At this time I'd like to call this regular city council meeting to order this day this evening, rather, July 20th, two thousand and twenty-six.

I ask the clerk to please call roll.

Councilwoman Garziano.

Councilman Andy Har.

Present.

Councilman Retz.

Present.

Councilman Capacanti.

Present.

Councilwoman Vazieri, present.

Councilman Campeano.

Present.

Councilman Bunano.

Present.

Council Vice President Heroyan.

Present.

Council President Wall.

Here.

Okay, thank you.

This time I'll ask everyone to please stand and for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Excuse me.

There are no acknowledgments, commendations or citations, um, no minutes to approve of just yet.

So the first thing we're gonna look at is going to be public hearing on docketed items only.

If anyone here in chamber would like to speak on docketed matters, can step up to the podium, state your name and your address for the record, and you'll have four minutes to speak.

Is there anyone who would like to speak on docketed matters?

I'm seeing none.

If I'm correct, I'm gonna ask Mr.

Lima, Mr.

Lehman, is there anyone online who would like to speak on Docketed Matters.

I see no public comment online.

Okay.

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

All right, there are no resolutions.

We're gonna move right on to committee reports.

The first report we're gonna hear is from Councilwoman Viziri, in her role as chairperson of the claims committee.

Councilwoman Baziri, the floor is yours.

Thank you.

Um there's nothing to report from the July 9th, 2026 claims committee meeting.

Okay, thank you, madam chair.

Um next would be the chair of the safety service committee.

Uh Vice President Heroyan, Vice President Heroin, the floor is yours.

Uh safety committee, Matt Angel.

Okay, thank you, madam chair.

Moving right along, um, the next committee to report would be the finance committee.

Uh Councilman Anderhar, that chair will report to us.

Councilman Anderhar, the floor is yours.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

The finance chair did meet on July 9th, and um we talked about the resolution authorizes the placement of ballot questions to be presented to the voters at the general election to be held November third.

I urge a passage.

Um before I uh look for a motion approval, I would like to say a few things.

Um during the time of the budget hearings and uh the subsequent discussion of our um putting the putting bonded ballot questions up.

I think this council has been pretty well stated and pretty verbose in the fact that we're not looking to do any pet projects.

We're looking at just nuts and bolts, utilitarian needs of the city.

And any bond, if if the voters do in fact decide that they are going to approve all or any of these that will come back before the council before we um exercise any bonding.

Um as I look at it, I'll state my opinion once again.

I look at what bond questions there are, and there are six.

Um four million for storm drains.

And as I spend a great deal of time, and I know many of my colleagues do out in the community.

I'm sure not one of us have not heard complaints about flooding.

So something like this, I I think is not a nice to have.

It's it's something of a necessity.

Our public buildings, certainly many of them are on disrepair.

I I don't think I have to elaborate on that.

Our playgrounds, we do get complaints on our playgrounds quite frequently.

Um, our streets.

This is probably one of the biggest things we hear is our streets, not so much as sidewalks, but if we should need, if there's a giant hole in our street, if there is a bridge that is in disrepair, if there's sidewalks, they're impassable by pedestrians.

I think I would like to have the potential to have those funds available.

Fire and safety equipment, that should be something we all would be, you know, every every member of the city, not just the city council, um, would see this as important.

In our schools, we sat and we spoke about our schools and the condition of our school buildings at great length, about walls that are fall that are almost falling down in high schools at roofs uh leaking on children's heads, about parking lots where we're worried a car is going to go into a giant sinkhole about furnaces that maybe not won't come on.

So many of these, and you know, the the voters and the residents will certainly have an opportunity to weigh in.

I think they deserve that opportunity because these could, every one of these could be very serious concerns.

And those of you who have followed the budget hearings realize that we do not have a vault full of money to pay for these things.

So the bond is probably the only thing that's going to help us to get the monies that are necessary to take care of some of these things if emergency or need should arise.

This time I'll entertain a motion, uh motion of approval.

Is there any further discussion?

I do see councilman Bernano.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um first of all, I want to agree with everything council president just said.

Um, these are projects that are not necessarily um nice to have their need to have.

With that being said, I also want to uh speak directly to the public that might be watching and the people that are here in the uh in the gallery.

This is one step in many steps before this money is borrowed and before it is spent.

Um, so tomorrow morning, you know, should should the council pass this resolution putting these on the the ballot, that doesn't mean that we're going to be borrowing all this money.

Okay.

It's it's like four steps previous to that.

And in my estimation, both as a public official and as a person, you know, the more we put out to the voters to to vote on for them to decide for themselves about what they want to do with their government, I think that's great.

You know, all we're doing is we're saying, hey, City of Cranston, do you think we should consider doing this?

And they're going to tell us yes or no.

And if in November they say yes, we still have a couple of steps before this money actually gets borrowed.

And at that point, again, we ask for public input, you know, and we and we um we deliberate here.

Um, it won't be me.

I won't be on the council at this point, but but the council um will be able to deliberate further and still decide yes or no, whether or not this money will be borrowed in tandem with the administration.

Thank you.

So it's um yep, just wrapping up.

Move along, right?

Um so uh so you know, I don't I want to I just want to say to to the to folks, you know, calm down.

We're not we're not voting to borrow this money at this point.

We're voting to think about borrowing this money in case we need it, and we still have a lot, quite a few steps before we get to the point to borrow the money.

And at that point, when we do, we'll know a lot more about our finances in this year's budget as well.

So um that concludes my remarks.

I just you know, wanted to say, let's let's pause for a minute before everybody goes uh gets very excited about this.

So thank you.

Thank you, councilman.

I see councilman Traffic Canties here.

Uh Mr.

Council President, I just want to mention the fact to the general public that each of the categories that you mentioned, there is still bond authority left from previous bonding.

So therefore, let's make sure that we uh we basically spend or expend that bond money first before we hit the new bonding money.

Good point.

What point well taken?

Any other members of the council would like to speak.

I see councilwoman council vice president.

Um, I would just like to echo what council president said.

We all went through the budget here and saw how much it costs to run a city.

We have schools that the boilers are getting so hot, they're turning red.

We have roofs that are coming into the classroom with water draining.

This doesn't mean that all this money will be spent, but we will have it available if we need to in an emergency.

Something we learned this year that I think took us all by surprise, or most of us, was how grant money was spent, and that we didn't have oversight when we found out about a situation with a fountain.

I know I personally have talked to the council president, and we will be working closely.

So things like that do not happen.

Hopefully, putting in some resolutions and ordinances.

So we do have some form of oversight with that.

But um, this isn't just so we can the city can spend money, however, this is for necessities.

This is if a road caves in, if a school roof caves in, if a boiler, if a student school doesn't have heat in the winter, that's what this is needed for.

And all of us lost money lost a lot of sleep going through the budget, not having money to do what we needed to.

We all voted on a budget that we knew couldn't support everything that needed to be done in this city, except for one person.

Um, but I think these bonds are very important for the community.

I am a taxpayer, so it does affect me.

Thank you, council vice president.

I'm gonna move on to councilwoman Graziano and then councilman, Councilman Ritz.

Thank you, Council President.

Um I echo my fellow council people um sentiments here.

Um these are huge issues that um the city faces and ignoring them could be dangerous down the road.

Again, I think we have checks and balances here.

Um that was part of our vote when we voted through the capital budget um that we would have to revisit spending extra money to bond out.

We would be seeking um financial information from the city before we did any bonding or spending.

Um, and I I fully support having some serious oversight on how these projects are managed, what the RFPs are going out, and making sure that that works for the city if and when it is even possible to expend those funds.

But flooding and roadways are serious business.

So our schools um and any type of other safety services that are needed for the city, and I think ignoring them down the road doesn't make sense, but being responsible in spending makes sense.

Thank you.

Thank you, councilwoman.

Uh councilman Ritz.

Yes, I I I won't repeat uh in detail the points that came out, but you know, I support my colleagues and their sediment here that you know these are for necessity projects, emergency projects, and I think a big bulk of it is the schools.

And I think Cranston is uh, you know, people move to Cranston, people stay in Cranston because of the schools and to keep our tax base and grow our tax base, we have to continue to have those good schools.

And you know, we had a presentation not too long ago where there's roofs that are caving in, uh dripping water, you know, potentially no boilers in high school.

I mean, these are essential things here too.

So I think that's a key piece.

I mean, and we need this bond money and keep repairing our schools the best we can to keep and potentially grow our tax base.

Thank you.

Thank you, councilman.

Councilman Campo Piano.

Thank you, council president.

I did go back and forth on this, uh adding more debt to the city, but it's not up to us to decide how to spend the money.

It's up to the people to spend the money.

But if we were going to get a mortgage or something like that, we would know exactly one exactly how much is going to cost us.

So I asked the auditor if uh he could look into if we this did pass in the we did spend this money.

How much potentially could it be add to the to the tax base going forward?

So if you can answer that question for me.

Well, obviously it'd be for debt service, not actually added to a tax rope, but in perspective, a million dollars at 4%.

I believe that's our current bond rating, would cost the city roughly $65,000 annually.

So uh $51 million if totally used, roughly would cost the city $3.2 million per year, which would be uh principal and interest also be aware of some of the bonds that are taken.

The first year could be interest only.

