank you.

Can you hear me?

Can you hear me?

Thank you, Council President.

Uh, the reason I came back, and I started to come back so soon is to talk about the budget.

Just before you begin, I won't take this off your time.

Just state your name and address.

Oh, I'm sorry, I should know that by now.

Uh Stephen Fryas, 107 Garden Hills Drive.

I've come back because after I left people, a couple people said, I wish I I you would have been able to say more.

And then I came to the clerk's office and some random person, I don't even know, said, I wish you had been able to finish what you were saying.

So I'm coming back to finish what I was going to say.

So what I was going to say is as follows.

I'll start this way.

You're talking about largest tax increases.

As you know, this is the largest tax increase since 2009.

When Alan Fung was mayor, we got a cut in state aid, it was about 8.8%.

We've had some other ones, 2003, Mayor Laffy, 12.5.

I mean, excuse me, 12.8.

Mayor O'Leary, 11.5, and then under Mayor Trappicante, and 96.95 were about 11% and nine and a half.

Um, the largest, actually, for your fun fact is 1917, 19%.

World War II inflation, World War I inflation.

But some of you may wonder like what happened after those tax increases.

The councils had a lot of turnover after those tax increases.

This is what happened.

So about four to six people in each council did not come back.

They usually lost reelection, two to four.

So that's why I think I hope you really do spending cuts.

That's what I was coming here before.

To get the four percent, you're gonna need to have about a six and a half million dollar spending cut.

I'll just say it.

You're gonna level fund the schools to do that.

The school's staffing has increased according to the own audit report of the city auditors.

It's gone from 1462, 1431, about 10 years ago, to about 1548.

It's in the last couple of pages of the audit report.

Okay, they should be level funded.

Next category, and I should say this, the student population has been going down by about a thousand during that same time period.

The problem for the schools is state aid is not increasing at the same rate it did a decade ago.

That's the problem.

The city's increasing.

The state isn't.

Second, public safety.

You need to reduce it by about two and a half million.

And I'm not talking about firing people.

In 2009 and 2010, Mayor Fung and the city council approved agreements that allowed for 15 vacancies in the police and fire.

There are no vacancies in the fire department.

If you go from 204, you're going up from 196 to 204.

That was an error in my opinion.

And you guys approved that a couple months ago.

You should be trying to figure out how to get it back down.

In the early two early 2010s, it was around 181, 178.

How much more time do I have left?

Okay.

Okay, sorry.

If you cut me off, just let me know.

Okay, just let me know.

I'm sorry, I don't want to, you know.

Okay.

Um, I should say the big beautiful bill, it allows for overtime to be free for the first 12,500 or 25,000.

That's a that's something that firefighters are going to get now.

And please, they should be willing to give a little back right now.

Last thing, you need about two million dollars in savings and general government.

That's about 20 reduct positions being reduced.

I think you could do it at the senior center, not all 20, without significantly materially impacting services.

And if you had to, and I'll just say it this way, I won't offend people.

Okay.

I'm not trying to offend people, believe it or not.

If there's an employee who's not capable of getting out a couple of hundred thousand dollars in free federal money, even with the assistance of another employee over the course of two years.

I don't think you should continue to fund that imposition.

Um you should rethink it.

Let's put an 8% tax increase.

So that's what I really had to say.

I apologize if I went over.

I appreciate your consideration.

I'm just trying to do what's best, I think, for the taxpayers of the city.

Thank you, Mr.

Price.

You didn't go over.

You were you're perfect today.

Thank you.

That was all it was.

I just need a couple more minutes.

Just needed two days.

Is there anyone else in the chamber who would like to speak on undacorted matters?

I'm seeing none.

Oh, well, come on up.

Just state your name and address for the record.

Hi, Tanya's Tanya Signari.

I do agree with um the councilman here about putting off the raises.

What would it have been another month or so?

I agree with that, but I can see the other side of it, so it's kind of both ways.

But I think another month wouldn't have been been a big deal.

I think a lot of residents um probably would have went that train of thought too, but just throwing that out there.

Also, um, the Briggs building, maybe this is more of a school matter, but many jobs in the Briggs building, it cost into the millions just to run that building.

I don't know if um an audit is ever done or should be done on if all those positions are necessary from what I hear.

Some of them are uh some of them may not be.

So a lot of money is going there, and a lot of money goes to the superintendent of schools, who many people actually don't like.

And I think it would be great if Cranston had more blue ribbon schools as well.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Anyone else in chambers who'd like to speak this evening on undocated matters?

See no one here in chambers.

I'm gonna ask Mr.

Lima if there's anyone online.

There's no public comment online.

Okay, so I'm gonna close public comment on undocated matters, and next we're gonna go to the uh appointment of city officials.

First first item is the reappointment of Carol uh Cooney as tax assessor for port of review for the term of January 5th, 2026 through January 5th, 2029.

Is there a motion to approve?

So moved.

Second, okay.

Any discussion?

Okay, there being none, clerk, please call a roll.

Consul McGraziano, yes, Conservatized, yes, Consicante, yes, Councilman Vaziri, yes, Conspiano, yes, Consumer Banano, yes, Vice President Heroyan, yes, Council President Wall.

Yes.

Next item for business is the reappointment of Justin McCarthy as alternate number one for the tax assessment board of review for the term of January 28, 2026 through January 28, 2029.

Is there a motion?

So moved second.

Any discussion?

There being none, clerk, please call a roll.

Pascal McGraziano, yes, Casper Ritz, yes, Consor Trafficante, yes, Consulwoman Vazieri, yes, Piano, yes, Consano.

Yes, Constable Vice President Heroyan, yes, House President Wall.

Yes.

Next item is the reappointment of Mario Carlino as alternate number two for the tax assessment border review for the term of January 28, 2026 through January 28, 2029.

Is there a motion to be so moved?

Second.

Motion made and second.

Is there discussion?

There being none, clerk, please call a roll.

Councilwoman McGraziano.

Yes.

Council Trafficante.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes.

Consano.

Yes.

Consulate Vice President Heroyan.

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

Um, the next item are mayoral reappointments or appointments rather.

The reappointment of Robert Coop for the planning commission for the term of April 7, 2026 through February 1st, 2030.

No votes will be taken.

This is for informational purpose.

There's an appointment of Alan DePolo to the Historic District Commission for the term of April 3rd, 2026 through November 1st, 2027.

Once again, this is for information.

No votes will be taken.

The appointment of John Calisante to the historic district commission for the term of April 3rd, 2026 through November 1st, 2026.

This is informational as well.

The appointment of Eric Army to the historic district commission for the term of April 3rd, 2026 through November 1st, 2026, no vote to be taken.

And lastly, the reappointment of Gillian Finkel to the historic district commission for the term of April 3rd, 2026 through November 1st, 2027.

No votes taken on those matters.

Report of city offices, none.

Executive communications.

I do not see solicitor malay here.

Umicekia down.

