You take your seats, please, members of the council.

Good evening.

At this time, I'd like to call this special city council meeting to order.

This being uh May the 14th, 2026.

And I ask the clerk to please call the role.

Present.

Councilman Anduhar.

Present.

Councilman Ritz.

Present.

Councilman Traficante.

Present.

Councilwoman Vizier, present.

Councilman Campobiano.

Present.

Councilman Bonano.

Present.

Council Vice President Heroyan.

Present.

Council President Wall.

Here.

Before we start, I'm going to put out a little bit of a program note.

So you know we have a big audience this evening.

First, we're going to have every member of the public who would like to be like to speak, we're going to hear you this evening.

Some people have signed up.

There are some people online.

And at the end, if there's still some people who didn't get on the sign-up sheet, we'll hear you.

Because of the large group, we are going to have a three-minute time limit.

Please stick to that.

I'm going to warn you about 15 seconds before that and finish up about about three minutes.

So everybody has an opportunity.

Yes, Councilman Bonano.

I just want to mention because I don't want to be rude to anybody that's speaking.

I have to get up and leave and go next door to Cranston East.

I'm giving out a scholarship on behalf of the Thunderbolt Alumni Association.

So if you're the person that's speaking, um, I just want to let you know I I really want to stay here, but I also want to be there.

So I don't want to be rude.

Um so thank you, Mr.

President.

I will be back afterwards.

Thank you, thank you, Councilman.

Um before we even start that, and and just as well, I can tell you this this evening we're we're gonna see here amendments from the members of the council.

We're also we also have a resolution when it comes to that, I'll explain it because I think there are some misconceptions in in the out there in the press, but I'll I'll be very clear on why I put it in there.

Um prior to that, we're gonna hear um there's a situation with the department of revenue.

We're gonna hear from uh uh attorney Marcelo, and then I'm gonna take public comment and then we'll go through the agenda.

But I want everybody to know where we are at this point.

So um I'm gonna turn the microphone.

You want to go down there, Michael.

Uh-oh.

Oh, thank you.

Thank you, Council President, members of the council.

Um, in your packet tonight, there's a um a memo that I wrote today uh relating to the timeline that we now are under uh based upon the changes that we are uh facing.

I'm sorry.

So in your packet, um there's a memo uh that outlines some of the challenges that this council's facing based upon the timeline uh that is in the charter.

As you know, um the Creston Home Charter uh states that the city council shall act finally on the operating budget and appropriation ordinance not later than the 15th day of May, which is uh tomorrow.

Um it also states that if the city council has not adopted with or well without amendment, the operating budget and appropriations uh as proposed by the mayor, uh the mayor's budget becomes the effective budget.

So before you tonight is the mayor's amended budget with which is a four percent levy and the spending cuts and other things that he has proposed.

However, there's a state law that also requires that it's called the uh property tax and fiscal disclosure act, uh, whose purpose is to establish a procedure under which towns and cities may levy property taxes and provide for full disclosure of the effective rate and base changes on property tax.

That law specifically says that the law states that in addition to existing town and city charter provisions pertaining to public hearings regarding city budget adoptions, each city and town shall provide for a public hearing and for full property tax disclosure as set forth in this chapter.

So, in short, you have to comply with the state law and you have to comply with the state, excuse me, your your home rule charter.

There's two procedures.

The state law requires uh that the uh a city's chief elected uh officer uh in each city or town shall cause to be published the property tax rate and the adjusted current property tax rate uh for the city or town, and that no property tax levy in excess of that in the current fiscal year shall be leveled until a public hearing has been held as outlined in another section of the law.

So you in other words, it's saying that the you have to have a public hearing on the mayor's proposed uh budget, especially if it increases the expenditures.

The proposed property tax increase has to be published in a newspaper of general circulation at least 10 days prior to the date of the public hearing in which the property tax increase and budget is to be considered.

Under the statute, the responsibility of publishing that notice is with the and the budget summary rests with the administration before the notice can be published.

The proposed budget and tax rate and its calculation must be approved by the department of revenue.

Uh, as as I noted, as defined, the last date uh excuse me, under the rules and regulations of the department of regulation, the first hearing for the purpose of adopting the city budget is defined as that hearing which presents a citizens with the last opportunity to have a recommendation for change in the proposed implemented budget.

In other words, we have to give the citizens an opportunity to speak on the last day possible for the city or town council to adopt the budget.

In this case, that last day is tomorrow, the 15th.

However, as I indicated, before that hearing can even occur, separate from our charter, the notice of that rate and the budget has to be published in the newspaper 10 days before the May 15th.

That date was not done.

So we're a little bit in a conundrum because we're not complying with state law for the notice to be published.

So in meeting with the uh mayor and the finance director uh yesterday.

Here's what's going to have to happen.

On the 15th, it'll be my recommendation that the city council adopt, amend whatever you do with the budget, subject to compliance with state law.

What is going to happen after that is that the, and I think the advertisement has already been put in, there'll be an advertisement in the uh Herald, I guess, next week on the on the Wednesday, on Wednesday, which will reflect the 4% budget that the mayor is proposing.

And that's the first date that it'll be in the paper.

And 10 days after that is June 1st.

So this is going to be continued to June 1st because we have to comply with state law.

There's no way for us to comply with state law and the charter requirements of May 15th, because the advertisement wasn't done before the 15th.

So in order for us to comply and meet the requirements of state law, we're going to have to adopt the budget subject to the state law requirements.

And that will be on the uh the hearing, I think is scheduled for June 1st.

Between the 15th and June 1st, there could be changes to the budget.

There, who knows what could happen.

I don't, I don't know.

I can't, I don't want to speculate.

But on June 1st, both the administration and the and on as the legal counsel for the council, we have both agreed that up until June 1st, you also have the right to change the budget again, because otherwise it would be meaningless, right?

You wouldn't, the public has an opportunity to be heard at that meeting.

They may say, I like this change, I don't like this change, whatnot.

We have to give them an opportunity to have the last opportunity to influence you, this council, under what the budget is.

So as of June 1st, that's the last date that this council can act, subject to the mayor's veto and whatnot.

So what we're doing here today is beginning the public hearings on the uh proposed budget, which is a good thing.

It's giving people an opportunity to speak, but we're also it's impossible for us to comply with state law because of the lack of advertisement.

So we're pushing that date to June 1st.

This is uncharted legal territory.

I'm not suggesting this is the best solution we can to comply with state law and the charter, but I want you to know that's the process we intend to follow.

That's the process that I'm recommended.

I believe I have the support of the administration on that process.

If you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer them.

Thank you, attorney.

Um, I do I do actually have a question first, just so I understand it, just so I'm clear.

Um, so our last two days to have hearings on this budget will be tonight and tomorrow night.

But 10 days after that, June 1st, we'll also have an opportunity to have one more hearing.

And if necessary, if we if the council is so inclined, we can make so some changes.

Which could be different from the changes you might adopt on the could be different.

Correct.

Okay.

So with that in mind, this mistake for lack of a better term, it that's that would be a benefit because some of the things you know, we've I've talked to the members of the administration, and uh some of the things are difficult to get done in this short time, and I'll bring some of them up later.

Um, so that's the good part.

We'll have a little additional time.

The bad part and uh is the taxes, because the tax bills have to go out by a certain time, and that's just a logistical issue because they have to be prepared and go out.

So we're kind of in in between a good and a bad, the sour and a sweet.

All right.

Um, any questions from members of the council?

And thank you for that.

Uh that's description.

All right.

Uh councilman.

I just have one question.

So assuming we approve the budget tomorrow night.

Um, then we have to come back again on June 1st.

We have to approve it again, even if there's no changes between that one.

Okay.

Very clear.

Yes, absolutely.

But you I want to be very clear, you have you have to have the right to change the budget again after the June 1st hearing to comply with the regulation that says we have to give the citizens the last opportunity to influence the budget and pass it.

So that's why we're extending past the 15th.

So that's that's not a charter provision, that's a state law provision, and that's why we're complying with the state law.

You have to do both.

Normally, the advertisement would have been out 10 days before the 15th.

That's for whatever reason that didn't happen, and that's where we are today.

Okay.

Other questions from members of the council.

All right.

Um councilman Campabian.

Thank you, Council President.

Uh, are we gonna have time to get the tax bills out with this June 1st deadline?

That's not a that's not a question I can answer.

It's not one I can answer either.

However, in the meeting yesterday, uh with Director Moretti, they seem to think it's gonna be tight.

I'm not gonna lie to you, but yes, we will you should be able to get it out.

If we don't get it out, would it go back to the old tax rate and then have a supplemental correct?

I'm gonna use my attorney's language.

That's not a question I'm prepared to answer.

Okay.

Uh that one might be something we you know, we do have to, but the director was in the room, and he he's is supportive of the situation.

So I'm gonna say we're gonna get them out.

Um so no other questions regarding the we're all set.

All right.

Uh the next person I want to bring up because dealing with the department of revenue, something else came about, and perhaps many of you heard uh the mayor speaking about it um on the radio and other situations that oh, you had a question for Mr.

President.

We have so a few people in the audience that served this country and a few a large contingency of people that never started a public meeting without the pledge of allegiance.

So I would hope that you can entertain that.

Well, listen, as I certainly uh am always always ready to do the Pledge of Allegiance.

It's generally only done on the evenings we have full council meetings, but given you said that um it wasn't on the agenda.

But if if there is no objection before I bring up Director Moretti, I certainly will lead you in the Pledge of Allegiance.

So if there is there any objections, none of the question.

So and thank you for that, Councilman Enderhouse.

Um, I I know everybody's greatly appreciated.

Um I'm gonna bring Director Moretti up, and there is a memo in all the council members' packets, and it is concerning.

I uh concerning uh some of the news you may have heard on the radio in the press that uh the mayor has said he he had found some money uh for the senior center.

Could you uh but I want the director to explain exactly what that means.

Um your floor is yours.

Yes, thank you.

And I'll also please reserve Mr.

Strom if he has anything technical technical to add to the discussion.

Thank you, Director.

Um, along with uh what uh um attorney Marcelo just indicated, um uh director Strom has been working with the Rhode Island Division of Municipal Finance.

Um, and under the exemption, uh, there's a certain exemption about a non-property tax uh revenue declines or losses.

Uh uh whereas um there's there was a possibility that the city could be granted an exemption of a X amount of dollars to go over the 4% cap at the approval of the Rhode Island Division of Municipal Finance.

Um that was pursued and it has been determined we have received a letter authorizing the city council to exceed the four percent cap to 4.65 percent.

Uh rounded thousand, it's one million um two hundred and uh forty-eight thousand and changed, I think three hundred and eighty-one dollars.

Um, just to pass that along.

However, if you do go over the four percent cap, the council would have to approve that at a vote of of 80 percent.

So basically it's eight out of nine votes.

So just want to mention that that the council has that authority at this time, but with that type of majority um in order in order to pass.

Um, and actually there's been much much to do, much discussion.

I'll make it very brief about the mayor's position.

Uh, just in summary, as we all know, there's a budget was not well received with the uh council, the public, and it wasn't not a not a good budget, not a good looking budget, something that's very painful to everyone.

Um, we all recognize that the council respectfully recognize that.

He was then charged with coming back and he came back with a budget of four percent, feeling that that was within the authority of the city council without having to go to the GA for approval.

And that's the budget he submitted.

And there were two critical funding uh mechanisms that were not included in the budget that he would have wanted.

Uh the original budget did call for a million five extra for incremental for schools and funding for the senior center, which uh if I have my numbers right, uh uh it's about just shy of a million eight.

Um the mayor felt he had to present a budget that was approvable, if he will, by the council without further authority.

Um, but those are omitted.

But the message that he does have tonight in asking the council to uh consider um uh putting those funds back in into the budget and uh primarily coming from revenue, uh, which uh the sources would be uh that those amounts would bring the the rate to about 5.67 percent um to get to the a five 5.5 number, looking to say the increase in in revenues and the difference of uh uh approximately 338,000 to uh come from uh other other reductions, other spending reductions.

And uh quick, I'll mention the quickly because I don't want to spend a lot of time here with you folks, and I'll be here certainly to follow up if you if you're interested.

Uh there's possibility of uh we looked at we're looking at that.

We uh did a re-estimate of where we stand with fire overtime.

We think there might be a hundred thousand dollars that uh maybe uh uh uh available or being able to reasonably uh reduce um building maintenance outside services, because in the mayor's budget, we had restored two electrician positions along with uh carpenter position.

So we believe there's about $50,000 potentially there in IT in various departments uh that within that function, I should say various line items, about $10,000.

Uh care of trees, hopefully it's if it's a good year, we may be able to afford a reduction of 10,000.

And somehow or another, in order to make the senior center to fully fund the senior center, along with the schools at the level the mayor's requesting, uh, to somehow we will come up with a way of uh streamlining it to reduce it by 168,000.

That formula, I know it's a big ask the way the council is looking at it, um, but it would it would look that would result in a five and a half percent increase uh for your consideration.

So I respectfully uh submit that to you and thank you.

And I would have to say one thing.

The council has been superb, the council president has been superb working with the administration productively and and cooperatively constructively, the way city government should uh operate.

So we thank the city council, each member, along with the council president.

Director, um, just before before you step away, just so I'm clear.

So from the department of revenue, we have the authority to go above the cap 0.65, which is approximately 1.2 million dollars of revenue, asking the taxpayers for approximately 1.2 million dollars more, 0.65 percent.

But we still have to allocate those funds and take a vote.

So the the reason I'm saying this is this is still the taxpayers' money, and I want to be very clear that this takes careful consideration.

Now, in the meeting we had on uh the other day, as we leave here on the 15th, we do not have the authority to go beyond that until we get legislation from the general assembly.

So we won't the highest number we're going to see at the end of our deliberations, if the council members are so inclined, is going to be uh 4.65.

With an eight out of nine vote.

With an eight out of nine vote, which the truth is it's probably yeah, it I mean, I'd like to see a nine out of nine, but that's that's my preference.

But so I want to make sure we're clear before we're not looking to find a spending at the 5.5.

Truth be told, that resolution was put there to give us some room going forward.

Um, the press is gonna hold it and thinks feels that we we're inclined to go to 5.5.

There are also caveats within that would create uh problems with the tax levy if we did even go above five.

So we're really couldn't even get out of the five, to tell you the truth.

And I that attorney Marcel speak of that.

So just quickly.

So if the council goes above five percent, we have to do the advertising all over again, which I told you the notice in the newspaper, the another public hearing and whatnot.

That's another requirement of that fiscal responsibility notification act.

So anything above five percent requires approval by the Department of Revenue as far as the application of the advertisement and the allocation of the monies, the budget, but we would also have to um come back and let the public another opportunity to have speaking on that budget.

So that's and that's in the state law.

And that was that was discussed yesterday.

Thank you.

I didn't and for those who weren't here.

I just want to make sure we're all on the same page with that matter.

Um, so thank you.

Um, I appreciate it, and thank you for your suggestions.

Uh, director, could you leave those suggestions with the the council on um order so he he has that when we consider it?

I do appreciate it.

All right, any questions for Director Murray regarding what he just spoke of?

I see Councilman Benano.

Thank you, Director Murray for that.

Um, I wanted to know is if you could uh is that written somewhere that you could share with us those numbers you gave, because I couldn't write them all down as you were going.

Yeah, sure.

What I'll do is throughout the course of the evening, I'll I'll give a copy right now to the uh the the auditor and then I'll make copies and distribute this.

Thank you.

I can explain my hand scratch to you also.

All right, thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman.

All right, so I think we've covered our program notes where we stand.

So uh with no further ado, I'm gonna take the first speaker.

Uh ladies and gentlemen, as I said before, please state your name and your address for the record very clearly.

We don't have a stock sonographer tonight.

Um, you'll have three minutes, and I'll remind you when you're close.

Okay.

Um, the first is John first speaker is Jonathan Francis.

If I said 30 minutes, I made a mistake, I meant three.

I don't know, Mr.

President.

I heard 30.

Jonathan Francis, uh, Cranston Firefighter Local 1363 and the union president.

I live at 119 Breton Woodstrive in Cranston.

I'm also a Cranston resident and a taxpayer.

I stand here again at this podium to correct a few misconceptions that the mayor has conveyed to the public recently.

Over the past few weeks, there's been a lot of discussion about the causes of the budget deficit.

And the mayor has pointed several times to public safety, the overtime as one of the leading causes.

I'm not a finance director, so I'm not going to stand up here and and quibble about the details of the city budget.

But as the president of the local 60, as the president of local 1363, I can say without any doubt, we answer the call.

We answer the call when the citizens of Cranston are in need.

When a Cranston resident has a problem, big or small, we jump into action.