It just depends on what's available and where they're going out at that time.

So again, just for perspective, it's about $65,000 a year for each million dollars for a 25-year financing or bond.

So it's um it's 1.9% for each million.

Is that what it's for it's it's basically a million dollar bond, um a million dollars at 4%, which is drawn at 25 years, will be annual costs to the city, principal and interest, 65,000 a year.

Okay, and then times 50.

Times the only reason I use the only I equated it to a million is because you may not draw it all at once.

It's just you know what's perspective because the bonds are totally uh 51 million, but they're for different departments and different areas.

Okay, thank you.

Um also during the uh the budget hearings it was brought up about storm drains and uh the uh the sewer fund.

That four million, we might be able to use the uh the sewer fund in order to fund that.

Uh we might have to change the language in the way it's used now.

So that might be a savings right there.

We might be able to use that money for that purpose.

So we might not have to go all the way with that.

And then I also want to say that these are all really vague.

So um we do need some type of oversight because they're if you look at all these things, they're um they're super vague.

And uh I want to make sure that if if it does go through and we do need it, that uh we're able to have oversight and in how it's spent.

Uh uh councilman, I think uh attorney Marcel is gonna weigh in on that.

So as we recall during the budget process when these capital capital approvements were uh proposed, the council did in passing the capital budget made it very clear that any and all projects would have to come back before this council for approval.

So no money can be asked to be borrowed until such time that happens.

And I'm assuming that the administration would be presenting the council with a project with an estimate cost of it and how much money of that bonded debt that they authorize they would need to actually spend, right?

So if this all if the voters pass all this, all it means is that the city is authorized to spend up to that amount, but it doesn't mean we have to spend up to that amount.

And again, the administration could come back with a proposal, and I'm just gonna pick parks, right?

You you I don't know how much the the bond is, but say it's what's the how much is the bond for the parks?

Sorry.

Pick a number that we know off the top of our head.

Four million, four million for parks.

So he may the administration may come back and say, I want to do a park, you know, park X somewhere in the city, and I'm gonna get bids, and it's only going to cost $500,000.

You would authorize up to $500,000 borrowing if needed for that project.

That was clear that the council made that they wanted to have that oversight before any money was spent or borrowed.

That was a condition upon the approval, which is totally authorized by the charter.

Hold on one second.

Uh Councilman Campiano, you still have the floor.

All right.

Well, that's good.

I mean, I was reading Bocap the other day, and um the uh the schools bought a hundred and nineteen thousand dollar magnet board for the schools.

So I mean, do we have that type of detailed discretion on how it's spent?

Or we just I mean, can I we're gonna approve it, but we're not gonna approve it.

So we're gonna I'll be honest with you.

If the fountain situation showed us anything, this council is necessary not gonna give carte blanche.

I'm gonna want specifics.

It sounds like you're gonna want specifics.

I think if the people here, uh I would hope the people, if it's you or I or whoever's in these chairs, are gonna want specifics because we no longer can have that blind faith.

So I'm in in concurrence with you.

But councilman campagano still has the floor.

Uh I'm done.

Thank you, Council President.

Councilman Trafficanti.

Is is the sewer fund?

I assume it is still an enterprise fund.

Am I correct?

Yes.

Therefore, uh how can we dip to the enterprise fund?

How is it possible for the the city?

Director, would you like to?

Is there a possibility you have an answer for Councilman Traffic Canning?

Sure.

Can you please repeat the question, please?

The sewer fund is an enterprise fund, therefore all the debt, all the the uh uh expense of the enterprise fund remains within that fund.

Can the city borrow from that fund?

The city can actually can borrow from the fund, but it never not uh again, I emphasize the word borrow, but not take from the fund permanently, but it has to be repaid.

Let me make sure yeah, I'm not let me make sure everybody I'll give you another shot at the apple.

Anybody else have comments because I've let Councilman Traffic can't speak twice, or anybody else, then I'll go back to Councilman Camper Bianca.

Yeah, I just want to clarify what I meant by that.

There's some crossover between the sewer and the drainage where it could be used for drainage.

So that's that's what I my understanding was that because it was in the same system that you change the the language in that you could use it for that.

Uh director in Zuli.

Thank you.

He did write an ordinance that would legally make with what councilman uh campabiano is trying to present it possible to use the sewer enterprise fund for some stormwater work.

That ordinance has not been presented to this council yet because it needs to go through some some more work with the current solicitor so that they can present it to present it to you.

But until that ordinance is passed, I do not believe the administration has any intention of doing anything with the sewer fund other than what we already use it for.

You would have to pass an ordinance saying that we can do that.

Thank you.

Such an ordinance is is maybe been drafted, but it has not been discussed.

I can say at least I could testify between myself and the mayor.

So the mayor's not aware of it.

I've heard about it.

Certainly, it would require proper vetting in that office, and very much so in this chamber.

So but to get back to the original original uh question, uh no, we cannot take uh money to fund uh drainage from the sewer fund.

That's sewer enterprise fund because those people are assessed a fee designated for for sewer at this time.

Should it change is this body certainly gonna be the body that's involved to change it?

Now the it perhaps the interest income from the we went through this with the budget season, the interest income from the sewer fund was legally determined that can be used the interest income from it, not the actual principal, could be used for operating purposes here.

But if I could ask a question, because the way I understand the enterprise fund the money stays within the fund to to fund whatever the enterprise, be it school, lunch, ice rink, or sewers in this case.

Um, would we have to pay said interest back into the fund?

Not the interest we wouldn't have no, no, correct.

That's that was a legal we had got a legal determination.

That could be it would be beneficial to offset something.

That is correct as a one-time you know revenue source, periodic.

Yeah, well, yeah, as it comes about.

That's okay.

You're done, councilman Bonano.

The rest of your conversation is fascinating, but I don't think it has to do with putting this the bond questions onto the ballot.

So I think we've gone down a rabbit hole with all due respect.

Um ready to get out of it.

There is there any more discussion?

Well, perhaps there is.

Uh council vice president.

Um, this really isn't a question.

I just like something to be on the record.

I find it very interesting that councilman Campo Piano knew about the sewer fund and an ordinance, but nobody else on council, including the council president and the finance chair, and he had inside information, kind of like the Saint Mary's, you know, fountain.

Nobody on council knew about it except for him.

I don't understand why information is not being shared with everyone.

I think at this point, welcome to Chris.

So we're probably gonna go back to the original topic.

And if we want to put that on there at some point when there is an ordinance and who knew and when we can certainly do that.

Okay, and we'll we'll take that.

All right, is there any any discussion on the bonds?

I see none.

I'm gonna ask the clerk to please call a roll.

Councilwoman Graziano.

Yes, Councilman Anduar?

Yes, Councilman Ritz.

Yes, councilman traffic.

Yes, councilwoman Vazieri, yes, councilman Campeano, yes, councilman Banano, yes, council vice president.

Yes, Council President Wall.

Yes.

Thank you.

Moving on, we have the real estate tax abatements.

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

I urge passage.

Is there a motion to approve?

So second.

Any discussion.

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

Councilwoman Graziano.

Councilman Anduhar.

Yes.

Councilman Ritz.

Yes.

Councilman Trappet.

Councilwoman Vazieri.

Yes.

Councilman Campa Piano.

Yes.

Councilman Banano.

Yes.

Councilwoman Vice President O'Royan.

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

All right.

Moving right along, we're going to go to the chairwoman of the public works committee, Councilwoman Graziano.

The floor is yours now.

Thank you, Council President.

Um, public works committee did meet on July 1st, 2026.

Um, at that time, I will just let you know that petition one a seven YA2G from Verizon Wireless was denied at that meeting, and all other items um that were put in for requests were continued to the next meeting in August.

Thank you, Councilman.

Moving right back to Councilman Anduhar as the chairman of the ordinance committee.

Councilman Anderha, the floor is yours once again.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh the ordinance committee did meet on July 1st.

Uh we discussed ordinance 52601 ordinance and amendment of Title 8, Chapter 8, Section 200 of the City of Princeton Court of Ordnance 2005, entitled Outdoor Fires.

I want to thank Council President, Vice Council President uh Horroyan for her work on this, and I urge passage.

Is there a motion to so move?

Second.

Second.

Council Vice President, this is something you'd like to speak on.

Yeah.

Okay.

The outdoor heat is in the fire pits, it was all brought to us by this fire marshal so that they would know where we have open gas going into.

They would like some form of inspection so that we know these are not a danger.

When you're sitting outside at a restaurant, having dinner, having a cocktail, that you don't have gas right next to you, and that the fire department's not aware of it.

They also did ask for it to be amended so that everything is inspected here.

And I believe you can't just buy these items on Amazon, manufactured overstate our ordinance will mimic the state fire marshal's ordinance.

So before I call on the solicitor, uh the items you discussed, are they they're not so the only thing in that nationally recognized testing laboratory?

That's all it doesn't say anybody's gonna go out and inspect that with section three.

Uh that we had the fire inspector because we had so that that's not a bad thing.

Here we sent it back to the now it's back.

Okay.

Um solicitor.

I just a minor change though.

I think that it's C three is uh I'm not gonna criticize, but it's makes it sound like it's being installed by the fire marshal.

It should really read uh they shall be uh inspected by the fire marshal once they are installed.