Okay.

Um do we know if Solicitor Millet will be attending this evening?

Okay.

Well, I mean, we did put this on there.

Thank you so much.

Um at this point.

Well, I you know, if if there is no objection, I'm in while we're waiting to hear from Solicitor Millet, I'll take the agenda out of order if there's no objection, so we could keep this moving.

I I see none.

I'm gonna circle this so I do not remember, forget it.

All right.

All right.

So the next item of business would be a request for continued service for one year for Detective Lieutenant Stephen Brooks of the Cranston Police Department, uh, as of April 2nd, 2026 through April, um April 2nd, 2027.

Would you like to speak on that, Director?

Yes, thank you.

Detective Lieutenant Stephen Brooks has completed the requirements for continuation of service.

And Mayor Hopkins would like to request that Stephen Lieutenant Stephen Brooks serve another year.

Thank you.

I certainly be in favor of this.

Is there a motion to approve?

So move, Mr.

Chair uh Mr.

President.

Second.

Okay, motion made and second.

Any discussion there being none, Clerk, please call the roll.

Councilman Brasciano.

Yes.

Consider Ritz.

Yes.

Council Trafficanti.

Yes.

Councilwoman Vaziri.

Yes.

Consider Campiano.

Yes.

Consident Banano.

Yes.

Consul Vice President Heroyan.

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

Thank you.

Moving right along, a request to be placed on the pension roll effective April 17, 2026 at the end of the day for Chief Daniel Marcinko, the Cranston Fire Department.

We certainly appreciate his service.

Um Director Um Renzili.

Chief Marcinko has devoted his professional life to protecting the people of Cranston and serving the city with pride.

The fire service asks a great deal of the men and women who answered the call, and Chief Marcinko has carried that responsibility with strength, steadiness, and honor.

Over the years, he has not only led during emergencies, but also helped shape the culture, professionalism, and readiness of the Cranston Fire Department.

Public service at this level requires sacrifice, including sacrifices made by family, and that should be recognized and appreciated as well.

On behalf of Mayor Hopkins and the city of Cranston, I want to thank Chief Marcinko for his years of commitment, courage, and service.

Your legacy will live on in the department that you helped lead and in the community you helped protect.

Your retirement is well deserved and well earned.

And while this chapter closes, your impact on the city will not be forgotten.

We wish you health, happiness, and many fulfilling years ahead with family and loved ones.

We are so grateful for you.

And with that, I request um to place Chief Marcinko on the city pension roll.

Thank you.

Okay.

Is there a motion to approve?

Motion to approve.

Is there a second?

Second.

Is there any discussion?

I just would add that you know uh echo what Director Renzuli said that we we do appreciate the surf uh service that Chief Marsenko has given to the city of Cranston.

And as I say, I'm sure it's a well-deserved retirement.

Clerk, please call it all.

Yes.

So I'm gonna go back to Solicitor Videchia.

Um the legal uh expense report is on.

I know uh director Renzilli did send a text to Solicitor Malay.

Are you prepared to answer any any questions on this matter?

Or is that's probably that's what I've heard.

I mean, if they were of a general nature, I probably could, but if you're if you're looking for specifics, because I I have no part in the you know the hiring or the farming out of legal work, but if there are general questions, I'll I'll answer as best I can.

So I believe the first part, the stuff that we would do in open session, you probably would be I I'm gonna assume you'd be able to answer those questions.

However, later on the agenda, there's also an executive session, which you've expressed also right now that that would not be something that your party I mean again if I if I can be in of assistance, I will, but if I suspect what the council is looking for, I probably will not be of much help because as I said, I mean, he's the solicitor.

I'm I'm the assistant.

I don't do any hiring or uh farming out of work.

Okay, so that that part of the agenda is there any questions on unfortunately.

Uh I I'm disappointed.

I did not get notice that Solicitor Malay wouldn't be there.

I we have put this on the agenda.

In fact, and the last agenda we mentioned that it would be this.

So I am disappointed he is not here this evening.

I'm not sure why, but I guess we'll find out.

Um any questions for Solicitor Videcia?

He he will try to answer any questions you have.

It's not of a sensitive nature to each case and each lawyer.

Um Councilman McGrazio.

Thank you, President Wall.

I don't have any questions, but I'm like one of the parties that requested that we go into executive session.

So I just want to put it on the record that I'm disappointed that we couldn't take some time to go over this because I have concerns about this continued budget.

So I'll just say thank you for being here this evening, but I don't have any further questions that could be taken in open session.

Any other questions?

Um, I as I said already previously, I your statement and I'm pretty close to the same.

We will put it on the next session as well.

Uh clerk, if you could make a note of that.

Okay.

Okay, moving right along.

Um my communications might have to do with the budget process, and I believe they'll probably I put it on here for two reasons.

Um, as we discuss the budget process, I wanted to go over a few few items that are contained.

Hold on, I'm gonna take one moment.

Um, yeah, John did I think we're probably moving right along.

We've already touched on that one.

Um, I wanted to hit a couple of charter uh provisions that that are gonna be apropos as we go forward in the budget process.

So it probably would be from a legal end, but also I'm glad we've approved of Director Strom because it will also be in his his uh wheelhouse as well.

I asked, and there's a couple of items.

I asked Tom if he could um copy them just so we have them able to view.

And I'm not gonna read the charter provisions um word for word, um, but I am gonna highlight certain provisions and I ask the first item in in chapter six is where the budget is discussed, and a lot of the items have already been we've already gone through.

We've had the introduction of the budget, we've gone through you've got the appropriation ordinance, we are already having our hearings.

All right.

Um, we're getting to the point where we're partly through our hearings and and we're starting to discuss what would happen um regarding our action on the operating budget.

So to be crystal clear, and I know at the time we gave the extension, um, the council has to act on the budget according to our charter, and uh by May the 15th.

All right.

And the line you'll see on the top on 6.09 action on the operating budget and appropriation ordinance says the following.

The council shall act finally on the operating budget and the appropriation ordinance, no later than the 15th day of May.

Appropriation ordinance is that ordinance that the mayor sent to us when he gave us our address.

If by that time fixed for final action, the council has not adopted.

I underline that point, has not adopted with or without amendment, the operating budget and appropriation ordinance shall become effective as submitted to the council.

Herein lies is something of a and we've talked about a little bit, a legal conundrum.

Because our, and we'll get back to this, our appropriation ordinance requires a 7.45 tax increase, which is also something in that on that that we'll get to.

So knowing that, if you didn't act that we voted it down, the mayor's um if it would go go in as how the mayor introduced it to us.

So if we didn't make take any action on it, uh is it the 15th?

If we didn't have enough time on it, the way I understand it, and please solicit is correct me as if I'm wrong, I'm not a lawyer.

If we didn't have enough time and we did made no action at all, it would be the mayor's uh mayor's ordinance of allotments.