It doesn't matter where you live or who you are.

Every year we do more and more calls than the year before.

I started on this job in 2012.

We were doing 12,000 runs.

We are at 18,000 runs now.

And we do our job well.

Our organization exists for the sole purpose of serving the residents of the city of Cranston.

We answer the call.

So it was no different when this administration reached out to all the labor unions in this city and asked for concessions.

Myself and my executive board, we called Tony Moretti right away, and we came to City Hall and we sat down and we found out what we needed to do.

I want you to take into consideration that we amended our contract on July 1.

Our new contract took place July 1 of 2025.

We are still in year one of our contract, and we are willing to make concessions.

After a few phone calls and back and forth, we met on May 4th.

I was away.

We willingly offered between one and 1.2 million dollars.

You guys have all heard that number before in this room and in the newspaper.

And I see a lot of head shaking.

1.2 million dollars to keep one facility open.

We were willing to give that up.

The first red flag that was raised to me was when an article got published in the Cranston Herald.

I believe it was the Cranston Herald.

I've had a lot of stuff sent to me over the past few days.

And it mentioned how other labor unions showed up, offered concessions, and our brothers in blue are doing it through a contract ratification or a contract negotiation.

Okay.

No mention of the fire department.

No mention that we came to the table.

I also had to learn when I got a surprise phone call from Tim White that maybe our offer did not get accepted.

I didn't hear it from the administration.

I heard nothing back from them.

No counter offer.

No, can you consess this?

Can we talk about that?

None of that.

Also, in Tim White's article, yes, sir.

We're about at that point.

Okay, I'll wrap it up as fast as I can, sir.

We do have a budget, an overtime budget of six million dollars.

There's no lie there.

The math doesn't lie.

Mr.

Schram will agree with me on that.

That budget has been the same since 2015.

It's not a it's not a firefighter problem, it is a budgeting problem.

We have offered solutions to this administration.

We continue to get on the truck and we answer the calls no matter how long we've been here.

Our members are in these stations living in conditions that would appall everybody in this room.

And we still get on this truck, we still get on the truck, sick, tired, and weary, and we do it for the citizens of Cranston.

Anyone has any questions for me?

I will be here tonight.

I want you to understand my members served this city with honor, pride, and integrity, and we will always answer the call when the Cranston residents need it.

Thank you.

And thank you and your members and um thank you for coming here tonight.

If we can prevail upon the director and the administration to to remeet with with the with your union, would you consider those concessions going forward if we can we can arrange a meeting with the director and the mayor?

And if you you have time to think about it as we go through, um, but we can maybe ask some questions when we go to the amendment if you if you can stick around if that's okay with you.

Yes, sir.

I think I think myself and my board, I think I think we're still willing to come to the table.

And we I know my the members of the city council and the people in the audience are greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Thank you.

The next speaker is uh Nora Grady.

Hi, my name is Nora Grady.

I live at 16 Chester Av.

I am the bookkeeper.

I'm gonna read because otherwise I'll get confused.

I am the bookkeeper at the Cranston Senior Center.

Nora, can you speak right into the microphone?

Okay, perfect.

Okay, also known as the Michael A.

Trafficante Enrichment Center.

Trough, as most people know him by, has been a faithful public servant in this community for many, many years, as I'm sure you all know.

I would hate to see his name sullied over budget issues.

I've heard the mayor say that he has found 1.2 million dollars to keep the senior center open.

When I started at the senior center six years ago, our budget was approximately 3.5 million dollars.

Every year since I've been there, our budget has been whittled down, finally at to 2.6 million, and somehow we've made it work with nearly one million dollars less.

If we are fortunate enough that the council decides we should get the money, there is absolutely no way we can function completely on 1.2 million dollars.

That would mean that our adult daycare center will be closed, as well as our nutrition division, plus some staff being laid off.

Our nutrition division serves a hot, well-balanced meal every day.

For some of the seniors, it is the only meal they will have that day.

The emotional impact to our seniors is devastating.

Many have been crying.

I'm sorry.

And some have had blood pressure rise over the worries, feeling they are experiencing due to this horrible state of affairs.

This is their lifeline.

Please find a way to keep the senior center open.

And I thank you for your time.

Thank you.

The next speaker is Javi, I believe it's O'Perry.

My name is Javi Dupery.

I live at 91 Burbank Street.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak here.

I've been going to the senior center for the last 15 years.

And what's been going on the last week has been horrible.

It's these seniors, this is all they have.

This is supposed to be their golden years.

And all they've been doing is they're upset, they cry, they don't know what's happening to them.

We have a lot of programs there.

And walkers in wheelchairs, spent two and a half to three hours making these dolls for the children at Houseboro's Children's Hospital.

They make blankets for us veterans.

If you close the senior center, you not only hurt the seniors, you're hurting the children, and you're hurting veterans.

I think we've done enough as far as veterans go to not be kicked to the curb.

And the same thing with the golden age here with all these seniors.

They're here tonight.

They don't want to see this clothes.

I don't want to see it closed.

I go there every day.

But we cannot rely on the this budget that you have to close this down.

It's just not right.

How are they gonna get to doctors?

How are they gonna go food shopping?

There's no trans van form.

What are we doing?

Stop and think.

Common sense is all it is.

I appreciate your time.

Thank you very much.

Next speaker, Marcia Fowler.

Hi, Marcia Fowler, 35 Milton Ave.

I'm actually gonna concede my time, but with all due respect, I'm gonna give a suggestion to speed the night up a little bit to do the person who should be speaking and then the kind of on deck so that person can come up while the audience is applauding, and we can they do it at the state house.

I think that's a good idea.

I'm gonna do it.

Okay, all right, thank you.

Thank you.

So the next speaker is gonna be Sherry Denegata, and the one that follows Sherry will be Carl Richie.

So you're on deck.

Hi, my name is Sherry Delagrata, and I live at 19 Wilshire Lane.

The Cranston Adult Day Center is more than just a building on Cranston Street or just a program.

For many seniors in our community, including my aunt, it is a lifeline.

It is also a lifeline for my dad who attended until he passed away recently.

My aunt has always been an independent, active and social person.

But as she got older, things naturally began to change.

Friends moved away, family members have passed on, her mobility became more difficult, and opportunities for her to stay connected became fewer and fewer.

The adult day center gave her back purpose, connection, and community, which are incredibly important at for her at her age and this stage of her life.

Through the programs, activities, meals, and friendships that she has found there, her quality of life has improved tremendously, beyond what I ever expected.

The center gives her a reason to get up in the morning.

It keeps her active mentally, physically, and socially.

It combats isolation and loneliness, which so many seniors silently struggle with every day.

For my aunt, the adult day center is not simply recreation.

It is health care, emotional support, social connection, and dignity all rolled into one.

The staff know her by name.

The friends that she has made there look out for one another.

She talks about the center every chance she gets, and to whomever she meets.

In fact, just recently, a new neighbor moved in across the hall from her, and she talked to her about the center.

Now that woman attends.

The Adult Day Center provides structure, safety, and belonging.

Closing senior services would have devastating consequences, not just for my aunt, but for countless seniors and families throughout Cranston.

Many older adults rely on these services to maintain their independence and avoid isolation, depression, and declining health.

When seniors lose access to community programs, the effects ripple far beyond the individual.

Families feel it, caregivers feel it, the entire community feels it.

We often talk about honoring and respecting our seniors.

Programs that support the well-being of senior citizens, like the Cranston Adult Center, Adult Day Center, is how we put those words into action.

These are the people who raised families, built businesses, served our communities, and helped shape the city that we live in today.

They deserve opportunities to remain connected, engaged, and valued.

I urge you to consider the real human impact of these decisions.

For my aunt and for so many others, the adult day center is not optional.

It's essential.

Thank you for listening.

Next speaker is Carl Richie, and then Canvas uh Candace Pro, pardon me, Gavin.

Mr.

Richie passes, Candace Gavin.

Candace and after uh Canvas Gabin, it'll be Steven Steichos.

After after Steven, after.

Sorry, Steve.

I have it in my class.

Sometimes they don't listen.

Don't worry about it.

My name is Candace Gorvin.

French name.

I mispronounced it.

It's okay.

Um, I live at 154 Potter Street.

Um I have belonged to this Cranston Senior Center for around 15 years or more.

Um, I live alone.

I lost my husband, and I lost my youngest son.

So I have no relatives around me.

They're all basically gone away or moved away, whatever.

So it is terribly lonely.

If I didn't have the senior center to go to, I don't know what I'd do.

Um, I know I don't eat right, but I go there for lunch a couple of times a week.

I also belong to the Pilgrim Senior Center, and I go there to eat lunch a couple of times.

So I I get to have my lunch every day, you know, that I miss.

Um the programs are very, very good there.

Um there's so many people that benefit from the senior center.

We have people that are crippled.

They're in their walk, they're in they use a cane.

Um people deaf.

Um it's just unbelievable.

And you don't take this away from us because we really need this.

Every city in this state, as far as I know, has a senior center or one close in proximity.

But um, and and the people that work in the office and who are in charge and they make up the programs like David David makes up some programs, and they do a wonderful, wonderful job.

They get us out in the trans van.

We go to restaurants, we go to shows, we go to Pack for the Woolitz organ.

We do many, many different things.

And uh you just can't take this away from us.

You can't, and that's all I'm going to say.

And I thank you.

Thank you.

Steven Steikos and after Steven will be Mary Medina.

How about now?

I'm gonna reset your time, Steve.

All right.

Um the uh one of the worst things about the I think this budget is what the mayor chose to include while he was wiping out the senior center and CCAP spending in the budget.

That's the budget in the the capital budget has 110,000 for tasers, it has 450,000 for lights at Fay Field, it has two million dollars for a track for Cranston East.

It has three million dollars for citywide improvements.

Those budget problem is not going to go away on June 1st.

It's not gonna go on, it's gonna go on for years because the city has gone through the reserve fund, also known as the rainy day fund, which was 16 to 20 million dollars, and now because of the overspending is down into the single digits projected.

So you can't go borrowing all this money while you have a rainy day fund that's really low.

It's gonna start affecting the bond rating.

So when you do have to borrow money for important items that can't wait, the interest rate is going to be higher, and that interest rate is going to be taking money away from things like the senior center, like the Head Start program, and uh other programs that are that are important.

So please look at the capital budget and make some cuts.

There's three million dollars in there for citywide improvements, you know, we're all for improvements, but the city has spent a lot of money, COVID money on um citywide improvements when Alan Fung was mayor, citywide improvements, which cover things like storm drains and paving.

That was a million dollars a year that somehow we manage there, and maybe we need a few potholes with a senior center rather than all nice streets and no senior center.

So I would urge you again to look at um at the capital budget, and the uh um yeah, the uh other thing I would say, which would so it's relatively small item, but is raising the tax on the solar farms.

That tax was set in 2017 at $2 a kilowatt.

It hasn't been raised since the uh CPI, the consumer price index for electricity has gone up 46% since 2006.

Steve, I'm gonna need you to sum it up.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr.

Our next speaker is Mary Medina, and following Mary will be Ernest.

It looks like Parry.

Mary, the floor.

Good evening.

Um thank you for hearing me.

My name is Mary Medina.

I'm currently staying at 75 Royal Avenue with my mother.

Um, she goes to the adult day services.

Um, she got diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2017, and so we're um nine years in, and the um adult day center has been crucial for her livelihood and for her to stay out of a nursing home, which is my ultimate goal with her.

Um, the staff there is phenomenal.

The bus drivers alone are right there every single day and look forward to picking my mother up and dropping her off.

And you know, even though she may not remember what had happened during the day, she always comes home with a good feeling.

You know, and that's in the moment she's having enjoys her time there.

Because I say, Do you have a good day?

She goes, I don't know where I was, but I I feel good.

So and that's you know, that's all I can ask for at this point.

And this has allowed me to continue to work.

And it's it's it's vital.

Uh, it's essential for her.

And she really, you know, I would hate to have to change her routine at this point.

Um, so because every day is a blessing right now.

And um, you know, if we can keep this going, I'd really appreciate it.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Next speaker is Ernest De Parry and Jennifer.

Looks like Caborkian.

He's after that.

Good evening.

My name is Ernest Parry.

I live at 54A Street, Grants, Rhode Island.

I work in the nutrition department at the senior center.

I wanted to just let you people know a little bit about our nutrition.

We run probably the best kitchen I've ever worked in.

And we're very dedicated people in there.

And we've heard rumors that that was going to take it away from us.

That private concern was gonna come in.

We also have a snack bar, which these seniors here buy food from us every day at a very low price.

They buy that food for the evening meals.

These are essential to these people.

All of them.

One has been there for 36 years, the other one's been there for 26 years.

These people are devastated.

They came to me this morning and said to me, what happens if they close?

I had no answer for these two.

None.

I had I had trouble trying to explain this because they can't comprehend the fact that they've been there for 36 and 26 years, that the door's closing.

We're gone, and they're not going to be here anymore.

That was very difficult for me today.

So I would please consider not removing the nutrition at the senior center.

Thank you.

The next speaker after Jennifer will be Robert Ferry.

Thank you for um letting me speak tonight.

My name is Jennifer Caborkian.

I live at 34 Justin Way.

Got it.

Can you hear me now?

Yeah, I got it.

Okay, thank you.

6 a.m.

Monday morning.

Mary wakes up but quickly realizes she has nowhere to go because the senior center is closed.

So she closes her eyes and goes back to bed.

Not because she's tired, because there's nowhere left for her to belong.

10 a.m.

Mary finally wakes up and uses the bathroom on her way.

She trips and falls.

She tries to get up, but she can't.

Lying there on the cold floor, frightened and in pain.

Her first thought is when the trans van driver comes and I don't answer the door, they'll know something's wrong.

But this time, no driver is coming.

There's no knock at the door, no wellness check, and no one notices that she's missing.

24 hours later, Mary's still lying on that floor alone, scared, hungry, dehydrated and hurt.

This is not just about a building being closed.

It's not just about budget numbers on a spreadsheet.

These cuts have names, they have faces and they have consequences.

8 a.m.

Tuesday, Alicia is about to drive to work when suddenly she realizes, oh my God, the daycare is closed.

Immediately panic sets in.

Imagine carrying that fear all day long.

Wondering if your mother fell.

Wonder if she's wandered outside.

Wondering if she remembered to eat.

Wondering if she's scared and alone.

11 30 a.m.

Wednesday, Frank sits alone at his kitchen table, staring at an empty plate.

The meal program at the senior center is closed.

For many people, lunch and dinner is an inconvenience to prepare after a long day.

But for Frank, it was the only hot meal he could count on.

His refrigerator holds expired milk, half a loaf of stale bread and medication that's supposed to be taken with food.

He's trying to make what little food he has last until the end of the month.

Tonight he goes to bed hungry.

Not because he was forgotten by family, but because his community decided a meal program was too expensive.

These programs are not luxuries, they are lifelines.

For seniors, they provide safety, dignity, companionship, nutrition, medical oversight, and human connection.

For caregivers, they provide the ability to work, to survive financially and to breathe for a few hours without fear.

When you cut these services, people do not simply adjust.

Okay, they suffer.

Families break under the pressure.

Caregivers burn out.

Seniors become isolated, hospitalized, or worse.

I'm asking you tonight to look beyond your numbers because while budgets may balance on paper, the human cost will be paid in loneliness, injury, exhaustion, and heartbreak.

Do not abandon the people who spent their lives building this community.

Now I'm gonna ask all of you to close your eyes for 30 seconds and imagine that Mary, Frank, and Alicia are your mother, your father, or your sibling, or better yet, maybe in a few years.

It's one of the I'm gonna need you to summon it.

Thank you.

Next speaker is going to be Martha Demeza.

Uh, Mr.

Ferry.

Good evening.

My name is Robert Ferry.

I live at 2426 Cranston Street.

I didn't plan on saying anything about the senior center, but I will say this.

My mother is visiting from Florida, and my wife has been taking her there every Thursday to play bingo, and she absolutely loves it.

Okay.

Good evening and thank you for letting me speak tonight.

A lot of people have been saying to me, you should come and talk.

And I kept saying to myself, what am I gonna say if I come and speak?

Because there's so much to say.

So this morning, I was on my way to awake, and I was driving down Cranston Street, and I drove by Eatree Park.

How I feel about Etree Park.

And there was a private contractor putting mulch and cleaning up Etree Park this morning.

And then I drove a little further down Cranston Street, and they're still ripping up the sidewalks and pouring stamped concrete sidewalks in Knightsville.

And then I drove down Park Avenue to go to Rolf Street because I had to go to Butterfield.

And there's the mayor's driver standing in front of City Hall, waiting for the mayor.

I'm bringing these things up because this is more proof that the mayor just does not understand what we're trying to get across.

