Cranston City Committee Meeting - May 6, 2026: Public Works Updates and Ordinance Approvals
Cranston City Committee Meeting - May 6, 2026
The meeting, held on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at approximately 6:01 PM, was called to order. It included a Public Works Committee portion and a later portion addressing ordinances. The meeting adjourned around 6:53 PM.
Consent Calendar
- The minutes from the April 6, 2026 Public Works Committee meeting were approved unanimously.
- Later, the minutes from the February 4, 2026 and March 4, 2026 meetings were approved unanimously.
Public Comments & Testimony
No public comments were offered during the designated periods.
Discussion Items
- Budlong Pool Complex Update: Director Renzuli provided a timeline: final grading by end of week (May 8, 2026), concrete placement (week of May 18), tile (week of May 18), plaster (week of May 26), with completion anticipated by last week of June and opening first week of July. The project is on budget with a remaining balance of $626,000. Funding sources include $4 million ARPRA, $750,000 HUD, additional ARPA $341,000, and bond funds for FY25 ($167,000) and FY26 ($78,000). The splash pad features touch-activated toys.
- Verizon Fiber Project: Representative Ross Billadu requested permission to install underground conduit along Camden Lane and Kendall Court (approximately 4,035 feet and 19 handholes) to bring fiber to underserved areas. The petition will go before the city council on May 18, then to the committee on June 3. No pavement disruption is expected; work will be in the right-of-way.
- Rhode Island Energy Garden City Project: Representatives presented plans for a 2.5-year infrastructure replacement project (low-pressure cast iron to high-pressure plastic) in the Garden City area. Construction started in April 2026, with work hours 7 AM to 5 PM weekdays. The project includes multiple visits to homes for meter replacement and service upgrades. Trench width is 18-24 inches; restoration includes curb-to-curve paving. A councilman raised a concern about a meter technician entering a home without proper consent, and the company agreed to provide follow-up contact information.
- Ordinance 4-2601 (Stop Sign at Alpine Estates Drive and Caraway Drive): Councilman Ritz proposed adding stop signs on Caraway Drive at the intersection with Alpine Estates Drive, citing resident safety concerns. The traffic engineer had previously denied the request in 2021, but council members expressed disagreement. The ordinance was approved unanimously.
- Ordinance 426-02 (Tax Assessment Board of Review Composition): Council President Wall introduced an amendment to conform the ordinance with the city charter, limiting the board to no more than two members from the same political party. The ordinance was approved unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- The Budlong Pool construction timeline and budget were acknowledged; no formal vote was required.
- Verizon's petition was noted and will proceed to full council and later committee approval.
- Rhode Island Energy's presentation was received; no formal action taken, but the company will improve communication protocols.
- Ordinance 4-2601 was approved unanimously to add stop signs at Alpine Estates and Caraway.
- Ordinance 426-02 was approved unanimously to align the tax assessment board composition with the charter.
Meeting Transcript
I'm gonna call the public works committee meeting to order on Wednesday, May 6th, 2026 at 601 PM. Uh uh clerk take the role, please. Councilman Anduhar. Councilwoman Vizier present. Councilwoman Councilman Campo Piano present. Councilman Bonanno. Present. Council Vice President Heroyan. Councilwoman Graziano present. Council President Wall. Here. Thank you. Um may I get a motion to approve the meeting minutes of April 6th, 2026? Motion to approve. Any discussion. Seeing none, can I get the roll, please? Councilwoman Viziri, yes. Councilman Campo Piano. Yes. Councilman Bonano. Yes. Councilwoman Graziano. Yes. Council President Wall. Yes. Thank you. At this time there are no committee business matters being carried over. Um I'm going to ask the public to have public comment. We are going to start with public comment in chambers. You can state your name and address, and you will have three minutes. Um is anyone in chambers like to approach the podium. Okay. I'm going to close public comment in chambers and open it in online. So can we see if there's any public comment online? There is no public comment online. It's for docket it's for docketed matters on the agenda. Yeah, about something we're talking about on the agenda. Yes, we're probably but this is for docketed matters. Is that okay? It would only be just it's only for those things that are on the agenda this evening. If you want to make a public comment another time, we have a full council meeting correctly. The 20th, I want to say. But once it's on the agenda tonight, we can't take public comment. We can't hear you. I'm sorry, this is Virginia Lawton. Virginia Lawton. In your address? 21 Windwood Road in Cranston, Rhode Island. So thank you for coming. But this evening, um, I think Councilman Bonano gave you the agenda.
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