The problem being is the mayor's if we and I perhaps I should skip to the part that's gonna give us trouble, which would be section six point two one property tax levy cap.

All right, so I'll skip ahead to that.

I'm gonna go back to some of the other ones as well.

Tom, if you can put that front and center.

If you look there, and here's where I I think it's it's worth discussing in 6.21 property tax levy cap title, the city may not increase property tax levy by more than 3%, but no higher than 4%.

This is where it gets ambiguous, um, above the amount levied for the previous fiscal year, unless approved by an affirmative vote of at least the majority of the entire council, and at least one of the conditions set forth in the Rhode Island General Law for 4-5-2, which is outlined on the bottom.

So one of those conditions would have to be met to go to four, and we'd have to have if I'm reading this correctly, at least a majority vote.

At that point, this council could go to four.

Not seven and a half, but four, which is sizably different.

Now, what we're looking at would fly in the face of the furthermore, where it says, furthermore, the city may not increase the property tax levy by more than four percent above the amount levied in the previous fiscal year, unless approved by affirmative vote of four fifths of the entire city council, and at least one of the conditions in the Rhode Island general law.

The way I'm reading that, that's seven out of nine of us.

So those two things coupled together, create a problem.

I know and I don't know where we are at this point.

We're not quite done with that process.

But as I I keep saying again and again, it is no guarantee.

I tell this to the public and everyone out there, it is no guarantee that we're going to pass that 7.4.

Right?

We're still deliberating, it's early in that process, but that's a real contingency.

So I figured we all should see it in black and white.

And if those provisions, if they're questions, we have both the solicitor and our attorney to answer it.

So I would open up just on those two items, because there are other provisions I want like to talk about would probably be more in uh director Strom's wheelhouse.

Um, I see um uh councilman Ritz.

Thank you, Council President, for putting your teacher hat on there.

That was a very good explanation and definition there.

But I I guess so we have three scenarios.

So it's yes, we approve it, no, we don't approve it, or maybe there's no vote, and it just dies on the floor.

So, how do all three of those work?

So if it's a if we vote yes, seven out of the nine, then we still need state approval, and then it would become a new tax increase.

Anyone would like to answer that.

Well, you without state authorization, you can't approve it.

You you can't approve 7.5%.

So you would not be able to do that.

That's that's the first problem.

Okay.

Um, as council president walls said, if you take no action, the charter says the charter provision says that the mayor's budget as submitted takes effect.

The problem again, we circle back, it's requesting a 7.45 or 7.5% increase.

Again, can't be done.

Okay.

So that raises several possibilities, none of them of which are particularly good.

And and Mr.

Strompt could probably speak to it better than I could.

I can only tell you what the legal options are.

And the legal options basically, when it comes to budgets, um, and when it comes to a city or town that is in economic distress, let's let's use that term, and the city or town is unable to, for whatever reason, solve it internally.

The only options at that point is to go to the auditor general, okay, have them do a review.

Now, the auditor general will not come in and run the run the city, okay?

They won't do that.

However, the auditor general may make suggestions, but it would still be up to this council working with the administration, you know, to come up with a solution.

Um if you go down that road.

The other nuclear option would be a Central Falls scenario, a provenance school department scenario, or town of Johnston scenario back in the late 90s, where you contact the auditor general and say we can't meet our obligations based on this budget that we have currently.

And that probably begs the question well, what budget?

I think we're in agreement that if the council and administration do not enact a budget going forward, we would have to operate based on the prior year's budget, okay, going forward.

But that's that's a temporary fix.

I I would I would say that spending discretionary spending would have to be frozen, obviously contractual obligations, payroll, pension contributions, things like that would still have to be met.

Now, the worst case scenario, worst possible case scenario, as I just said, would be appointment of an overseer, as they did in Central Falls, as they did in Johnston, as they did with the Providence School Department.

That is the nuclear option.

That is basically saying to the state, sorry, um, we're too far in the hole.

We cannot meet our obligations.

Now circling back to to what President Wall was talking about with 6.21 in the property tax cap.

State law does not allow you to exceed 4% unless you get General Assembly authority, or you go to the auditor general, you have to certify it.

Your finance department has to certify that one of the conditions contained in the statute have been met.

It's considered an emergency type situation.

It cannot be, you know, we just didn't budget correctly.

We can't meet our obligations.

It's got to be something like again, it's going to affect health and safety, uh, services, school, schools, pensions, something that is genuinely an emergency, and we can't meet those obligations.

In that scenario, if you can't get general assembly approval, you what you do is you go to the auditor general.

If the auditor general, and it's a big if says, okay, I'll let you exceed it, it comes back in front of you, and you're right back in the same position because now you're gonna have to vote whether or not to exceed that four percent and and give seven and a half percent, seven percent, six and a half percent, whatever.

So it ultimately it comes back in your lap, whether you go through the general assembly, whether you go through the auditor general.

As I said, the nuclear option, if you really can't meet your obligations, and it's affecting some of the categories I mentioned, the nuclear option is literally a state takeover.

So, yeah, so thank you.

That was that was very very helpful.

So, so either way, it's the state approval first, whether it's a yes or a no.

So, say it is state approval, it comes to us and it's no.

Is it the mayor's budget at that point to cut it down to the four percent?

Well, I think if if I want to understand your question, so are you saying if it goes to the general assembly and they allow you or they don't allow you to exceed the cap?

I'm I'm sorry.

Well, no, I mean uh ultimately the budget process as it's submitted is done for the administration that goes to the council.

Now, the council can obviously pursuant to the charter, can strike items, can raise, can lower.

That's the amendment process.

So, but in the first instance, I think it would have to go back to the administration, back to the mayor.

And and but again, ultimately it's it's ending up in your lap.

No matter how we get there, no matter what circuitous route you take, it's gonna end up right back here in front of you.

So the the one scenario that frankly I'm I'm really not certain of is what happens if none of those things work.

So, in other words, now we're in a situation where the mayor needs seven and a half percent.

We can't exceed four percent because we can't get the authority from the auditor general, and we can't get our delegation to submit the bill to the general assembly, or it's not approved.

What happens?

We're short three and a half percent.

Um the only thing I can think of at that point would be to get some type of clarification from the court.

It might require a declaratory judgment and put it in the hands of a superior court judge because our charter doesn't go that far.

The the it just doesn't explain what happens.

This is this is a very unique.

I I've never experienced it.

I I don't know if uh I know it's Mike, but when I'm you know, Attorney Marcelo has a lot to say about it too.

But um, that's that's my take on it.

I mean, he's got experience with uh with other communities as well.

So let's hear from him too.

Um I'll wait question.

I'll wait for the question.

I'll wait for the question.

All right, who you had the hand?

All right, uh, council vice president Horan.

Can any of this go to the General Assembly without this counseling voting on a majority on a resolution?

Can the bill be submitted and heard on the House floor if we do not pass a resolution?

Well, that's uh I I'll answer that question.

I think you can probably answer that too.