He's not taking what we're saying seriously, or he would have stopped the construction in Knightsville.

I don't care about the contracts, or either stopped the contractor from putting mulch in Ichi Park, or he'd have sent the driver home and said, I have a policeman that'll take me somewhere when I need to go.

Okay.

So those are the things I said.

So for five years, it's been borrow, borrow, borrow, spend, spend, spend.

You cannot run a household or a business or a municipality with that attitude.

I sat there in that seat for four years and fought it every single day.

And I wasn't successful enough.

I regret the fact that I couldn't have been more successful.

So you're sitting here and I'm looking at the agenda and the next meeting and the 5.5 potential increase.

And there was an originally a 7.4 and then a four, you know.

Who knows what the real number is?

I don't think any of you know what the real number is.

I don't think any of us know what the real number is.

Is it 10%?

If it's 10%, say it and do it.

The bottom line is this 5.5%, or whatever you're gonna do tomorrow is not gonna solve the problem.

You know it, and I know it, and everybody else in this room knows that's not gonna solve the problem.

You're just going to kick the can a little further down the road.

Transparency is vital.

We need to know where we stand.

We need to know what the real number is.

Please dig deeper.

If you give the mayor this levy, he's gonna use it and he's gonna spend, spend, spend and borrow, borrow, borrow, and we're not gonna gain anything.

Thank you very much for your time.

Martha Demeza, and after Martha will be Jen C.

My name is Bob Stahlbush.

I live at 18 Brown Street, up the hill from uh the senior center.

And I just want to say a few words.

I lost my wife two and a half years ago.

Can I interrupt you?

One minute, sir.

The next speaker was supposed to be Martha.

Well, I just wanted to say a couple of words about the senior center before you bring up the next speaker.

No, sir.

You you have to wait in line.

She's next.

No, no, no, no, no.

Pardon, sir.

You I'm the she's next.

We have to keep order.

I can put your name down on the list, but you have to go in the order.

We can't just come up, sir.

The next speaker is.

I'm sorry.

My friends, we're gonna have order.

I'm sorry.

The next speaker.

Oh, sir.

Can you please sit down?

All right.

I'm sorry, but some we have 20 several people who signed up.

I'll certainly hear you.

The next speaker is Martha Demeza.

Is Martha Demeza here?

Oh yeah, she's talking.

Okay, thank you.

And the speaker following that will be Jen C.

Hi.

My name is Martha Demeza.

I live at 34 Crawford Street.

I've been a Cranston resident for 74 years.

Always been a wonderful place to live.

I started to go to the senior center after my husband passed away 10 years ago.

I did not come here to talk about myself.

I came here to talk about the center.

The seniors I have met at the center were all caring, but they need a purpose in life.

This is the place to do that.

For some, this is the only contact they have with other seniors.

The center has the best lunch, by the way, and this is something the senior needs.

One of my biggest questions is what about the transportation?

Seniors depend on this.

They depend on that for doctors, shoppings, rise to the center.

Please do not take away these things for the most precious citizens of Cranston.

Following Jen C will be Gregory Garmin.

Good evening.

My name is Jennifer Callasante.

I live at 34 Quail Hollow Road in Cranston.

I also pay Cranston taxes.

Council members, families, staff, uh, members of the community.

Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight.

As you know, my name is Jennifer Colisante.

I am the director of the Cranston Adult Day Services.

I stand before you not only as a director, but as someone who witnesses every day the life-changing impact that this program has on the individuals and families we serve.

The ADS, Adult Day Services is more than just a program.

It is a community, an extended family from their own that helps support structured daytime supervision and support with compassionate care, health support, assistance with ADLs, meals, social interaction, and therapeutic activities that provide our seniors with dignity and a better quality of life.

Every morning, our clients walk through our doors and are welcomed into a place where they are known, valued, respected, and cared for.

Their families entrust us with the care of their loved ones.

Many of the clients have nowhere else to go during the day.

Here they find companionship, structured therapeutic activities, meals, medical support, laughter, and most importantly, a sense of belonging.

Cranston Adult Day Services is not just a building or a budget line.

It is a lifeline.

Closing the center would not simply close a building.

The ripple effect it will have on the clients and their families will be devastating.

Adult day programs prevent isolation, reduce hospitalizations.

They delay institutional placement.

This program allows family to continue to work while their loved ones are safe and respected.

I want to acknowledge the financial and operational challenges that may have brought us to this difficult conversation.

I understand that decisions like these are never easy, but I ask that we consider the long-term consequences to the people who rely on these services.

I had been a visiting nurse in Cranston for over four years, and I had not known about the adult um day services building.

I knew about the senior center, but I had no idea about adult services.

So now at this time, we need to educate our educators in the community about support we provide.

I plan to reach out to home care agencies, primary care physician offices, hospital discharge planners, rehab centers, neurologists, memory clinics, Alzheimer's support groups, and veterans organizations, not only to educate about what the ADS has to offer, but what the senior has seen uh excuse my slip.

The senior center has to offer.

The kitchen provides excellent meals for our seniors.

Why not provide them for all the community to grab and go meals for dinner that can be purchased?

Some that come to the center only have one good meal a day.

In today's world, we don't want to.

We're gonna have to finish up.

All right, I'm supposed to read this slow, but I'll I'll speed it up for you.

Well, your time is up, so please I when I say sum it up, I mean you get a finish now.

I gotcha.

All right.

We all have ways to build our numbers to stay within the budget.

Let's use all the resources we have available to us to do just that.

We have social media at our fingertips.

This is how my daughter obtains most of her clients.

She's a hairstylist in Rhode Island.

We need to think outside the box here and make it happen for our loved ones.

Thank you for your time.

Thank you.

To the council.

Thank you.

Next speaker is Greg Gregory Garmin and then Janine Lund.

Good evening.

Uh, my name is Gregory Garmin, 39 Calton Street, Cranston, Rhode Island.

And I like to thank Jennifer for letting us know it's not a number or statistics.

These are human beings.

I've been going to the Cranston Senior Center for about four years.

I met Jennifer.

She has a good heart.

And so do all the other people there.

She's helped me through so many things to my uh Medicare insurance.

And they're very dedicated and professional people.

They go like miles beyond what they should go just to help you make sure everything's all right and put in order.

When I go there, I watch the seniors.

I'll look in the cafeteria, I'll see them eating, enjoy their meals.

I see them laughing.

I see them happy.

I see the arts and crafts.

And if what we have to do is just realize that they're vulnerable.

When you get that age, you're vulnerable.

And to like just cut things away from them is one of the worst things we can do being human beings.

Places like that are the type of places that God smiles down on because he sees people that need help, being help.

And they help them.

And those are the people where God, when he speaks in the Bible, he says, what you did to the least of those you did to me.

That's Jesus speaking.

I could have stayed home tonight, but I I wouldn't because I have to speak up on behalf of the people that need someone to speak up for.

And make sure they have a meal.

Make sure they have a finish up, sir.

And one of the key words I heard, and the key word that I came here with was lifeline.

The senior citizens center is a lifeline, and it's a gaving place, and they all need to be there.

Thank you.

Janine Lund, and the next speaker will be Al Roberto.

Hey, I'm Janine Lund, and I live at oh God, 1921, Narra Gansett Boulevard.

Yeah, and I'm sorry, I got a little nervous.

But um, okay.

So I've just lived in Cranston for four years, and I moved here to take care of my grandsons.

And so I've done some stuff in the schools.

And uh a year ago, I started delivering meals on wheels in Cranston, and I I truly feel that there are people that will die because of the decisions that are being made about the senior center, just based on my meals on wheels experience.

And when I saw that, number one, I just I couldn't believe it.

I feel like the mayor has treated the council with a lot of disrespect with his late budget, and then this thing.

Oh, I just found some more money for you guys.

I think that's really disingenuous, and I'm really opposed to it.

I didn't vote for him.

I have been here long enough to not have voted for him.

But I I just also want to say the senior center, like it's so important, and really just people will die without it.

And the other thing I want to speak to is the schools because level funding for the schools in this inflationary time is actually a cut.

And that is that was the first time I spoke before the council was last year for the schools.

And the other thing is the head start money.

So basically, the mayor, he's like seems so cruel and callous, and he's going after the weakest people in our community, and I really really hate that.

Thank you.

The next speaker will be Al Roberto, and after Al will be Christy Gonzalez, I believe.

Mr.

Everybody, could you hear me?

No.

Hello, everybody.

Could you hear me now?

Hi, my name is Al Roberto, and I live at Six Western Hills Lane, which is officers you've.

I am a Vietnamese era veteran, first lieutenant, US Army Chemical Corps.

Um, I retired from my job as a safety engineer on uh the 29th of February 2008.

And the very next day on one March, I joined the Cranston Senior Center, and I'm happy to be part of the group.

Um, I just want to give a little bit of history about the center.

Uh, I think ground was broken around 1988, and the building came up shortly after, and our first distinguished visitor was the wife of the president of the United States of America, and that is uh First Lady Laura Bush.

Three years later was a Barbara.

I stand corrected.

No good.

Anyway, three years later, it was Barbara Eden, the distinguished actress of uh I dream of Jeannie.

So we have a we've had other visitors, uh famous ones.

The center was noted all over the northeast and also the east coast, but we've seen decline.

Um to close the center up would be devastating to people.

I'm not gonna repeat what I was gonna say because it's already been done before my visit here, but the budget in the cranster was something like 323 million, I think two years ago.

We're only uh we're asking about two million.

That's a very tiny percent.

That's not very much.

Um, Anthony, um Mr.

Moretti, I I think you said we're 1.8 million as opposed to 1.2.

Is that correct?

He he can't really interact with you.

I'm looking for you.

He gave you the thumb, but he's not supposed to interact.

This is your time to speak.

Okay, I just I want to get that okay.

So it's not one point two, it's what it's definitely 1.8 as far as what okay.

We need a little bit more.

That would help.

Um, anyway, I think I'm pretty well set here.

Uh, I'm not here to criticize any organization, but I again I appreciate the time that you've given me.

And to me, it's a privilege to be speaking today.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Christy Gonzalez, and after that will be David Quirr.

Hi, I'm Christy Gonzalez.

I live in North Providence, but my mom lives here.

And she goes to, we call it school, not the adult daycare center, because otherwise she won't go.

But now, if you she does not go, oh my God, is my hair okay?

Do I look okay?

I gotta make sure I look good for school tomorrow.

I um, and if she doesn't go, she cries.

Oh my god, it's like a big production.

But there's one thing that they did not say.

Um, when I was looking for to put her somewhere um for some fun, so she could get some uh friendships or whatever.

Where everywhere we looked, it was memory care.

She does not have a problem with that, it's more physical stuff.

There is not Holly anywhere in Rhode Island, very, very few that take care of the physical part.

So when she goes there, she needs more physical because she's illegally blind, she has Crohn's disease, she has ileostomy, she has a lot of things going on.

So the nurses there are just amazing.

Like if she has an accident or anything like that, they take care of her, they change her.

Oh my god, they're just just incredible.

So when you are looking, it there isn't many places that uh the physical part, it's mainly memory care.

So this is really important that it stays there because when she comes home and I call her, it used to be hi, how you doing?

Oh, what you do today.

Now it's like, hi, how are you?

What'd you do today, Chrissy?

Well, how was work?

And I'm like, really?

Hi, mom.

This is this is my mother.

I can't believe it.

So pretty much again, it's like every city, but it sounds to me like he needs the man needs a good assistant.

So I don't know what's happening.

Uh David Queer, and after David will be a vet burleone.

Hello.

Hello, hello.

Can you hear me?

Yes, we can hear you.

Good good evening, everybody.

Uh, my name is David Kiroa.

I uh live at 9th Ledger Street, Newport, Rhode Island.

I'm here.

Uh, I'm also with the Cranston Department of Senior Services.

I am the assistant director currently.

I also serve on the governor's uh advisory commission on aging.

I'm also the secretary of the commission.

And for the sake of time, I don't want to repeat everything that's already been said about the senior center, but it goes without saying the city of Cranston, the state of Rhode Island, New England for that matter, has a jewel in the senior uh center here in the city.

We are nationally recognized, especially in the age-friendly movement.

I'm gonna touch upon some things that have not yet been said about the center.

Uh when state of Rhode Island applied for uh a grant to really build infrastructure to take care of memory loss, it's called the bold grant.

Uh all 50 states uh competed for that funding.

Rhode Island was one of the 26 that won that grant, and the only one senior center that was featured and highlighted in that grant, and one of the main reasons we got the grant as a state is because the city of Cranston has the only still today age-friendly dementia-friendly program initiative.

So we should feel very proud of that.

And this is the reason why the divisions of the senior center as a whole were designed incredibly in a very magical way, in the sense that 30 years ago, 30 32 years ago, when when that was designed, we were 30 years ahead of our time because those divisions interact interact with each other and take care of seniors.

The only the other thing I want to I want to point out is isolation is a silent killer during the COVID pandemic.

Our members of the senior center didn't die so much because of COVID.

Guess why they died of depression, depression and isolation.

We lost about 85 members in that 10 months that we were closed.

Granted, they had other chronic diseases and conditions, but they didn't die because of COVID, they died because of isolation.

I also want to let you know that we are the vanguard of developing technologies to diagnose Alzheimer's and memory loss.

We have partnerships with hospitals, Butler Hospital, Rodin Hospital.

There's a startup company, nobody really knows about them.

It's called Echoware.

They developed this unique device to help primary care of physicians to diagnose the initial stage stages, MCI of cognitive impairment and memory loss, the senior center with focus groups with our professional staff, a professional team, help develop this device that's going to be out pretty soon to the market.

This is the kind of jewel we have here in the city of Cranston.

We are at the Vanguard, cutting edge, not only of taking care of people, but taking care of the next generation and medical breakthroughs.

That is very important.

And I want to finish with this, so you folks can think about this.

At the senior center, we have a saying.

In fact, every time somebody retires, they tattoo 1070 on their arms.

Why?

We're at 1070 Cranston Street.

Our saying is just another day at 1070.

I want to give you three stories of just another day at 1070.

You can be walking down the corridors and hear a whisper.

Help.

Help you to finish up.

Okay.

That's what somebody that is in the bathroom.

We had an accident.

We go take care of them.

We don't wait for specialized staff.

Stuff you see here.

Every single one of them have come.

Thank you.

And clean the people who have helped them.

Thank you so much.

I don't have more time, but thank you.

I will say, Mr.

Crow, it's nice to meet you.

You have quite a fan club here that has reached out to all of us several times and has spoken on your behalf, and I can see why.

The next speaker would be Bet Grillon.

And after that will be Elaine Boucher.

Hello.

Yvet Groulan, 166 Maplewood Ave, Cranston, Rhode Island.

I'm going to read off of my phone because I'm nervous.

I am the director of the retired senior volunteer program at the Cranston Senior Center.

It's a federally funded program through AmeriCorps.

I have probably proudly worked at the center for the past 21 years.

And I'm here today to advocate for the preservation of this vital community resource, the gem of the Cranston Senior Center.

The Cranston Senior Center is far more than just a building.

It is a lifeline for many older adults in our city.

Every day I witness firsthand the positive impact the center has had on the lives of seniors.

I currently oversee 75 active volunteers who dedicate their time to serving others and strengthening our community.

Volunteerism promotes social connection, reduces isolation, and improves both physical and mental health among other adults, older adults.

Over the years, I have seen countless seniors arrive at the center hesitant or even resistant to attend.

The children are dropping them off.

They have nothing better to do, they're being forced.

Many walk through the doors feeling lonely, disconnected, or without purpose.

Then something remarkable happens.

They begin participating in a chair yoga class, attend a show at PPAC that they've never been able to go to and find friends, friends who understand loneliness, food insecurities, even medical issues.

They get to learn how to use a mobile phone, an iPad through our technology classes.

They build friendships, regain confidence, and rediscover purpose and belonging.

The nutrition, we've touched upon the nutrition department.

I only touch upon it quickly.

The nutrition department is another critical service that cannot be overlooked.

We serve approximately 70 hot meals that are prepared and served daily, five days a week to seniors who rely on them.

For some individuals, this is the only hot meal they will have all day.

In addition, this department provides approximately 700 meals to homeboys during Thanksgiving and Christmas, which a lot of you help us deliver to them.

If the nutrition department is eliminated, these essential services will no longer be viable, leaving many vulnerable seniors without support.

In addition, without our snack bar, the seniors will be without evening meals, continental breakfast, and weeknight meals that many of them take home to purchase.

Please remember currently 24% of Cranston's population is 60 and older.

Yet the senior center budget represents less than 1% of the city's entire budget.