That language should just be changed to be a little bit clearer.

That language makes it look like the fire marshal's doing the installation.

It's it's not material, it's just uh it would be changed.

So I didn't know it's reported solicitable.

We could pass as is and then make that change over the I don't know if the fire department wanted this.

Correct.

It's not it's not a substantive change.

I just I think it reads uh poorly, and I know that that was never the intention, but it reads that it's installed by the fire marshal.

So we're gonna have to send it back.

If you can pass it, and this I would reamend it every minute.

That's fine.

Yeah, okay.

Any I see councilwoman Graziano Sam.

I have to laugh.

How are we getting comments now?

I need comments on anything that's before this council.

Not that I know the meeting.

I'm I I am absolutely furious right now.

I'm sorry.

I usually don't get this mad, but like I we can't be about to pass an ordinance on the last part of this when we've gone through it three times.

I am like losing it.

I'm sorry, I'm so upset.

I uh this is not okay.

I just want to put it out there to my council members.

I I need comments way ahead of time.

And if we can't figure out when we can get comments from from the city solicitor and it's not ahead of time, then I I don't even know why I'm putting this.

We put this forward.

I I'm sorry.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

Any other comments?

I think Mr.

President, I see councilman Banana.

I think what attorney Marcelo said is probably the most prudent thing to do at this point to get the law on the books.

And then, you know, I I think even if we uh technically grammatically, if you add commas on either side of once installed, that'll also deal with the issue.

But correct me if I'm wrong, even if we add you know a half a comma, it's got to go back to committee.

Is that correct?

Any changes for the ordinance goes back to committee.

Yeah, so I I would say let's and and I agree with Councilwoman Graziano's frustration.

We talked about this.

We already sent it back once.

So I'm gonna be in favor of voting of this as it is right now.

And then if somebody has questions about it between now when we have to do it again, you know, the fire department or the city clerk's office or whoever can explain that the fire marshal's not installing these things and they have to be inspected once the business installs them.

Um, but let's let's get this on the books for now and go back and and and uh edit it and update it later on because you're right to keep punting this for commas is ridiculous.

Um I'm gonna concur with my colleague.

I think guys, I'm on um I'm gonna concur with my colleague.

We're gonna go forward with it.

If we have to change it down the line, we'll put it back on the agenda again.

The fire department did want this in place.

I guess outdoor cooking fires are not going to be as pertinent for safety measures if we get in December.

So if there is no further comment, um I'm gonna I took a motion to approve, it took it right a second, and there's been enough comments.

There are no further comments, I'm gonna ask the clerk to please call the roll.

Councilwoman Graziano.

Yes, councilman Anduhas.

Yes, Councilman Rets.

Yes.

Councilman Trafficante.

Yes, Councilman Vaziri.

Yes, Councilman Campo Piano.

Councilman Bonano.

Yes, Council Vice President Heroyan.

Yes, Council President Wall.

Yes.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Moving on to ordinance six-1501.

Um, this ordinance is right turn only.

I would pass on certain red lights.

I'll pass the floor over to my councilman.

So the chair will recognize councilman.

Thank you.

Um this was amended back in committee, but the amendment's not reflected on the advertised version.

So um I would recommend a motion to continue to next meeting, and then the correct version can be advertised next month, and we can get this motion to move.

Second, okay, and that would be continue to next month's city council meeting.

Is that what you just yes?

And the correct version should have the words on school days only after um the red text from the hours of 7 to 8:30 a.m.

and two to 3:30 p.m.

on school days only is what was voted on in committee and passed.

Thank you.

All right, so we're gonna continue that.

So I don't think we'll need any comment.

I don't see any hands up.

I'm gonna ask the clerk to please call the role on the motion to continue.

Councilman Graziano.

Yes.

Councilman Anduha.

Yes.

Councilman Ritz.

Councilman Traficante.

Yes.

Councilman Vazieri.

Yes.

Councilman Campo Piano.

Councilman Bonano.

Yes.

Council Vice President Heroyan.

Yes.

Council President Wall.

Yes.

Motion carries.

Moving on to ordinance 61502 ordinance amendment of Title 10, Chapter 32, Section 20 of the City of Cranston Court of Ordinances 2005 entitled stop intersections enumerated, sponsored by Councilwoman Graziano.

I urge passage.

Is there a motion to approve?

And I'll hold on.

I see councilman councilwoman Graziano waving her hand.

So I'm gonna go to her before I look for a motion.

Thank you.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

We continued this one.

We did not pass it forward to city council.

I've requested a continuance of the last meeting.

I'd have to look at my notes, and I did not bring them, but I'm gonna so you want to so would you like a motion to continue?

Well, I think it needs to be in ordinance committee continued to the August 5th meeting.

I think it was okay.

And then I didn't make a recommendation at the last meeting.

We'll take no action on that one.

Thank you.

That's all.

All right, that was more entertaining than I thought it might be.

Um okay, we're gonna move on to public comment on undocated matters.

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

You'll have four minutes.

Marsha Fowler, 35 Milton Avenue.

Um I wasn't going to speak, but after hearing that's about the ballots, and I'm wondering, and I would not want to make more work for the council, but I'm wondering um after hearing how the ballots have multiple steps before they can be used.

Um I'm wondering if something I can like something put in the Herald with bullet points on how that how all that works.

I'm somebody who always votes on every you know, every one of the the bonds, I mean, and every one of the bonds.

Um, and I think I know how it works, but now I'm starting to realize maybe I don't know how it works.

And I think it would be interesting helpful for the public to know step by step how it works, and that the administration will not be allowed to use that money without full approval from the council.

I think that's a really important thing for the public to know um and to have out.

Right.

And then one more thing from the finance meeting a couple nights ago.

I want to say how um just how professional I found it was with the the questions and answers with Director Strom.

He did an amazing job answering questions that were asked, and it's really helpful for the public to hear all doesn't have that answer, those answers.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else in chambers who'd like to speak on undocumed matters?

Hi hi, my name is Isabella.

Um, 308 Auburn Street in Cranston.

Um, I wanted to talk about the flock cameras.

Um, so Flock Safety, it's a privately owned for a profit company.

Um, they use AI surveillance cameras that are automatic license plate readers.

Um, they're across the country.

They use the cameras to track the daily movements and whereabouts of citizens without probable cause to do so.

They collect information and profile people based off where they're traveling and any other identifying features of their car, um, including any kind of damage or dents you have on your car, roof racks, other kinds of accessories, bumper stickers, things like that.

Um, I know there are currently at least 240 of them across Rhode Island.

Um, and Cranston uses the most of them.

Um, I think it's like 29.

Um, they were first implemented, I think in 2021.

I know in 2024, you guys extended a contract, a five-year contract, which cost taxpayers 380,000 dollars.

Um the proposed intention of these cameras is to aid in preventing and solving crime.

However, I'm of the opinion that long-term continuous tracking and profiling of innocent citizens isn't really constitutional and it treats everybody like a prospective criminal.

Um, I think that we have a right to privacy from persistent and constant warrantless surveillance.

And if I think if an individual citizen was tracking people the way these cameras track people, that they'd be considered stalkers.

I think it would be a little bit um unacceptable.

I don't think it's acceptable for a private company or local government to behave that way.

Um, furthermore, there's several documented cases across the country where law enforcement as well as Flock employees have misused these uh cameras for their own personal motives to stalk people, be bond citizens for their own lawyeristic purposes.

Um most people that I speak with in Cranston have no idea that their money is being used to fund these cameras.

I think there's a lack of transparency, and I personally don't really want my money being used to fund mass surveillance.

Um there are 80 communities within 28 states across the US who have canceled and suspended these contracts with Flock Safety.

So I wanted to know how we can go about preventing the renewal of the contract or possibly having it canceled or suspended.

Thank you.

Can I ask you before you leave?

Could you just state your name and address for the record again?

Because you couldn't hear it.

It's Isabella, 308 Auburn Street.

Which your last name is Cowitt.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else in chambers who would like to speak on undocuted matters?

Please step up.

You know the drill.

Name, name and address for the record.

Isaiah Kalangis, 71 Biocliffe Road.

Uh, I want to keep this concise.

I have been a Cranston uh citizen all my life.

Uh went all the way through Cranston Public Schools, um, a taxpayer in Cranston.

I work in Cranston.

Piggybacking off of what Isabella said, this is what flock cameras look like.

I've talked to a lot of people about them.

Not a lot of people know what they look like.

They're popping up all over.

Have you guys seen these before?

So these cameras are uh operated from what I've seen, partly by the Cranston Police Department, others by Flock themselves.

Um the last I checked, there's two on situative Ave, one on Oaklawn Ave, one on Elmwood, and three on Outwood that are operated by Flock.

The ones operated by Cranston Police Department are uh Oaklawn Ave, two on New London, two on Plainfield Pike and Thornton area, three on Reservoir, and two on Park Ave.

Uh, I believe that these cameras directly go against or are away to circumvent our Fourth Amendment rights.

Um just restate it.

It's the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, effects against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated, and no warrant shall issue, but upon probable cause, be supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons or things to be seized.

Uh the American Civil Liberties Union argues that national nationwide data sharing networks are leading to mass scale surveillance systems in America, which is what we're currently seeing in Cranston.

Uh flock data, in case you guys don't know, is uh AI operated.