So the the actual answer is the General Assembly could act without a resolution of this council.

The reality is they will not act without a resolution of this council.

So yes, could they have the authority to pass this by themselves?

Absolutely.

Will they do that?

No.

And the eight years that I've been there, I know that John is still works there or was working there at one point, they need local support because it's an extraordinary remedy they're asking.

You're asking them to exceed a state law that sets the tax levy at four percent.

So that they are asking you, we need to go over this.

They want the mayor to submit it, and they want the support of the legislative body before they will move on it.

So at the end of the day, at the end of the day, it comes back to you, and it's got to be, I believe it's either super majority vote or it at least majority vote.

You still have to vote on that.

And can I can I can I just answer councilman Ritz's question?

Uh I I think the conundrum is this.

I somewhat agree with some of the statements that were made.

But the mayor submitted a budget that has a 7.45% increase under the charter that he's under and under state lawyers.

Technically, that is over the cap.

He needs and the city needs legislation to allow him to go over the cap.

The budget that he has go obviously goes over the cap.

It is now in your lap.

The charter says if you fail to act or don't act by the 15th, the mayor's budget becomes enacted.

But that a budget, I'm going to use the term illegal, not in that in that don't take it the wrong way, like a criminal act, but it's an illegal budget because it's not a balanced budget.

He can't go over four percent.

So his budget is a nullity because it he doesn't have the authority to propose a uh a budget with a 7.4% increase unless he got general assembly approval.

If he doesn't have that, then he doesn't have a budget.

So what would I traffic can he go to the General Assembly himself?

Try to ask for the 7.4.

He could.

I just yeah, I absolutely could, but I as I said, they will not pass it without a local local resolution.

That's just that's not that's not law, that's just the practice that's policy that they have up there.

So the problem is is that if you don't act by the 15th, you have a the mayor's budget is a nullity because it's above the 7.4 percent well, excuse me, it's above the 4%.

He doesn't have the authority to submit.

So, in my opinion, the the budget goes back to the mayor, and he's got to submit a new budget within the charter provisions or you know, four percent or whatever.

If it's four percent, you still got to go get nine votes.

One thing that I do want to add, though, there is a provision state law, it's 45-2-3.2.

It says, unless otherwise provided by a city or town charter in an emergency caused by a failure of a city or town to approve an annual appropriation measure, the same amounts appropriated in the previous fiscal year shall be available for each department and division thereof, subject to a monthly or quarterly allowments in accordance with seasonal requirements as determined by the city or town's chief financial officer, provided that expenditures for payment of bonded indebtedness of the city or town and interest there on shall be such amounts as may be required, regardless of whether or not any annual appropriation ordinances enacted by the city or town council.

So the first thing that would happen is we revert back to the last year's budget, bond payments would have to be made no matter what it is, because we don't want to default on bonds, and that's where that's the that is the default initially while this whole thing plays out.

So there is a provision in state law that basically says you go back to the previous year's budget, and and the previous year's tax rate, by the way.

So what would normally happen?

And I've been in a situation where this happens, the and again, this is just I'm just talking theoretically.

The first quarter tax bill would go out based upon our last year's budget, right?

With the tax rate, give us gives the both the city council and the mayor time to work this out whether they get legislation or not, assuming that some legislation passes that makes you go over the cap or the budget is presented.

Then the difference the the delta does from from what you passed and what was actually needed gets spread out in years in quarter two, three, and four.

So you basically you get another tax bill, but it's spread, you know, it makes up the difference.

Let's assume the worst case scenario.

The city council doesn't come to an agreement.

Refer it's back, it goes to the mayor.

The mayor cannot exceed the four percent.

All right, so that the budget becomes the previous year's budget, basically.

In the interim, in the interim, yeah.

However, in the interim, since we passed uh resolutions and ordinances approving contracts which exceed that amount, what happens then?

That's a good question.

I don't I don't want to delve into what might happen then, but I think that you might have to you you you you don't have enough money to pay those individuals, right?

Because you don't have enough because it exceeds that whether that means there may be a temporary layoff or bumping, that's I don't want to get into that because I don't know what would happen, but that but that's something that would have to be discussed, and and that's an administration issue because they only have X amount of dollars from last year to what to pay.

So that may mean layoffs, that may mean job freezes that may be furlough days.

I I can't say what that would mean.

Oh, they have to renegotiate, or perhaps, but that's an administration question, not for the council.

We have no authority to renegotiate contracts.

If I could just jump in again, so this is where we cross the Rubicon from you know the legal uh problem to the political problem.

I I think the problem here is that the spread between what state law allows and what our charter allows in terms of it of the tax increase versus what the mayor says we need is a huge spread.

So uh three and a half percent, the difference between seven and a half percent and three percent is huge.

And to go back to uh what Mayor Traffic Canthi was saying, and and and and Mike is right, you know, we can't tell what the what the future holds.

All I can tell you, and I I think Mike would agree is that there is and there are mechanisms in place under state law.

If you find yourself in a genuine fiscal emergency, there are avenues you can pursue, but they're not pleasant.

You're going to forfeit control, both the administration and the council are going to forfeit considerable control.

So the longer this goes on, um, the more dire I think the more dire the financial situation becomes, the more you're going to be looking at one of the options that I outlined earlier, whether it's approaching the auditor general or the department of revenue and asking for some type of fiscal overseer, as I said, was done in Central Falls, Johnston in the 90s, and the Providence School Department.

And I'm going to take Councilman Benano, I know he's got a question on this, but the movement that the council has here.

I mean, we we sat for for long hearings, and even if everything we complained about, and I think councilman Traffic Candy said it very clearly, even if everything we said this this is wrong, this one's wrong, this needs to be slashed out.

We probably found less than a million dollars savings.

And in the conundrum, we have a conundrum as well.

As rightfully pointed out, uh attorney Marcelo said, we don't have the authority to go to the unions.

We don't know what's being done at this time, and we are going to have an executive session to discuss that matter because we did reference because that's a real conundrum.

No matter how fortune is kind of frustrating, no matter how thinly we go over with thin thin comb, we go over that budget.

There's only so much in there you can find.

We're we're in a business of personnel, and most of those personnel have legal contracts that are binding that have been passed here.

And the truth is, if we said we could only go to X percentage, that's four, five, eight million dollars.

I have a lot of faith in the people in this room, but I know they can't find a million dollars in this budget or two two million or eight million.

So that that's a big conundrum we have on our act.

It's almost like we're between Iraq and Iraq.

That's why I said the spread here is just it's it's huge um between what is needed, right?

According to the mayor, versus realistically what you can enact.

And I think you hit it right on the head too.

And and and director Strom can certainly answer this um better than I could, but to come up with I mean, to get down to even four percent from seven and a half percent, you're looking at cutting what three and a half, maybe four million dollars.

I I don't know how you do that without breaking contracts or or having massive massive layoffs, and that's gonna affect city services.

