Cranston City Council Committee Meetings: Budget, Safety, and Licensing on August 3, 2026
Cranston City Council Committee Meetings: Budget, Safety, and Licensing on August 3, 2026
The Cranston City Council held a series of committee meetings on Monday, August 3, 2026, starting at 5:07 PM and adjourning at 8:57 PM. The meetings covered the Audit Committee (certifying the tax levy), Claims Committee (executive session minutes), Safety Services and Licensing Committee (feast safety and various licenses), and Finance Committee (budget review and bond resolutions). Key discussions centered on public safety at the St. Mary's Feast, a $9.3 million general fund deficit, and several bond refunding resolutions.
Audit Committee Meeting (5:07 PM)
- Certification of Tax Levy: The committee voted to certify that the proposed levy is sufficient to meet budgetary assumptions. Despite the budget cycle being delayed, the certification was within legal bounds (state deadline August 15). The notice of property tax change was entered into the record.
Claims Committee Meeting
- The committee returned from executive session, moved to seal executive session minutes, and approved the minutes of the July 6, 2026 regular meeting.
Safety Services and Licensing Committee Meeting (6:00 PM)
- St. Mary's Feast Discussion: Councilman Ritz apologized for prior comments and expressed regret that the conversation became divisive. He proposed safety improvements based on New Bedford's model (fencing, controlled entry, wristbands). Major Padalano and Major Quirk reported that most of the 20 arrests occurred after 10:30 PM, with 98% of arrestees from out of town. The city's Chief of Staff argued that the feast itself was not the problem, but the surrounding carnival atmosphere and after-hours activities. Multiple members of the Feast Society defended the event, emphasizing its religious and cultural significance, and noted the society pays for police details (around $20,000) and fireworks. Residents complained about loud music from nearby businesses and called for better containment.
- License Revocations: The committee revoked the victualing and Class B-V full liquor licenses for Alexa Pizza & Pasta (formerly Campanella's) due to illegal transfer; Councilman Anduha voted no on the second revocation, citing potential loss of tangible taxes.
- License Approvals: Approved multiple licenses, including a one-day liquor license for Basta (August 15, 6 PM–11:30 PM), a Class F license for the Cranston Historical Society (August 25), revised dates/hours for Mulligan's Island food truck events (September 19 and October 4 from 12–6 PM; other dates 4–9 PM), and various renewals for churches, carnivals, and businesses.
Finance Committee Meeting (7:34 PM)
- Executive Session: The committee entered executive session to discuss a tentative agreement with IBO 301 (2026–2029), then returned and voted to seal the minutes. It was noted that the finance committee recommended full approval and the matter would move to the full council.
- Bond Refunding Resolutions: Approved three resolutions authorizing refunding bonds, with expected savings of $290,000 over 10 years and $22,560 from note payoff.
- Financial Report Discussion: Council President Wall reviewed the June financial report, noting a $9.3 million general fund deficit (excluding school), with a projected $9.3 million general fund deficit and $11.4 million total including schools. Director Strom noted that school may see a surplus after Medicare reimbursements, and that $300,000/month in 60-day rule revenue is helping. Severance costs were highlighted at $536,000 over budget, with a request for itemized breakdown.
- Bond Ratings Update: It was reported that S&P and Fitch maintained ratings but with negative outlooks, while Moody's downgraded from A2 to A1 but with a stable outlook. The stability was attributed to the city's ability to raise taxes and address budget deficits.
Key Outcomes
- Certified tax levy and approved bond refunding resolutions (unanimous).
- Approved multiple licenses and revocations; the revocation of the Class B-V license for Campanella's passed with one dissenting vote.
- No formal vote on feast safety; the committee agreed to continue discussions with police, city administration, and the Feast Society.
- Finance committee recommended approval of IBO 301 contract; will go to full council.
- Directed staff to provide breakdown of severance costs and to file a claim in the Campanella's receivership for tangible taxes.
Meeting Transcript
Uh like to call the order committee meeting to order today is Monday, August third. It is five oh seven PM. Clerk, can you please take a roll? The committee shall certify that the proposed levy is sufficient to meet the budgetary. The audit committee didn't. But if it's okay with you, perhaps you could ask if it would be okay if people from the audience would like to make public comment if no one has objections. Okay, I was going to do that right after the new business, but I guess I'll take your uh I'll take your uh assumption on it. So um at this present time, um, I would like to do we have to make an amendment. If there is no objection, I would like to add public comment on documented items only for the general public. No objection. Seeing no objections. Uh yes. Clerk, do we have to take a roll? No, no, no, no rule. All right. Um, at this time, is there anyone in the audience that would like to make public comment on documented items only? Seeing none, Mr. Clerk. Anyone on the line that would like to make comment on documented items only? There is no public comment online. All right, I guess there are none. Um at this time, I'll move on to new business. Uh new businesses, the MIT, the committee shall certify that the proposed levy is sufficient to meet the budgetary assumptions inherited in the adopted budget. May entertain a motion. Motion to approve. Second. Any discussion, Mr. President. It's been a long time since you said that. I know. It's nice to be down here. Um, let me just state this for the record. You can hear me, right, Tom. That um this is certainly later than it usually has been. This was an extraordinary budget cycle given the crisis, we'll say financial crisis, not to use hyperbole. Um, however, we did check with with our attorneys, and uh this is something, and perhaps Mr. Strom, you had a document regarding the legalities of the budget process. Could you weigh in on that? I uh just for the record. So the the letter you had from Mr. Millet. Yes, that's what we're doing today. The tax assessor uh Ken Millette, I uh asked him, knowing that this was on the docket for this evening, uh, to send me a memo of and send me the most send me the certified tax levy that he has. And he said to me that the certification is required on or before August 15th by the state of Rhode Island annually, and ours, meaning this document that I passed out will be filed this week. Thank you. So just even though it would be better and certainly in a perfect world, we would have done this before the tax levy. Uh before we had, you know, put out the tax bills, it's well within the bounds of the law. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President.
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