It can be sold to law enforcement agencies, private neighborhoods and homeowners associations, private businesses and retailers, federal agencies, and this is all done to circumvent the Fourth Amendment.

Uh they capture license plate, vehicle, make model color location and time and upload it to a searchable database.

There's no warrant and no opt-out option.

So none of us have a choice and what information of ours is being recorded.

And there are over 5,000 law enforcement agencies in thousands of communities that use Flock with cameras also installed by HOAs and private businesses.

These cameras are tracking us everywhere we go.

You could drive by CVS and then go home.

And then because a company like CVS could choose to buy the data for them, automatically send you advertisements, all these things that are targeted.

You know, that could be debate as to whether that's what's happening in Cranston or not.

I think we'd have to look more into it.

I came to the council meeting on July 1st.

This is my first time coming to a council meeting, and you all argued for an hour about fountains and things that have no effect on most of the citizens of Cranston.

Meanwhile, overnight, these cameras are able to be put up in all of our neighborhoods.

Never seen one person putting it up, never seen any trucks or anything.

There's no announcements.

I didn't vote on it.

I didn't vote to put my tax money towards it.

I really just don't think it's in the best interest of the citizens of Cranston.

Um, you know, going back to how I've been, you know, school of Cranston all my life.

Uh, I've seen a new numerous amount of you uh speak at our graduations and our events and our award ceremonies, talking about how you want Cranston youth and communities to uh you know prosper and be the best we can.

And I think constantly being tracked goes against that.

I don't think there's a way that that can uh those two things can coexist.

I think it's leading us to a very dangerous place.

And I think if you have the foresight and uh you know understand what's happening, then you'll pay closer attention to it.

You talk about how our city's in debt and yet $380,000 contract that's being extended.

Um, I seriously believe that this is something that should be looked into, and if not, then I think the voters and taxpayers will reflect that in the next election.

Thank you.

Can I ask you one just spell your last name so the clerk can have you on the record?

C O U L A N G E S.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Is anyone else in chambers who'd like to speak on undacered matters?

I'm seeing none at this time.

Mr.

Lima, is there anyone online who would like to speak on undocumed matters?

I see no public comment online.

So once again, I'm going to close public comment.

I'm gonna move right along to executive communications.

At this point, I'm gonna turn it over and ask the solicitor if he would step up to the podium.

Um, all of you have the legal expense report.

This this meeting does not have an executive session.

Um I'm gonna ask the first question, and I used an old, I didn't use the most current legal expense report.

Um, I came up with different figures, but many of us heard in the news uh on Friday um that there was a settlement in the call it the car situation uh between the mayor and uh and uh a member of the community.

Um, I'm not here to speak of that.

Nothing of that is reflected in our legal expense report.

However, something that may be of some interest, and I think we should get it on the record for some clarity, is that during most of the news reports, WPRI and maybe uh channel 10, but don't quote me on that.

I know WPRI reported that um 47,000 of taxpayer money um was involved in this case.

So you you've had this discussion with us.

I just like on the record, if you could explain certainly.

I don't know if it's exactly 47,000.

That's not the figure I came up, but it it is a substantial amount if you could bring it up.

Council president, um, members of the council.

That report is entirely inaccurate.

Um, there has been zero dollars spent from the law department uh involved in the automobile situation for lack of a better term as reported.

Okay.

Um there were two suits that were filed by an individual.

Um was for the motor vehicle, and one involved a uh deprivation of rights suit involving a piece of property, real property located in the city.

Um, they were combined into the same suit.

Um, the car situation, the mayor expended his own financial resources in hiring private counsel to deal with that matter.

Combined with that in the same exact case, uh filed and filed originally in, and I'm going off memory, but filed originally in the state superior court and uh removed to federal court.

Both cases went together.

Uh the other matter, which I'm not at liberty to discuss the uh specifics of that matter.

Uh however, it's the same plaintiff and named in that lawsuit uh are the mayor, uh, a number of members of the administration in their official capacities, not in their personal or individual capacities.

And as such, the city has defended that lawsuit and is currently doing so.

Uh, it has been recently involved in uh mediation with uh magistrate Sullivan of the Rhode Island Federal District Court, um, and those meetings are ongoing.

Uh hopefully it'll be resolved relatively soon.

Uh there is a scheduled conference coming up in the next few days.

Um, however, I can report clearly for for this council for every member here that not one dime of city funds was used to defend uh the mayor in his personal capacity and anything involving uh the motor vehicle and the allegations that were made against him.

Uh so I want to be clear on that.

And I just want to make sure.

So because I'm not a lawyer, I don't want to I don't want to miss anything.

Legal expense report is a public document, right?

Yes, sir.

And there are I'm sure anybody who's read it has seen numerous entries, Rockley versus Cranston Broccoli.

Um and money's paid out to uh the Sisto and Marcella law firms, not Marcelo, Marcella.

Um in the area of approximately 47,000 dollars.

Yes.

Those are not to defend the mayor in the suit that was just settled.

No, those are the defend members of the administration in their capacity.

Say it again for me.

Their capacity acting in their capacity as members of the city.

That is correct.

You're um council president.

The the mayor was named, uh the chief of staff was named, I was named, uh, the head of department of inspections was named.

Um I'm trying to think I'm missing some of the controller.

Uh, Mr.

McCauley, when he was here in their official capacities, because it involved a piece of a parcel of real estate, that there's some allegations being made uh about a parcel of real estate located in the city of Cranston, owned by this individual.

Every single uh invoice that you see on here relates to that part of the lawsuit and that part only.

Not one dime has been spent on the mayor and the and the motor vehicle.

Thank you.

Thank you for clearing that up.

I think it's important that we bring that on the record.

I do I do not personally have any more questions regarding the legal expense report.

Is there any does any members of the council have questions on a legal expense report?

I'm not seeing any.

Thank you, solicitor.

Moving along uh to council member communications.

The first one up will be councilwoman Graziano.

The floor is yours.

Thank you, Council President.

Let me just say that once again the Shrine's LED sign update.

Once again, let's do well.

Um there is a court date of July 27th.

Um, and one of my questions on this matter was, and I'm not clear.

And a public uh, I'm sorry, a town official serves a citation and it says cease and desist.

Um is it possible that we can take an officer out there to have that sign turned off with the citation?

Why is it allowed to persist and wait until we have to go to court?

I'm asking that question because that's something I've done before.

Solicitor would like to weigh in.

I I'll I'll weigh in briefly, councilwoman, thank you for the question.

Uh I would just equate it at this point to I think the only way to equate it is if you were pulled over for speeding and you received a citation, and you wanted to fight that citation, but your court date wasn't till July 27th.

There's nothing that could happen until that court date.

Um take for example a uh a motor vehicle offense that could result in your license being suspended.

Okay, the police officer, the uh police department wouldn't have the authority to suspend your license until it it happens before a judge, and then a judge can decide whatever penalties are appropriate.

And uh again, on this particular issue, we've cited the person, but they are entitled, or I strike that, it's not a person, but the organization, okay.

Um, and they are entitled to their day in court.

I will certainly speak to my office about the direction I want the city to uh to go in and request.

Um, but I can just say I don't want to get too deep in the woods on this.

I've received some um, I just got back from vacation, and on my desk was this morning was a a nice letter from a law firm that now represents the uh owners of the sign.

So there could be uh the possibility that there's some litigation that may erupt out of this.

Um so I don't want to talk about it on the record.

Uh, but I can tell you that I received correspondence and it was on my chair this morning when I came in.

So depending on what happens on the 27th, um, I don't know if that attorney plans on showing up.

I don't, I don't I haven't reached out.

I literally just got the letter on my desk.

Council president, may I ask another question?

Absolutely.

So if somebody's building a house, they can keep building it until they go to court, even though they don't have a building permit.

Can so I just say that again.

I'm sorry.

If someone's building a house, they don't have a building permit, and the town official goes out and says you're illegally building a house with no permit, they can keep going until their court date and keep continuing building.

So they could be shut down in that instance, they could be shut down, but they could also challenge that.

But you're talking about someone without a permit.

Right, they don't have an electrical permit.

Okay, I don't again, you're I don't want to get into the woods, and that's why I'm um I I'd be happy to talk to you after the fact, okay.

But I don't want to on the record get into the into the details.

I'm just learning about a little bit more about this.

And like I said, I've received correspondence.

So if it may lead to litigation, I don't want to put that on the public record.

I'd be happy to discuss it in executive session.

So what?

Okay, so if someone has a swimming pool and they don't have an electrical permit and people are swimming in the swimming pool, you can't tell them to stop swimming in the swimming pool because they don't have an electrical permit and somebody might die because it's not grounded properly.

Again, I don't want to, I don't know.

I can't even equate the swimming pool to an electrical permit to a to an LED sign.

I I honestly don't know what we're talking about on that end of it.

All right.

Inspections does their job, clearly, but if someone is cited by inspections, they have to go through the court process.

Again, no different than a ticket from a police department, and you're entitled to your day in court, depending on how that ruling goes or what the judge rules or how it's agreed to, they may come into court for instance and say, Yeah, I was I was speeding, I'll take the punishment.

The the individual I just think it's apples and oranges.

I'm not going to compare speeding because I'm I'm talking about safety.