So I yeah, and we're gonna stay in the theoretical zone for now, but when we we will have to talk about those things in executive session, not this evening when we schedule it.

I absolutely um I see councilman uh Bernano's been waiting very patiently.

You had a question, sir.

Thank you.

I have a statement and then two questions.

First of all, when the director of administration or chief staff or whatever his title is stood here a couple meetings ago and said they saw this in August.

And here we are, we're just finding out about it, you know, or we found out about it late.

Uh if we knew about it in August, September, October would have given us some more time to contemplate this stuff as opposed to being under the gun right now.

And that might make some people upset, but that's the reality of the situation.

And that makes our job serving our constituents a lot more difficult.

I don't like that hard enough.

Um I have two questions.

Um the first one is let's say for the sake of argument, hypothetically, um this council doesn't get to the required seven votes to go over the four percent.

That does that mean we fail to enact the budget and the mayor's budget goes into effect, or does that mean and then if he get if the if the uh general assembly approves something more than that, it goes into effect, or does that mean he has to trim his budget to four percent tax increase and we we go through it again?

I I I think uh attorney Marsulan and I discussed this on I think it was Saturday.

The way the charter that particular charter provision is written is is it's kind of poorly drafted.

Um, because the interpretation there is I I think we're in agreement on this that anything short of approval or anything short of you amending it and voting to approve it, um is is is not adopting the budget, therefore the mayor's budget as proposed would take effect, but we have a problem because attorney Marcelo said, we've got a budget based on a seven and a half percent uh tax levy, which can't happen legally.

Right.

So that's kind of my that's kind of what I'm saying.

So that's when it would go back because to me that that whole thing doesn't make sense.

If we don't like a budget, we vote it down, right?

It gets enacted.

What that makes no sense, and that happened a few years ago.

Um and and and it doesn't make sense.

Well, I I think if I if I can interject, I think, and I wasn't here, I didn't draft it, obviously, but I think the intent was look, if you don't like it, change it.

That's why you have the power to amend.

If if if you can't, and it this isn't I'm I'm speaking rhetorically.

If you can't take the time all right to sit here and go through this thing and amend it and get it to a place where you like it, well, too bad for you.

Um the mayor's budget is going to uh rule the day.

That's what I think the uh fair enough.

The intent was Jerry Marcella.

So so the the charter provision is is designed to make sure that the city always has an operating budget, right?

That's to Bates bills and whatnot.

So if the council doesn't act, the mayor's budget gets enacted, right?

And the mayor has certain parameters within the charter of how far he can go.

The problem is is the mayor submitted a budget, which is beyond those parameters, which needs general assembly approval.

Now, yeah, no, I and that that's that's the that's the twist in this uh story so that has probably never been addressed.

Yeah, but I think both the solicitor assistant solicitor and I agree that if the council fails to act or doesn't adopt a but anything short of adoption, we go back to the mayor's budget, but the mayor's budget cannot be enacted because it's above the cap set by state law.

So now we go back to last year.

In my opinion, again, I have a right my opinion.

The obligation then falls on the administration to resubmit a butt budget within the parameters that are allowed by charter.

So does that mean we start over again?

I believe that's you have to start over again, and in the interim, you have the ongoing provision that you're operating under of okay.

So it's not like so, in other words, we start over again, the mayor would propose an in essence a second budget that would come to us for ratification and and uh changes.

That presumably that's the way I I see it.

Okay, I mean all right.

Some someone's gonna submit a budget.

Okay.

Second question.

Some point someone's gonna submit a budget.

Okay.

Second question.

How does the supplemental tax work?

It wouldn't be a supplemental tax, it would be no, I'm asking in general.

How does the supplemental tax work?

You have an active budget, and for whatever reason there was a you know, uh either a crisis or or an unexpected expenditure or maybe a drop in revenues.

You go back to the you basically go back to the general assembly and said we need to we need to uh we need to uh re uh allow uh a supplemental tax bill to go out to the city of Cranston or whatever, whatever city so that does this we're not even close to that yet.

I I know, but I'm just thinking because we got to think we everybody and I I know my colleagues are thinking four steps ahead here, you know.

Um so that would also re require General Assembly approval and certain conditions would have to be met.

Yeah, and and the reality is you know, again, the general assembly is gonna be out of there by June.

So you got you got a you gotta you got a short window here.

Right.

Okay, thank you.

Any other I any other question, I'm gonna make sure everybody has an opportunity weigh on this.

Uh councilwoman Graziano.

I don't want to step too far, so I'll ask the question if we can't answer it.

So what happens, let's say, if we as the council and the mayor cannot pass a budget that covers the expenses from last year, then where do we go?

Well, from last year.

From FY25 and 26.

Again, as I read the statute, you're you you you are you operated under those you're under up under the spending and taxes from last year.

That's what the statute says.

If you can't pay them for whatever reason, and again, we recall my earlier comments.

If it constitutes as certified by the finance director, a genuine financial emergency, then you have to go to the auditor general, you have to get approval.

It comes back to you, and then you have to approve it.

I just want to bring up a personal experience.

And I believe it was early 90s, uh, the federal government uh eliminated a variety of federal funds that were given to cities and towns, such as general revenue sharing, things of that nature.

And we we had a situation where uh I had to go back to the unions.

Uh and yeah, that's permission.

I didn't go back to the fire to the police, to the labor's union, to the school department.

We had to sit down, and by the way, they had to give permission to renegotiate the contract.

We had to renegotiate contracts so I could meet the budgetary expenses.

So if push comes to shove, we may have to do exactly that.

But Traff, if I'm not mistaken, um I don't have my uh labor law on right now, but once you renego renegotiate that contract, it has to go before the members again, just like the original contract.

So I mean, it's everybody we talk about everybody's tightening a belt, they're gonna have to vote vote to tighten that belt, and that's not a given either.

I'm not, you know, all the things we say, that's not none, all these are hypothetical at this point, right?

Um, but it's it's not as easy as all this.

We're kind of in the middle of like even if we uh we wanted to shave off, like say I wanted to go to four percent or five percent or six and a half percent.

Nobody in this room has the staff to figure out how to get there.

Nobody in this room has the ability to go to any collective bargaining unit and say, go back to your members and take a little less.

We don't have that, and that's what before we we have a lot of leverage before we get to the cap, right?

But those seem like happy days, Richard and I remember those we where we were worried about a percent almost getting to the cap.

Now we got no we we have no room to move.

So hence I remember saying we we need to kind of get these hearings uh, you know, not out of the way, but done very quickly because we got a lot of questions that are gonna come about.

Um so I'm gonna take councilwoman campagano, and then I have a couple other uh questions I might want to add.

Thank you, Council President.

I also want to point out that um if it does go beyond the deadline, and we got to go to the next session, it's only gonna compound the debt because we're still working with last year's.

If I'm correct, we're still working with last year's budget.