Such a small financial investment yields an immeasurable return and health, wellness, social engagement, nutrition, and quality of life.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next speech speaker is Elaine Boucher, then Patricia Ritchie.

I really messed that one up.

My apologies.

43 Magnolia Street.

I want to thank you all for giving us the opportunity to speak tonight.

And I want to thank those of you who took the time to respond to my previous emails.

I continue to acknowledge that the work ahead of you is difficult and that you've been put in a no-win scenario.

To say that I'm disappointed in this revised budget would be an understatement.

I've heard it called spiteful, and I couldn't agree more.

Mayor Hopkins' new budget sends a clear message that he wants you to do the hard work of finding where to cut.

And he put and he puts all that burden on the council.

So I recognize that.

I also want to say that while I'm going to be the person who speaks about something different, I absolutely think that the priority is to save the senior center beyond everything that you've heard.

They also open their doors for Title I schools to have family dances there.

Do Temple is able to have a family dance tomorrow because of the senior center.

So they do a lot for this community.

But you know me, I've spoken before.

I'm going to speak about the schools.

This budget also cuts 1.5 million dollars from the schools.

That brings their budget to just 1.91% higher than the current fiscal year.

Current projections for inflation this year are between 3.8 and 4.2%.

It was said that by level funding, we are not level funding.

We are cutting their funding.

False narratives about the school district budget spread like wildfire on Facebook and elsewhere.

So we become complacent about the persistent state of underfunding our schools.

We can only underfund the schools for so long before we face a real crisis.

And I believe we're at that point.

While we should be proud of the two new schools we built, three quarters of our schools are over 70 years old, and we've been ignoring basic maintenance and repairs because of budget constraints, creating bigger, more costly problems down the road.

We heard at the last minute meeting that seven roofs and seven HVAC systems are due to be replaced, and we don't have any budget to replace them.

But this budget doesn't just impact the buildings, it impacts the people.

Vincent still plays the violin, by the way.

That's on the table, meaning fewer families will be able to rely on buses to help get their kids to and from school.

Something critical to a lot of working parents.

Classes and maybe even schools will be closed, thereby increasing the size of classes, increasing the burden on teachers, and reducing opportunities for individualized student learning.

I'm gonna need you to finish up.

Gonna finish up.

The era of counting on PTOs to fill these gaps is over.

Many PTOs struggle to find volunteers, and fewer families have the ability to support fundraisers.

So I ask this committee once you find the money for the senior center, please continue searching.

Thank you.

The students depend on you.

Thank you.

Next speaker is Patricia Patricia Ritchie, and then Joanne Roberto.

Good evening.

My name is Dr.

Patricia Ritchie.

I live at 161 Albert Avenue.

And I'm here this evening, and I was compelled to speak because I'm absolutely appalled by the fiscal fiasco that exists right now.

And I believe, and you've heard it from many people, that the people, the citizens of Cranston, should not bear the brunt of the burden.

Particularly the seniors, the young children, head start, or the school systems that have been suffering for many years.

There's actually a book by that name.

And how each of you vote and the administration votes to determine where the budget is placed, reflects upon all of you where your integrity and your moral core lies.

So please keep that in mind.

And know that while as a taxpayer, I've lived in Cranston since 2017.

Prior to that, I was a North Kingstown resident for 26 years.

So this is that much more appalling to me.

Um, these things don't happen overnight.

There needs to be greater transparency.

People have to be made aware, not 10 days before, but we have to know what's going on.

The people who are responsible for this terrible deficit should in fact take cuts in salary.

Should in fact eliminate expensive drivers and expensive cars.

And this should be reflected in how the budget is remedied.

Thank you for your time.

Next speaker is Joe Joanne Roberto and then Kathy Crowley.

Joanne Roberto, I live at 40 Seymour Avenue in Cranston.

Good evening, Council members and guests.

My name is Joanne Roberto, and I have been a Cranston resident and registered nurse for over 50 years.

I currently work at Cranston's Adult Day Care Program, which is a separate department in our senior services center and serves men and women living with physical, intellectual, medical, and memory loss disabilities.

If any of you on this council have ever had a friend or family member of your family suffering from dementia or any type of chronic illness, you can understand the emotional, physical, and financial toll it takes.

Caring for someone with memory loss or illness is a full-time responsibility, requiring patience, support, and multiple resources while trying to keep a loved one safe at home.

Our adult day program provides that support.

Five days a week, families depend on our program to provide a safe environment, medical supervision, balanced nutrition, exercise, mental stimulation, and social interaction.

Just as importantly, it gives families peace of mind and allows caregivers the time to work, rest, attend appointments, and continue to care for their loved ones without complete burnout.

Without the daycare program, many families would be forced into crisis situations or nursing home placement much sooner than necessary.

Closing our daycare center would have truly life-changing consequences for the people we serve and also for the incredible professionals and volunteers who are dedicated to their work every day.

Our staff and volunteers have built close relationships with our clients and their families.

And I can tell you without hesitation that they put their hearts into caring for these people every day with patience, kindness, and dignity.

These dedicated staff members would lose jobs and careers they truly care about.

On behalf of all of our clients, their families, and our staff, I urge and implore you to keep our daycare program open so that we can continue to serve the members of our community and their families who deserve our respect, dignity, and support every day.

Thank you for your attention.

Next speaker, school committee member, Katherine Crowley.

Yes, my name is Kathy Crowley.

I'm a member of the Cranston School.

I won't set you a time, but I just want to know Mr.

Thompson is next after you.

This city council needs to look at more checks and balances on the administration.

I really feel that way.

I think it's a horrific new budget that came down.

And but as also as a citizen, before I begin to talk about the schools, I think you need to fund the senior center.

That senior center is known throughout the state.

I worked eight years in the city of East Providence as superintendent, and they're modeling their senior center after Cranston Senior Center.

We need to take care of our elderly.

They've lived here many years, many all their lives.

They paid their taxes.

We need to take care of these people.

They've graduated from our schools, and I really feel strongly that we need to take care of our elderly here in Cranston, and I know you do too.

Now, as far as the Cranston School Department budget, this budget that came from the mayor level funding.

You destroyed us.

I'm going to say it in simple terms.

You will destroy the school department if you leave that budget the way it is.

Even at the 1.5%, we weren't going to make it.

We were going to have to make some very severe cuts.

And as Mrs.

Boucher said, everything's on the table.

On the May 21st, we're meaning again to make additional cuts in personnel.

I mean, we're cutting down to the bare bones.

We're talking about the elimination of races.

We're talking about salaries.

We're talking about opening contracts.

We're talking about closing schools.

We're talking about combining schools.

We're talking about extending the mileage for children to walk.

I was here and talked to you about the conditions of our school.

I know this because in East Providence, we had a new high school built, the first one in 25 years.

We were in a desperate situation when I arrived here.

The state had just left East Providence.

Your condition of your schools are deplorable.

Seven of them need new roofs.

If one of those roofs leak, we're in deep trouble.

We have to take those children and we have to move them to other schools that will already be overcrowded.

We have HVAC systems.

Do you want your children warm in the winter?

Then we need to replace these HVAC systems.

They've been there, I think the 100 years the school has been open.

One is not working, one is on its last legs.

We got one remainder, but we can't even get the pots to fix them.

They moved students from class to class in various areas of the school.

But I know you understand that, and I ever have every faith in you that you're going to help us.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Mr.

Thompson.

Thank you very much.

John Thompson, 71 DNA Drive, Vice President of Cranston Teacher Alliance.

I just want to stop by saying it's uh deplorable that they're cutting the two most vulnerable groups of people within the city.

And hopefully we can come to some type of resolution to fix that.

But I'm speaking behalf tonight for the teachers, paraprofessional support staff, and every employee works in the Cranston Public Schools, each and every day committed to serve our students and the community.

I want to focus on one truth.

The current budget crisis in Cranston was not created by the employees in our schools or by the seniors at the senior center.

Teachers did not create the city deficit.

School staff did not fail the financial file financial reports.

Educators did not make financial decisions that brought us to this decision.

Yet once again, the people are being asked to navigate severe budget cuts.

These are the very people who have spent years holding the district together through chronic underfunding, chronic staff shortages, and growing student needs.

This year, Cranston Public Schools requested an increase simply to maintain its existing services and mean raising operational cost.

Even with that requests, difficult decisions and reductions were already being implemented.

Now the mayor's proposed level funding for 26, 27 school year.

And like many of you have already heard, level funding might sound prudent at this time.

However, the reality is it's an educational cut.

Costs continue to rise every single year.

Transportation costs increase.

For profit charter school costs increase, special education costs increase, utilities increase, student mental health and behavioral needs continue to grow.

Unfunded state mandates, which we haven't done a well enough job of fending off, continue to grow.

When funding stays flat while expenses rise, schools are forced to eliminate positions and reduce services just to survive.

As requested by the mayor in this very chamber, educators have continued to do more with less.

They've taken on larger class sizes, they've absorbed additional responsibilities, they've stretched limited resources year after year while continuing to provide our students with many top-notch educational opportunities, athletics, arts, and essential student support.

But there's a breaking point.

When schools lose teachers, when class sizes increase and student opportunities are limited.

When we lose paraprofessionals, vulnerable students lose support.

When schools lose counselors, children lose access to mental health care and emotional guidance.

When support staff are reduced, the entire learning environment suffers.

These are not just numbers on the spreadsheet.

These cuts become crowded classrooms, delayed services, staff burnout, and fewer opportunities for our students.

Our students should not bear the price for the years of structural underfunding at both the local and state level.

Public education is on expense to minimize.

Yes.

Thanks, sir.

We need a partnership from the city.

We need stability.

And we need to continue to increase funding because these sacrifices will continue to create deficits and impact our students on a daily basis.

Thank you.

So sir, would you like to come up and speak or anybody else in the audience?

Go right ahead.

Thank you.

I'm sorry I had to make you wait.

No, I I understand completely.

Could you could give you a name and address?

I'm a second generation volunteer at the senior center, and all I wanted to say was that I lost my wife two and a half years ago.

And if it wasn't for the staff at the senior center, uh I would have ended up at Butler.

So it's uh it's uh it's a it's a great it was a great service to me.

She was sick for uh for I've been involved for 20 years or so, and she was sick for about 10 years, and uh I just wanted to say that that's all right.

I gave my name before you have it, Bob Stahlbush, 18 Brown Street and Cranston.

Thank you.

Thank you for your comment.

Thank thank you for letting me speak.

Thank you.

Hi, I'm Sandy Pliskin, live at 314 Magnolia Street.

Um, I didn't have prepared remarks, I wasn't expecting to speak tonight, but I haven't heard enough on behalf of um CCAP and and Head Start, and so I want to speak about that for a moment.

I worked in early childhood education for 50 years, and now I'm retired, and I volunteer at the uh early Head Start on uh Gansett Avenue.

And when I uh go there, I see teachers who have to spend their own money to have the supplies that they need.

Uh, the city's already taken away the gross motor space that the kids used to be able to use in the uh winter time when the weather was bad, so the kids are cooped up uh in bad weather.

Let's not take more away from them.

Um Head Start is one of the most studied programs that the government has ever had.

And uh you spend a dollar on head start, and down the road, as you follow these kids, you save 20 dollars on uh possible bad outcomes by spending that money on it start um ahead of time.

Um let's see what else I want to say.

Um I think that the place to look for cuts is not for programs that help people that we have programs like capital expenditures that can wait.

We have um we have um it it it I think the point of government is to make sure that everybody has enough, and so if we're going to find if we need to find the money, then we need to go after the people who are comfortable and have the wealth, and they I'm glad that they are comfortable, but it's time for them to make sure that other people can be comfortable as well.

And one last thing I want to say is um we need to know that we're it that um this is a a national phenomena going on right now, and that we need to consider that national bills like the uh so-called big beautiful bill are hurting all of us, and we are relying on our local representatives to protect us when other supports are being taken away.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Elizabeth Melcher Hadada at 65 Ferncrests.

Perfect.

All right, the relationship between public servants.

And every relationship requires respect, honesty, clear communication, and shared values to remain strong and viable.

Our public schools, our excellent police and fire departments, and our model senior citizen senior citizen center and services and eventually Bud Longpool are not luxuries.

They are vital to our shared existence.

Every society will be judged, not on how the most privileged and powerful are treated, but the most vulnerable.

But must be the well-being of the youngest, oldest, and most insecure among us.

Thank you.

In particular, I unfortunately had three grandparents who uh got to a point where they could no longer take care of themselves and had to attend the adult daycare.

So I know firsthand that uh this is not such a narrow issue that the adult daycare will only impact the members that go there.

It really is a lot broader and reaches the support groups, uh, the loved ones, family members, and caregivers.

You know, it was because of the adult daycare that I could go to school every day, not having to worry about uh, you know, if my loved ones were going to receive proper care, if my grandparents were going to be safe, I could focus on my education and receive a proper education and then grow up and become a productive member of society and give back to the city of Cranston.

You know, my parents did not have to get out of work, stop working, and and therefore stop paying taxes, stop uh contributing to the city, and it's because of the adult daycare.

I've volunteered at the senior center in multiple ways, you know.

I've uh done arts and crafts with the adult daycare, I've prepared meals in the kitchen.

I know the care that Chef Sean and his team provide every meal.

Uh I've served meals in the dining room.

I've refereed Scrabble Games, you know, I've done almost everything, you know, I can.

Uh, my mom, you heard her speak.

Uh, she's the director of social services there.

So really growing up in that environment, uh, I just grew to understand the importance that this has in the community.

I see the councilman before me.

Um, you know, it just just tonight seeing how much you care for the city, uh, you know, you stepping out to uh hand out a scholarship, you acknowledging the veterans before this and ensuring that we did the Pledge of Allegiance, Mayor Chaffacani.

I know you spoke in my high school graduation and hearing everything that my parents say about you as a mayor.

So, and I think I may be the youngest person in this room, but if I can see how important these seniors and the senior center is, I think all of us can.

So thank you.

Thank you.

Hi, good evening.

Uh Sarah Harrigan, 70 Ferncrest.

Um, I also don't have very prepared remarks.

I wasn't sure I was gonna speak tonight, but um, I've heard a lot of really great and moving testimony.

Like many people, I am just livid at the state that you all find the budget in right now and need to find solutions to.

Um, we should have been raising taxes at a very reasonable amount for years and years, and and we have not.

Um, so we are in a really difficult situation, and I've heard many people talk tonight about how atrocious it is to consider balancing that mistake of a budget on the backs of the least fortunate people in our community.

We have heard so many people talk about the senior center.

I could not agree more.

Um, my work is focused on long-term services and supports, and I can tell you if you are not funding a model senior center like in Cranston, those costs to the city are going to shift, and you are going to see more fire department calls, more police department calls, and increased stress, not just on those individuals who are dating so much from the senior center, but from their loved ones as well, and that has a real social and economic cost.

The other thing I really want to make sure that we touch on um as a mom of a public school kid, as a longtime volunteer with the schools.

I I just want I know that there are many in that community who wish they could be here tonight, and I want to pass on that.

And I want to pass on that if you go into any public school in Cranston, you are going to see principals, teachers, specialists working miracles every day.

They are on a shoestring budget as it is.

Passing the budget as suggested is an absolute cut.

I don't know how they can make it.

And to talk with a straight face about not giving these teachers a raise while our mayor has a driver among many, many other things we could cite.

There is no one who deserves a six-figure salary more than public school teachers.

And we cannot sit here with a straight face and talk about cutting their jobs and their raises when we're not really digging deeply into other areas of the budget to cut.

Thank you for your work.

Thank you.

Going once.

Let me interrupt you.

Sky Marcos 164 Hazard Avenue in East Providence, Rhode Island.

Thank you.

Good evening, Chief of Staff Moretti, City Council President Wall, members of the City Council, and members of our community.

My name is Sky Marcos.

And although I am not a Cranston resident, I am a long-term employee.

Having served the community for 21 years as a police dispatcher and currently a programs director at the Cranston Senior Center.

I'm here tonight to urge you not to close or reduce services at the senior center.

A senior center is not simply a building.

For many of our older adults in our community.

For countless seniors, the center provides something people take for granted connection, purpose, health, and dignity.

Every day, seniors walk through those doors, not just to pass the time, but to stay active, engaged, and independent.

These programs offered at the senior center are essential.

Exercise classes help improve balance, strength, and mobility, reducing falls and hospital visits, wellness activities are proven to help seniors remain healthier longer.

And that matters not only because the individuals who benefit from it, but their families, their caregivers and taxpayers as well.

Healthy seniors are more independent seniors.

Preventative wellness programs save money by reducing emergency medical care, long-term health complications, and social service needs.

The nutrition program is equally as important for some seniors.

The meals they receive at the center are the only meals that they will receive that day.