I I don't I I'll disagree with you on this, councilwoman.

What we're discussing, what we're discussing, at least from my understanding.

I haven't seen it personally, so I I will be the first to say that.

Let's see what happens July 27th.

So let's keep this on the docket because I'm I need to dig into this.

Sure.

And I need to contact someone on this as well.

So and before I call on Councilman Bernano, I I would point out it, and I'm sure legally you're saying the right thing.

I'm not questioning uh your legal acumen, but it just sounds absurd that a month and a half ago, neighbors around it said the light is so bright it's burning into my, it's in my living room when I'm watching TV.

And we can't even tell them to shut it off.

We're not causing them any harm.

And you don't have to answer it.

You you gave your legal opinion.

I'm just pointing out the absurdity of it.

If someone was speeding and they wanted to have a speeding ticket, it's one time.

They're violating these people every single day.

Is there, and I don't know if they have a sign that doesn't come.

Do we have an ordinance on this that that they're violating?

Is there a fine that is associated with it?

And if so, I think every single day they violate that ordinance, they should be fined.

It's every day for two months.

And I know sometimes the hands of justice are uh a slow, and sometimes they're not there at all, it sounds like.

But before I go on a diatribe, I'm going to turn it over to Councilman Bonano.

But but I just see I think it's absurd.

Uh thank you, Mr.

President.

Um, as chair of the zoning, as a former chair of the zoning board, we had you know innumerable amounts of LED signs that we had to approve.

And until they were approved, they were not allowed to be lit.

So the fact of the matter is that this uh, and by the way, I think the Shriners is a fantastic organization.

I think they do wonderful work.

I think they're an asset to the city of Cranston.

I think they're an asset to the greater community in general, not only in Cranston, but throughout the country.

However, they put they illegally put something in their yard, they've been cited by the city, and now they refuse to turn it off in the meantime.

If I walk up to councilman uh Traffic Annie and punch him in the face, right?

First of all, he's tougher than I am, so he probably knocked me right back out.

He's ready to hit you back.

But yeah, but I would get a restraining order against council, or he would get a restraining order against me, and I can't go near him until the court date.

So I don't understand why my my and I'm not a lawyer, but I don't understand why my common sense doesn't say, hey, you have a court date, turn it off until the court date, and then if you're allowed to turn it back on, you can turn it back on.

That's what should be happening here.

And um I don't necessarily want uh attorney Malay to you know answer this question, but if that is within the authority of the city to tell them to turn it off until their court date, I respectfully request, probably on behalf of the entire council, that that be done immediately.

And then once a judge or whoever in the court decides you can turn it back on, you can't, you have to go back to zoning.

We all know it's gonna wind up coming back to zoning.

Once they get their proper uh approval through zoning, where everything, by the way, is on the table to be regulated, the number of nits at a certain time of the day, right?

Until that's codified, it should be turned off.

If that's within the authority of the city to do, it should be done.

And personally, common sense-wise, I have a hard time believing that that's not in the authority of the city.

It could be wrong, but one final point.

I find I also find it abhorrent that the uh shriners don't want to be good neighbors and voluntarily haven't turned this sign off while this plays out.

And if there's anybody from the shrine is listening, that might be a good thing to help you gain some uh some credibility through the situation.

Thank you.

Thank you, councilman.

Did you want to weigh in on the councilman's request, Director?

Well, just overall, um I strongly urge the council, if you wish to possibly wait till the 27th or whatever date that is.

But if you want to go to executive session, that's what I recommend on behalf of the taxpayers at Cranston.

I can only further discussion coming from the legal department's not going to serve the city well.

Okay.

So we're I think we're we're we're gonna wait till the was it the 25th, councilman.

That's when we're gonna have the decision anyway.

27.

Yeah.

Yeah.

That point, well, maybe we'll have an executive session.

Um any other comments?

Councilwoman, anything else on this?

Well, thank you.

Okay, we're gonna move right along to um council vice president Heroyan and Councilman Ritz, the residential pool uh rentals.

It's got quite a bit of tension.

I'm gonna let councilman Ritz speak on this.

He's gotten very good, and this is his specialty.

Yes, this has become my specialty.

Uh pool rentals here.

It's become quite a situation, not just in in Cranston.

I've had two other towns reach out, and I had another state reach out to me that is facing similar uh issues with these pool rentals.

And again, it's the minority of the pool rentals, it's it's the ones that aren't using it in the intention that the app had.

And I did speak briefly with the CEO of Swipely.

We're meeting Thursday.

He's looking to be a good partner, not only with Cranston, but with all states, and he's willing to make modifications to the app.

And we're gonna discuss a little bit more what could be done there too.

So he's acting in in good faith, which I appreciate him doing that.

Um, and he did talk a little bit about the app.

Um, you know, he he grew up one of eight other siblings, they did not have a lot of money.

And that was his intention behind the app.

Um it was never to have these uh bachelor parties and the other type of things there, too.

So he has said to me, like I said, we're gonna talk further about he wants to get back to his intention of the app and um you know, reduce these situations that are happening there too.

One thing that's come out from this a lot of times, uh probably two out of the three instances that I'm I'm most familiar with.

It's not the owner of the house having the parties, it's renters of the house, and especially one of the situations, it's short-term renters, um, almost like an extended Airbnb that are again turning over the pool to rent it out.

So it's one thing I uh I'm gonna discuss with them too, is that it only should be homeowners uh that are allowed to rent out the pool in the app.

Um, and also a better way to reach them with with complaints.

Um, I know uh originally we had we reached out to them a couple times with crickets, uh, which I'll talk to him about too.

But um, they're looking to to be a good partner.

It is something I think Cranston can not only help our city, we can help other cities, and and now Michigan had reached out to me.

Other states are interested.

They're facing the same similar issues.

I did do a little bit of research.

Some um states have outlawed the app and the pool rentals all together.

So um, unlike Airbnb and other types of things, this is a unique situation because it's an outdoor activity uh exclusively.

So uh, you know, not following ordinances that we have in place jeopardizes uh, you know, the security and the safety of the whole neighborhood, too.

So um to kind of wrap that up, you know, I I am hopeful that uh they could make some changes to the app that'll help us.

But I think as this continues to grow, um, and and more people are are adding pools to this that are acting outside of our ordinances too.

I I think we do need to look at creating some new ordinances around this um that we can help tighten this down so we can have our own controls over it.

Um council president and I spoke briefly.

There is some other uh cities and uh excuse me, states that have already put through ordinances that we might be able to mirror um to help control us.

So um I think I think we do need to keep this on here longer and and work to get our hands around this because it is continuing to be a problem.

Thank you.

I think councilman said it all.

And I just want to publicly thank him for all the work he's put into this.

Mr.

Cosbras, let me try it again.

Um I sound much better there.

Well, maybe not.

There were there was no ordinances in Rhode Island that I could find, just as at frame of reference, but I I found some ordinances in New York State in that area, and there are articles that that went with them, and they were having similar problems in their community with the set app.

And um I think we can come up with something.

I think we'd have to I did talk to the council attorney just briefly.

We'd have to look what we'd do right now for short-time term rentals.

Um, but I think there's something we we could do.

And I think I I also thank you, much like uh council vice president for bringing this further to our attention.

Um Councilman Traffic Canny, I think you had your hand up.

Yes, I I recently learned that uh there is a situation in my ward as well that um renting out the pool.

And I asked the uh councilman, my fellow councilman if I could join him in that particular meeting.

And I do agree with you, we have to establish some ordinance in the future to curtail such activity.

I agree.

Any other comments?

All right, once again, thank you for bringing this to our attention.

And my next one would be councilman Ritz again.

You've got to let you've got to list this time.

I have a few items here today.

So uh so the next one was just uh timetable around ordinances and I with the the latest ordinance I put in, and I think part of my frustration might be maybe I don't understand the full process.

Maybe I could have done more um on my part.

So I was just trying to understand a little bit more, a realistic timetable for ordinances, kind of a better way the council could could put this forward.

Um I put on here the the 20-year look back with that one.

I know that was a complicated ordinance.

Uh Solicitor Marcello was phenomenal of helping me work through that one.

It did mirror something at the at the state level.

Um, and I put it through in case it didn't go through at the state level, which I'm I'm glad we are working through because it did not pass at the state level.

And this was a 20-year look back um at school staff, new and transferring school staff with child engagement records that we had there too.

I had talked to superintendent, she was fully in favor of it, um, as was the uh the teachers union too.

So um, you know, a lot of support around that one too.

So I I guess I I'm asking um, you know, what's what's a realistic time team table for when we put through an ordinance for it to go through this one's been about four or five months, that it's kind of still going through the process there.

And if there's anything better, uh council people we could do as we put this forward.

If there's more information we provide to help it move quicker.

Solicitor Millet, would you like to weigh in?

Councilman, um the charter deals with the ordinances and the notices, and I think that things are things are getting a lot better.

I know that uh and everyone here knows how short-handed we've been.

Um not only in the city, but specifically in the clerk's office.

The the charter specifically talks on 3.12 about it's supposed to be five days uh of notice.

And I I think the best way to address your question would be um myself, Mr.

Marcelo, um, the clerk's office, and everybody here should get notice of any proposed ordinances uh before we sit down here at the at the desk for meeting.