So the debt's not gonna go away, so we're still gonna have to so probably the rainy day funds gonna be further depleted because waiting to get this passed.

Like am I correct?

Okay, I'm not I'm not sorry, I'm not a finance guy.

That's a cheese of gentlemen to ask, but yes, obviously, if you're working under last year's budget, right?

You're working under last year's budget and you're last year's tax rate.

Yes, you're obviously creating a bigger deficit because you know expenses in the future as proposed are higher than last year's budget.

So directly do you want to weigh in on that question?

Yes, um, if we did revert back to this year's budget that we're currently in, there are as you know, holes in this year's budget, which would be compounded again next year.

So right now, to get us where we need to be when we propose seven and a half percent, that's roughly rounded off 15 million dollars.

If you go to four percent, which is the cap, that's eight.

We still have a shortfall of about seven million dollars, and that's significant.

And you can you can go through that budget, and if you can come up with seven million dollars, you should be the finance director.

We've gone through every facet of that budget.

Now, there's some things you may want to tweak here or there, but not to that uh dollar figure.

And I if I recall when we came in in 2009 with the mayor Fung, we sat with the bargaining units, and there was uh agreements, concessions made by each bargaining unit to get us over that financial hump at the time, but it wasn't as significant as what it is now.

And not to you, and I this is for the executive session.

It will have a discussion about what how those conversations are going now, uh, which we won't have now because that wouldn't be appropriate in open session, but we'll schedule one.

At this point, we have some maybe someone, yeah.

We'll okay, someone has we'll worry about that.

Yeah, all right.

Um, if I could, yeah, we'll talk about yeah.

So the other thing I want to go, and this this may take direct.

Did I have another question?

Bob you you made a statement, you have problems in this year's budget.

Can I elaborate a little bit on that?

Yeah, this should I want to be very careful on the agenda.

We're talking about the budget process.

Not I think we're not we're not talking about the individual budget where we are now, and I know that you want the answer, but I think that the the uh under the agenda, the council president really wanted to talk about what process and the legal okay, so I don't want to go too far into it, okay?

Thank you.

However, that will be on the next finance committee agenda that I promise you.

All right, so we won't talk about that now, but because it's just not in the agenda, it wouldn't be proper.

Okay.

So um the other thing in the budget, and uh I'm not gonna go through every line, it was a couple of things.

If we could Tom, if you could put 6.15 up there.

It's up there.

So 6.15 says after the annual appropriation ordinance has been adopted and before the beginning of the fiscal year.

This is kind of happy thought that we'll have a budget going into the fiscal year.

But I have questions, you know, people a lot of people ask, well, why didn't you stop this?

Why you know, where you know what authority you have.

The way I'm reading this budget, most of my authority leaves after May the 15th.

Um, but I do want to kind of see what's available in a finance committee meeting.

Like, is there something I can say, bring me these documents so I can so I can help find out where we went off the uh the track.

So as I look at this, it says beginning of the fiscal year, um, to which it applies the head of each department, board, commission, office, agency, except for the school committee, shall and I circled that number, and if you if I could highlight it in red, shall I know in legal terms, shall means a lot.

It means you got to do it.

That's the way I understand it.

It doesn't mean maybe if you feel like it, if you got time, it means shall you will do it.

Submit to the mayor in such form as the mayor shall prescribe, so the right a work program that shall once again show the requested allotments and appropriations for each department, board, commission, office, or agency for the entire fiscal year by quarterly periods.

So the way I'm reading this, and I've read it a few times, and I'm not a lawyer, and please, lawyers, please help me with this.

Somewhere there's a work plan, how the money from last year, money from the previous year was spent, and I assume it was divided up into quarterly intervals like the fiscal year.

Now I ask, where would that document be?

And can the members of the council have the documents for last few years so we can look at where we went off the run.

I would like those things.

You were not here last year, so I don't know.

But everybody's looking puzzled.

That's that's the amazing, but uh it's in black and white.

Chow.

So in your previous time, what did it look like?

Was it a template?

No, that's the monthly report somewhere else.

Uh, it's the monthly report somewhere else in the charter.

That's as that's entirely different.

This is by by quarterly, every department is supposed to submit a work report.

Say I got a million dollars.

This is simple as I'll make it simple.

This is the way I perceive it, but you're a finance director.

I get a million dollars for the whole year.

I divide it up in two 250, 250, 250, or maybe I need five 500,000 a certain part of the year, I don't need the rest of the year.

It says that those department heads are supposed to submit some type of plan, a work plan in in quarterly uh intervals.

If we're not doing this, and this would be helpful to see as a council, right?

I think if I would like to see those those reports to see how they're going, to see how the money is spent as a form of oversight.

And and I fully know I probably have no authority to ask for it, but I'm asking for it anyway.

Please.

Councilman, Council President, we do or I do, I run weekly, if not weekly, bi-weekly, expense summaries and revenue summaries by department.

So you can see from week to week or every couple of weeks how they are spending their money, each department, and then it gives a total.

And and uh and how it compares to the revenues that are being generated by department or as a whole for the city from a tax collection.

So what you do, and I don't think it's the same thing.

I'm not gonna lie to you.

I'm not what you do is you instead of making a monthly report, you do a weekly report.

Is it akin to that 97 page report that we get on the month the monthly?

Yes, it's akin to that.

But this doesn't say that that's that's what you run.

This is a this is something that the department head is supposed to.

This is this is my allotment.

This is how I'm spending it.

You see what I mean but mine uh my figures are actual expenditures, what each department head may submit.

I'm not so sure how accurate that would be.

That's the issue.

You know what's not working for me on that part?

Because it's all like I I'm gonna quote the assistant, uh not the assistant, the acting finance director.

Last last meeting, he said the horse is already out of the bond.

I want to know what we did to get to the that place.

I want to know what what I want to know what we did to prepare going forward.

And if that's not happening, I think something like that should happen.

They put this in here for a reason when this was written to kind of keep people in line.

If it is not being done now, maybe we should do it again.

It's called a work report in this thing, and it says it's supposed to be divided up in intervals of of the fiscal year.

Um so that you that wasn't something done in the previous not since uh when I was involved as finance director, no.

I don't have the authority to direct you to do it.

However, it looks like the charter does.

Looks like we're supposed to do that.

I don't have the authority, I'm not your supervisor.

Um, but the charter says they're supposed to be there.

But what you personally would like to see it.

But what you're saying is you would like each say department head not me.

Well, charter.

Whatever.

But that's what you would like to see.

Right.

And I'm saying to you, I do or can provide you the information you want to see, but it's just not from the department head.

Yeah, it's from our fi uh uh financial system.

Yeah, and we've never done did that before.

Well, and I'm going somewhere with this, by the way.

It just so I'm not spitballing this.

There seems to be a disconnect with our allocations and how much we're spending.

Obviously, that's where a lot of our problems are.

For instance, if if I look at these allotments, there's a provision in this charter that says I'm not allowed to make allotments, uh, it make expenditures beyond what my allotments are.