It is a balanced and reliable meal.

These programs fight malnutrition, support chronic health conditions, and ensure that older adults are not forced to choose between food, medication, or utilities.

Perhaps the most important thing that this center provides cannot easily be measured in dollars.

It provides human connection.

Loneliness and isolation among seniors have become a serious public health issue.

Studies show social isolation can increase the risk of depression, dementia, heart disease, and even premature death.

The senior center combats that every single day.

At the center, people build friendships, they laugh together, they celebrate birthdays, they check on one another, they create a support system that many seniors no longer have elsewhere.

For widows, widowers, veterans, and seniors living alone at the center, maybe the only place they interact with other seniors all week.

Our trips bring back memories.

It gives them the opportunity to visit old familiar places and allows them to visit and look forward to exploring new places, finding new interests.

Our educational programs give them insight and knowledge on concerns designed towards seniors' needs.

Classes such as English as a second language.

Can you finish up?

Thank you.

Thank you.

I understand that the financial pressures are difficult and there's difficult decisions to be made, but I asked you tonight to consider alternatives before taking away something so vital.

Once the senior center closes, the damages cannot be easily undone.

The isolation, the loss of services, and the loss of community will be felt.

This center is not a luxury.

It is an investment, an investment in health prevention, compassion, and community.

I respectfully ask you to protect our seniors.

Thanks.

Could you please state your name and address for the record?

My name is Kathy Nassau.

I live at 44 Cohasiline.

I have one question.

Where is our mayor this evening?

Well, we're not allowed to answer.

It's not a back and forth, but just so everybody's quiet.

When this is public comment, it's not an exchange.

So even if I had the answer, I couldn't give it to you.

I'm not allowed to answer.

Okay.

Do you I speak on behalf of probably a lot of people here that are very sad that he's not here?

Thank you.

Is there anyone else in chambers?

Some smiles.

Hi, how are you?

For the record, Barbara Ann Fenton Fung, 1581 Phoenix App.

I wasn't supposed to talk tonight.

But if we left you with anything over the past 12 years, okay.

Go back.

The good years of Cranston.

Okay.

If we taught you anything, it's how to survive bad times.

And where on earth is your moral compass?

And I'm not talking to the council straight out.

This administration's budget is deplorable.

Dr.

Richie, you couldn't have nailed it on the head anymore.

How on earth do you not keep Jen Cavorkian who keeps so many seniors out of nursing homes?

Who is their lifeline when they can't pay their bills?

But you keep a communications director.

Do you need a driver?

Or do you need more earnies to make sure that our seniors are eating?

I got three minutes.

Okay.

I want you to go back and eliminate the heck out of these administrative positions.

And I want you to keep Jen.

I want you to keep Ernie.

I want you to keep the guys who are working every single day out on the fire trucks, down in public works.

You know why the city looks a little old right now?

Because there's not enough of them to begin with.

Stop for a second.

Think where is my moral compass?

Why am I not funding the schools?

But I'm making sure that there are red carpets.

Oh, and we're gonna bring up the 40,000 Christmas tree.

Okay.

Start looking at this ridiculous spending going on.

This financial crisis, this did not happen overnight.

This was foreseeable.

Some of us foresaw it.

And this isn't the first time from this administration.

His second year in there was what about a $15 million deficit?

We didn't feel it then because there were the ARPA funds and it got wiped out.

This wasn't a mistake by the financial director.

He made some mistakes, little ones here and there, but this wasn't all his fault.

This is a culture of overspending and thinking about what can they get out of it instead of what all of these guys can get out of it?

And where can we build our team?

I would eliminate the economic development director.

You guys were all sitting there in your budget hearings, and I heard the frustration.

We don't need that.

We need more of them.

And this is where I'd challenge you first.

I know budget times are hard, but stop for a second and think.

What do we need for them?

Not what do we need for us?

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay.

I'm gonna go online.

Uh Tom, is there anyone online?

Janice Rajuri.

Janice, can you hear me?

Yes, can you hear me?

Yes, I can.

You have three minutes.

Janice Rajiri, 45 Overhill Road, Cranston, Rhode Island.

I think at this point, it needs to be said that there are many people to blame for this mess, but not too many working to fix the issues.

We've heard all of the blame, but no solutions.

During this fiscal fiasco, we had a mayor who built himself as the education mayor and then has repeatedly underfunded the schools, as evidenced by the latest independent audit.

And the first place he chose to cut in this debacle is from the schools.

Never mind the fact that he also wanted to cut services from our senior population.

Not one minute of work was put into fixing this problem.

A perfect example was tonight.

Director Moretti stating that somehow we will find a way.

Somehow is not a plan.

It's indicative of why we are in this mess in the first place.

Why would the administration not accept negotiations with the fire department when there could be savings?

On top of that, we find out that the taxpayers have been footing the bill for a personal lawsuit that the mayor is involved in.

The burden of this debacle is being placed on the taxpayers and our most vulnerable populations.

I agree that the budget proposed by the education mayor was a spite budget, because there could be no other valid reason for these to be the only cuts proposed unless all other animal avenues had been exhausted.

Mr.

Hopkins began his term in office with a deficit that he did not want even try to fix once when it was identified.

Instead, he more than quadrupled that deficit, and here we are today.

But he is not the only one to blame.

The financial oversight of the city council has been lacking.

The finance committee was not meeting regularly.

And then it seems as though they were not reading or reporting any issues to the council at large.

When I was on the school committee, our finance officer would present a budget to us each month.

In this budget, it would show if we were using more than what was expected in one area, and then we could move funds around from other areas that were being underused.

I do not understand how the city council could not have known about this huge deficit problem.

Prior and current city councils, rubber stamped budgets that the city could not afford, with very few amendments or concerns about where funding was coming from.

When former council members questioned funding for certain items like a park, answers were never forthcoming.

Tonight, Mr.

Steiko stood up as a public citizen and was able to identify items that could save money that would not affect day-to-day care or operations or quality of services.

Why has no one else done this?

At this time, I would like to suggest that Mayor Hopkins submit his resignation as it has become abundantly clear that he is not qualified to handle this job.

Thank you for your time.

Can you hear me?

Hi, everyone.

Thank you for everyone that spoke today, and thank you, counsel, for giving us the opportunity to speak.

Uh my name's Jared.

Yeah, thank you.

State your name and address, please.

My name's Jared Vasella Smith at 91 Bartlett Avenue in Cranston, Rhode Island.

Um, I wanted to come and talk today about some of the effects of possible these cuts.

I emailed um some of the council members and writing and not usually much to come out and speak.

Um, usually kind of behind my keyboard.

Um, but it was I thought it was pertinent to come and talk on these matters today.

I'm a product of CAP.

I wrote my first resume through CAP programs there.

Uh spent time in Cranston Public Schools, and I've been a resident of Cranston my entire life, uh, moving from Garden City uh over to Auburn and then finally over into Edgewood.

And I think it's appalling that using underprivileged and disenfranchised groups of people as leverage tools to get the attention for certain aspects of the budget is downright appalling.

Using our senior citizens using our children and using everyone else in between is not only inhumane but just vile.

Umston's senior residents are about 16% of the population, and about 13% of those live in poverty situations.

If you are to take away their meals, their transportation to their doctor's offices, as mentioned before by one of the other constituents and speakers, that uh pressure on other social services will increase if you take those away.

And same thing goes for the children if you take away their schooling and you take away their education and cuts to their education.

It's scientifically proven that chances of poverty will increase and more dependencies on social services, setting up future Cranston and current Cranston for failure.

And I just think it's important to state that if we keep kicking this can down the line, the can's only going to start rolling faster.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Account name Peter.

Peter.

Peter on mute.

Peter is muted, please on mute yourself.

Hi, how are you?

Can you state your name and address for the record, sir?

Peter Ravelli, 8 M will drive, France from Rhode Island.

Thank you.

The senior center is a vital part of our city.

It's not a nice to have.

It's a necessity.

Some of us may not need it right now because we have families, jobs, other support systems, but many of us may rely on this in the future.

It took years to build the senior center and programs and services we have today, and we should not tear them down because of poor financial decisions.

Our any day fund is also vital to maintain the city's strong bond rating.

We should not, I'm sorry, sorry, we should be adding to it, not keeping it stagnant or reducing it further.

Former councilman Psychos were of several budget items that the city simply cannot afford at this time.

And former councilman Ferry also made several good points.

These are just uh difficult decisions, but we need to focus on what the city can realistically afford right now.

In June 2024, the voters approved a school bond that included funding for uh school uh infrastructure and improvements, including items such as Cranston High School West Parking lot and Karenston High School East Boiler.

I'm using this as an example of budgeting going wrong.

These are basic infrastructure needs that were approved by voters, yet they still do not appear to be completed or addressed.

My concern is that when we commit to funding critical products like this, there should be a clear execution, accountability, and follow through.

If we are unable to deliver on approved capital projects, it raises broader concerns about how future budgeting decisions are being planned and managed.

If we continue if we continue operating the same way, we are luckily looking to multiple increase um in taxes in the future.

City Council, you all have a tough job, but I've seen bipartisanship from this council.

You all seem to bring common sense to the table, and that is something that often seems to be missing in politics today.

My advice is simple.

Use common sense.

If it's something we do not truly need or cannot currently afford, then we should not be spending money on it.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Rivelli.

Alice Patrone.

Alice, can you hear me?

Is she muted?

She is unmuted.

You have two account actives that might be the wrong account.

Okay.

I'm bringing in the other account with the same name.

Alice, can you hear me?

Can you hear me?

Yes, Alice.

Can you state your name and address for the record?

Strive Cranston.

You are breaking up reverberating back and forth.

You're signed on with two accounts, so you might want to sign off the other account.

Otherwise, you'll get a feedback.

Okay.

That sounds better.

Better?

Much better.

Okay.

Okay.

Um, I want to just address the biggest issue here.

Are the raises in the mayor's office?

And three positions that could be easily.

I'm omitted at a savings of over $300,000.

Also, the driver that the mayor has.

Someone mentioned that there could be a policeman who could do the same job.

I just like to share with you that my cousin, who was a province police officer, was a driver for mayor paylee.

So this is done in other municipalities.

So many of the positions that the mayor has created are purely political patronage.

And it's a the taxpayer's expense.

So at this time, I'm going to close public comment.

If you could pass those out, I think as we did in the past, we give everybody a chance to look at the amendments.

There may be some overlap.

So we will recess for about ten minutes.

All right, we're gonna reconvene the meeting, but I'm gonna ask uh the uh president of the firefighters union to step up just for a moment.

I appreciate your your commentary.

Um I just have a little bit of uh just not specifics on anything that you and the administration would address.

That would be an executive session, it's not our purview.

But if you were to come to agreement between the administration and the fires union, how quickly you would have to vote, correct?

Uh that is correct.

Um guys, can we keep it down?

If we if we came to an agreement, uh we would need about seventy-two hours to have that vote completed.

Okay.

Um like like open um uh public meetings.

Uh, we're required to post the meeting for about 48 hours, and then we have to host two meetings to explain whatever agreement we come to with the administration with the body, and then it has to go to a vote.

Seventy not to seventy-two business days, seventy-two hours after you come to an agreement.

You have to give the membership a chance to vote that and that time is that correct?

Yes, I didn't I'd agree with that, yes.

All right, so you guys b uh you guys both agree to sit down.

I don't have it, I can't discuss anything in public.

I appreciate you coming.

I really appreciate the fire department coming forward, and uh you know, I'm sure everybody on the council and and the members of the public do as well.

Thank you so much, Mr.

Francis.

Thank you all for your time.

Thank you all for your support.

Thank you.

All right.

Now we're gonna move on to amendments.

Um the first amendment I see uh I see Councilman Anduha's hand.

Thank you.

Uh thank you for the public for staying.

Um may entertain a motion to increase the tax levy from four percent to four point six five percent, which equals one million two hundred and forty-eight thousand three hundred and sixty-one dollars.

So moved.

Second.

As authorized by the department of business regularly.

As authorized, you want me to say it again.

I don't know the department.

As authorized by the department of revenue.

All right, is there a motion?

So moved.

Second.

All right.

Any discussion.

And as as further stated, it this was authorized by the Department of Revenue.

We of course would have to vote on it, and with this increase, we is that's as far as we can go before we go to General Assembly.

We would need, yes, for the record, you need eight votes for this to happen.

Uh Mr.

Bernano.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Mr.

Zook too.

Um, first of all, to the people that remain here, thank you very much.

I just I want to say um that it was always my intention to as a public official to watch tax dollars very closely.

I think everybody on this council uh shares that sentiment.

I don't and I don't think that's a unique sentiment of elected officials.

I um I want to say that while uh I want to say to the public and to everybody that's listening, we don't do this lightly.

We don't go over the four percent cap lightly, we don't raise taxes lightly.

And as we begin to embark on this journey over the next two days, and then once again in on the first day of June, I want to just remind everybody that this has been a very difficult process um for everybody, the citizens, the elected officials, the seniors, the kids, the school committee members, people that work at the senior center, the staff, the first responders, everybody.

If I'm forgetting somebody, it's not intentional.

This has been difficult for everybody.

The laborers, I see uh all of the representatives out there, every public employee.

Um again, if I'm forgetting anybody, it's it's um it's not intentional.

We have to have a mindset of nobody is gonna be thrilled with what we're we're able to do here tonight and tomorrow and you know, in the future.

Uh the the fact that hey, we're going to Disney World type of feeling, that's not gonna happen.

However, I think we're all we're all searching for solutions that are gonna leave us at least satisfied.

That's a situation we're in.

Um, the situation we're in is the best possible outcome is that we all are satisfied.

So I think as we go forward, we gotta sort of adjust the expectation that nobody's gonna be really happy.

Um, but we also don't want to be in such dire straits that that people are in despair.

If we can get to satisfied, I think that's a victory.

And that's why I will reluctantly vote yes to increase the tax levy of 4.65.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Is there any uh further comments by members of the chairman?

I see Councilman Traffic King.

I've been going through this process since 1979.

It's not an easy process, it's complex, but there's a doesn't have to be confusing or detrimental as long as we're all rolling in the same direction.

And I and I truly believe I worked with a number of councils over the years, and this is most cooperative counsel I worked with throughout my 43 years as an elected official.

And I want to I want to congratulate you people for that and thank you for that.

We'll get this job done and we'll do it the right way.

Thank you, councilman.

Any uh any other comments, but I see councilman Ritz.

Just had a few few quick comments for for who's left here.

Um, you know, I I look at the the 4.65 as as a last ditch effort uh to to keep the senior center and and to give money to the schools.

But I think with this council and his councilman Trofficante said this this body works together.

We're we're going in the right direction.

I'm confident with the the cuts we're looking to make.

Um, that we can we can keep it at 4% and still keep the senior center and give money to the schools.

But I also want to say we're gonna get there with the lower tax increase because of the help from the unions.

The laborers union, the fire union, the police department, they all called me the first day and said, What can we do to help?

And they're willing to give back more to help the city.

And it frustrates me when I see all these different things uh about overtime and stuff like that on the internet because those are state mandated things.

And these are first responders, and these are people that work very hard every day to give to the city, but they're the first ones to give back and do more with less to help us and help the city.

So I just wanted to make that known.

Thank you.

Thank you, councilman.

Any other comments from members of the council?

I see councilwoman Graziano.

Thank you, President Wall.

Um, while I know a number of residents left this evening, I just want to say for the record that I'm grateful that they came this evening, but I also want to apologize that they felt threatened by this budget.

Um, while I understand it wasn't a direct result of the city council um coming here scared and upset for their families is not a feeling that anyone wants to feel.

Um, and I believe that the schools feel the same way.

Um, I just I don't want to see this happening in the city of Cranston.

I think that we are better than this.

I think we can work together to create a better community.

And while I'm grateful that people came to speak on their behalf to get what we need for Cranston, I'm I'm sorry that this is the reason that they had to do it because their line item was zeroed out.

And we hope to restore some of these line items.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

Uh, Councilman Campabiano.

Oh, I didn't see your hand, sure.

Uh yeah, Councilman Campiano and then Vice President.

Uh thank you, Council President.

Uh, first of all, to the people who left, uh, we heard you, all nine of us heard you, and we heard you loud and clear.

Uh this is a very important matter, and uh I'm confident that this council will take care of it and and uh and rectify it.

Uh I struggle with raising the taxes.

Um we're tasked with spending other people's money, and that is an awesome responsibility.

So I do not take it lightly.

But going from 7.4 down to 4.65 is a big jump.

So I feel we're going in the right direction.

So for that reason, I will be voting yes for the 4.65.

Hopefully, we'll work again as a team, find that additional money that we need without any more burden to the taxpayer and get this done.