And it's actually required under the charter.

And in my five and a half years, it's never been that way.

And I think we're getting to the point where we can see why we need that.

Um when it's introduced, it's got to be put in notification proper public notice.

Um, but it should be sent out and kept on file, copied of myself, Mr.

Marcello, so we can go back and forth.

A lot of times Mike and I will talk offline about about different things, but I don't I will tell you this.

I don't see every ordinance, and I know that Mr.

Badecchia doesn't necessarily see every ordinance uh until the uh notice is made public 48 hours beforehand.

And and then sometimes we're scrambling to to find this.

So if anyone here submits an ordinance, I would suggest if it's not drafted by either my office or Mr.

Marcello, then we just basically keep everyone on board once it's introduced because it does talk about the public notice, and then the the it mentions that at the same time after the five-day notice, it says uh a file shall be kept in the clerk's office for both the solicitor and for everybody.

So I mean, that's where it's about.

So everyone's kind of on notice, and it's not just me, it's it's every it's all nine members of the council, and it's the clerk's office.

And and I think things um uh uh much better these days with email and everything like that.

It's a lot easier, although email can get lost because of the abundance of it.

Um, but I think that you know, years ago where you got a printed copy, it'd be a little bit different.

But I think that we can we can do it that way.

So it's not sitting there, and then depending on again, how this body rules is totally up to this body and how they read each ordinance.

That has that's something separate.

Councilman, could you am I I I think I I got lost here?

Is that what you were asking about when the the uh the ordinance was reposted or how long?

I I was hearing some entirely different with the solicitor.

I think I don't think you got a different question.

Understand the process.

So if we use the 20-year ordinance, so I had pulled the state house ordinance, went through it, sent it over to Solicitor Marcelo, said, you know, here's the ordinance I'm looking to mimic.

Could you help me write it over?

Did a fantastic job, went through it, you know, asked some questions, and then he had kept me in the process, had sent it over to you.

Um, and I know you were gonna look it over.

So how should I is there a different way we should is there a should we create a certain email that goes to everyone that should be notified?

I'm just trying to understand the correct process.

We should be on so he's not speaking about when you posted the ordinance.

He's speaking about he wrote an ordinance, he gave it to Attorney Marcelo, and then there was some, I guess some some changes had to mention, and they sent it up to you.

What's the timeline?

I think is that that's a specific timeline?

That's the question.

I think I I think you got the wrong question.

Well, I think that that uh I guess that specific ordinance, there were some things that I know that um Mr.

Marcelo and I discussed um some question questions whether there was some legality in it.

Uh so we went back and forth, and I know I did some research, and I know I'm sure that uh uh Mr.

Marcelo did as well.

Simple ordinances, obviously.

That's you know, um the one that you were proposing sometimes takes a little bit longer because you don't want to step on constitutional toes, if you will.

Does that answer your question?

Do you know where we stand with this one now?

I I don't, I don't know where it stands right now.

I thought I I had I believe that I had indicated that a copy that I had seen was was legal and sufficient to myself.

Period end stop.

I at that point, I don't know if it's been noticed or not.

That's that's outside my realm and jurisdiction.

So with that point, would you so should I have sent that over to the yeah?

I mean, I get it post procedurally, and I I'm not trying to step on any toes here, but my job is, and I'm uh I'm not passing the buck.

My job is you asked me a specific legal question.

I I think I answered it for you.

I know you had asked Mr.

Marcelo some specific legal question from there, it has to go through the normal process of however you want that if you want it to be heard, then it would have to be posted and with proper notice.

And then the interim clerk has her fingers up, so maybe she can offer it.

And then I want to know.

Thank you.

Um I think there just might be some confusion.

I think correct me if I'm wrong.

The councilman wants to know the time frame in which between the solicitor's office and the council attorney in which they're gonna make a decision that something is appropriate to be placed on the docket.

And I would like notification from the both of you, currently in my role as the sometimes acting clerk, that it is approved through both of you in order to put it on the docket, because there have been times that people write ordinances either themselves or by outside legal counsel, and then there are other attorneys that come forward and say that they're not legal.

So for the the body that sits here and all of us in the administration, I think it would behoove us to have some sort of process that everyone understands before things are posted on the docket.

Yeah, I think we're kind of intermingling what I started with originally, and then the question that's being asked, because every every ordinance should come through my office and and be go through Mr.

Marcelo.

Every single one, no matter who's drafting it, an outside draft, or what we would what I used to call when I worked in, I did 18 years in legislative drafting at the statehouse.

We called outside drafts, which were written by someone outside that office or inside drafts, right?

We review them.

Um we write them and it went through a review process.

It's similar, it should be every ordinance, whether I mean, I guess every ordinance, and I'll leave it at that, even the stop signs don't have to really be reviewed, but technically every single ordinance has to, every single ordinance should should be passed by myself and in turn Mr.

Marcelo.

And then from there, I'll give you a perfect example.

And I I was not here.

Councilman Councilwoman Graziano got a little upset, right?

I'm not gonna, I'm not gonna take the blame.

The first time I at least saw it was when I sat down.

I saw that I saw the fireplace ordinance right now when I when I sat down and went through the calendar.

Now that doesn't mean that someone else in my office uh didn't see it and maybe just didn't catch that that what I'm indicating, what I believe is is just grammatical, grammatically poor.

So could we create a microphone?

I'm gonna stop.

We we're actually not on the topic.

The topic was a realistic time, and you know what?

A realistic timeline for an ordinance.

So if I he gave you the ordinance, so he gave it to attorney Marcel, he gave it to you.

What's just a realistic timeline he could expect an answer?

Because it sounds like you approved of it and he doesn't know about it.

We don't have to go into all that other stuff.

I what's the time?

Um I'm 99.9 ivory so pure that I responded and said I'm fine with it.

So I didn't, yes, you you did.

I didn't know that meant send it to the clerk.

So I guess could we have like I don't need to make like a spreadsheet or something with all the ordinances and where they stand just so we can stay on top of where they are so they don't get hung up and maybe there's a way Mr.

Marcello and I can can discuss with uh yeah Mr.

Anzuli about a maybe keeping track in a way that would would post it.

Any way we can make the I think that's why you put it on.

Yeah, anybody we can make the procedures.

I get it.

I know where you're saying.

We can you know, start line one uh ordinance number one is X.

Where it is in the process I get it, I know what you're saying, and that's something that can be, I think, pretty simply done by a spreadsheet.

I think yeah, I think that's probably the easiest way to do it, and then where we are, and then maybe the ordinance chairman.

Restroom, I believe, but you know, if he's willing to put it on there, maybe that could be a reoccurring thing.

Almost a check.

So they don't get lost.

I think it would be a good thing.

Is it okay if I take councilman Bernano?

He's been waiting for a moment.

That council president wall is seeing the steam come out of my ears.

So it's I didn't want it to fog up the window.

I know, yeah, thanks.

So there's a lot of stuff that was just said that I can't believe was just said.

Sometimes we can't say the choir part out loud.

The fact that you saw an ordinance that we've been discussing for three months for the first time 25 minutes ago, blows my mind.

Okay.

So here's how this is supposed to work.

The nine of us get to get to make ordinances.

That's our job.

And the attorneys that represent us, Turney Marcelo and the solicitor's office, who, by the way, the solicitor's office, I must have heard it said a hundred times, is the legal counsel to the to the council.

I think we've heard that before, right?

Okay.

We get to determine what we want to do.

If I want to make an ordinance that says I want to outlaw blue shirts in the city of Cranston, it's their job to write it.

And they could tell me privately, that's really bad.

But I can put it on the agenda if I want.

So this timeline question, the fact that there was an ordinance submitted in January, and by the way, I'm a co-sponsor of the ordinance.

I hope I am.

I asked to be of this 20-year look back, right?

We were talking about this right after Christmas.

It's July.

I'm sweating.

Okay.

This should have been dealt with a long time ago.

So we got to tighten this up.

Okay.

We got to tighten this up.

This is unacceptable.

And it's not only unacceptable to the nine of us, it's unacceptable to the 83,000 people that we represent.

Let me give you a tip.

Read the docket before we come in, like I did on Thursday or Friday, whenever it was that I received it.

And go through what's in the links so we know what we're doing before we get to the meeting.

People at that table get paid a lot more money than the people at these tables.

It's your full-time job.

I go to my full-time job every day prepared.

And yeah, I make mistakes, but the timeline of five months should have been debated in February.

Thank you, Councilman.

Any other members of the council would like to make some discussion on.

Oh, did you?

I'm sorry, I looked right over you.

Thank you.

I'd like to just make one more comment in my semi-acting capacity.

That I believe, at least when I was on this council, there was a rule on when you could submit stuff to go onto the docket.

I believe at that time it was 10 business days.

I know that more recently, because we are in a state of flux.

I I am willing to wait to the last minute for anyone that wants to put something on the docket.

But if we can have a rule that we can loosen, depending on who it is that's posting the docket about when the council can submit it to the clerk, then you could also make a rule of, I believe, of when you some kind of a timeline of when you have a document that you can submit to the clerk.

So I think that you might have that ability as a council to make a rule about this, and then we can kind of go from there.

That's just I think that's a good idea.

I think if myself, we'll call you the acting clerk at the moment and the solicitors get together, we'll we'll figure a time on.