I guess if it was materials, I I spent more on materials than I was allotted for in the budget.

If it was overtime, I gave you more overtime than it was a lot in the budget.

What's the mechanism so we know when we're spending more that's in the budget?

Well, it's shown, like I said, every week or two weeks on a financial report.

So if you're at two million at this point, the next time I run that report, you may be at 2.4 million.

So that means in the last week or two, you've spent an additional 400,000 in overtime.

Okay.

So that and I monitor that.

And if you're over budgeting certain line items, not so much the the wages and things of that nature, but other line items.

If you're over budget, we uh the processes we call that department head and ask for a transfer of a fund that's on the budget to balance it off.

And if there's not enough, then when I I'm at the uh I'm ranked number five as far as the budget process uh purchase order process, yeah.

I'll hold it.

I won't release it until I have a I think that's a start in the right direction, but I'm still having a hard time, and I'm gonna get to you because I'll probably go on forever because you and I are not too I'm I'm having a blockage, maybe it's me.

Um when somebody gets overtime in a department, there is no approval necessary.

Before before the monthly report says you spent too much money, no one says, like, listen, I'm a teacher, we don't get a lot of overtime.

I work after school, I gotta get approval.

I get X amount of hours I can work.

If I go over X amount of hours, guess what?

I don't get the money.

The department heads approve it.

The department heads will approve overtime if necessary.

All right.

Is there some document that's signed so we can see those?

Yes, it's in payroll.

In payroll.

Yes.

Because I'll be honest with you, one of the big things we have is is overtime.

And I know that's something you and you spoke of, and you and I spoke, and you spoke publicly.

How do we get a handle on it?

The truth is the city council isn't in payroll.

We're not in the city hall every day.

We're all at our respective jobs, doing what we got to do.

If we're gonna keep an oversight, if this is something we have to do, we're gonna need some documents that say I can't because I don't know.

Last month I put the city, I I put the financial report on the agenda.

I asked if am I seeing a 9.9 million dollar deficit?

And the answer was yup.

Which kind of like that.

Yep, you're right.

That seemed like an astronomical number that I would get more of a response.

The next time I wanna I want to find out how we're gonna fix it.

So I'm not coming at you, uh, Director Strom, trust me.

There's a frustration that we don't we're spending money, but there doesn't seem to be mechanisms to stop us from spending money.

And maybe I'm not seeing it, and maybe I'm out of loop because I'm part of the legislative body, I guess.

But those things, I mean, there's something in here that says we're not allowed to spend more than that's allotted to us.

And that's in there.

Well, I'm gonna take let me just take councilman Ritz, because as I was going on my long diatribe, he has waited very patiently.

No, thank you.

It was very good.

But I just wanted to get it because I have some some thoughts on that too.

So my professional like the same thing as you said.

So I have a budget, so if I'm over overtime, my analyst pulls the report every month and tells me you're over overtime.

It's my duty to find out why and fix it.

So for the finance meeting, could auditor de mayo flag every category that's over, give it to the the chair isn't here, but to councilman Anduhar, and then he could determine if we need those department heads to come in and explain to us to do it.

I think that's a good because we can have auditor to manual doing, right?

I'm being told by my attorney we've gone a little bit over the uh we're getting closer to be off the agent.

I like your idea though.

Um, how do we do that?

And how do we find I won't say anymore because I've already stepped overstep of my bones, my bad.

I can councilman, I can provide you with as I stated weekly or bi weekly expense accounts for each department, and it'll show which accounts are over budget, and that could give um a light to that department head to explain why it's over budget.

Now, there could be a reason, for instance, the overtime for snow removal.

Sure.

How are you gonna adjust not you know, not justify overtime for snow removal?

There are a number of things.

Uh there could be a uh on the uh fire side, there could be a uh a major fire that constitutes overtime.

I mean, there's a number of things that can constitute that uh increase.

It's not just uh overspending because they just want to buy something, you know.

There's reasons that support that.

And there were some things that were under budget that weren't correct that we had to pay like debt service or whatever.

And um, we had to pay it, and it'll show it as being over because it wasn't properly uh budgeted.

That's councilman Bernano said, we're only as good as the data we get, and and we didn't get the data, but also I don't think the mayor got the data either, and that's not your fault.

I it's been remedied, and you're here, and I'm thankful you're here, and I think we've got it correct it, but I think it's just getting that information timely, so we're not caught off guard.

So thank you.

And and I have to say, uh, for the major departments, fire, police, public works, even border canvassing.

I met I met with most of the major departments when we were going over the budget uh to prepare the budget.

So we did have communication to try to see if we could reduce this, you know.

Why do you need this?

You know, so there was constant communication.

So I don't have a problem having the council involved.

I mean uh I have basically nothing to to hide.

I I'm trying to make sure that we can get our uh budget in line with what actually is spent.

I I'm trying to make sure we can get our uh budget in line with what actually is spent.

No.

Uh I had actually meant to take councilman Banano and then you, Councilman Graziano.

Councilman.

Thank you.

Um, first of all, in this iteration of my comments, I want to I want to sort of give Director Strom some praise.

None of this is Director Strom's well, it wasn't his responsibility.

And I think that if Director Strom had been here the whole time, we would not be in the situation.

I want to say that.

Now, as far as the budget process moving forward, I think that unfortunately, because of his absence, uh, we need to tighten up some of the practices, even go beyond some of the practices that were effective for him uh previously, because we're in a lot worse shape than we were when he left us.

Um with that being said, I mean, I I do want to to also echo the council president and and many of us here that are that work, I work for the state, and I could tell you that for instance, um a garage door broke and we cannot use it.

And it impacts my operations.

I have to ship stuff, but the answer was you have to wait until the next budget, which starts in July.

We're we got a whole quarter left, basically.

So there have to be mechanisms in place in the budget process for us to look at where we are in relationship to how much we have left before we fall off a cliff.

And um I'm not sure that that was being done under the previous financial uh finance director.

And I hope Director Strom that that that's something that you can um improve and uh you know, put back to the way you had it before and and improve upon that even beyond what you did before.

I I I want to say I'm glad you're here.

I'm glad you've come out of retirement.

So Roger Clemens is in George Steinburner's box here.

You know, um, I'm glad you're here, and I have confidence that you're gonna be able to help us fix this.

But we are we we as a as a body of nine have gotten a lot of questions as to why we were asleep at the switch when we didn't have all the information.

We were misled by the previous finance director.

And um, for that reason, we're gonna need even more information in this process going forward.

Uh and I hope you can help us with that.

Well said.

That's actually what kind of what I was alluding to.

Yeah, thank you.

Uh Councilman Graziano.

Thank you, President Wall.

So I wanna give you a big kudos for bringing this up in the charter.

So I'll I'll just say it plain and simple.

Like, I think what President Wall is saying is you need to come up with a process to execute this specific section.

So we want to see this executed.