So thank you.

Thank you, councilman.

Uh, Council Vice President Harayan.

I just want to say thank you to everyone that was here tonight.

Um, the last month we have received an enormous amount of phone calls, emails.

We've tried to get back to everyone.

We have all worked together.

Um, this budget was extremely disappointing to us.

Nothing that none of us ever thought we'd experience.

Um, the disappointment you'll never understand.

Um, we've worked hard.

I never thought I would be okay with a 4.65.

If you had asked me two months ago, I would have laughed at you and said, absolutely not.

To hear that people are scared that their elderly friends, relatives or themselves, may not have a hot meal or be able to talk to somebody about getting their prescriptions for every day and help with the organization, or to have kids have to work on streets.

I myself walk in Cranston and I walk on a sidewalk or the side of the road, because a lot of the sidewalks are really not in good condition or overgrown.

I'm afraid of getting hit by a car.

I cannot imagine sending a third or fourth grader off to walk these distances.

I think every person on this council now will be asking a lot more questions about the city finances.

Thank you to the unions that have gone forward.

I hope we all continue to work together.

That's all.

Thank you, Council Vice President.

Councilman Anduha.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I just want to caution everybody because 4.65 will not really solve the problem.

And I just don't want people to get their hopes up that 4.65 takes care of everything.

So just keep that in mind when we're moving forward because we're going to have to find more cuts.

So just keep that in mind, everybody.

That's my opinion.

We're going to need maybe more.

So with that, thank you, Mr.

President.

Thank you.

I'll sum it up before I take a vote.

I don't want to.

Mr.

President.

Oh, I'm going to go to Councilman Traffic Annie.

I just want to add to what the uh councilman said.

I agree with you, so somewhat.

You know, we just cannot balance this budget on the backs of our seniors and the education department.

That would be totally unfair.

And like I said, I may agree with you because we may have to go to 5.5 or somewhere in that area to satisfy uh the the needs of the city of Cranston.

Okay.

Thank you, Councilman.

Uh once again, I won't reiterate what my my colleagues on the council say.

It's good.

Oh, councilman, Jesus, what's wrong with me today?

I must get in time.

Councilman Vizier.

Yeah.

Thank you, Council President Wall.

Um, I just want to echo what all of my council members say as well.

Um, you know, the 4.6 per five percent increase isn't good, but it's definitely going in the right direction.

And after listening to all of our seniors and um school members speak, you know, they're not line items, and we need to fight harder for them.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So as I initially said uh several times, you know, in this room, that this budget deficit had to be solved uh with a combination of two things.

And I think I don't know who it was a councilman Ritz or Councilman Bonano said it was cuts and increases in in revenue.

Neither one, I think you said neither one are easy.

These are all difficult because every time you cut something, it hurts something that people want.

Um increases hurt as well because you're taking money out of people's pocket.

So there has to be a balance.

And I think I do think it was you, Councilman Bernano said no one's gonna be happy.

And and I can think you see the members of the public who's still here.

You can see the faces of the people around this room are not happy about what they have to do either.

We're gonna do what we have to do.

And and as councilman Ander said, This doesn't get it, this gets us a little ways, but it's we're not done.

We got to get further.

Um, so with that, um clerk, would you please take the roll?

Councilwoman Graziano, yes.

Councilman Anduhar.

Yes, Councilman Ritz.

Yes, Councilman Traficante.

Yes, Councilwoman Vazieri, yes, councilman Campobiano.

Yes, Councilman Bonano.

Yes, Council Vice President Heroyan, yes, Council President Wall.

Yes.

That motion carries.

The next, I think I see council.

Oh, hold on.

You're gonna say okay, go right ahead.

Let the uh council auditor speak for a minute.

Mr.

DeMail.

So at that first amendment taking place, uh what the council is going to do is make either revenue increases or expenditure reductions, and we're gonna run a tally.

And once they're done with the tally, whether it be tonight, tomorrow night, they're gonna do the other side.

And that would be the real allocation of the income increases and reduction in expenses on where they're gonna allocate it to the neediest areas in the city budget.

Thank you, thank you, ordered the mail.

So the next, and I believe the next uh uh amendment I see, councilman uh Bernano, you would be next if I'm not mistaken.

Yes, thank you.

Um behalf of uh our caucus, which uh Councilman Campo Piano is our minority leader, and I know he'll he'll speak in a moment.

Um we came up with uh some cuts, and uh we're gonna I'm gonna begin.

Um and we're gonna kind of move along if it's all right with the president.

Each one of our members of our caucus would like to present some of the however you do it, uh certainly be fine with me.

Okay, thank you.

Um I'm gonna begin um by uh motioning uh that um the following uh reductions be made in city expenses uh to uh group 1103, which is legal line item 5231.

We would like to uh reduce the number from 214,000 in the solicitor line item to 183,000 with a 31,000 dollar expense reduction going uh the next I want to go too fast because I know uh we're gonna have to prove sure, yes.

Any any number can I ask to be out?

Yeah, if there's no objection through the president, we can do this as a block.

Yes, there I don't see any objections.

Okay.

Uh next uh group 1116, division of information technology, line item five, two, nine, three, one, computer maintenance and fees.

Would like to reduce that from six hundred thirty-nine thousand to six hundred and twenty-nine thousand, ten thousand dollar reduction.

Also, group eleven sixteen division of information technology, five, two, nine, three, two system upgrades, forty thousand to thirty thousand, ten thousand dollar reduction.

Also, group 1116, division of information technology technology upgrades, 65,000 to 55,000, 10,000 reduction.

Uh group 1117, division of treasury and collections postage line item 52941 from 88,000 to 83,000, $5,000 reduction.

Group 1200, fire line item 53021 tires and tubes from 55,000 to 45,000, 10,000 reduction.

And I have two more group 1202, line item 53203 fingerprint cards, 5,000 to 25,000 and a 2500 reduction.

Oh, I'm sorry, 5,000 to 2500, 2,500, 2,500 reduction.

Before I say this next one, um, I want to preface this by saying I wish we I wish we didn't have to come up with these ideas.

And like Councilman Ritz, I have the utmost respect for our first responders, as well as our teachers um and and public employees.

But we need to make some serious sacrifices, and I think they're all gonna be shared.

And like I said, not everybody's gonna be happy.

Um, but I hope we can get through this uh as a as a as a community and as a uh uh uh collaboratively group 1202 police line item 53210 cars from 400,000 to 200,000, 200,000 reduction.

I uh defer to councilman Ritz.

Thank you.

Hold on one second.

Before we go, um, there was a question from um uh director Rinzuli, just um which line was it salaries together, so you think to get rid of a part-time solicitor.

I'm just trying to understand what it is so I can communicate that back.

We well, that's up to the administration.

If the solicitors want to all remain and reduce their fee, then that's acceptable to the council or acceptable to us who are approving it.

If if a solicitor, that's equivalent to one solicitor's part-time salary.

Um if that's the way the administration would like to handle it, that's that's up to them.

You know, that's not our purview.

However, usually it's individualized, that's why I'm asking.

Yeah, so however, the administration thinks as though that that's able to be done, that's fine with me.

And us, thank you.

We he's yeah, we haven't made the motion yet.

Uh nothing in it.

We have take discussion one set.

I just she just wanted to be clarified.

So Chris, we should be probably taking uh uh that on that block, that first block.

So Chris, we should be probably taking uh uh that on that block, that first block, we should probably take a motion, take a second on originally the intention, and trust me, correct me if I'm wrong, uh the mayo that we were gonna take each block at a time, right?

All right, so all right.

So you took which two blocks did you take?

He actually did uh one, two, three, four, five.

So the which which they will so which were they?

What what was he did legal, legal technology, technology, um treasury, fire, and police.

Could we have a motion to approve those amendments?

So move second.

All right, any discussion.

Hold on, I'm gonna take the council members first.

Okay.

You discussion, uh Councilman Andu How.

I'm just worried about the cars.

Um as you know, these cars are always getting banged up.

Do we really need to take these 200,000 dollars out?

And have you talked to anybody over there?

Because I'm just worried that two cruisers go down, and then now we're missing we're gonna be off two police vehicles in our city at night.

So that's all that's my worry.

This line item to the chair.

Yeah, my understanding is this line item is is for replacement of fleet vehicles.

It's not if uh car gets into an accident.

Um so yeah, I mean, I I wanna I'd rather see the senior center be able to have 200,000 extra dollars as opposed to you know this year having brand new police cars.

Um I would rather have both, and I hope I would I wish we were in the situation where we didn't have to do that.

Um, and this is you know, not easy, but um yeah, I think you know they can they can have three cars instead of six this year, and hopefully by next year we can we can re-up it to where it's supposed to be.

Um I see councilwoman, uh council vice president.

Um I want to echo an andah's concerns also.

Um we're to discuss this with the police department before I vote on this, because that's their office.

They don't have a desk, they don't have a computer at the police department.

Like this is how they work out of like people here in City Hall have an office, a desk, a computer, and a city car, and a gas paid for.

So I just before, and is this something we can ask if we cut out this year?

Can we please ask to for to monitor it and see how it's affecting them when we go into next year's budget?

If if I may, through the the chair.

Um we don't want to take away any vehicles.

That's right.

Yeah, it's just it's just new ones.

I think I just think that in this particular budget year, this is not ideal.

And I would love, yeah.

Um I think in this particular budget year, this is this is an answer um that nobody wants to to look at, but we but we have to.

Um, and by all means, you know, you're right.

They did they deserve the 400,000 dollars?

Yes, but we're yeah, here we are.

I think what you're doing right now is make it making a difficult choice.

And in a perfect world, we wouldn't make it.

Um, so I I I echo both sides of the argument, not to be political about it, but we're making a difficult choice here.

Um, Councilman Campamiano.

Thank you, Council President.

Um, I guess I got a two-part thing.

Maybe we should take this one line on.

We're still gonna do some uh amendments tomorrow night, I believe.

I mean, we're gonna do more amendments tomorrow night, and we're gonna finalize the budget.

We have to finalize it tomorrow, but yeah, we're gonna do more.

Uh I mean, would everybody feel more comfortable?

We've took that one particular line item out of this bundle and spoke with the police tomorrow and then revisited it tomorrow.

Well, I'd I'd kind of go to the sponsor and the person, the person we'd have to ask for a withdrawal of the motion.

Um or okay, I I'm sorry, I uh yeah, thank you.

Well, we could take that one out and uh council uh the council attorney, you know, said we could also take it out and vote that one separately.

I it is as opposed to that one, because that's gonna be a decision.

If we think we are gonna get more information, I might might be in favor to continue that till tomorrow, and when we get it more information, we make a better decision.

Um, would that be all right with you, Councilman Bernano?

I to do it separate, or would you rather do it separate or continue to tomorrow?

Maybe we have a little more information.

Well, let me let me say this.

I I would rather not do it tomorrow.

However, um councilman Ander Hard just whispered something to me.

If within the 10 days there is something that we come that we come up with.

And um listen.

First of all, this wasn't just my idea.

All right, we all met as a as a group and we agreed on it.

So I'm unsure why we're debating with ourselves here on our side, but um I I would like to vote on it tonight as well.

Fair enough.

Um councilman, councilman Ritz.

Two comments.

Councilman Banano said one of them that uh given some changes that could happen in the next 10 days.

This would be one thing we would put back in.

My other question is if we got into a uh situation where this needed to be put back in, can we amend the budget mid-season and put this back in?

Once we pass it after after that date that it's there for the year, and it is it is you know, new cars for a year.

Um it's a hard choice, yeah.

Um, councilman, you are you also councilman?

Councilman Traffican.

I I want to second with Mr.

Bonano saying every department's gonna feel stress of this budget.

So I have no problem with taking the $30,000 out.

Sorry, the $200,000 out.

If if if it works out in the long run, we can always put it back in within the 10-day period.

Okay, I think we've heard from everyone at this point.

Um there's a motion, a second.

I'm gonna do please, Mr.

Director Murray, and uh yeah.

Just to fill you on, I might be able to answer your question so you have the information now.

If the colonel were speaking here, this is what he'd say.

The um to councilman women's point, he would say that about but that is their office, it's essential.

Um something you may have not realized.

Typically, they're though they get about eight cars every year.

The mayor's budget also has reduced it already by two vehicles.

So now they're at five or six cars.

If you reduce this, they could be down to three or four cars, less than half.

So I could tell you that the chief will come here and say it's they can't do it.

And also I just want to point out this will now be a structural problem because next year it is four cars or three or four cars a year is not sustainable.

We may have lost a car at two o'clock this morning.

Uh two months, we've been losing cars.

Going back to the highway department, look at all the total wrecks there.

Um, in all sincerity, I just wanted to advise you of that.

The colonel won't be in support of this.

And for those reasons, that they're they're they're they're having problems with cars as it is.

And again, the mayor's budget already reduced two vehicles, which they were not one bit happy about.

I I do, if I may, Mr.

Channel.

Um I'm gonna go to Councilman Banano, and then I'm gonna come right around.

Thank you, Director.

All right, Councilman Banano.

I also want to say that um number one, I think you know, we're in we're in a time where this is difficult.

Like you said, this is a difficult situation.

And believe me, my car is 10 years old.

Okay.

And I have a but eventually I'm gonna need a new one, and my budget's gonna be what it is.

And if I can't afford a new car, I buy a used one.

So perhaps with the reduction, they can still get you know X amount of cars.

Uh, however, instead of getting a brand new cruiser, they get one uh gently used from a hand me down from the state police or you know, another municipality that isn't in the straits of Cranson's inn.

I under I I agree.

This is less than ideal.

I think everybody does.

And I I if were I the chief, which I will never be, take a look at me.

Um I would also stand up there and say, no, this is a problem.

At the same time, we're at an impasse and the rubbers meeting the road here, and we we have to make tough decisions.

And this is this is the this is the first one we're gonna make in a series.

Councilman right.

I don't know if we have authority, but checking on what councilman Budano said, it's much more important that uh offices have cruises to around in than say a deputy chief of staff or a chief of staff, and they both drive Ford Explorers.

Do we have the ability to transfer them from department to a department that needs them?

I would assume the city's allocation.

You want to restate their questions so the director can hear it?

Absolutely.

Please answer.

Yeah, but those those cars are specially equipped.

The cruise cruisers are specially equipped with different engines, different uh just different suspension, um, so on and so forth.

But they're not more passenger, not passenger vehicles.

Um, they're looking for cruisers, those are the ones that are getting in the accidents.

Uh they're okay with detective cars, if you will, but it's it's the it's a hard cruisers that are on the road all the time that they have in the the total wrecks.

So is that your staff is driving were bought brand new and didn't come from the police department?

At a at a point at a at the as the pat the passenger level, not that not that great.

Okay, thank you.

Okay, councilman and duha, and then I'll get council.

I'm sorry, Councilman Graziano, I missed you.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

I mean, when I got elected, I promised the constituents of my ward that I will focus on seniors and quality of life.

And it's sad because I totally agree with my counter my my friend over here, Councilman Banano, especially with the legal item, but I can't vote on this.

So I will be voting no.

And I apologize to Chris because you know they're doing a really, really good job, but quality of life is a police cruiser.

And if they can't respond to the residents of my ward, then I'm losing the battle.

So I will be voting no.

I wish that we could do line by line, but since we're gonna take it as a block.

I I think we're gonna pull that line out.

We will vote it on on one line, because you even if we vote one of those lines down, you want to get the additional savings that's in there.

So uh David, can you can um who who made the motion?

I'm gonna ask that the person made the motion.

So all right, yes, I I made the motion.

I I would like I would like to block it.

Hold on, hold on.

Remove the 200,000 foot.

Hold on, you didn't make the motion.

Yeah.

No, I thought I said I'd council traffic candy.

Well you would you would you like to withdraw the motion?

We'll go line by line.

All right.

Yes.

So the motion was made as a block, right?

But any member can ask that one any item in the listed in that block to be removed to withdraw to be voted on separately.

Right.

So it's a piece like a piece of statutory legislation when you want to vote on separately, you can pull it out.

So that's one statute with all different line cutems.

If you want to vote it on separately, any member doesn't have to be voted on it.

Any member can ask that that line item be taken out separately and voted upon.

So I'm gonna ask that it, I'm gonna ask that that line.

What line is it, David?

12025210.

Cars.

Cars, all right.

I'd like to make uh is it have a motion?

Um motion is necessary, just vote on that one first.

Yeah, yeah.

So I I want to motion.

Is there a motion to approve on the time out?

I'm confused.

Yes, go ahead.

So go ahead, say we are we we're doing the rest of the block right now.

No, no, we're just gonna take that one out, then we're gonna take the rest of the block.

Am I correct?

Yes.