All right, because this kind of confusion absolutely shouldn't happen.

Any other comments?

All right.

Thank you for bringing that to our attention once again, Councilman Ritz.

Um, next item is the bud long fee, bud long pool fees hours, discussion on how they were arrived at and the modifications and suggestions.

The floor once again is yours.

So I asked to put this this on the docket just that to have a little bit of a discussion.

I think I know some of the answers, but I've been getting uh repeat questions about the pool.

And I I've seen the similar questions on social media.

So um I I did want to see if we could just ask some of these common questions, just so we have clear answers.

So I'm gonna repeat these back to the residents who are repeating the same thing and repeating the correct thing.

So I did have six questions um to ask.

Uh, you know, hopefully they can be the answer.

If not, uh I'm happy to, you know, if you take them away, we can follow up later.

But um, one of the common questions I keep getting emailed.

Um, how are the current admission fees determined?

How did we determine what we were going to charge?

Right.

All right, director.

I am speaking in my capacity as a communications director for the parks and recreation director who had the day off today, has been working probably 80 hour weeks for months now.

So I'm just answering in that capacity.

And if I do not answer, you know, fully to your liking, I will come back with more information.

But just note that I'm just passing on information that I have obtained, and I hope that it satisfies you.

Um the director was kind enough to to give me some information.

A lot of people I can tell you in my capacity as communications director that I've seen online similar questions that I know the councilman's gonna ask, comparing fees to 2019.

So I can tell you that the director has said that data showing that infrastructure cost of living, inflation has risen approximately 31% since 2019.

And that was the last season that the bud long pool was open.

The fees for Cranston residents have shown a modest increase and are all lower than suggested 31% uh needed to attain levels for 2026.

So an example would be in 2019, uh the general admission for two plus years old was $4.

Currently, that that admission is free for two to four years old.

Okay.

So we just kind of adjusted based it on one his his opinion, his professional opinion as someone who operated pools in Providence for I think like 30 years.

Um, and also he did reference Warwick and he he did some research when he did this, but this is just all our fees.

Um, so two to four is free.

The general admission for ages five to 17 um was $5.

Now it we're going $8.

Um resident full season pass was $50.

Now it's $60.

Resident family full season pass was $100.

Now it's $120.

Um, while you're aware that anything prices go up affects everyone in every realm and every category.

We thought that these were modest increases.

Uh just to note in 2019.

Uh non-residents were not allowed access to the facility.

Um, but the mayor made it clear that the pool would be available to everyone to enjoy also.

I do believe in a solicitor could maybe go into this further, because this pool was paid for, I believe 99% by federal funding.

I think that we do have to have it open to everyone.

Um the general admission there, five to 17 is $10 above that is $15 for 18 plus.

It says resident season pass one 25.

Non-resident, that's for family, non-resident family pass 250.

So direct just so it looks like um, you know, some fees were increased with inflation.

That makes sense.

We did adjust down uh the the, I forget the age five and under or whatever it was to be free.

Um, and then um we did mirror some other towns and use their fees to kind of come up with our structure.

And then because we use federal funds, uh, because it was another question that came up about only having it for Cranston residents because we use federal funds, we had to allow everyone to use it.

That is my understanding.

And comparing to Providence and maybe Pawtucket, um, I believe Providence does not charge residents and in Pawtucket, it's a dollar, but those are both distressed communities, which I would just like to know.

We lost our distressed community status, I believe before budget in the spring.

You can say X amount of people came to the pool.

This is how many season passes were sold, this is how many daily passes were sold, this is how many children of this age used it, and this is how much money it produced.

And then you can determine if if you think we should lower fees based on that, raise fees, cut them all together.

That's it's kind of up to you guys when you have line items in the budget.

But the the director said he couldn't determine that based on not knowing how many people were gonna come.

Right now, I do have like daily pool attendance that I could read off to you if you want for the for last week.

Um, but I will tell you that they're keeping track of the daily total attendance and then peak swim attendance, but also that last week was completely free.

So you might want to see what comes in this week in order to make a more accurate assessment of how many people are using the pool.

But by the I have asked myself personally, um, people who are operating the pool daily to keep track of this every day so that we can have a running spreadsheet, and you guys can reference it.

I think that the more data that we have on this type of thing would make it easier if you determine what kind of pricing you need going forward.

Do you do you have the I know it's early and we had some free admission because it was the soft launch?

Do you have that number?

I can say last Wednesday, 715.

Uh, the daily was 370.

I can email this all to you guys as well.

Um, 370 people, the peak swim was 100 people.

On Thursday, the 16th was 450 people.

This peak swim was 125.

Um, not included in that is the camp, which was in the morning.

That there were 350 kids there in the morning.

That admission is included in their camp admission.

Friday the 17th was um that was the highest.

It was 540 for the day.

Peak swim was 160.

On Saturday the 18th, there were 275 people all day.

It was we did close at 3:30 p.m.

due to weather.

The peak swim had 50.

And today, which was it has been very successful to go cashless.

Um, we have not received any any complaints about that.

Um and there have been 400, I mean 400, 45 season passes total purchased thus far, um, with many more people inquiring.

Have we reached uh capacity at any day?

And do we have to turn away any residents?

I am told we have not reached capacity in the pool at any day, and that no one has been turned away.

So I don't know if there was any confusion.

I believe you said you received an email.

Someone complaining that and the person directing the pool all day, every day has said no one has been turned away from that pool.

I'm not personally there.

I'm just telling you that that's what was sold to me.

And that they have said that they've received 95% overwhelmingly positive response to the operations in the and the facility.

Some hands up.

Um the hours of the pool.

Can we adjust the hours?

Yes.

So we have mayor has indicated to me they would like to adjust the hours uh starting with Tuesdays and Thursdays, staying open till 8 p.m.

The use.

I've asked the use be tracked so that we can see if you know that there's a need to increase that further across the week because if it is used, then that would be wonderful.

Um, but just as as a side note, we're tracking the use at the Oak Street um splash pad because people did ask to increase the time there, and virtually no one is using it after the hours of five o'clock.

I don't that could also be, you know, there's other factors.

People could be going to the Budlong Pool instead of going to Oak Street utilizing that facility.

Um, but we will be able to determine starting tomorrow at Tuesdays and Thursdays if we're getting increased amount of families from from five to eight.

At hours are something that I think always can be changed based on staffing and based on the amount of life class that can that can be there with the amount of people that are there.

We do have to have while the pool itself um can hold 400 people technically by the amount of space there is, you do need to have 20 uh 25 people per lifeguard, I believe.

Thank you.

I know this isn't your uh your third day job over here.

So I appreciate again the information and repeating it back.

I think those are the questions.

I I tried to take some notes and I I know it's recorded, so we can play this back so I can take better notes and I appreciate you sending out relent my time.

I know my peers have to be.

Would you like me to summarize this in an email, Councilman?

Sure.

Okay.

All right.

I'm gonna go right around, Miss Dower, Councilman Traffic, go right around and finish with Council in Missouri.

Here's my quote is my question.

Uh I I do know that the um an enterprise fund was set up by the Cranston School Department.

We got in there uh the uh the sports sports situation where the money's collected out of various events go into an enterprise fund, and that money stays within that that particular uh department.

The money's gonna be collected from the Cranston School from the Budlong Pool.

Will that be set up as an enterprise fund where the money stays within the recreation department?

Or is it gonna go into a general fund?

That wouldn't be our answer.

It goes.

I lost I lost the ball.

Um it's gonna it's not an enterprise fund.

It is in the in the general fund in the recreation department.

You might recall there's some a revenue line in in uh uh in the general fund, mayor.

I'm just I'm just thinking out loud here.

You know the taxpayers of Cranston support the bonding for the pool.

The taxpayers at Cranston basically support the construction of that pool and the operation of that pool through that tax dollars.

Why are we charging Cranston residents to utilize the pool?

I can understand charging out of district and out of city residents, but why are we charging residents?

Like I said, I'm just thinking out loud to question.

Director, would you it looks like you'd like to weigh in?

I I I can only answer in in what I've been told, uh, Mayor, that residents of Cranston have always been charged to use this pool, supposedly.

I don't know if that's to be true or not, because I have not been around as long as you have.

That's just what I've been told.

One and two, that you know, they I believe the revenue line item was even increased by this council, and they're trying to meet that that revenue line item.

I I don't think it's it's for any other reason.

I can also tell you based on your last question and being part of the parks and recreation committee, that the director of parks and recreation has suggested and would like some kind of restricted receipt account for any kind of revenue that that they bring in because he has worked very hard to to bring in revenue for events and for the pool.

So I believe that that is something that this council can determine as they orchestrate the budget.

Councilman, I'm sorry, Mrs.

Renzooli.

And I respect you totally, but long before you were born.

I utilize the buttlong pool as a young man, young boy.

And uh we were not charged uh to uh enter the pool or utilize the pool.

In fact, we used to stop by meatball mics, pick up our lunch, and they allow bicycles and drive and ride to the bud long pool to utilize the pool.

Like I said, the residents were not charged uh out of the city residents were charged.

So at one point in time the pool was utilized by residents without a fee.

Thank you, councilman.

I see you still have your hand up, right?

Councilman Bernano.

Um thank you.