That's number one.

Number two is accountability.

And I mean, I work for municipality and I'm accountable for my budget.

I'm a department head.

And sure, they're probably gonna pay the bill if I go over, right?

The first time, the second time.

What happens the third, the fourth, the fifth, the sixth?

When is it flagged and where's the accountability?

So I want to know what process the administration would like to set up and what process the council should set up.

And if it's not this section and we need more than that, then that's fine.

Let's do it.

But the bottom line is there it seems like there's no accountability with budget spending, and we're not talking about a snowstorm.

I actually do not want to talk about a snowstorm.

I want to talk about where we decide in the budget that it's an emergency and it needs to be flagged, and we're over.

Is it 10,000?

Is it 50,000?

Is it 100,000?

Is it a million dollars?

Where and when are we flagging that?

That's my issue.

I know I would have had a crap ton of accountability in my position if I went over my budget.

Also, my budget is four thousand dollars.

But I just want to say like there needs to be accountability and we need to have alarms set.

And if it's this, great.

If it's not, then we need to have better accountability.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman.

Councilman uh Kemper Bion.

Um, thank you, Council President.

Uh these overages, would they show up in the monthly reports that we get from Director Igo?

We would.

Uh, wouldn't it be prudent to have those reports on each month's financial committee meeting in order to review them and we have a order here that could explain them and go over them?

Each month.

I did that a couple of months ago.

Yeah.

It's on the other side.

I know I know you did it, but I don't know if it was your responsibility to do it.

I think it was more responsible to the uh no, I chairman of that committee.

Yeah, no, I asked to have them put kudos to you, Council President, for doing that.

I wanted that.

Thank thank you for the kudos.

Um, I do have a couple of I I think we've I do have a couple of other items, but I think we've we've kind of got the the point.

There are provisions in and councilwoman Graziano said it, whatever we're doing isn't working so well.

All right.

If we went the year before with the the 6.5 deficit, and now we're we're trending in 9.9.

I think when we put it on the agenda, I know the members of the council don't have the authority to tell you to stop spending.

Um, but I think when that comes up in the next month, and you're gonna see it, and you're gonna be ready for it.

I know you are.

That's that's uh that's how you proceed.

Um I think some of the like some of the action that's taken needs to happen.

And I'm not finding uh fault uh with the acting director.

He was kind of put there in like in the last minute to pinch it, it's not to throw shade.

But right now we're gonna have to say we're at this point.

That's the mechanism look for.

We're at this point.

This is what we're gonna do to make sure it doesn't get worse.

Patients got a big financial hole in them.

What are we gonna do to sew it up?

And I know that's what you want to do.

Yep, go right ahead.

I believe a few weeks ago the mayor did a communication to all departments to not spend any additional money unless it was totally essential or emergency.

So that's on record.

I think it's a great thing to have.

Well, it was you saying it has to be approved by the mayor first.

Director of administration, finance person, yes, myself.

Yes.

So he did put go on record to state that.

And it's up to me now to follow up that it's being adhered to.

And I think I think that's a great thing.

I think it's in line with what we're saying that because the the fact that how how are we saying you can have overtime if there isn't a procedure?

Um, and if it is, I know I know when you were here, if someone was at overtime, a lot of overtime in their budget that you called them in or called them up and said no more.

And I need we need to know that now they're saying no more, because you can't wait till it gets to that outside that levels before we say, and I know some are absolutely necessary.

You had a snowstorm, the plow drivers are gonna have overtime.

I get it, but everything is in a snowstorm.

So we got to kind of think, and and we've got all the cross all the departments.

So let's you know, let's look at that.

I have no, I have nothing further um on this.

I've kept in a long time, Councilman Ripps, just to end on a positive note that you know, working through this budget project.

I this this unit does really work as one one team, and not just this council, but the administration too.

I mean, director and zooli's fantastic when I ask the question, not sending me to get the information, bring back the information.

But I think with this group we're all going on right, it's not Democrats, it's Republicans, just trans.

And I think we're all working to get that done.

So it's very proud to be a member of this committee.

So thank you, Mr.

Wilson.

Uh, Councilman Traffic.

I'm I'm just gonna make a general statement.

You know, all the all these problems would be averted if when developing a budget, it becomes a more realistic budget that we don't overestimate our revenues.

Let's underestimate our expenditures.

We wouldn't be having these kind of problems.

And I don't know, just make one further comment.

I was kind of surprised and taken back that the resolution that came before us received in the mail to extend the tax uh levy to 7.45% was submitted by a representative that outside the city of Queston, not one single Creston representative or senator submitted that resolution, not one.

That's that tells me something.

Thank you, Councilman.

And you want like to speak?

Yes, I'm sorry.

Yep, by all means.

So uh on the budget process.

I want to make sure we don't get just to just to make aware part of what's going on, it's a rolling effect.

So when we have our hearings as part of the budget process, there are questions that are asked of the director of finance at the time, you know.

Uh example would be, you know, in previous fiscal year ends, it was 24.

You know, you had one-time funds in the budget, you've made some adjustments and following some expenditures.

And the council and everybody asked the hearing.

And then things happen and mitigating.

So it's not just one particular year.

It's a rolling effect because the expenditures don't go down, the expenditures go up for contractual obligations.

So that's what we're up against in some of the points here with some of the decisions.

Also, some of the reports that we received the year uh I think it was the fiscal twenty-five audit.

We didn't get any monthly reports collectively until November 15th.

And that means we got June, July, August, September, and October, November 15th.

So we were didn't have any information, provided that we could go over.

And usually they leave the books open between thirty and sixty days because they're making audit adjustments so they can close and roll forward.

So we were already five months in to the year before we even had any perception of where the numbers were.

Yes.

Thank you.

Umicitor Millet, how are you this evening?

Are you here for the uh executive session?

Okay.

You know what?

At this time, um, I'm gonna attend a mo have a motion to go into the executive session to discuss uh legal bills in the with the law department.

So moved, Mr.

President.

Is there a second?

All right.

Um discussion.

Uh clerk, please call roll.

Consul McGraziano.

Yes, for rats, council traffic, Consulman Vaziri, Pasper Piano, Conservative.

Yes, Conservatives President Heroyan.

Yes, we are in executive session,

Entertain a motion return to return to the open session.

So moved.

Second.

Any discussion.

All right.

Uh, Clerk, please call a roll.

Yes.

Yes.

Okay, let me 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 executive session minutes.

So move seconds.

All right, clerk, please call a roll.

Casmer Ritz.

Yes.

Casma Treff Canti.

Consul Vaziri.

Yes.

Casma Camp Piano.

Passible Bonano.

Yes.

President Heroyan.

Pas President Wall.

Yes.

All right.

This time I'm going to entertain a motion to adjourn this evening.

So moved.

Is this motion made and seconded?

All in favor, please signify.

Opposed.

Signify by saying nay.

The ayes have it.

The motion carries.