So we're voting on the motion to approve this cut of 200,000.

Separately.

That's that's the motion that it's been taken out separately.

We're voting on that separately now.

Yeah, I didn't know.

I just want to know what I was voting on.

Sorry.

Yeah, no, we all should know.

So is there a motion?

So motion.

Second.

All right.

That is a motion to approve.

Approve the cut.

That's our motion to approve the cut.

And that's approve the 200,000 dollar cut to cars.

All right.

Okay, thank you.

So a yes vote cuts it, and no vote leaves it.

Exactly.

So, yes.

Yes, council vice president Horae.

Do I make a motion to deny the cut?

No, we've already got a motion on the table to approve.

You can vote it down.

Voted no.

All right.

Is there any further discussion?

I see Councilman Campa Piano.

Thank you, Council President.

Uh, I I will be voting to approve with the understanding that we can revisit this in the 10 days.

So I want to do my research.

I want to see if there's other funding that is available to get this done.

Uh, another way to get it done if it's possible.

So I will be saying yes with the understanding that in 10 days we can revisit it.

I just clarify something.

So we have to pass the budget by Friday.

Subject to meeting all the other legal requirements of the state law.

We're gonna have another hearing on June 1st, which is way more than 10 days, right?

So on June 1st, or any time between that uh Friday and June 4th, you the council can reconvene and make other cuts and changes.

So it's more than 10 days that you can you can get this information, but this could be that you can reverse everything you do tonight on June 1st.

If somehow we hit the lottery and you have 10 billion dollars in the budget.

So I just want to make sure that this 10-day notion is is an advertisement requirement, it's not a hearing requirement.

Thank you for clarifying that.

Councilman Banano, I'm gonna go all the way around.

Can I ask a member of the administration to for that meeting on June 1st to direct the grant writer to see if there are any grants available for uh police vehicles and have some sort of answer on that?

I believe I'm gonna director Maretti saying he'll do that.

Yep.

Again, I don't want to take this, I don't want to do this.

Right here.

Well I want to I want everybody to know I don't, you know.

Councilwoman Graziano.

Thank you, President Wall.

And um, thank you, Councilman Bonano.

That was what I was gonna say about the grants, because um, I've gotten a lot of grants for my vehicles specifically, so I think they're out there, so check that out.

Um, the other item is if we could get a schedule of um police vehicles, and when you change them over, I think that would help the council when they're reviewing this.

So if we could get that, that would be wonderful.

Okay, director be okay, you get that to us, perfect.

Any other comments?

Please call the roll.

And remember, I guess the motion to approve means you approve of the cut, and motion deny you're against it.

Councilwoman Graziano, yes, councilman Anduhar.

No, councilman Ritz, yes, councilman Trafficante, yes, councilwoman Vazieri, yes, councilman Campopiano, yes, councilman Banano, yes, council vice president Heroyan, no, Council President Wall.

Yes, Chairman, yes, make a comment, general comment, and please don't take this the wrong way, Councilman.

We have a school department that's ready to make enormous cuts in that enormous, unheard of cuts in their budget.

We're never gonna get there and help them out unless we stop making decisions such as removing automobiles or internals.

So please keep that in mind.

Uh we we're trying to reinstate the senior center.

We're also trying to help the Cranston School Department, and believe me, they need help right now.

The they're in the worst condition I've ever seen in them.

Thank you, Councilman.

Councilman Andah, and then we have to get a motion for the next one.

I just want to remind the mayor that this council didn't create this problem, and we we work we're working tirelessly to get this done, but I am not gonna jeopardize public safety or quality of life ever.

I guess you want to jeopardize the education of our young kids then.

All right, that's why we have we're not gonna have a debate back and forth.

Each one's been recognized, each one has spoken.

All right.

Um, now we're gonna take a vote on the remaining items on the block.

There was already a motion previously.

You want you'd like to say something?

I know it's not a lot of money.

I believe it's a five thousand dollar reduction, but on postage of the treasury department, with all the tax bills that go out, and with the postage increase in cost, we can't afford to reduce it.

If anything, maybe it should have been increased, but be that as it may, we left it at the figure it was last year.

So just keep that in mind.

I know it's not a lot of money, but I'm concerned that we'll have enough in the postage account to take care of sending out bills, sending out tax notices, delinquent notices, etc.

Because I believe the tax, I mean, excuse me, the the rate for postage right now is like 60 some odd cents.

Uh an envelope.

Thank you, Director.

Is any more uh any other comments on the block?

It's president councilman banano.

If we're gonna fight like this over every single thing, I shouldn't say fight.

If we're gonna debate five thousand dollars in postage, we're never gonna make it.

We're never gonna make it.

And I'm I'm telling you, I'm getting irritated.

Okay, we're never gonna make it.

So I understand this is less than what is ideal for the situation.

Okay, closing the senior center and underfunding the school department is a lot worse than making it work with five thousand dollars less in stamps.

Thank you, councilman.

Any other comments?

Okay, clerk, please call it take a roll on the block.

Councilwoman Graziano, yes, councilman Andouhar.

Yes, councilman Ritz, yes, councilman Trafficanti, yes, councilwoman Vizier, yes, councilman Campopiano, yes, councilman Banano, yes, council vice president Horyan?

Yes, Council President Wall, yes.

Now, if I'm not mistaken, way back there, I believe the next motion was gonna come from uh next block was going to come from Councilman Ritz.

Thank you.

I'm making a motion to um remove the entire economic development department.

So it's line items 110.

Department 110, Division of Economic Development.

Salary Schedule.

Payroll taxes.

5200 office supplies and expenses.

52753 program activities.

And if we can make a recommendation, our caucus would be to help keep economic development in the city is to move these duties to the deputy chief of staff.

Thank you, Councilman Ritz.

Um, just before let me get just for just for housekeeping, the Democratic caucus had the exact same the same uh cuts.

So I believe we're in agreement.

But I'm gonna go to Councilman DeMair.

Um councilman, how you you want that job?

Order the mail.

Thank you.

Just uh clarify, Councilman Rich, you wanted the full department.

So there's two other categories that were omitted.

So uh account number 520, office supplies to be reduced and 52573 to be reduced.

But what I will do is I'll read the total so everybody knows the amounts and they're into the right.

That's what I thought just read the so department one one zero, division of economic development line item five one one zero zero to is currently eighty-three thousand six three seven to be reduced to zero.

Line item one, excuse me, five one three zero zero payroll taxes, currently six thousand three hundred and ninety-eight dollars to be reduced to zero.

Line item number five one three oh one, currently eight thousand four hundred and eighty-one dollars to be reduced to zero.

Line item five one three oh two, hospitalization current amount thirty thousand one hundred and ten dollars to be reduced to zero.

Line item five one three oh four, group life, currently one hundred and ninety-two dollars to be reduced to zero.

Line item five two zero zero zero, office supplies and expenses four hundred dollars to be reduced to zero.

Line item five two seven five three program activities, currently five hundred dollars to be reduced to zero, and that would eliminate the full department.

Okay, so that's the block entirely.

Are there any questions on the block?

I see so we added two lines, Mr.

De Mayo.

That's correct.

I was just amend your motion to add the two lines as read.

I'll make a motion to amend it as read.

Is there a second?

Second, okay.

Any discussion?

All right, your discussion on the amendment.

No, not okay.

So I'm if there's no discussion on the amendment, then we're gonna vote, take a motion for the block.

There's no discussion on the amendment.

I see none.

Clerk please call the roll on the amendment.

Councilwoman Graziano, yes, councilman Anduhar, yes, councilman Ritz, yes, councilman Trafficanti, yes, councilwoman Viziri.

Yes, councilman Campopiano, yes, councilman Bonano, yes, council vice president Horyan, yes, council president Wall.

Yes.

Now I'm looking for a motion to approve the block as amended.

Approve the block as amended.

Is motion made in second?

I know councilman and his hand up.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um, although I was never in agreement with that department, but there was an individual in there that does play an important role, especially in my community, the Latino community.

So I would like to know if it's protocol or if it's right that I could ask the administration what would happen to an individual in that department.

Um you might want to uh director, are you prepared to answer that question?

I don't know if you heard it.

Director, the question is the individual from that department being moved somewhere else because that person, although lacks some skills in economic development, did does play an important role in my community, which is Latino community in Cranston.

So my question is is that person being moved anywhere else, or is that person going on unemployment tomorrow?

We don't we don't have any uh this is it's new to us if you will we've heard it's possible, but uh there are no uh there's no slots that we have readily available.

We're gonna try to get creative with that if you're willing, give some thought to it.

Um, but at this point at this moment, no, we don't have a uh we don't have a position per se.

So if I heard you're gonna get creative, that's what I uh I don't know how creative we can be because it's it's I just wanted to I just wanted to note that it would it would be maybe we'll probably take a look we'll have to see what happens with uh relative to um possibly uh the open uh other positions in the city that might be labor uh pardon me uh teamster positions perhaps if they're not filled um by you know what with the bumping system uh so we'd have to see how this all plays out if there's if there's something and then director that's what I meant by creative thank you, director.

And the last question is if somebody Spanish speaker were to call your office, who is gonna answer that call?

Because as you know in the building, there's um uh gentlemen and in uh canvassing.

Uh um and I believe that I'm not sure of any other well, that'd be a grievance if that person does somebody's uh director Favicchio when he's in these he's uh uh Spanish fluid and Spanish.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman.

Any other discussion?

I see councilwoman Horan.

I just wanted to go on the record.

We didn't target one person.

This is a department that I think every council person has agreed on that is non-functioning, not helping the taxpayers.

We had many constituents come to us and saying it was a non-functioning department.

I think most of us all agreed that the way that department is being run, the city is losing money, it's not bringing new businesses in that are functioning.

It was proof during the grants that haven't been given out.

Um we have gone to administration, we have voiced that concerns.

Um we're gonna take it out for a yeah, hopefully, and see what happens.

And I fully agree with Councilman Ritz.

Um, both parties had on their list to remove the department in hole.

Um, I like his idea if we have that ability to shift the responsibility to the deputy chief of staff, but I don't know if we have that responsibility, but I think it's a great idea.

Planning.

Director Enzuli, I'll get you as soon as I get the rest of the council members.

Do I have any other hands?

I see councilman Bernano.

I'm sorry, Mr.

President.

I I I talk a lot, and I know it's getting late.

Sorry.

There's always tomorrow.

The city, you're right.

The city needs a robust economic development program.

Whether or not we have a department of economic development or not, I don't think has anything to do with the fact that we can create and we can still create a robust economic development program.

The director of economic development as a human being is a fine human being, it's a nice person, and he definitely has value as uh an employee of the city.

He has not been put in a position to succeed.

And um is if he is placed in a position to succeed, he will succeed and he'll do well.

Um, I think that we have a multitude of talented people, and part of the function of government is to put those people in positions where their talent can shine.

And if we shift, I think our deputy chief of staff would excel at this.

And I know that he he is not the only one.

So um, I think the functions of this office, while we are zeroing out the money, the functions of this office should not cease, and we should uptick the functions of this office to get some robust businesses into vacant areas of our city.

If you look at if you I mean, I work at the ACI.

If you're coming out of maximum security and you look across Pontiac Avenue, there's a whole lot of flat stuff going on over there that we can perhaps uh utilize and make it a little mini route to.

And um, that's how we're gonna ultimately get out of a mess like this.

So it's not personal.

I think we need to again make very hard decisions.

This is another very hard decision.

But if we don't make them, we're not doing our job.

Council attorney wanted to weigh in on so I just want to advise the council.

You're making budget cuts.

We've got to be very careful about not delving into uh job performance and whatnot.

So you can certainly justify saying that the department you don't believe it's needed and whatnot, but let's not get into uh personnel matters.

Let's keep on the broader perspective of a budget cut, and we could so we'll be move much quicker.

And I just don't want to get into areas that we might not be able to do in an open session like this.

So let's just keep it on the budget.

We're talking about finances.

Any cuts you make, you're never talking about an individual or a person or you know, we're talking about departments or alignments in the department, but we should stay away from indicating you know it's targeted against another person or whatever.

That's just my advice.

Thank you.

Thank you, Jordan.

All right.

So I'm gonna take director in Zuli, and then I'm gonna I'm gonna get you, councilman.

Go ahead.

Thank you.

I won't go too far into this either.

I just did want to note that this is a full-time job that has functions that will need to be reassigned, and maybe you guys can't choose who does them, but there are already some people doing literally two full-time jobs or more.

And maybe you guys can't choose who does them, but there are already some people doing literally two full-time jobs or more.

So if you want it to be a robust department, I would think about how you can work with the administration to make that happen because someone can't be out on the road making a route to in Cranston and in the office doing another job at the same time.

So I just want to put that out there.

If we're all gonna set each other up to succeed, then I just had to be honest with you about that.

There are functions of that job, whether it's functioning right now, currently to your um desire or not, is up to you, but there's a lot of work that could be done with Rhode Island Commerce and bringing in big box stores, etc.

etc.

So that's gonna take a lot of work.

Thank you.

Thank you, Director.

All right.

So we're uh gonna take any further comments.

We're just gonna turn it down over there on that side of the room.

Traff Councilman Traffic again.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh look, I'm not gonna talk about job performance.

I'm not gonna talk about you know where he should land.

That's a mayoral decision, not us.

Whether cutting someone we should not take lightly, I understand that.

But but you know, we have a superintendent on the other side of the aisle who is gonna cut 30 or 40 teachers and probably 20 or 30, but uh tight teacher aids.

You know, it's unfortunate.

We gotta make hard decisions when we're facing a budget crisis, and that's unfortunate.

And unfortunately, we gotta make the decision.

Thank you.

All right, I think we've pretty much exhausted this block.

Um, there's there's a motion already on the floor to approve.

There is a second.

I'm gonna ask the clerk to please take the roll.

Councilwoman Graziano, yes, councilman Andrew Hart.

Yes, Councilman Ritz, yes, councilman Traficante.

Yes, councilwoman Vazieri, yes, councilman Campo Piano, yes, councilman Banano, yes, council vice president Horayan.

Yes, Council President Wall.

Yes.

Okay, I believe uh Councilman Camp of Biano, you with the next uh block.

Thank you, Council President.

Uh we're working on block 1400, uh Department of Parks and Recs.

The first item is 51202 pool attendant wages, uh, from 110,000 to 100,000.

With a that's a ten thousand dollar difference.

Next is 1400, 51202 playground attendant wages from 275 to 200.

I believe that's level funded from last year.

Um correct.

Uh that's a 75,000 dollar reduction.

Uh line number five, one three zero zero payroll taxes, uh, from one ten three fifty to one oh three six four seven point five.

Uh that's a sixty two hundred and two dollars and fifty cents.

And lastly, line number five five zero zero two trees and shrubs from thirty-five thousand to thirty, uh savings of five thousand dollars.

That's it for me.

Okay, there's a motion uh on the floor.

Is there a motion to approve motion that he made the motion?

Okay, is there a second?

Second, okay.

There's a mo there's a motion, a second.

I see councilwoman graziano.

Sorry, I feel like that lot one of the numbers was wrong.

So correct me if I'm wrong.

Uh the mayo, you want to take a look at hold on a second.

We just want to make sure we get the right number.

I think we might need an amendment.

Let's make sure.

So payroll taxes.

I thought, did you say six thousand five hundred and two dollars and fifty cents for the differential?

Okay, I didn't think that's what you said.

I thought you said sixty-two.

Did you you have a different figure order?

It's correct.

It's fine.

Yeah, let me clarify six thousand five hundred and two dollars and fifty cents.

Okay, actually, just if you could make it six thousand five hundred and three dollars.

There's they don't work with pennies.

Okay, as stated by the auditor.

All right, so we have the right figure.

Good.

We have a motion to approve.

We have a second.

Any other discussion on this block?

I see councilman and I hate to be the person that's always complaining, but these cuts are gonna affect wards one, two, three, four, and five.

So I just want to make that clear to everybody that my kids in my ward are gonna be affected by this.

That's all I want to say.

Councilman Ritz.

Uh, thank you.

If it's some of the logic behind this uh of how we got here was um, especially with the the playground tenant wages, a lot of that was related to the camp.

And when we had the hearings, um the director mentioned that he was reducing, I think it was 25 to 1 to 10 to one counselor.

This one puts it back to 15, which was a reasonable number again with the hard choices we have to take.

And then with the pool wages, we thought it was a reasonable amount to cut that down.

So we did put some thought into how we got there with this to minimize the impact.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman.

Councilman Boneno.

Yeah, I just want to reiterate what Councilman Ritz said.

So last year at 1 to 25, they wanted to put it one to 10 for the for the uh for the for the um councillor to kid ratio.

It's still better than last year, but it's not as good as they wanted it.