I just have one thing, two things.

Um, first of all, when I was a boy, it was a lot different than when Councilman Traff Candy was a boy.

But um, we used to get pool tags and and put them around our ankles.

And I believe you were the mayor at that point, Traff.

And um, I think the pool tags for the season may have been three dollars.

So it was a charge, but not really.

Um with that being said, I hope that, and you may have said this, and uh, if I missed it, I apologize.

I hope that the weather is also tracked when we're tracking the numbers of people using the pool, because if it's 98 degrees as opposed to 78 degrees, that could skew some of the numbers.

And um, that's information that probably would be beneficial as we're looking at how it's being utilized.

Um, so if it's not being done, I respectfully uh suggest that that that be added.

I think it's you know, we don't have to get Tony Petraka here to give us a report, but if we just say the temperature of the day uh or even whether or not it's raining, it'd be a good idea.

I also want to go on record of saying that I'm quite heartened by um the numbers that you gave for use.

Um you know um I've been critical many, many times, but it looks like this is working and uh creditors do as well.

So um at least for now, I would say, you know, good job um to everyone.

And I hope that it continues in this direction.

Um watch out the the great white whale should be making an appearance at the pool pretty soon.

So be careful.

Thank you, councilman.

Would it be all right if I get some of the other would it be okay if I get some of the other councilman before I get I let you finish this one up?

Um I'm gonna get councilman Graziano, Councilwoman Raziano rather.

Thank you.

Um yeah, I mean, I am excited that that people are using the pool.

So I'm happy.

So um unfortunately, by unpot, I'm gonna be a little bit unpopular and say I do think we probably need to charge a modest amount in order to keep up the pool.

Um, I think that's only reasonable because the costs are probably pretty high, especially with the cost of water, and that is not going to go down, that it's going to go up because we're losing water every day by being in a drought.

I am going to definitely throw that in there.

Um, but can we do an revolve?

I'll just throw it out there.

No, do not need an answer, but a revolving account.

So that is probably like an enterprise fund.

So revolving account, we all know how it works.

That would be an option.

Okay.

Uh council vice president Heroin.

Um, I've heard nothing but positive feedback about the pool.

About seven people ask me though, if there's a chance it would be open in the mornings like six to nine for lap swimming.

A lot of people seem to belong to the YMCA and would rather swim outdoors in the summer.

Not so much for the public or the kids, just for people that want to swim for exercise.

I can relay that back to the director.

That question was not asked earlier.

So I wasn't able to find out that information.

I do think likely, this is just my guess based on staffing and use.

Maybe that's something they could trial, just like the Tuesday and Thursday staying open, maybe a couple other days.

Perhaps my suggestion would be they try to open for lap swimming, see how it's utilized.

Um, because oftentimes people may say these things and then no one comes to use it.

And we we will I will again say that this council really nailed in on the budget and every hour more that were open, X amount of people need to be there working, which may or may not cause overtime, uh which you know, depending on the days, people say, oh, stay open on Sunday.

This people have to we have to consider these things budgetarily.

It would be lovely to be open all the time.

I would love to be open all the time.

But again, then when we go over the budget, we're gonna get questions six months from now.

Why are you over the budget?

And I hope that we will be able to refer most of you are still sitting here, so we can refer back to this time when I mention this.

I know at the Masonic U Center in Buttonwoods and Wowick, they actually rent out their uh pool in the morning to local camps.

I know you said the Cranson packs evacuations.

Do you know if we've had any increase of camps or swim clubs or anyone looking to rent it on our nine use hours?

I can ask the director, but it has not been brought to my attention that anyone has asked to rent it.

Okay, thank you.

You're welcome.

Thank you, Council Vice President.

Councilwoman Vizeri.

So I have two questions and a comment.

I was in the area last week and it was busy every day.

A lot of great feedback, except there is a problem with the wall.

That's in front of the pool.

I was getting yeah, I was getting a lot of complaints about that.

The wall in front.

The retaining wall.

Oh, that's private property.

It might be off topic, but I just wanted to bring that up.

But my other two questions were do we have a count um for how many Cranston residents came versus non-cranston residents?

And do they get a discounted rate?

I can tell you there are different rates for Creston residents and non-crescent residents, both based on children and adults daily, seasonally.

I would have to have them break that as the numbers were presented to me, they weren't broken down that way.

But just based on the math and how we're using a square system, they'll definitely have that information.

It can be broken down that way.

And also they are, I have received information.

They are tracking the weather.

And also we could retroactively track weather anyway.

Thank you.

Thank you.

All right, I'm gonna go back to Councilman Ritz.

Let him finish this up.

Just add uh uh two things.

You know, again, the feedback has been phenomenal about the pool.

People are very happy about the pool, so thank you for doing that.

Um, and and then with the fee too.

I know it's the first year we're figuring it out, but I I think not charging Cranston residents is is probably the best way to go.

I know I was extremely critical of the budget, moving around pennies here and there, but maybe the non-resident fee could be higher and lower the um the the Cranston fee to zero.

I mean, you know, times change, you know.

We used to ride horses and now we drive cars, so things change and we evolve, and I think we have to look at that going forward as a different way to look at it.

So thank you.

All right.

All right.

I promise I promise I promise to be brief.

I promise we brief.

There's uh well, there's nothing but positive feedback that I we gotta remember.

This is only the first week.

There's a lot of kinks to be worked out.

There's a lot of data that you need to be gathered so we understand.

We put made a lot of assumptions with the budget with probably chemicals, water, and everything else.

So I think once we get through this season and we understand better what we need to do, we can address this next season when we're have more information.

So I look forward to a great season with the uh in the pool.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman.

Councilman Minow.

I think Councilman Trafficani.

Uh cars were invented when he was at the pool, just so you're clarifying.

Yeah.

Um, I also want to uh I gotta defend my colleague, you know.

Um I also want to pay um, I don't even know what to call you.

Nicole Ronzuli, a uh uh compliment.

Very well prepared, and uh thank you for the information.

So I know you're working hard and uh you take a lot of heat.

So good job.

Thank you, councilman.

Thank you, Councilman Benano.

Um, as and thank you, uh Councilman Ritz for putting this on on the agenda.

Um, I know there was a lot of work for councilman um former councilwoman Ritzulli to put all this together and get it together in this very uh detailed report.

Um, I will say this as I finish this up.

Um, before I even get on the council, there was a lot, there was a lot of say uh controversy to some extent around what form this pool would take.

And at that time, I I would tell you that I was a probably a very vocal supporter of having something more along the lines of the old pool.

Um, I was pleasantly, and I maybe I had very pleasantly surprised to see you and I got see this pool maybe a week ago ago before they opened and the day they opened, how good it looked, how well it seemed to accommodate everyone who wanted to swim.

And you know what?

Seeing the kids swimming around that pool, and I know Councilman Campepiano and Director Renzuli were there, and many others were there.

Um it was a good thing, and it is a good thing.

We've heard mostly almost 95%, very good reviews on it.

I'm very happy to see it.

Now, if I put the cloud in a little bit, if I had to weigh in on the you know, give it letting people go in for free.

I probably would be on the side that right now uh budget-wise.

Uh budget wise, I uh I can't I can't see that.

I'd like to see how it goes out as we go into the budget season.

I reason realize pool chemicals, lifeguards, people who work there, electricity costs a lot of money.

I'd like to, I wish I wish we could give it to everybody for free.

Um, but right now I would weigh in that we we have to charge some nominal fee.

You don't have to answer.

I I finished up.

That was my that was my shot later.

We're all done.

If it with all due respect, all right.

Um where am I right now?

So councilman Enderhart had to leave, but I I want to mention um for the announcement that the audit committee will be meeting on August the third at 5 p.m.

Um, there was some difficulty in in how we could post.

We didn't give um Director Manzuli the authority, that's why we couldn't do it.

So, no fault of anyone.

We didn't have the authority to post at this time.

Um, if there are no objections, um, I'd like to take the new business as a block.

I see no objections.

So at this time I'm gonna entertain a motion to move all the new business to their respect to the appropriate.

What's the matter?

Hold on.

Did I miss some?

Hold on a second.

All right, before I do this, so there we I'm gonna hold up that what you wanted to talk about.

I thought you wanted to talk about the pool.

My I apologize.

What?

No, don't mention that.

Please don't let's keep it on that on the right side.

Go ahead.

Uh director, say what you want to say.

Yeah, uh new business.

Uh to miss part of the new business, just to uh mention uh includers opening of bids.

Regarding the sale of the cardinal uh uh cardinal uh road properties, there were no bids submitted, so there's no need for it to be referred to committee.

So with the exception of the opening of bids, we're gonna entertain a motion to move all of the new business to their appropriate council subcommittees.

Moved.

Clerk, please take the roll councilman Graziano, yes, councilman Anduar, Councilman Rets, Councilman Chaffer Kennedy, Councilman Vazeri, Councilman Campa Piano.

Yes, Councilman Bunano, yes, council vice president royan, council president Wall.

Yes, and seeing no further business before this council this evening.

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

Is there a second?

All in favor, did I miss something?

All in favor, no, no, because no.

All in favor signify saying aye.

Aye, opposed, signify by saying nay.

Yeah, I have it.

The motion carries this meeting is adjourned.

Thank you very much, and good night.