So I think we're headed in the right direction.

Um, and I agree with you, Councilman Andah.

I mean, I have little kids, and you know, so I think we're headed in the right direction.

I also want to note that um with respect to the playground attendant wages.

Um we merely reverted to last year's number, which was within budget.

Um, so I like I said, we're at it, we're at a point where we gotta get what we need and kind of issue what we want a little bit.

So um that's that's sort of piggyback.

That's sort of the logic.

Okay.

Any other comments?

Motion.

All right.

So we have a motion, a second.

Um, I'm gonna ask the clerk to please call the role on the block.

Councilwoman Graziano, yes, councilman Andrew Harris.

Yes, councilman Ritz, yes, councilman Trafficante.

Yes, Councilwoman Vaziri, yes, councilman Campopiano.

Yes, Councilman Bonano.

Yes, Council Vice President Horayan, yes, council president Wall.

Yes, and just for the sake of timing, um the uh council attorney had and had a discussion uh sidebar with the administration.

They're not gonna be you know given any input regarding the their opinion on it.

They'll probably reserve that till tomorrow, any of those things.

And we do appreciate that in the sake of time.

Okay.

Um councilwoman, I I gotta apologize that we've already taken the taking a motion.

So but I we uh I think we got the gist of your spirit um there.

So I'm gonna move on to uh councilwoman Graziano.

I believe you have a motion.

I'm gonna make a motion to take um department one one zero one executive line item five one two zero zero part-time help three thousand dollars to zero it out.

Also, line item five two zero zero zero office supplies and expenses two thousand dollars and zero out that line item.

All right, is there a second?

Second motion made in second.

I do I see a hand.

No, I see councilman uh councilman campion.

Yeah, I just have one question.

Um, so this is in the executive office.

Now I believe that the uh the assistant uh chief of staff is in that office.

We just zeroed out the office supplies in the economic development, and now we zeroed out the office supplies in that office.

What supplies are they using unless I got this wrong?

I'm not sure what you it says uh well.

It says we're zeroing out number five, two, zero, zero, zero office supplies and expenses, two thousand dollars.

Yep.

And we zeroed out the office supplies in the economic development.

And then we're asking the assistant chief of staff to report um do those duties as the uh, but now there's no office supplies in either office.

Am I correct in saying that or am I missing something?

I have a feeling there is office supplies in those office, but there's just no new office supplies.

That's where I'm gonna stand.

But um direct well, it doesn't say new office supplies.

Hold on.

I'm I'm thinking, hold on a second.

Um, yes.

Oh, hold on.

Maybe you maybe actually what it is is the original amount.

We're funding it, level funding it from last year.

So the total expenditure in the line item is a mistake in the schedule, it was 12,500.

We're gonna reduce it by 2,000, which will level fund it back to the 10,500.

That's what's that.

What does it say?

Because I've given my sheet away since then.

What's it say on the sheet?

Because I've given mine to one of you guys.

You got two of them.

The the sheet reads the reduction of 2,000, but it assumes that it was uh taking it right out as a line to zero, but it was just level funding into previous year.

All right.

So that's okay.

That's good.

Thank you for clarifying.

Um, Councilman Andar.

Mr.

President, if you could just clarify for the public, um, when we started, you said um this was the their um cuts.

Now we're on we're on our cuts now.

Yeah, okay.

So if you could just I actually, yeah, uh good point, Councilman.

Um the first up until Councilman Ritz, those were those were cuts that came about as part of the uh Republican caucus.

This second group, which would also overlap with the economic development was part of the uh cuts um from the democratic caucus that uh councilman Graziano just read.

Thank you for clarifying that.

Do you want certainly um actually the uh the order is willing to give some edification at this point?

To to clarify the process this year, because of the um extreme uh economic situation.

We made the suggestion that e Cork has come up with their own uh reductions, cuts, revenue increases, and submit them to me on a separate sheet.

I compiled them on both sheets, so there was a lot of uh over overlapping.

Uh quite a few of the deductions came from both sides, and we just split them up and we're having them read now.

So it was really collective, but we just tried to make it simplified.

So when they were looking at it, they knew what their caucus came up with and what the other caucus came up with.

So there's a quite a bit of overlap on some of the areas, and you know, obviously uh one caucus read some and the other caucus read some.

So uh again, uh quite a bit of overlap.

Thank you.

We also we also might mention that some of the stuff that came up in the budget hearings previously.

Um I believe the the administration was looking, they cut some of those things out.

Uh I believe administrative raises, department head raises, those things were cut out prior to prior to us as well.

So some of those cuts were made, we didn't have to make them.

Um the comments.

All right, I see none.

Um, so the motion second.

Uh clerk, please call the roll on the block.

Councilwoman Graziano, yes.

Councilman Andrew Hamas.

Yes, Councilman Ritz.

Councilman Traficante.

Yes, Councilwoman Vazieri.

Yes.

Councilman Campopiano.

Yes.

Councilman Banano.

Yes.

Council Vice President Horayan.

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

Okay.

Um, so the last one is uh Mr.

Mr.

Councilman Traffic.

Did you have any more?

Councilman.

No, we're that's the end of my line because I don't have my you have a I have no more.

All right, hold on one second, but I'm gonna take Councilman Graziana's question.

I think we have to extend in three minutes.

Oh God, it is 1030.

Motion to extend by uh 15 minutes.

So moved.

All right, motion.

Okay, all right.

No discussion.

Uh clerk, please call the roll 15 minutes.

No kidding.

Councilwoman Graziano.

Yes.

Councilman Andor.

Yes.

Councilman Ritz.

Yes.

Councilman Traficante.

Yes.

Councilwoman Vizieri.

Yes.

Councilman Campopiano.

Yes.

Councilman Banano.

Yes.

Council Vice President Horyan?

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

Thank you.

Uh motion passes.

Uh, David, did you have clarification?

Come on up to the microphone.

Um, I have clarification on the last one that was on our list.

So was the impact fees.

So the total of the impact fees currently uh is 43,000 in total.

So uh when you make the amendment, it's the amendment to reduce the police rent by 43,000.

And again, that'll go into the total.

But also, Director Ranzuli will prepare an ordinance as we have to do every year so we can reallocate those funds.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you, Auditor.

Um, I believe the last uh amendment we have this evening is councilman Councilman Traffic Canny came up with the next one.

Councilman Trafficani, you do have amendment.

It's uh block 1200 fire department.

Uh it is five one one zero one uh fire overtime.

Uh the budget goes from four million five hundred thousand to an increase of six million three hundred thousand.

Uh we are reducing that's an increase of one point eight million dollars.

We are reducing it by a hundred thousand dollars to one point seven million dollar increase.

Hold on one second, right?

Mayor, I think the current budget has six point three million as the total, and we want to reduce it to six point two million, which would be a hundred thousand dollar reduction.

I'll second the motion.

Did I say that?

No, yes.

No, I didn't say that.

All right, so for clarification in the record, uh the mayor, we want to read the proper number.

He's so the motion is made and second, just so we have it correct.

Just read the figure.

It is uh department 1200 fire uh count number 51101 overtime currently in the budget for 6.3 million.

We'd like to reduce it to 6.2 million, which is a reduction of 100,000.

Okay.

So now we have a motion and as who's the second?

There we go.

Any discussion?

Yes.

You know, I was a former math teacher.

We all can make a mistake.

All right.

Um, so all right, you got motions made in second.

Any discussion.

Uh councilman Anduha.

I just want to thank the our firefighters for coming out every day and helping our citizens.

It's sad that we have to do this, but as uh Mayor Trafficante said, we have to make some serious cuts, and this is one of them.

So um I apologize, but it's something we have to do.

Any other discussion?

Uh Councilman Banano.

I just want to say that um, well, I want to ask the question, because the fire, and and let me preface this by saying it's no fault of the firefighters.

So I want to say that very clearly.

But we've gotten in trouble with this line item, and I just want to ask the question so it's on the record that the finance director, the auditor, uh the deputy finance director, or and the director of administration.

I want to know that this is good.

I want to stated on the record that that everybody's cool with this, and it's gonna probably not get us in trouble down the road.

I mean, you gotta have a crystal ball, and you can't, but I might ask the director to ask to answer that.

Hold on, let the director answer that question, and then I'll go councilman traffic.

Councilman, I think you said it best at the end, it probably won't get us in trouble.

Um it's it's a risk.

It's it's uh it's it's risking the budget, but what happens we did we looked at the the trend and how we're doing that's how the best way possible to do this because it's we don't know what fires are going to be happening and so on and so forth, but the trend uh over the last uh the last look from about a month ago uh was going in this direction.

That would that would tolerate that, but again, a budget is a guess, it's the best guess, and this is where the trend is, and that's the basis of saying uh it's it's a it's a worthy, it's it's a re reasonable uh reduction or reasonable estimate for next year.

The four million one is not a reasonable amount, yeah.

So that's that's a good answer for me.

I was just gonna ask that question.

Councilman Traffic Canny, you had a question.

I was just gonna note the fact that the Chris this recommendation came from the administration, yeah.

That's why I made the motion.

And thank you.

Thank you.

But I I just want to make sure that it's on the record.

You know, if we put it on the record five times, I think that might be enough.

But you know, um, thank you.

It's on the record.

One more just to mention the mayor mentioned uh it was a recommendation from the mayor from the from the administration, but with the wishes for it to be restored to the senior center.

Thank you so much.

Okay.

I've got uh David, you need it.

You need the microphone for anything, or are you good?

All right, so motion made, second, and I had enough discussion.

Clerk, please call it all.

Councilwoman Graziano, yes, councilman Andrew Har.

Yes, Councilman Ritz, yes, councilman Traficante, yes, councilwoman Vazieri, yes, councilman Campobiano, yes, councilman banano, yes, council vice president Horayan, yes, council president wall.

Yes, okay.

Now we all know we're not gonna adopt the budget tonight, so I'm gonna ask to continue the items.

I don't believe, yes.

I do have one more.

Um we we have it on our sheet.

I don't know if we wanted to make a uh motion for the impact fees.

You want to give it to my take the motion, make and adopt it.

Yeah, recommend recommend the motion.

Just sit just say it and we'll get somebody.

I recommend that in category one two oh two police.

Um police rent category five three two oh nine, reduce it by 43,000, which would be the impact fees currently.

The Crance State East Impact fees are 38,000, and the Crance to West Impact fees are 5,000 for a total of 43,000 dollars.

So move.

Second, second, all right.

Motion made in second is in discussion.

All right, clerk, please call the roll.

I was looking for you.

I you wouldn't let me go.

Councilwoman Graziano, yes, councilman Anduhar.

Yes, Councilman Ritz, Councilman Trafficanti, yes, councilwoman Vizieri, yes, councilman Campopiano, yes, councilman Banano, yes, council vice president Horayan, yes, council president wall, yes.

So yeah, so I'm gonna go right down.

All right, so at this time I'm gonna entertain a motion to continue the amendment process revising the proposed budget for 2026-27.

So moved.

Second.

So let me just say for clarity, till tomorrow.

Because we only have one day.

All right.

Um, so motion made and second.

Any discussion?

There being none, clerk, please call the roll.

I'm going to write.

Councilwoman Graziano.

Yes.

Councilman Anduhar.

Yes.

Councilman Ritz.

Councilman Trafficanti.

Yes.

Councilwoman Vazieri.

Yes.

Councilman Camp Opiano.

Yes.

Councilman Banano.

Yes.

Council Vice President Horyan.

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

Next, we're going to move on to a budget adoption.

I'm going to ask for a motion to continue the adoption of the revised budget of the fiscal year, uh, July 1st, 2026 through June 30th, 2027, as amended by the city council.

Is a motion to continue till tomorrow.

So moved.

Second.

Motion maintenance seconded.

Any discussion?

There being none, clerk, please call the roll.

Councilwoman Graziano.

Yes.

Councilman Anduhar.

Councilman Ritz.

Yes.

Councilman Trafficanti.

Yes.

Councilwoman Vazieri.

Yes.

Councilman Camp Opiano.

Yes.

Councilman Bonano.

Yes.

Council Vice President Horyan.

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

Next, I'm going to look for a motion to continue a resolution of the city council adopting the revised operating budget and revised salary schedule for the general fund.

And sewer fund as amended.

Ice ring fund and claims committee insurance fund and the revised capital budget for the fiscal year commencing July 1st, 2026 and ending June 30th, 2027, and adopting the resired revised capital uh improvement program for the four succeeding years.

Is there a motion to continue to motion?

Second.

All right.

Any discussion?

There being none, clerk, please call a roll.

Councilman Graziano.

Yes.

Councilman Anduhar.

Yes.

Councilman Ritz.

Yes.

Councilman Trafficanti.

Councilman Vazieri.

Yes.

Councilman Camp Opiano.

Councilman Banano.

Yes.

Council Vice President Horyan.

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

Um, next, I'm going to be looking for a motion to continue the resolution authorizing the adoption of the revised capital budget for the fiscal year 2027 in the revised capital improvement program for the fiscal year 2027 through 2031, pursuant to section six, one six point one two of the home rule charter of the city of Cranston.

Is there a motion to continue till tomorrow?

So move second.

All right.

Any discussion?

There being none clerk.

Clerk, please call the role.

Councilwoman Graziano.

Yes.

Councilman Anduhar.

Yes.

Councilman Ritz.

Yes.

Councilman Trapacante.

Yes.

Councilwoman Vizieri.

Yes.

Councilman Camp Opiano.

Councilman Banano.

Yes.

Council Vice President Horoyan.

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

Next, I'm looking for a motion to continue the revised ordinance of making annual appropriations for the city of Cranston for the fiscal year commencing July 1st, 2026 and ending June 20, June 30th, 2027.

Is there a motion to continue until motion made?

Is there a second?

You guys got to keep second.

All right.

Any discussion.

All right.

No discussion.

Clerk, please call a roll.

Councilwoman Graziano.

Yes.

Councilman Yanduhar.

Yes.

Councilman Ritz.

Yes.

Councilman Traficanti.

Yes.

Councilman Vazierri.

Councilman Camp Opiano.

Councilman Benano.

Yes.

Council Vice President Horoyan.

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

I'm looking now for a motion to continue the resolution authorizing the assessment.

Ow.

Assessment of valuations and levies of taxes and the rateable real estate tax and tangible personal properly property tax for the city of Cranston.

Tabled on open uh April 29, 2026.

So move.

Is there a motion to continue to tomorrow?

I hear a motion.

Is there a second?

All right.

Any discussion?

There being none, Clerk, please call the roll.

Councilwoman Graziano.

Yes.

Councilman.

Councilman Ritz.

Councilman Trapocanti.

Yes.

Councilwoman Vazier.

Yes.

Councilman Campo Piano.

Councilman Banano.

Yes.

Council Vice President Heroyan.

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

All right.

Next, I'm looking for a motion to continue the ordinance fixing the date when the taxes are assessed as of December 25 December 31st, 2025, and will be due and payable and the date when the unpaid taxes will carry a penalty tabled April 29, 2026.

Is there a motion to continue till tomorrow?

So moved.

Second.

Any discussion.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Councilwoman Graziano.

Yes.

Councilman Anduhar.

Yes.

Councilman Ritz.

Yes.

Councilman Traficanti.

Yes.

Councilwoman Vizieri.

Yes.

Councilman Camp Opiano.

Councilman Bonano.

Yes.

Council Vice President Horyan?

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

Don't we have one?

Did I see it wrong?

Yeah, today.

All right.

Next, an introduction to new business.

At this time, I'd like to have a motion.

I'd get to read that.

That's how you make the meeting end.

Just take it away from me.

A motion to refer to a special finance committee, which will be in about five minutes.

A resolution in support of the Rhode Island General Assembly.

Um legislation authorizing the city of Cranston for a one year one year levy cap exemption for fiscal year two thousand twenty seven, not to exceed five and one half percent, five point five percent under Rhode Island General Law forty four five two, sponsored by myself to review be referred to a special finance committee on May the fourteenth, very soon.

There being none.

Thank you, Councilman.

No others.

Very good.

All right, now Clerk Lee School.

Councilwoman Graziano.

Yes.

Councilman Andor.

Yes.

Councilman Ritz.

Yes.

Councilman Trafficanti.

Yes.

Councilwoman Viziere.

Yes.

Councilman Campobiano.

No.

Councilman Banano.

Yes.

Council Vice President Horrien?

Yes.

Council President Walt.

Yes.

All right.

We're going to take about five minutes because I have Oh, sorry.

Uh Chair would uh look for a motion to adjourn.

So moved.

So move is a second.

Second.

All in favor signify by saying aye.

Opposed to go saying nay.

The eyes have it.

We'll convene in five minutes.

Five minutes.